[someone2639]

How about like this:

• Lumia Max 4 (1540)
• Lumia Stylus 4 (1340)
• Lumia Pureview 4 (1040)
• Lumia Icon 4 (940)
• Lumia Extra 4 (840)
• Lumia Selfie 4 (740)
• Lumia Xpress 4 (640)
• Lumia Simple 4 (540)
• Lumia SimpleZ 4 (440)

Just put a name before the number, then everything will be easier.

Lumia camera 4😃

[Inkling]

This should be the Lumia line-up. Right now, it's too complicated.

• Lumia 540 - 3MP Camera, VGA Front Camera, Snapdragon 210, 1GB RAM, 4 inch display, entry level device
• Lumia 640 - 5MP Camera, 2MP Front Camera, Snapdragon 400, 1GB RAM, 4.5 inch display, low-end
• Lumia 740 - 7MP Camera, 5MP Front Camera, Snapdragon 425, 1GB RAM, 4.7 inch display, mid-range
• Lumia 840 - 12MP Camera, 5MP Front Camera, Snapdragon 615, 2GB RAM, 5 inch display, mid-range
• Lumia 940 - 50MP Camera, 5MP Front Camera, Snapdragon 615, 2GB RAM, 5.2 inch display, high-end
• Surface Phone - 20MP Camera, 7MP Front Camera, Snapdragon 815, 3GB RAM, 6 inch display, high-end

[colinkiama]

You guys are forgetting that Samsung releases so many phones yet they are super successful

[slivy58]

You guys are forgetting that Samsung releases so many phones yet they are super successful

Yet when a variant of Samsung's Android phone gets update all of those models (say Galaxy S5) get it within short order, hasn't been the case with the Lumia... So who's truly to blame, the carriers or MS and why?

[ajst222]

How about like this:

• Lumia Max 4 (1540)
• Lumia Stylus 4 (1340)
• Lumia Pureview 4 (1040)
• Lumia Icon 4 (940)
• Lumia Extra 4 (840)
• Lumia Selfie 4 (740)
• Lumia Xpress 4 (640)
• Lumia Simple 4 (540)
• Lumia SimpleZ 4 (440)

Just put a name before the number, then everything will be easier.

I honestly think that sounds far more complex than the numbers, and the fact that there are still many more models than there needs to be makes it more confusing

[nohra]

I stopped trying to keep track of all the Lumia models about the time the 53Xs started to come out. For a while I was doing well keeping straight what number went with what carrier, etc, but it's just not worth trying to remember it all. For my shopping list it's pretty easy; is there a 1030 or 1040 out yet? No? Then I'm waiting. But for the sake of making shopping easy, they should do something for the low end so that people can easily know if a 630 would be better than a 535. On higher end phones with more expensive features, fine go ahead an have 5 models each with different niche features, but on low end, just give people the best you can at the price points and make it easy to get into people's hands without them having to do a lot of research. It doesn't have to be complicated to be successful - which Apple has shown with their 'limited' lineup.

[N_LaRUE]

I think a serious overhaul is required in their thinking. I am honestly hoping they stop following the Nokia model and go with a streamlined group of phones. What that grouping will look like is anyone's guess but I think the OP is not far off.

Simplification all around is required. If you go to the Lumia update page you can see for yourself just how many different firmwares there are. It's just plain ridiculous.

I'm not sure if it's possible but they really need worldwide phones to get away from these custom firmwares per country nonsense.

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

I personally think we should have at most four models. 540 - entry level, 740 - mid range, 940 - flagship (include the 10XX specs in this, and chuck a damn i7-Extreme in the thing!), 1540 - phablet. Merge the 10XX series into the 9XX series as both are flagship models. 15XX is slightly different due to phablet stuff.

[TechFreak1]

Yes, there are far toooooooooooooo many models especially in the low end tier and not to mention the 535 has better overall specs compared to the recent 63x models. Sure the screen is subpar, no clearblack, quality of the materials is well rather low. However when the average joe looks at the spec sheet and then the phone - the 535 really is a no brainer.

I guess Microsoft initially thought they would bring in all these OEM partners and they would push out affordable models thus leaving them for the high end (like what they did with the Surface).

If they keep pushing out low end models every other month, they are really making more rope to hang themselves. As by going down this approach they reduce the value of the previous model substantially thus making the customer regret not waiting so they could've saved more money. Especially true for emerging markets where the average monthly wage is eye shatteringly low. Not to mention the margin on these devices are pretty low - essentially non existent (this is why Apple refuses to make Low end models, the margin on the iphones well is brain-explodingly-high).

Furthermore it just increases their workload when it comes to updating devices and to compound matters you have carriers refusing to offer updates for certain models they carry under the pretext that less than 12 -18 months is the norm for the support cycle. Despite them selling models which are clearly older than that (dated from launch date for that particular carrier).

[Fire 29]

Here's what I think should the phones lineup look like:
Two low range series(5xx,6xx) (having two phones each)
Two mid range series(7xx,8xx)(having two phones each)
Two flagships series(9xx,10xx)(having two phones each)

And they can come up with something for the phablets.

[Tom Snyder]

Um...no...

