14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has quietly increased the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10 Mobile devices, so in order to be able to run the new operating system, phones must now have at least 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage.
Previously, Microsoft’s official documents stated that 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage was enough to run Windows 10 Mobile, but given the latest changes that the company has made to the operating system, these hardware requirements have been increased.
NPU spotted the change in Microsoft’s official Windows 10 Mobile documentation, which also reveals that the OS supports a wide array of resolutions, starting with 800x480 pixels and ending with 2560x1440 pixels. The maximum allowed screen size is 7 inches, while the smallest is 3.5 inches.
The 512 MB devices saga
Back in 2015, Microsoft said that it wanted Windows 10 Mobile to be supported by all Windows Phone devices on the market and its papers indicated that only 512 MB of RAM was needed to run the new OS.
Moreover, the company itself said that bringing the new OS on devices with such a low amount of RAM was part of its plans, explaining that Windows 10 Mobile could indeed run on these phones, but with some feature limitations because of the hardware.
But earlier this year when Microsoft finally released the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade for Windows Phone devices, the company actually left models with 512 MB of RAM behind, changing its mind and saying that at least 1 GB was needed to ensure a smooth experience on the new operating system.
And the official hardware requirements have been consequently updated to state the actual specifications of Windows 10 Mobile, while also serving as another confirmation that there’s absolutely no plan to release the OS for devices with 512 MB of RAM. So if you were hoping for a miracle and see Microsoft release Windows 10 Mobile for low-end Lumia models too, this should basically be the living proof that there’s absolutely no plan in this regard.