Microsoft’s wording was:
Microsoft will continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile and support Lumia phones such as the Lumia 650, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, and phones from OEM partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and VAIO.
Now, we know full well that the company is fully committed to Windows 10 Mobile, part of the growing Windows 10 ecosystem, and that the existing generation of Lumias - 550, 650, 950, 950 XL - will continue to get updated through the year, so none of this is a surprise. The very line-up of phones was trailed almost a year ago, when Satya Nadella spoke of budget (550), enterprise (650) and enthusiast (950) devices - so we’ve already got the full set.
Will there be another Lumia at any point? Well, never say never, and I’m sure Microsoft will create new Windows 10 Mobile hardware at some point - with early 2017 being the current best bet for this - we’re just not sure what the marketing department will dream up in terms of naming. Something like a “Surface 1060” would seem logical, with metal unibody build, 6” phablet QHD screen and the usual PureView high spec camera and components - and launched at an eye-watering price, no doubt!
But increasingly, and just as on the desktop/laptop/hybrid side of things, Microsoft is having to place a large slice of faith in third parties to come up with new hardware and bear the brunt of sales, distribution and support - and also to reap the profits in due course. On Windows Phone (just as on Symbian before), Nokia was so dominant (97%+ market share) that all other companies effectively ceased to exist in the ecosystem - Microsoft inherited this dominance, but was never very comfortable with it, which is why it has been taking steps over the last year to encourage other companies, Windows 10 Mobile licensees/partners, to step up to the plate.
For these licensees, the benefits are that they can create something different to the run of the mill Android handset, something which runs the same OS, interface and applications as the (currently free) Windows 10 on larger devices. At the high end, companies are even embracing the Continuum concept, where your phone can become your main computing device and take over connected secondary displays in order to make users more productive on the move.
So, who are these licensees? In alphabetical order, with their main Windows 10 Mobile smartphones:
Acer
Liquid M330
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Released November 2015, up to LTE, Single or Dual SIM 4.5" WVGA LCD screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal + microSD 5MP camera, LED flash, video resolution unknown microUSB charge, removable 2000mAh battery, virtual controls |
Ultra bargain basement, not even worth getting in for review?
Links: Launch story - Manufacturer sales page (e.g. USA) ($99)
Jade Primo
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Released April 2016, up to LTE, Dual SIM 5.5" 1080p AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 808 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal + microSD (using second SIM slot) 21MP camera, f/2.2, dual LED flash, 4K video capture USB Type C charge, sealed 2800mAh battery, virtual controls |
The Primo can also make use of a display dock (connected to a monitor) to run in Continuum mode, just as the Lumia 950/XL do. There's also the Liquid Extend 'lap dock', turning the phone (effectively) into a Windows 10 laptop.
Links: GSMArena's Jade Primo review, Video of the Liquid Extend
Alcatel
Fierce XL
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Released February 2016, up to LTE, Single SIM 5.5" 720p AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal + microSD 8MP camera, single LED flash, 720p video capture microUSB charge, sealed 2500mAh battery, capacitive controls |
An unusual balance of specifications, with the 720p pentile AMOLED screen and the Snapdragon 210 chipset seeming out of place on a 'phablet', but with 2GB RAM to make sure apps keep running OK, plus capacitive controls, unusual in the Windows 10 era. Intriguing.
Links: Launch story
Pixi 3
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Released February 2016, up to LTE, Single SIM 8" 800p LCD screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal + microSD 5MP camera, single LED flash, 1080p video capture microUSB charge, sealed 4060mAh battery, virtual controls |
A veritable monster - it can surely only be thought of as a tablet, yet it's also a full phone. Low specifications all round make it for the undemanding too?
Links: Launch story
Archos
50 Cesium
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Released January 2016, up to LTE, Dual SIM 5" 720p LCD screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal + microSD 8MP camera, single LED flash, video capture res unknown microUSB charge, 2100mAh removeable battery, capacitive controls |
Image credit: DrWindows
Baseline budget specs, but readily available in Europe (and rebadged in the UK by Bush). Must get one in at some point!
