Moly X1 Windows 10 Mobile phone crowdfunding is quite telling

If you slapped Android on a smartphone like the Moly X1, it would probably fare better on Indiegogo. It probably won't sell out, given the inherent risks of crowdfunding. It probably would have gotten more than 12 (at the time of this writing). That more than disappointing low figure is the fate that faces the Moly X1 campaign on Indiegogo. Trying to ride on the popularity of the HP Elite x3, the Moly X1 tries to offer fans a more affordable Windows 10 Mobile device. But it has only proven one rather painful point: hardware isn't the problem.

To be fair, hardware naturally limits what software can do, and it is perhaps more evident on Windows 10 Mobile. Not that the Moly X1's specs are particularly low. It carries a 5.5-inch 720p screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable storage, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a 5 megapixel front camera, and a 2.600 mAh battery. By all intents and purposes, it would have made for a decent lower mid-range smartphone.

With that hardware, however, the Moly X1 misses out on one of the most interesting features of Windows 10 Mobile: Continuum for Phones. For a smartphone that advertises itself as a "New Phone for Working", it limits you to working only on that somewhat low res screen. Of course, Continuum or not, you'd still be limited to using only supported UWP apps anyway, but working on a larger screen with keyboard and mouse beats a smartphone anytime. Except when you're on the go, of course.

Considering the dismal number of affordable Windows 10 Mobile phones in the market, you'd almost presume Windows 10 fans would jump at the opportunity to get a sub-$200 device. But aside from the crowdfunding risk, the distinct lack of tempting features threatening the Moly X1 to fail.

The campaign needs $100,000 to succeed but it has barely raised 2% of that from 12 people. But even should the campaign fail, the company behind Moly X1 will still rake in the pledges, which perhaps is another factor against it.

VIA: Indiegogo