In an almost completely unsurprising turn of events, and showing just how ubiquitous the Android operating system has become, the official Microsoft Store now features fewer Windows mobile devices than Android handsets. That’s following the removal of two Windows Mobile phones as of January 1, including the previously featured Acer Jade Primo and Acer Liquid M330. The two devices were likely slated for removal due to the fact that neither was set to receive future feature updates from Microsoft. Meanwhile, the sole remaining Windows devices are the HP Elite x3 – which is currently on sale in a bundle, including a desktop dock, for $200 off at $599.99 – and the Alcatel IDOL 4S. The HP Elite x3 is set to remain on sale through 2019. However, the fate of Alcatel’s device is somewhat less certain, since it is also currently on sale and for $301 less than retail. That puts its cost at the budget end of the mobile price spectrum – at just $169 – despite that it ships with a VR goggles package and features high-end Windows phone specs.
In the meantime, as of this writing, there are technically four Android devices listed on Microsoft’s official store. One of those devices, a carrier unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with 64GB of storage, is currently out of stock. The remaining devices are the Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, and the more recently revealed Razer phone. Unfortunately, none of those is currently on sale on Microsoft’s site. Samsung’s devices are currently priced at $724.99 and $824.99, respectively, while the company’s Galaxy Note 8 is priced at $929.99. The Razer phone is priced at $699.99.
The steady decline in Windows Mobile devices isn’t likely to be too shocking for anybody that has been following with trends in the mobile world, considering Android’s dominance in the global market and a steady shift in Microsoft’s own direction as it pertains to mobile. The company has effectively if not officially, ended any and all attempts to gain market share amid growing competition in the smartphone industry. It has also placed an emphasis on growing its own presence on Android devices through the release of its own launcher and other software in order to stay relevant. So it probably isn’t unexpected that Microsoft’s online store is moving focus away from mobile devices operating on the Windows platform.