In a couple weeks’ time, Microsoft is expected to release the latest version of its mobile operating system, Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft is hosting a Windows 10 hardware event in New York on October 6 and speculation has it that you will most likely see the first two Windows 10 smartphones at this event.
While there’s still time for that event, the Redmond giant has recently released a detailed list of the recommended hardware specifications for Windows 10 Mobile devices. According to Microsoft, these include smartphones, tablets and phablets.
As already stated, these are only recommendations by the big guys and most manufacturers are going to try and stretch it a bit, taking specs higher and lower as they deem fit.
Let’s start with the phones. Here’s how Microsoft defines a handheld mobile phone:
Smartphones come in a wide range of sizes from low cost phones, small tablets (phablets) and industrial handheld devices. A typical smartphone combines cellular connectivity, a touch screen, rechargeable power source, and other components into a single chassis. Windows 10 Mobile can support a wide range of small form factors devices. Listed below are a few recommended hardware configurations.
Two smartphones and one phablet fall into this category according to Microsoft.
The value phone, as the name suggests will be the cheaper one here, and due to the reduction in price, will not support Windows Hello. The premium phone, on the other hand is more expensive and thus has better features including more internal storage, more RAM, a better camera and support for Continuum for Phones. The value phablet also pales a bit in comparison to the premium phone. It is also a strong amount larger and heavier than the others and has more juice to power it.
The next in line is the tablets section. Here’s how the tech giant defines this portable computing tech:
Tablets are a versatile form factor that overlap the smartphone and notebook industry. A tablet device combines a touch screen, rechargeable power source, and other components into a single chassis with an optional attachable keyboard.
While some of these tablets are already on sale, the Redmond giant still deems it important to remind manufacturers about their minimum requirements.
All the data has already been given clearly in the pictures above. It’s interesting to note that although 7-inch tablet is not, in fact, a phone, it will support Continuum for Phones. It is also the only larger device listed that doesn’t support USB Type-C. Also, only the large tablet will be Windows Hello compatible.
That’s it for details from the tech giant. We can now only wait and speculate how the first two Windows 10 smartphones are going to come to be. Only time will tell how Windows 10 fares against other mobile operating systems.
