Microsoft Should Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary By Gifting Me A New Windows Phone
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Microsoft recently turned 50, solidifying a remarkable run in a constantly evolving industry. Microsoft may not get everything right, but survival is an art form, and 50 years in business is nothing to sneeze at. However, instead of highlighting the company’s software achievements with Windows and Office, I want to focus on an area where Microsoft failed: smartphones.
Windows Phone suffered from numerous self-inflicted wounds, but the marketplace didn’t do it any favors. App developers shied away, and the platform never got the traction it deserved. Metro UI with live tiles is still the best user experience I’ve had on a phone, and for Microsoft’s 50th, I’d love for us to receive a present. I don’t want Clippy back or Microsoft Bob; I’d like Microsoft to take one last legitimate shot at a smartphone using some of the magic that made the Windows Phone stick in our hearts and minds nearly a decade after its demise.
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Windows Phone was fun
I miss lively designs
I recently wrote about the Pixel 9a’s design changes, noting how the device hasn’t lost its typical Google charm. You can still identify it from across the room, which is something I can’t say for every smartphone manufacturer. As recognizable as Pixels have become, no phone announced its presence more than the Nokia Lumia. The Lumias came in bold, neon colors with a squared-off form factor that screamed Windows Phone. They were fun to use, as devices like the Lumia 830 had removable batteries and backplates so that you could mix and match. If you purchased an orange Lumia 830, you could swap out for a green backplate when bored. It was a fantastic way to personalize your phone without a case, and I never got tired of its aesthetic.
At a glance, I could see what my friends were up to, what the weather was like, and what news and information I needed to know.
Removable backplates won’t return anytime soon, but there’s still room for another smartphone with a bit of fun in the marketplace. Microsoft has shown no interest in returning with another device, but Windows Phone in 2025 would succeed in a way not possible 10 years ago. Samsung was still innovating, and the Apple iPhone seemed unstoppable, but times have changed. Samsung seems stagnant, and we’ve seen Apple struggle with its smartphone software in a way we’re not used to. If there were to be a competing phone, now is the time to test the waters.
Can someone please duplicate Metro UI?
It worked better on phones than it did on Windows 8
I understand Microsoft has its own Android launcher, but that was meant to give people the more recent aesthetic of the Microsoft Surface Duo smartphones, not yesteryear’s Windows Phone live tiles. It’s heartbreaking that no Android manufacturer has captured the spirit of Metro UI and live tiles. We’re inundated with AI enhancements and the same old user experience, so it’s mindboggling that Microsoft hasn’t capitalized on something different.
Live tiles intuitively integrated our lives with our smartphones. At a glance, I could see what my friends were up to, what the weather was like, and what news and information I needed to know. I remember loving it when I could add my Xbox 360 account and see when friends were playing or when I achieved something. Modern smartphone UIs feel disconnected from the user, while Metro UI felt designed with the user in mind.
Windows Phone software was often lightweight and bloatware-free, meaning it could run smoothly on even older hardware. Features like dark mode conserved battery long before it was a standard feature on Android and iOS devices. Windows Phone was simple and powerful, unlike most smartphone software in 2025.
I’d even settle for another Surface Duo
Make it about productivity
I’d prefer a full Windows Phone return, but I’ll settle for another Microsoft Surface Duo. I’m shocked that no other manufacturer has tried duplicating the Metro UI experience. Still, I’m equally confused that no other Android folding phone has replicated multitasking from the Surface Duo. It’s an excellent experience, and I love how I can swipe away individual apps when I’m finished instead of closing the entire pairing. It’s such a simple design element, but it makes a huge difference to usability. I was disappointed when I heard that Microsoft was planning a Surface Duo 3 with a traditional folding screen. Still, I was encouraged to hear that the company planned to keep the same multitasking experience.
Another Surface Duo device could focus on productivity, a natural tie-in with Microsoft’s Office app suite. It would give folding phones a purpose that is currently lacking in devices from Samsung and Google. Poor folding phone sales aren’t because we’re not interested; companies haven’t sold us why they are worth the additional premium. The company that cracks that equation will sell plenty, and I wish Microsoft would take another shot.
Microsoft gave up too soon
I understand why Microsoft left the smartphone marketplace twice. Windows Phone didn’t have the developer support it needed, and the company just didn’t sell enough Surface Duo phones to justify making more of them. I’m so desperate for an experience not dominated by Galaxy AI and Google Gemini that I’m willing to turn to Microsoft for my next smartphone; what does that tell you about the current state of the marketplace?
