home » Games and programs

Does Windows have a background? What's happening to Windows Phone? Data. The best Windows smartphones with two SIM cards

Today, Windows Phones are becoming increasingly popular. The latest version of this OS is Windows Phone 10.

According to the developers, Windows Phone 8.1 users can also get it.

However, for now this opportunity is only in the project.

At the moment, the only way to get a phone with the tenth version of the Microsoft operating system is to buy a device with the OS pre-installed.

Rating of Windows Phones

It would be useful to understand which mobile phones generally work with Windows Phone. We will go by popularity rating.

No. 1. Microsoft Lumia 640

Perhaps the most popular Windows Phone model is the Lumia 640.

In terms of characteristics, this phone is nothing special - 5-inch screen, 1280x720 resolution (Hd), 8 GB of internal memory, 8 megapixel camera. Supports 3G and dual SIM cards.

It attracts only with its price - in our area you can buy it for about 130 dollars.

LG Magna H502 with similar characteristics costs about $140.

No. 2. Microsoft Lumia 550 and 650

Most recently, the new Lumia 650 entered the market, which became an improved version of the 550 model.

The screen has become larger (5 inches at 650 and 4.7 at 550), the resolution remains unchanged - 1280x720. The camera has also become better - 8 megapixels after 5 megapixels, both with autofocus.

The 650th Lumiya has 16 GB of memory, and the 550th has 8 GB. Both phones come with Windows Phone 10 pre-installed and also have built-in GLONASS, GPS and 4G features.

The price of the 550th model is $145, and the 650th is sold for 210 units of US currency.

So far the excitement has not subsided and they are charging quite a lot of money for the new product, but in the future the price will drop significantly.

Despite its short time on the market, the Lumia 650 has already received a large number of rave reviews and will certainly be as popular as the 550 model in the future.

Both phones have a standard battery for this price category. I wish there was more. Microsoft Lumia 550 has a 2100 mAh battery, and 650 has a 2000 mAh battery.

And this despite the fact that the budget one of these two is only the 550th.

What caused the creators to decide to make a less capacious battery remains a mystery.

No. 2. Microsoft Lumia 430

There is support for GPS and GLONASS. The price for a device with such characteristics is quite standard – $170.

By the way, there is a stereotype that phones with Windows Phone OS are produced only by Microsoft itself, but next we will look at which phones from other companies come out with such an operating system.

Although Microsoft is the best at integrating its brainchild into hardware, which is why phones from this company are in first place in the ranking.

Mobile devices from the same Nokia often have problems using Windows Phone.

They relate to slow operation (freezing), correct operation of some applications and other minor features.

No. 6. HTC 7 Mozart

HTC is also joining the company of Windows Phone owners. Although so far the British-Taiwanese concern has not been very successful in this.

For $210 we are offered a small (3.7 inches with a resolution of 800x480) smartphone with an 8 MP camera and 8 GB memory without a memory card slot.

There is no GLONASS support here, only simple GPS. The battery here is weak and that’s putting it mildly – ​​1300 mAh.

This phone wins only due to good, high-quality work without failures. This device will serve its owners for many years.

But I don’t really want to pay that kind of money when the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL is live.

No. 7. HTC Windows Phone 8

The Taiwanese tried to improve the situation a little by releasing HTC Windows Phone 8 in 2012. Its screen is slightly larger - 4 inches, the resolution remains the same - 800x480.

There is less memory - 4 GB, but there is already a card slot. The improvements also include the addition of GLONASS.

For some reason, the camera was also made smaller - 5 megapixels, but they worked hard on the battery - 1700 mAh. They also removed the poor, overly oval edges and made the device more rectangular.

Now attention: it sells for $125 (yes, the HTC 7 Mozart costs $210).

This begs a lot of questions about HTC's pricing policy. But we can say with confidence that the phone is worth the money.

Advantages of Windows Phones

Windows Phone has everything to make the same iPhone and Android devices a relic of the past in the future.

This operating system has the following advantages over others, they are as follows:

  • Live Tiles, that is, icons on the desktop look much better than standard shortcuts in other operating systems.
    They provide more opportunities to personalize a mobile phone, because the user can change the size of the “tiles” or customize them the way he wants. In Android, the most that can be changed is the screensaver and theme.