Links: Buy page in the UK (by the way, note that numerous images of this phone online are just plain wrong, clearly mock-ups!)
Cherry Mobile
Alpha Prime 5
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Released May 2016, up to LTE, Dual SIM 5" 720p LCD screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal + microSD 8MP camera, single LED flash, video capture res unknown microUSB charge, battery capacity unknown, capacitive controls |
Baseline budget specs, a device only for the Phillipines?
Links: Launch story
Coship
Moly X1
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Released April 2016, up to LTE, Single SIM 5.5" 1080p LCD screen, Snapdragon 410 chipset, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal + microSD 13MP camera, dual LED flash, video capture res unknown microUSB charge, 2600mAh battery, capacitive controls |
Links: WC unboxing - Amazon buy page
Moly W5
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Released May 2016, up to LTE, Single SIM? 5" 720p LCD screen, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal + microSD 8MP camera, single LED flash, video capture res unknown microUSB charge, 2250mAh battery, capacitive controls |
A low end device, selling direct through retailers like Amazon.
Links: Launch story
Moly PcPhone
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Yet to be released, up to LTE, Single SIM 6" 1080p LCD screen, Snapdragon 617 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal + microSD 13MP camera, LED flash, video capture res unknown USB Type C charge, sealed 3900mAh battery, virtual controls, Continuum compatible |
Links: Launch story
Funker
W5.5 Pro
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Released April 2016, up to LTE, Single SIM 5.5" 1080p LCD screen, Snapdragon 410 chipset, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal + microSD 13MP camera, dual LED flash, video capture res unknown microUSB charge, 2600mAh battery, capacitive controls |
With identical specs to the Coship Moly X1 and merely different cosmetics, this Spanish-announced device is probably from the same Chinese factory line.
Links: GSM Arena - Manufacturer page
HP
Elite X3
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Not yet released, expected summer 2016, up to LTE, Dual SIM 6" QHD AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal + microSD 16MP camera, LED flash, 1080p video capture USB Type C charge, removable 4150mAh battery, virtual controls, stereo B&O front facing speakers |
Again there's full Continuum compatibility through dock or lapdock (Mobile Extender), turning the phone (effectively) into a Windows 10 computer.
Links: Launch story
Trinity
Nuans NEO
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Released April 2016, no global GSM yet? 5" 720p LCD screen, Snapdragon 617 chipset, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal + microSD 13MP camera, LED flash, 1080p video capture USB Type C charge, removable 3350mAh battery, virtual controls |
Still only available in Japan? In theory, this could handle Continuum too, via wired or wireless means
Links: WC story
VAIO
Phone Biz
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Released May 2016, no global GSM yet? 5.5" 1080p LCD screen, Snapdragon 617 chipset, 3GB RAM, 16GB internal + microSD 13MP camera, LED flash, 1080p video capture microUSB charge, removable 2800mAh battery, virtual controls |
Still only available in Japan? In theory, this could handle Continuum too, via wired or wireless means
Links: Verge hands-on, manufacturer page (in Japanese!)
I'm sure I've missed a company or device, so please do chip in, in the comments below. All contributions welcomed.
Enthusiast eyes will alight on that HP Elite X3, of course, with monster specs that rival or beat the Lumia 950 XL, but then the latter has been available for a while and the X3 is still somewhat vapourware. The Jade Primo is the first of the handsets above that we'd like to get in for full review at AAWP, though the Liquid Extend lapdock is apparently slated for "Q3", so that's at least a couple of months away. And without the full accessories, there's little reason to go for the Jade Primo over the existing Lumia 950 or 950 XL.
If Microsoft is expecting third party manufacturers to take up the slack and help push the platform in all markets then there's clearly a long way to go. What I'd like to see is Microsoft continuing to make the 950, at least, pushing its price down further. Never mind its specs, it'd be hard to overlook at, say, £300 all-in, officially. ideally bundling each one with a Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter for hassle free, wires-free Continuum, along with a quick start guide that shows off what it can do.
Do you agree? What should Microsoft's strategy be at this point?
PS. I'll come back to this feature as and when other models are released, it should be easy enough to update!