First off, you're taking this way too far here. Second of all, you're also missing my point. I'm not about limiting choices. It just doesn't make sense to have several phones that are competing in the same area, and also the fact that they're all way too specific to regions and carriers. It's about cutting down on the redundancy. That's not good for a business. You're whole spiel about communism doesn't make sense because that's apples and oranges in this context.

And in fact, I'm more about choice...pushing phones across the board and across carriers so they can be in the hands of more people. The exclusivity severely limits the market for a phone.

I feel I've explained myself well enough to perfectly address everything you're saying throughout numerous posts

If you're comparing my thoughts on how a company can become more efficient and have a more sensible business model (you know, things that succeed in a market economy, for the record) to communism, then I have no more response to that. That's ridiculous.

OK, I misunderstood parts of what you were saying and I don't like the idea of carrier exclusives either, along with carriers stripping functions on cell phones. I know AT&T stripped the wireless charging function on the 1520 and to have wireless charging on a US AT&T phone you have to purchase the optional charger back-cover to have it.

I can't believe there is nothing being developed or released in the USA to fully upgrade a 920 or 1020, or a 1520.
It would be nice if cell phone became like a regular computer OS and would operate across any cell carrier you chose to use just like picking your ISP, really very sorry for the misunderstanding.

[psudotechzealot]

Yes. All they need is four phones, In my opinion.
Low end: 4inch lumia(5xx)
Mid end: 4.5inch lumia(7xx)
Flagship: 5 inch lumia (9xx)
Phablet: 6 inch lumia (15xx)

[nikholaspappas]

I also believe they should NEVER CHANGE THE NAMES!!! Ugh... Pick 4 or 5 phones, and never change the name, just have model years like cars "Introducing the 2015 Lunmia Icon" or "Microsoft just detailed the 2016 Lumia 1520"

[bo_woods]

It should be

Surface Phone XL (1540)
Surface Phone ( 940/icon/1040)
Surface Phone mini ( 830-535)

The surface phone should be an upgrade for icon/930 users and 1020 users, Microsoft main and excellent flagship running windows 10 ( completely against Microsoft cameraphone and main flagship being separate phones) it should have the best of the best camera specs and features... next the surface phone xl should be the same phone except with n trig pen support, a bigger screen and bigger battery to accommodate it..lastly the surface phone mini should be a smaller surface phone (around 4.3 - 4.7 inches) coming in 2 to 3 different versions so it can compete at different price points but all 3 will have the same branding and name to minimize confusion..

Or it should go

Surface phone xl
Surface phone

And then Lumia for everything below these

[ajst222]

As far as the name "Surface" goes, for all those who suggested it, I think changing the model line from Lumia to Surface would be even more confusing. For one, the name Lumia is pretty recognizable when it comes to mobile phones. It's already established, and axing both the name Nokia AND Lumia would anger Nokia fans even more. I think the name Lumia should most certainly stay.

Second of all, the name Surface kind of implies that it's running full Windows (we had this issue before). Keep the Surface line for all Microsoft devices running full Windows, and the Lumia line for all devices running a mobile version. I think that would also help cut down on confusion.

[negative1ne]

i voted no.

people need choices.

i want to be able to choose from many models,
and not just a few limited ones.

later
-1

[ajst222]

i voted no.

people need choices.

i want to be able to choose from many models,
and not just a few limited ones.

later
-1

What good are all of those many models if they are: Virtually (or are) the same, and are carrier or region specific meaning you probably don't even have the choice?

You would actually have a full choice of Microsoft's Lumia lineup in the scenario I laid out

[Fire 29]

As far as the name "Surface" goes, for all those who suggested it, I think changing the model line from Lumia to Surface would be even more confusing. For one, the name Lumia is pretty recognizable when it comes to mobile phones. It's already established, and axing both the name Nokia AND Lumia would anger Nokia fans even more. I think the name Lumia should most certainly stay.

Second of all, the name Surface kind of implies that it's running full Windows (we had this issue before). Keep the Surface line for all Microsoft devices running full Windows, and the Lumia line for all devices running a mobile version. I think that would also help cut down on confusion.

I agree with that.

[Raviraj Halarnekar]

Ya..Nokia line up of Lumia devices(x20) were far more simpler..

[SteveNoza]

While I can agree MS could streamline their current models and carrier exclusives suck, my big complaint is that carriers only carry 1 or 2 models, I want them to carry the whole line! Yeah, maybe not stock all the models in store, but have them available. My other complaint is I'd like to see the flagship/ high end model with a 4.5-5" screen, anything over 5" is just too big for my needs.

[Nogitsune Micah]

Well Lumia is basically synonymous with windows phone. When you think windows phone you think Lumia.

They have too many models and it is hard to actually have a memorable Lumia when you have three more nearly like it.

[RoyalX]

Yes, and they all look the same

[raycpl]

Yes, and they all look the same

Yes its hard to differentiate a yellow ,from a red, from a green, to cyan, to a orange.. it so confusing /s

[Dk92]

Absolutely. Release 4 devices, covering all tiers. It's ridiculous that there's a 630, 635, 636 and a 638 already..like..why??

Edit: Just found out they're getting ready to release a 640, proving my point.

[ajst222]

Absolutely. Release 4 devices, covering all tiers. It's ridiculous that there's a 630, 635, 636 and a 638 already..like..why??

Edit: Just found out they're getting ready to release a 640, proving my point.

AND also a Lumia 635 with 1GB of RAM now reportedly