  • Working in multitasking mode is implemented much more convenient for the user. To see all the programs, you need to press the "Back" button, after which a slide show will appear.
    On the same iPhone, you need to scroll between applications and, to close one of them, click on the small cross. On large phones this is not a problem, but on small phones it is inconvenient.
  • More convenient work with contacts. By clicking on a particular contact, you can see the latest letters and messages, and not general information about the person.
    There is even a full-fledged news feed that collects information from all social networks (shown in Figure 10.a).
  • More convenient integration with social networks, clouds and other services.
    The process of exporting contacts is not difficult - the user has a list of services that can be integrated with (Figure 10.b), and he just needs to click on the one he needs and enter his login and password. Then the system will do everything itself.

Conclusion! Windows Phones are an excellent alternative to Android, iOS and other operating systems - you can buy a more powerful smartphone for a lower price. Of course, it has its drawbacks. For example, this is the integration of the OS on phones not released by Microsoft - so far only Nokia's attempt can be considered successful. Still, you can and should buy Windows Phone mobile phones!

You can learn more about the features of the latest version of Windows Phone on phones from this video:

Windows 10 for phones review. Features of Windows 10 for smartphones - experience from FERUMM.COM WP-Port

Windows Phones - Most Popular Models

Well-known Windows blogger Paul Thurot tries to make sense of the latest news regarding WP - and comes to disappointing conclusions.


Paul Turot - tech expert and Microsoft blogger

Last July, Paul writes, Microsoft essentially exited the smartphone market. Now the company... has left him a little more.

  • Microsoft is de facto leaving the consumer smartphone market. The company admitted its failure in this area and will now focus on corporate clients. The irony is that when Microsoft launched Windows Phone in 2010, it completely ignored the business side.
  • Almost all Nokia employees who joined Microsoft in 2014 will leave the company by the end of this year. In 2016, only 1,850 “Finnish” employees will leave the company. Not so much - but most of the employees have already been fired during the two previous waves of “staff optimization”.
  • Microsoft lost much more than $7.5 billion on the acquisition of Nokia. The actual amount of losses exceeds $10 billion.

Any one of these three facts is enough to have a very serious impact on Windows Phone as a platform. Now, writes Paul, unlike the situation last year, there is simply nothing to analyze - everything is clear without further ado. The blogger believes that the past year, rich in unpleasant truths about the platform, has made realists out of most WP fans. Yes, there are still particularly stubborn users who are waiting for the future revival of the system. But most Windows Phone fans seem to understand exactly what the truth is.

But the truth looks like this:

  • Windows Phone as a platform doesn't matter. Currently, Windows smartphones occupy less than 1 percent of the global smart phone market; they do not have many of the applications and games that a modern user needs.
  • Microsoft will continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile. Not to be confused with "Lumia" - Microsoft will only develop and improve the Windows 10 Mobile operating system. Why? Because it's just a SKU (product version) of Windows 10, and because it runs on the ARM hardware that modern mobile devices run on.
  • A new smartphone from Microsoft will come out... maybe. It is unclear whether this device will be released under the Lumia brand (most likely not) or under the new Surface brand.
  • Relax, no one is stopping you from using a Windows smartphone. Paul complains that he gets a lot of strange comments from users - for some reason they think that he is trying to convince them not to use Windows Phone. Not at all! Thurot simply suggests that we stop worshiping Windows Phone as a promising platform and something that can be recommended to friends and acquaintances.

“If you know what you're getting into, there's no problem. But stop pretending that Windows Phone solves problems that iPhone and Android can't. These platforms are now significantly superior to Windows Phone. Sorry".

From a Windows Phone fan's perspective, essentially nothing has changed: Microsoft will still support the platform they love, and they can continue to use the devices and maybe even buy new ones in the future. For the rest of the world - and, unfortunately for WP fans, this includes 99.9% of users - not much has changed either. Most people can still safely ignore Windows Phone.

“What is windows phone?”, “I won’t buy this smartphone - there’s windows phone.”, “I don’t like windows phone, because I’ve never used it.” Here are just a few statements and quotes from our Russian users who are wary of this operating system from Microsoft.

In this review, I will try to describe Windows Phone 8.1 in as much detail as possible, talk about its functions, disadvantages and development prospects.

