Microsoft spells out hardware requirements for Windows 10 Mobile devices

Microsoft has published official smartphone specifications for its upcoming Windows 10 Mobile operating system.

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

September 25, 2015

2 Min Read
Microsoft spells out hardware requirements for Windows 10 Mobile devices

We know that Microsoft plans to announce new flagship hardware next month at their scheduled hardware event in New York City.

Those phones are expected to be high end hardware that will support many of the new features in Windows 10 Mobile including Continuum for Phones and Windows Hello.

Concern is also very high on the part of Windows Phone enthusiasts that their current handsets may or may not be able to run Windows 10 Mobile when it is released. Whether or not that happens for various handsets will depend on hardware capabilities but also heavily on the carrier and handset manufacturer choosing to support the upgrade.

Unfortunately, many times those decisions also appear to be financially driven so that those carriers and handset manufacturers can sell new handsets.

It seems Microsoft will try to unofficially support as many handsets as possible with the upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile by offering it through their Windows Insider program like they currently do on a wide selection of handsets.

Moving forward Microsoft has now published a set of hardware specifications for Windows 10 Mobile devices that give us some idea of the range of devices we could feasibly see Microsoft's new mobile operating system running on in the future.

The type of devices listed on this page are in three categories.

Value Phone: Low cost device which features Cortana.

  • Supports entry level SoC (System on Chip)

  • 1GB RAM and 4-8GB storage with SD card option

  • 3.5" to 5" WVGA/FWVGA/Quad HD screen

  • Dimensions: Less than 10.5mm and 136g

  • 1400 mAh battery or larger that supports one day of active use

  • 3G (LTE/Cat 3) cellular; 802.11b/g/n wireless; microUSB, 3.5mm jack; BlueTooth LE

  • 5MP rear and .3MP front facing cameras

Premium Phone: Premium device which supports Cortana, Windows Hello and Continuum for Phones.

  • Supports premium SoC

  • 2-4GB RAM and 32-64GB storage with SD card option

  • 4.5" to 5.5" FHD/WQHD screen

  • Dimensions: Less than 7.5mm and 160g

  • 2500 mAh battery or larger that supports one day of active use

  • LTE/Cat 4 or higher cellular; 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless; USB; 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth LE; NFC

  • 20MP rear camera with OIS and flash; 5MP front facing camera

Value Phablet: Small tablet device that supports Cortana and Windows Hello.

  • Supports mid tier SoC

  • 2GB RAM and 16GB storage with SD card option

  • 5.5" to 7" 720p+ screen

  • Dimensions: Less than 10mm and 175g

  • 3000 mAh battery or larger that supports one day of active use

  • LTE/CAT 3 cellular; 802.11b/g/n/ac 2x2 wireless; USB 3.0 type-c; 3.5mm jack; Bluetooth LE; NFC

  • 5MP rear and .3MP front facing cameras

While these specs are listed as recommended by Microsoft, which means manufacturers can choose to exceed them, it will be interesting to see exactly what manufacturers bring to retail for Windows 10 Mobile.

Of course, the larger question is which manufacturers will choose to bring Windows 10 Mobile handsets to market.

Source: Microsoft via WinBeta

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About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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