Talking about Windows Phone in 2024 means an important look into the past, to an era in which Microsoft’s well-known mobile operating system was even able to take the second place of iOS in some markets, and in which the Redmond giant managed to break this duopoly which Google and Apple maintained.

I remember that time perfectly, in fact I wrote a lot about Windows Phone back then and the truth is that despite all its shortcomings it was an interesting operating system full of possibilities. In its final phase, when it experienced its greatest decline to extinction, it was when it acquired some of its most interesting features, such as the Continuum, which allowed us use your smartphone as a Windows PC.

HP Elite For many it was a mistake that Microsoft abandoned its adventure in this market, but the truth is that in the end the company was losing ground and ended up at a point of no return from which it did not know how to get out. As a company, it actually did the right thing by not continuing to “bleed” money.

Windows Phone in 2024: this is how it could have been

Let’s rewrite history for a moment. Imagine that Microsoft decided to continue supporting Windows Phone and that the operating system survived and reached our days, How could a version of this be adapted to the present? I think it’s a very interesting question, and AR channel 4789 shared a video showing us what its natural evolution would be, Windows 12 Mobile.

Windows Phone in 2024, or Windows 12 Mobile, whatever you want to call it, is presented in this concept video as an operating system that drink directly from Windows 11 for PC, although it is obviously adapted to the peculiarities of the smartphone. The home screen has details reminiscent of some mix between iOS and Android, and the interface is distinctly minimalistic.

The details on the screen leave no doubt. Have dock at the bottom, which is almost a copy of the Windows 11 toolbar, albeit with a “floating” finish and a design better tuned to the smartphone interface. You’ll see the Windows icon and Copilot there, along with other important shortcuts like File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and the Microsoft Store.

In the central part we see a system of “folders” and apps that closely resembles that used by both iOS and Android. A little higher up, a dedicated Bing search bar appears, and at the top of the screen we have a huge space dedicated to time. This interface would be customizable and we could use new widgets to cover the available space as we see fit.

The most interesting part comes when going through the various applications and sections of the operating system, which we can see from the 1st minute of the video. The interface looks very similar to Windows 11 and we have very well resolved window covering which would make it easier to interact, configure and change settings on the terminal. Overall I have to say I really like what I see and the options switch between different surfaces.

What can I say, after watching this video I wanted to see a Windows smartphone, and you?