In general, the system is insanely simple; it essentially consists of 3 components:

Start screen with tiles;
list of applications;
settings;

Essentially, everything is the same as in other operating systems. But WP is completely different, with a lot of differences. The start screen is made in the corporate style of Windows 8, consists of tiles, the sizes of the tiles can be changed, there are 3 options - small, medium and large tiles. Tiles can be swapped. Each tile is a separate application, that is, your desktop is just a quick launch panel for necessary, frequently used ones.
The color of the tiles can be changed in the settings (item desktop + theme), the tiles can be made transparent by placing an image on the background. Most often they put all sorts of textures, it looks quite interesting. In addition, you can select the theme color that will be used in SMS in the settings texts. Some applications and games do not support the transparent tiles feature and have their own unique icons.
It is possible to arrange the tiles in 2 or 3 rows vertically. Some tiles are “live”. For example, the “contacts” tile, which randomly displays photos of your friends, looks very impressive.
By the way, WP has implemented integration of contacts with Facebook and VK.

I think I’ve told you everything about the tiled interface, let’s move on to the notification center, which appeared in WP relatively recently. The thing is really necessary and convenient. All the latest application events are displayed there. The notification center can be configured: make quick access to WI-FI, Bluetooth, automatic screen rotation, location, etc. The notification shade is pulled out by swiping from top to bottom.

By swiping to the left, we get to the list of applications. Absolutely all applications that are installed on your WP smartphone are displayed here. They are arranged in alphabetical order. When their number is more than 40, an alphabet appears in the list, which helps you quickly find the application you need; the same alphabet is used in contacts.
To add an application to the start screen, just press and hold your finger on it and, in the drop-down list that appears, select “Add to desktop”.
What can be configured in WP 8.1 and what definitely needs to be configured?
Ringtones + sounds. We’ve already talked about tile settings, so let’s move straight to the “ringtones + sounds” item, which allows you to put your favorite song on a call. There is a very important addition; to do this, you need to either download the “ringtone creator” application (it’s free, of course), or use a PC to add ringtones to the Ringtones folder in your phone’s memory. Only in this case can a melody be set for the call.

In addition, you can set your own ringtone for SMS, and you can customize application notification sounds.
Mail and accounts. When you launch your WP smartphone for the first time, you need to add a Microsoft account. It is needed to store information about the applications you have installed, contacts, notes, etc. If it is not there, then you need to create it, and it is advisable that you indicate over 21 years in the age field, otherwise problems may arise with installing applications and the “my family” section. You won't be able to change your account without doing a hard reset.

Lock screen. You can put any image you have on your smartphone as the background. It is possible to configure the display of application notifications (missed calls, SMS, skype, viber, etc.) on the lock screen - a very good thing. In addition, you can set a password.

I won’t dwell on such things as wi-fi, airplane mode, bluetooth, nfc, VPN, general Internet. I think everything is clear to you.

But in the cellular network + sim item you can disable data transfer and select the fastest connection (2G, 3G, 4G), I would recommend using 2G when you are not using the Internet (or you have wi-fi connected), because 3G and Moreover, 4G greatly drains the battery.

Battery saving. A kind of energy saving mode. This is certainly not stamina from Sony, but it can save charge. It is possible to look at which application and how much charge you have used.

Data control. It is possible to limit background data transfer, set a traffic limit, that is, when the traffic limit comes to an end, the smartphone will notify you about it. This will help save you from unexpected Internet costs.

Memory control. Allows you to specify a place to store media files, applications and downloads (SD card or phone memory). Displays which applications take up how much space.

Brightness. You can set the brightness automatically, or you can set it manually.

Phone search. A very wonderful thing. The smartphone independently, periodically, remembers your location. If you lose your smartphone, you can block it, call it, clean it, find it on the map using the website windowsphone.com (by logging in with your MS account).

Backups. Creating a backup to the OneDrive cloud.

Mode in the car. Works if there is bluetooth in the car. If the mode is turned on, then when you are in the car, the smartphone ITSELF will send an SMS with the text that you are currently unable to answer a call or SMS.

Soon the voice assistant Cortana will appear in Russia. According to MS, the functionality of voice commands will be significantly expanded. Cortana will not only help you find the nearest cafe, respond to SMS at your dictation, but even joke. Well, we'll wait for the Russian-language version of Cortana.

Memory test. Allows you to clear unnecessary cache (temporary files). Significantly improved compared to wp 8.0.

Sensor. Here you can configure the glove control mode and unlock the smartphone with a double tap on the display.
Spam filter. Allows you to add numbers to the blacklist without paying a penny to the operator.

