On an effort to make Continuum more widely available on Windows 10 Mobile devices, Microsoft is now lowering the hardware requirements to make the feature work on mid-range phones, and not just in premium devices, such as the Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, and Acer’s Liquid Jade Primo.
Continuum is a new feature in Windows 10 Mobile that allows users to convert their phones into a PC-like experience by connecting the device to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse, using a dock adapter.
The new updated requirements have been spotted at the Microsoft’s Windows hardware website, which now shows the addition of the Snapdragon 617 (MS8952) to the list of processors compatible with Continuum for phones. This new change will allows manufacturers to build cheaper phones with a less powerful processor, while still able to support the feature in Windows 10 Mobile.
Continuum hardware requirements
| Component | Minimum Requirements | Premium Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Applications processor | Qualcomm MS8952, MS8992, MS8994 | Dual SIM support |
| RAM | 2 GB RAM for phones with display resolution of 720p | 3 GB RAM for phones with display resolution of 1080p or more |
| Flash storage | ≥16 GB nonremovable flash memory | |
| microSD | Optional | microSD card support |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 support is required | |
| Wi-Fi | Supports at least 802.11n dual band | 802.11ac dual band recommended. 2x2 antenna recommended. |
| Miracast | Supports Windows 10 Miracast extensions. | |
| USB | USB dual-role required to support wired dock configuration. USB 2.0 support required | USB 3.0 recommended. USB Type C connector strongly recommended to support wired configurations. |
Previously, the Windows 10 Mobile feature was only available on premium phones, but from the beginning Continuum was aimed for people at work and for those who don’t own a PC and their main computing device is a phone. However, phones such as one of the brand new Lumia 950 are quite expensive for some people and even more when you have to consider that they also need to buy the Microsoft Display Dock, keyboard and mouse, and an external monitor to make it all work.
Lowering the hardware requirements will help Microsoft to bring Continuum in Windows 10 Mobile to more smartphones. But obviously, this doesn’t mean that the company will bring the PC-like experience to older phones. This is not happening here, the new changes only apply for new less powerful processors.
Source Microsoft via NokiaPowerUser
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].