What is the difference between a Windows Phone and a Smartphone?
When Microsoft first released the Windows Phone operating system back in 2010, it was designed as a mobile operating system for connected, mobile-first devices like tablets and smartphones. A smartphone is a mobile device that can perform the functions of a personal computer, such as email, web browsing, and social media. A smartphone can be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.
Microsoft has been trying to make Windows Phone a contender in the smartphone market for years. In 2016, Microsoft introduced a new name for their smartphone offering: “Windows Phone.” Though the phones sold under this “Windows Phone” brand are still made by companies like Nokia, HTC, Samsung, and LG, they come from the same company as the “smartphones” from companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, Sony, and Microsoft.
So, what is the difference between a Windows Phone and a Smartphone? It might seem to be a trivial question, but it’s important to know the difference between these two types of products if you plan to make a switch in the future. Read below to learn all about windows phones.
You can also read: Windows vs. Android: What’s Better & Why
What is the difference between a Windows Phone and a Smartphone?
Smartphones and Windows Phones may have a lot in common, but they all differ in one area: the operating system. Windows phones are basically smartphones with windows. Smartphones run Android, iOS, or Windows, while Windows Phones run Microsoft’s Windows Phone 10.
Both types of phones offer similar features, like the ability to send texts and email, make calls, take photos, listen to music, play games, and more. But both operating systems—Android and Windows—have different app selections and personalization options, so it’s important to keep in mind which type of phone you’re looking for: a smartphone or Windows Phone.
What is a Smartphone?
Smartphones are powerful devices that can be extremely useful. Especially if you travel for work, a smartphone can help you stay productive even when you’re out of the office. They can help you stay up-to-date with news and weather, and you can even use them to make calls. You can even make calls with your smartphone. So why are there smartphones? Smartphones aren’t phones, just as we don’t use computers to make phone calls. Smartphones are actually just smartphones.
The terms smartphone and mobile device are often used interchangeably, but are they the same thing? The simple answer is no. Simply put, a smartphone is a phone that also includes other capabilities beyond making phone calls. Mobile phones have been around since the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that phones were able to connect to the Internet.
What is a Windows Phone?
Windows Phone is Microsoft’s mobile operating system. It is used as a branding term for Windows phones, which are a series of smartphones that run the Windows Phone operating system, and also for a range of other devices manufactured by Microsoft.
It is the successor of the former mobile operating system Windows Phone 7, released alongside the Windows Phone 8 platform in October 2012. The operating system and its apps are available for free to users of Windows Phone devices, and manufacturers license the operating system from Microsoft to pre-install on devices they make.
Microsoft released its first smartphone operating system in 2010, launching Windows Phone 7. Since then, it has slowly crept up market share, and this year it reached 2% of the smartphone market. And, it’s where Microsoft wants to stay. Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 were well-received, but Microsoft now wants to migrate the user base to Windows 10 Mobile, the latest version of its mobile OS. Windows 10 Mobile is a streamlined experience, designed to work well across phones, tablets, and PCs.
Are all Smartphones Windows Phones?
The answer is clearly no. It’s a common misconception that all smartphones running Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system are Lumia handsets. It’s true that Microsoft released its first Windows Phone in 2010, and that all current Windows Phone devices use its Power UX interface, which is based on Nokia’s Series 40 user interface. But Microsoft’s non-Lumia smartphones run Windows Phone 8, not Windows Phone 1.0.
Trying to figure out if your smartphone is a Windows Phone? No, This site will tell you. If your phone is running Windows Phone 8, it’s almost certainly a Windows Phone. Windows Phone 8.1 is the slightly more advanced version of the OS, and Windows Phone 10 is the latest. (It may also be Windows Phone 8.1.1 for the uninitiated.)
Are all Windows Phones Smartphones?
Straightforward answer yes. Microsoft is still producing smartphones running its Windows Mobile operating system (WMO), and they’re useful for people who want newer features but don’t want to pay for the yearly upgrades required with a Windows Phone running the new Windows Phone 10 (WP10) operating system.
When Microsoft first launched Windows Phone 7, it was supposed to be the “Windows Phone” that would finally put Microsoft back on the map as a mobile operating system (os) developer. But Microsoft failed to achieve that goal, and sales did not really take off until the release of the Nokia Lumia 920, which really turned the Windows Phone 7 market upside down. But yes all Windows phones are a smartphone.
Thanks for reading
Windows Phone and Smartphone are terms commonly used to refer to mobile devices. More often than not, it’s easy to confuse the two—especially because they’re often used interchangeably.
Did you know that more than 80 per cent of the world uses a mobile phone? But if you’re someone who isn’t so familiar with mobile computing, you may be wondering how a smartphone differs from a Windows Phone. While both smartphones and tablets have touchscreens and offer Internet access, there are several key differences.
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