14 DAY TRIAL // Bad news for those expecting Microsoft to add support for MediaTek chipsets for Windows Phone 8.1 devices, as the new platform's emulator proves otherwise.
We reported a few days ago on the alleged NEO M1 smartphone which was supposedly powered by Windows Phone 8.1 operating system and equipped with a MediaTek chip.
Chinese OEM NEO announced the upcoming release of its M1 handset with Android OS onboard, but a picture showing the device running Windows Phone 8.1 leaked online several hours before the official announcement.
Knowing the NEO M1 uses MediaTek's chipsets, many assumed Microsoft may have added support for these processors which would have opened up numerous possibilities for the low-end segment of the smartphone market.
However, as WMPoweruser points out, the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 emulator shows the complete (and definitive) list of supported CPU/SoC and MediaTek is not mentioned there.
In fact, only Qualcomm-based processors seems to be supported by Windows Phone 8.1, such as Snapdragon 200, 400, 800 and S4.
Entry-level Windows Phone handsets are not expensive at all, on the contrary. Nokia Lumia 520 is one of the most popular smartphone powered by Microsoft's operating system due to its low price.
The addition of MediaTek support for Windows Phone 8.1 may or may not have lowered the devices' price even more. What do you make of this?