Phone update. Serves to check firmware updates and their installation. Please note that in order for the update to install correctly, your smartphone must have about 1.5 GB of free space (phone memory), I first recommend removing the micro sd and SIM card. The update occurs over the air, that is, via Wi-Fi.

Other settings should be clear to you.

Shop. I think many people are interested in the question: what about the application store?

There are not as many of them as on IOS and Android, but, in principle, everything you need is there, and there is also something to play. Personally, I have never had any problems with the store. Everything we needed was there. In addition, the store is developing and growing. I like that in each smartphone model, only those applications that the smartphone can handle are available for download. Everything you find in the market will work and run.

By the way, Lumia smartphones on WP are much more functional than smartphones from other companies on WP. Non-Lumia smartphones may not have some of the features I mentioned above.

Owners of Lumia smartphones have the opportunity to download proprietary Microsoft applications for working with photography. There are a lot of such applications and they are very interesting:

  • Lumia Camera - I recommend using it instead of the default camera app.
  • Lumia Photo Alive - allows you to make animated GIF images.
  • Lumia Panorama - the name speaks for itself.
  • Lumia Focus Change - allows you to focus on any object after the photo has been taken.
  • Lumia Selfie - for selfie lovers
  • Lumia Photo Studio is a simple and convenient photo editor.

Lumia smartphones come pre-installed with MS Office. You can make basic adjustments to office documents using it. The variety of applications from Microsoft does not end there; there are a lot of them in the store..

I would also like to mention HERE offline navigation, which is available for Android users starting today (December 11, 2014). It’s easy to work with; you can download maps of the desired region to your smartphone and start using it. There are 4 applications that work with maps.

  • Here maps program for working with maps
  • Here transit A ​​program that will help you find out how to get to your desired place by public transport.
  • Here drive - navigation for cars
  • here city lens is an application that, using augmented reality, will help you find the nearest restaurant, bank, etc.

WP also has its disadvantages, and this is natural - the OS is relatively young.

Many users have problems with their cache getting clogged from watching movies and videos online. The phone's memory becomes clogged, and the only way to clear it is by resetting the settings to factory settings. In this case, it is advisable to make backup copies; if everything is done correctly, resetting the settings will be painless.

These memory problems are probably the main ones, with the latest update, the system has learned to recognize more “garbage”, let’s hope that soon the problem will go away completely.

If you don't want to do a factory reset, you can help clear the memory as follows:

  • Clear application data (SMS and history in whats app, viber, skype)
  • Clear the cache on instargam, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki - this can be done by deleting the application and installing it again.
  • Clear navigation maps history
  • Clear Internet Explorer history.
  • Delete SMS and call log.
  • Use memory control by cleaning temporary files.

Sometimes users have problems with duplicating music and photos in the player. This is also a known problem; it occurs because the memory card and smartphone are poorly compatible. I have never had such a problem, I used micro sd 10 class memory cards from transcend.

Often, due to inexperience, users have a problem with the battery draining quickly. To increase operating time, I advise you to do the following:

  • Let's start with the lock screen. We set the screen to turn off after 30 seconds, a minute is the maximum.
  • Notification + actions settings item. It has a lot of applications and, as a rule, they all work in the background; I advise you to simply disable unnecessary ones.
  • Constantly turned on wi-fi, Bluetooth, NFC, location also affect battery consumption.
  • I wrote about the features of using 3G and 4G above.
  • The sensor and screen saver items also require individual settings. If you do not use double tap, it is better to disable the screen saver.
  • Some applications and games can also “kill” a smartphone literally within 3-4 hours of continuous use.
  • And finally, if the design in applications is white and not black, correct this, the same applies, of course, to the background of the system (changes in the “desktop + theme” settings item)

If you do everything as described in these points, your smartphone will last exactly a day, or even two, depending on the battery capacity.

Another small minus is that the alarm clock does not work when the smartphone is turned off, well damn... Microsoft needs to do something about this.

Well, at the end of my review, I would like to say a few words about the prospects of WP. Due to the fact that Microsoft bought Nokia mobile. Thus I received a lot of whists. Now the development of the Lumia line will go up, the system will develop rapidly, the number of applications will increase. The company still has something to work on, something to fix, where to grow. The same voice assistant Cortana will soon, according to the assurances of the developers, speak Russian. The camera apps will receive significant improvements in the very near future. There will be support for gesture control. The revolutionary Windows 10 will be released, which will be equipped with a common store for tablets, laptops and smartphones, this will certainly give impetus to the increase in the number of applications in it. According to Microsoft, ALL smartphones with WP8 installed will be updated to Windows 10. Let's hope the story with WP 7.8 doesn't repeat itself. Now there are no prerequisites for this. It is very gratifying that all smartphones receive updates approximately every six months. The oldest 820 and 920 lumias have already been updated 3 times, soon there will be a 4th one to the Denim version.
By the way, models 830/730/735/535 are already sold with a pre-installed version of WP 8.1 Denim OS.

