it's not much of an upgrade from the 640XL 

about another month or so

Athlonite:

 

it's not much of an upgrade from the 640XL 

 

it is more comparable to the regular 640 isn't it?

foxy38: any ideas when its coming to nz...or other places to buy...thoughts on phone specs etc..

Microsoft US is shipping pre-orders from the 1st of April, and China is expecting to be that same week. Most of our parallel importers are from Hong Kong, so I would expect it to be available here in NZ before mid April. In terms of price, Microsoft is charging $200 US ($300 NZ) which is the same as the Lumia 640.

Therefore I would expect it to retail for $300-400 NZ when parallel imported (inc shipping and GST). I am seeking one from a vendor, and will pass on when they have it.

As for comments about the 650 not being an upgrade from the 640, this is only partially true and you can delve into the expansive threads on WPCentral on the issue. Some components go down and some up, depends purely on what you want to use the device for as to how you interpret the swinging components.

Howdy all,

As promised, reporting back in that digiparallelimports (online store, plus physical stores across Auckland and Wellington) have the 650 arriving in the country as we speak (it's going through customs).

Black = http://www.digiparallelimports.nz/microsoft-lumia-650-dual-sim

White = http://www.digiparallelimports.nz/microsoft-lumia-650-dual-sim-white

Edit: Fixing URL

@nathan will this be in the Microsoft NZ store?

UHD:

@nathan will this be in the Microsoft NZ store?

Lumia 650 now available in NZ store.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msnz/en_NZ/pdp/productID.1737345200?icid=NZ_Homepage_Hero_2_lumia650_050116

That's pretty good, considering Spark are still selling the 640 for $349 and VF have the 640 for $299. Does anyone know if either (or both(or 2D)) of the carriers will be carrying the 650?

nathan:

UHD:

 

@nathan will this be in the Microsoft NZ store?

 

Yes, it should be shortly

Geeze, Nathan wasn't kidding!

BlueShift:

 

That's pretty good, considering Spark are still selling the 640 for $349 and VF have the 640 for $299. Does anyone know if either (or both(or 2D)) of the carriers will be carrying the 650?

Doubtful - just grab it straight from the source:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msnz/en_NZ/pdp/productID.1737345200?icid=NZ_Lumia_ModG_lumia650_050116

Confirmed, Vodafone have the 650 for $349. I have one in my hot little hand :-)