Let's talk phones.
Which phones actually work allow Continuum?
Going back to the MSDN page (referenced in the previous page, talking about what Continuum actually is), we are given the hardware requirements for phone manufacturers looking to support Continuum. Most of the requirements are met by any high-end smartphone these days (2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). The big giveaway, and my general rule of thumb, is processor support. Continuum requires a Snapdragon 808, 810, and more recently the 617. This requirement is why we don't see old phones getting support (other high-end Windows phones generally had Snapdragon 800s or 801s). Onto the phones themselves!
The ones that started it all: Lumia 950 and 950 XL
They're the original show-stoppers. Great flagship devices that showcase the best of Windows 10 Mobile. The 950 and 950 XL have the Snapdragon 808 and 810 respectively, and while the Continuum experience is great on both, the XL is marginally better. Some unique features that have won me over: great cameras (with dedicated camera button), iris scanner, 3 gigs of RAM, and beautiful QHD screens. I'm also a huge fan of the fun power button placement (in order: Volume Up, Power, Volume Down), but that may deter some people. Oh, and grab one of the slick Mozo backplate replacements if you'd like to change the look.
The unavailable! Acer Liquid Jade Primo, NuAns Neo, HP Elite x3, Sony VAIO Phone Biz, and the Moly PcPhone
What a line-up. The metallic and sleek, the modernly designed, the ultra powerful, and the beautiful yet affordable. All coming in the next few months but no official release date.
Want a Lumia 950 alternative that's slightly larger and has a metallic build? Look no further. Expect a slightly better battery life considering the screen has a more traditional 1080p resolution as well.
Welcome to design heaven. Be prepared to have to decide between an endless amount of backplates (the top and bottom are independent), but don't expect the highest end specs here. This was the first Continuum phone introduced with the Snapdragon 617, which is still a solid performer. For those looking for a cheaper, ultra modern, entry into the Continuum world, who also happen to live in Japan, the NuAns Neo is a great choice. Here's hoping it comes to the states.
A complete surprise at MVC, the HP Elite x3 came in swinging. Snapdragon 820 (the latest), 4 gigs of RAM, a huge battery, 6" QHD screen. Everything a spec-geek could ever ask for. Some features even came as a huge surprise such as the inclusion of both a fingerprint and iris scanner and a HP cloud VM app for running full Windows apps in Continuum. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to test out the HP Elite x3 and see how great the experience is after all the tech blog raving. HP even went a third step further and created the Mobile Extender (which I had also mentioned in a previous post), adding a whole new use case for Continuum.
Although not much info has been released about the PhoneBiz, it does come in with the basic specs (Snapdragon 617, 5.5 HD screen, 3 gigs of ram) and will have a lower price tag. In my eyes a good alternative to the NuAns Neo for those who prefer a larger screen and a metal finish.
Expected to launch in July (although not in the states), the PcPhone is an interesting product from a small company. The 6" screen and fairly standard specs (Snapdragon 617 and 3 gigs of ram, again) make it another solid addition in the Windows phone space. The price is also apparently up in the air as a questionnaire can be found on the Moly website asking consumers what price they are willing to pay.