I sincerely believe that very soon WP will take a leading position in the market. The system and the attitude of manufacturers towards it evoke only positive emotions.

If you have any questions, you can ask in the comments.

In this article, we look at the Windows Phone 8 operating system, its features, applications for WP8 and the operation of devices that use it.

Here we will not conduct a detailed review of its interface or share impressions of the operation of this OS. The purpose of the article is to understand the features of both Windows Phone 8 and the devices on which it is installed. And also sort out the main nuances and distinctive features of smartphones running Windows Phone 8 that are not obvious at first glance. This operating system came out several years later than the boom of touch-screen devices and now remains in the shadows, partly because it is simply unusual for most users.

Features of Windows Phone 8

The WP8 interface is very different from its competitors, although this platform provides users with an almost identical set of functions. For most smartphone users, it’s a little unusual to work with this OS, but they say you can get used to it in just a couple of days. WP users point out the exceptional convenience and “smoothness” of the OS, while users from the other camp are perplexed.
Among the striking differences of WP8 are, first of all, high stability and speed of operation (even on weak devices) and, at the same time, limited possibilities for customizing and customizing the operating system. Yes, WP8 is faster than iOS and gives users less flexibility in terms of interface customization.

Pros and cons of the system

Let's first look at the pros and cons of Windows Phone 8 relative to its competitors solely as an operating system, without taking into account applications and devices on WP8 for now.

Pros:

  • As noted above, WP8 works stably, without freezing or rebooting - there are always enough resources for applications.
  • WP8 is well optimized and works quite quickly. And those moments in which it can slow down are smoothed out by animation.
  • Due to the closed nature of the OS, there are no viruses for it.
  • Integration with social networks at the operating system level. Contacts from networks are combined with the phone book, and Facebook chat is implemented in the same format as SMS correspondence.
  • The ability to fully control the device remotely from a computer.
  • Built into the OS is the ability to use it at the corporate level: encryption, remote data wipe, etc. In this regard, WP8 is more functional than iOS and more secure than Android.

Minuses:

  • Limited interface customization options.
  • A closed file system, which imposes small restrictions on the operation of applications. The following cannot always be implemented: sending files, managing media content, etc.
  • Lack of a “notification center” or, in common parlance, a curtain. On the other hand, all the features provided by iOS or Android in this way are compensated by other OS features.
  • Inability to use most Google services (more on this below).
  • Some users are not satisfied with the format for adding and editing contacts in their phone. On the other hand, this is compensated by the versatility of the contact system.

Windows Phone 8 and Google

Google, for various reasons, is not going to release mobile applications for WP8 for its services. Rumor has it that this is due to marketing strategy.
Most notably, on WP8 you can't sync your calendar with Google Celendar, there's no authentic Google Maps, and there's no separate app for Gmail. Access to YouTube for Windows Phone apps is also blocked.

Applications in Windows Phone 8

In the first time after the release of WP8 OS, it was significantly inferior in terms of the number of applications in the market. After some time, the situation leveled out, and now applications for most popular services are available on the Windows Phone Store. On the other hand, small companies and startups rarely release applications for Windows Phone.

The operating system from Microsoft uses MS Office (free mobile version) and Internet Explorer. There are no worthy alternatives to the native browser on this platform, but it almost always works quickly and adequately. Nokia devices also come with Nokia Maps, which, according to some reviews, is better than Google's.
Among other things, the so-called “Rooms”, within which users are in constant contact, receive notifications from social networks about the activity of other room participants, can use multifunctional chat, etc.

Censorship inside the WP Store works almost as strictly as in the Apple Store - the number of frankly lousy applications in the marketplace is reduced to almost zero.
Also, developers for Windows Phone are officially recommended to create applications using a uniform design and standard navigation methods for all. Which gives its results: applications on Windows Phone look much less varied than applications on other OSes, and users always know what to expect when they swipe/tap on the screen.

