Microsoft’s Windows 10 Tablet And 2-In-1 Guidelines For Hardware Developers

The Windows 10 Device event tomorrow looks like it will become a significant event, since it will open the floodgates for new Windows 10 tablets, 2-in-1's, Windows 10 phones, as well as all the other kind of new Windows 10 devices, from tiny desktop computers and Windows 10 PC sticks, to watches and new services and apps. Even the first waterproof Windows 10 phone for consumers will launch in the weeks after Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book event tomorrow.

So what can we expect in terms of hardware from the many new partners that Microsoft is working with these days? The official Microsoft guidelines for Windows 10 tablets is very modest in some areas, like screen resolution, but become better the larger the tablet. On 7-inch tablets Microsoft is even fine with 480 x 800 resolution, although I have yet to see anyone actually work on a tablet like that in 2015. But Microsoft does list “low cost” as a key feature recommendation for 7-inch Windows 10 tablets, as well as a 10+ hour battery life.

Windows 10 Tablets

The guidelines for Windows 10 2-in-1 tablets are a little higher fortunately. Microsoft now recommends active digitizer support or what they call “Inking/Pen Support” on all 2-in-1's from now on.

Entry level 2-in-1's are acceptable with 2GB of RAM, while mainstream models are recommended having 4GB RAM or more, while premium 2-in-1 tablets should have between 4GB to 16GB RAM, like the 16GB RAM Vaio Z Canvas that is released in the US today.

Windows 10 2-in-1 tablets

USB type C is recommended across the board on 2-in-1's too, so that might be considered standard from now on. Microsoft also wants premium Windows 10 2-in-1 tablets to have a 12+ hours battery life. So the premium category will be interesting to follow over the next couple of months, since a few models have leaked already with a very promising 4k resolution. That will put some pressure on the battery.

Windows 10 Mobile

One of the other interesting categories to watch, starting tomorrow, are the Windows 10 Mobile phones now that the mobile OS is rolling out too. Microsoft already have two Windows 10 Mobile smartphones in the Windows 10 Premium Phone segment lined up with the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. In that space Microsoft recommends the display resolution to range from 1920 x 1200 to 2560 x 1440, and to have a 20MP rear camera, which is exactly what the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL phones has.

The waterproof Windows 10 phone seen further below however is the upcoming Coship BVC X1.

Buy Microsoft Lumia 950
Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL
Waterproof Windows 10 Phone Coship BVC X1
Waterproof Windows 10 Phone Coship BVC X1
Windows 10 PC Stick ECS PCoS
Windows 10 PC Stick ECS PCoS

– Jim Miller