HP at the MWC in February unveiled the Windows 10-powered Elite X3. The smartphone also supported Windows 10’s Continuum feature and was focused for enterprise customers. Despite the mild response to the Elite X3, it looks like the company is planning to launch another Windows phone in 2017.
The company is rumoured to have teamed up with Microsoft for the release of a more customer-focused Windows Phone that is likely to launch in February 2017, Phone Arena reports citing its own sources, which confirm earlier reports.
The report states that HP will develop and sell the smartphone while Microsoft will help with the finance. Microsoft will reportedly also provide the technology that it has used with its Lumia smartphones to let HP bring features like Glance, ClearBlack display, double-tap to wake, and advanced camera functionality to its upcoming Windows 10 device.
Expected Features of New HP Windows Smartphone
If reports are to be believed, features like Glance, ClearBlack display, double tap to wake, and advanced camera functionality will be implemented in the HP’s Windows Phone handset. We might see a dedicated camera app matching the likes of Lumia’s camera in the HP handset.
Specifications of HP’s First Windows Phone ‘Elite X9’
Just to refresh, the Elite X3 sports a 5.96-inch QHD (1440×2560 pixels) AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4 on top. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC clocked at 2.15GHz coupled with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB inbuilt storage.
Optics for the Elite X3 include a 15-megapixel rear camera, and an 8-megapixel camera front-facing shooter. The phone was designed for businesses, which is why it comes with tons of security features as well as HP Workspace.
The report adds that that Microsoft has already revealed a new Windows 10 Mobile handset internally in Redmond, and is expected to be officially announced in February 2017.
Will the New Windows Survive in Android and iOS Dominated market?
While Android and iOS are known for their major market share in the smartphone industry, Windows mobile OS still has a huge fan following who would love to see and buy a new Windows handset. HP and Microsoft will aim to target such audience and the affordable price tag can come as a neat trick to lure first time Windows buyers as well. It’s too early to talk about the figures, but an affordable feature loaded Windows phone can fill the gap after Microsoft declared that it is killing the Lumia range of handsets in September 2016.