Windows Phone 8 devices

A few facts:

  • This OS can only be found on smartphones: for tablets, either Windows RT or full-fledged Windows 8 is used.
  • According to Microsoft policy, any device running WP8 is guaranteed three years of support for operating system updates.
  • Since Windows Phone is a proprietary and paid OS, the range of manufacturers of such smartphones is extremely limited.
  • Windows Phone smartphones become significantly cheaper when newer devices are released, unlike Apple or Samsung products.

WP8 devices are most popular in developing countries due to the availability of high-quality budget models. In addition, some organizations are implementing WP8 devices at the company level due to system security and enterprise features.

via Alexandr Mikhaylenko, Windows Phone user

The vast majority of users associate the Windows 10 operating system with personal computers. However, the developers position it as cross-platform, that is, designed to work on several types of devices. In particular, it is very actively spreading to mobile phones and, judging by user reviews, it is taking root there many times better than Windows Phone 7 and 8. Microsoft is mainly involved in the production of such devices, but there are also other brands. The rating of smartphones running on Windows 10 and in no way inferior to gadgets on Android and iOS will help you get acquainted with the best of them.

The best Windows smartphones with two SIM cards

Gadgets on the Windows platform were first produced by Microsoft itself. The Lumia series smartphones turned out to be very convenient, high-quality and functional, while the level of system optimization is one of the best among modern mobile phones. An excellent selection of parameters and a detailed system made smartphones very attractive to buyers and significantly smoothed out the negative attitude towards mobile releases of the system after Windows Phone.

1. Microsoft Lumia 640 3G Dual Sim

Microsoft's first truly high-quality smartphone with an excellent camera was the Lumia 640. Initially, the device comes with Windows Phone 8.1, but it can be immediately upgraded to Windows Phone 10 without any problems. The gadget itself is equipped with an excellent 5-inch HD screen with protective glass, allowing you to comfortably use your smartphone without fear of damaging the display. At one time, the phone on many forums was considered one of the best in terms of parameters, since it has a pretty good 8-megapixel camera with digital Zoom 4X. Users will be pleased with two slots for SIM cards, 3G support, and autonomy of up to 2 days. Even after almost 3 years, the device seems quite attractive, so buying a smartphone of this model would be an excellent decision.

Advantages:

  • excellent build quality;
  • support NFC, DLNA;
  • one of the best cameras among budget smartphones;
  • price-quality ratio;
  • light weight;
  • battery life;
  • Replaceable back panels in different colors.

Flaws:

  • slight delay in application notifications;
  • difficulty finding the necessary programs;
  • there are many flaws in the system.

2. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual Sim

In the debate about which smartphone is better for Lumia lovers, the 950 XL has no competitors. The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the phone is its excellent design and good build quality. A reliable body, a strict business style, protective glass, a 5.7-inch QHD display - this gadget is worth buying if only for its appearance. However, the advantages of a smartphone with a large screen do not end there: it also has a gorgeous 20 megapixel camera with optical stabilization and an F/1.9 aperture and two communication modules with 4G up to VoLTE frequencies. Due to the 3340 mAh battery and excellent optimization, the device holds a charge for up to 2 days, which makes the gadget even more attractive. Support for wireless charging makes the device even more practical, allowing you to charge your mobile phone without unnecessary wires and even at a short distance.

Advantages:

  • USB Type-C connector;
  • top-end Snapdragon 810 chip and 3 GB of RAM;
  • high charging speed;
  • camera quality;
  • many useful additions;
  • excellent sound quality;
  • Removable back panel (different colors available).

Flaws:

  • not detected.

The best Windows smartphones with a 5-inch screen

Not every good Windows smartphone needs to have a large display. The 5-inch diagonal is considered the most optimal solution among most buyers, since it is both not too small and quite convenient to use. In our review there are several phones with a 5-inch screen, but the one that best fits the parameters under consideration is the model from HTC, which also works with Windows 10, although it is not even equipped with it initially (it becomes available after a quick and simple update).

1. HTC Titan

The compact 4.7-inch device is an excellent option for women and children. The neat aluminum case fits perfectly in the hand and does not slip out or get dirty. Despite the presence of standard Windows Phone 7.5, upgrading to “ten” is not difficult due to convenient in-system tools. The device appeared on the market quite a long time ago, but among small gadgets on the Microsoft platform it is still considered the best. Of course, the device’s parameters are quite modest: Qualcomm 8255T chip, 512 MB of RAM and support for only 3G networks, but even under such conditions the phone performs beyond all praise. In addition, the reliability of the smartphone is not inferior to modern mobile phones due to its robust build of the highest quality. For its time, the gadget had a luxurious memory capacity of 16 GB, as well as an excellent 8 megapixel camera with face recognition, capable of taking excellent photos in appropriate lighting.

