Microsoft rolls out (finally) Windows 10 Mobile to older phones

Lumia 930

It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Microsoft on the Windows Mobile front (it dropped the ‘Windows Phone’ branding in 2014). The platform is dwindling in single digit market share, made worse by big names pulling apps from its Windows app store. Yesterday, however, it began rolling out the much-delayed Windows 10 Mobile release for older Windows Phone 8.1 devices.

A total of 18 devices are eligible for upgrades, although shockingly, the older flagships – Nokia Lumia 1020, 925 and 920, aren’t. It’s also the end of the road for plenty of older Lumia devices too, specifically anything that has less than 1GB RAM.

Lumia 640

To see if you’re eligible for an update, Microsoft has conveniently released a new UpdateAdvisor app to assist.

BTW, here’s the full list of supported devices:

It’s evident that Microsoft is focused on giving customers a quality user experience based on the feedback app in its Insider program. Unfortunately for the 1020, 925 and 920, there was higher percentage of reports on performance issues, thus were crossed off the list.

Lumia 830

Support for older hardware, especially three-year old hardware, will always be debated. Ultimately, it boils down to whether the hardware and software can deliver an acceptable level of quality experience to the user.

It’s never nice nor kind that your smartphone is made obsolete. Naturally, newer hardware will support better, more advanced features that otherwise older hardware cannot.

Lumia 930

Newer phones like the Lumia 950, 950 XL and 650, come with Windows 10 Mobile out of the box.

Windows 10 Mobile brings significant new innovations including Continuum, Windows Hello, Cortana as well as redesigned Office.

Are you a Windows Phone user? Got your Windows 10 Mobile update yet?

Source: Mashable, WindowsCentral

Vernon
Vernon is the founder and chief editor of Vernonchan.com. A graphic designer by profession, he has a deep love for technology, cars, gadgets, food, and travel. He tweets too much and is also known as a caffeine bacterium ("life's too short for bad coffee"). Bleeds Blue (go Chelsea FC!) and considers BMW, Porsche, Alfa Romeo cars to have in the garage--hallmarks of a true petrolhead.