Advantages:

  • high-quality Super LCD screen;
  • support DLNA, A-GPS;
  • dual LED flash;
  • loud speaker;
  • fast work in proprietary Microsoft applications.

Flaws:

  • there is no way to update the system via Wi-Fi (only via USB)
  • The proximity sensor may malfunction.

The best Windows 10 smartphones with a powerful battery

A smartphone with a good battery is worth its weight in gold today. Long-term autonomy is the basis for the successful use of a gadget, but many manufacturers pay little attention to this parameter. Of course, the most popular Android phones have very good endurance, but other devices cannot boast of this characteristic. Windows 10 consumes power very economically, but without compromising performance, which allows you to work with the gadget for up to 3 days if you have a powerful battery.

1. HP Elite X3 + Desk Dock

The most impressive smartphone in the TOP 6 on the Windows 10 platform is the Elite X3 from HP. The smartphone attracts attention not only with its characteristics, but also with its ideal price-quality ratio, which is definitely in favor of the second indicator while the first is low. The device has a fantastic 5.96-inch Quad HD AMOLED screen, as well as Gorilla Glass protection. The smartphone body turned out to be unusually thin - only 7.8 mm, since it is made of metal. At the same time, the phone’s characteristics are in no way inferior to the top representatives of the Android and iOS platforms: the device runs on a 4-core Snapdragon 820 and 4 GB of RAM. The device comes with a portable docking station that allows you to charge it even where there are no outlets. However, the phone's charging requirement is low: the 4150 mAh battery is discharged only at the end of the third day.

Advantages:

  • iris scanner;
  • high contrast and image saturation;
  • convenient wireless charging;
  • battery life;
  • rear camera – 16 MP, front – 8 MP.

Flaws:

  • high price;
  • a small number of pre-installed applications.

2. HP Elite X3

Previously, a version of the smartphone discussed above without a docking station was on sale. In all characteristics, this model is almost identical to the older assembly, but there is still a difference between the devices. It lies, first of all, in the price of the phone, which in the second case is 6000-9000 rubles lower. In addition, in the Elite X3, the Windows 10 system runs somewhat slower, but it is capable of providing a good degree of performance and optimization. Both smartphones with a large 5.96-inch screen are ideal for business, but the Elite X3, due to its lower cost and lack of a docking station, will be an excellent solution for ordinary buyers who prefer phablets.

Advantages:

  • excellent system optimization;
  • high quality display;
  • fast charging capability;
  • excellent build quality;
  • high degree of reliability and data protection.

Flaws:

  • more aimed at corporate users.

3.Microsoft Lumia 950

The first model of the Lumia 950 series, compared to the XL modification, has a more compact design, but no less worthy characteristics. It is better to buy this mobile phone for lovers of ergonomics, as it has a 5.2-inch AMOLED display in Quad HD format, thanks to which it fits perfectly in the hand and gives a wonderful picture. In addition, a smartphone with a good 20 megapixel camera and optical stabilization can easily turn into a professional camera, which also attracts buyers. The device’s battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh, which is average by the standards of Android gadgets, but with Windows 10 optimization it can work up to 2.5 days without recharging.

Advantages:

  • powerful chip with 6 cores and 3 GB of RAM;
  • built-in memory – 32 GB (plus microSD support);
  • iris scanner;
  • bright and rich screen;
  • the ability to record videos in 4K format;
  • a complete package of office programs;
  • stable operation of the system;
  • wireless charging function;
  • replaceable back panels.

Flaws:

  • gets hot when playing at maximum settings;
  • plastic case;
  • number of preinstalled programs.

Which Windows smartphone should I buy?

The supply of mobile devices on the platform in question is relatively limited, so choosing the best smartphone running Windows 10 will not be difficult for the buyer. Most of the models, contrary to the opinion of Android device owners, work perfectly. In addition, there is no doubt about the quality and reliability of the gadgets. Many people are unfamiliar with using Windows, since it is not as open and simple as Android; however, having learned to handle the system correctly, the owner of such a smartphone realizes all the delights of the platform.