It makes me miss my old Windows Phone. I prefer Linux on the desktop, but the old Nokia Windows Phones were quite excellent phones. If my old Nokia had gotten an official W11 update I would seriously consider pulling it out of the drawer again.

Especially as a student around WP8 times it was good value for money. One could either buy a flagship Android or an expensive iPhone to get a good phone, as a cheap Android was laggy and not very fun to use. But a Nokia Lumia at the same price point as a cheap Android would be very snappy and nice to use.

WP is still my favorite mobile OS years later. I've tried both iOS and Android. They're both awful in their own ways and they make me miss WP.

WebOS was amazing as well. That’s my number 1 followed by WP

People like to mock Windows Phone, but it was a great OS. The only problem I had with it was it's lack of apps and that wasn't Microsoft's fault, but the fault of the closed tech ecosystems we have been forced to accept.

I kinda wish MS just released an open source version of it so development could continue instead of ending the project completely.

I liked the OS, too, but Microsoft didn't do themselves many favours by resetting the dev platform several times and not having upgrade paths between major versions. What momentum they had cratered every few years.

You're right that didn't help, but that wasn't the big problem.

Time and time again I saw independent developers making fantastic third-party app replacements for the most popular Android/iPhone apps, like Snapchat. Time and time again I saw them deleted from the Windows Store via a takedown by multimillion/billion dollar companies that didn't want to make a WP app.

I'm sure money was a consideration, but malice was a much bigger factor, and I wouldn't be surprised if Google money played a role in it. A lot of people did not want to see a third mobile OS platform and did what they could to ensure it failed.

Yeah, that definitely didn't help, either. Snapchat's one I can't really blame them for not allowing third-party apps for given its use, but some others were definitely playing games.

It might have survived one of these issues, but both was crippling. Poor app support and constant churn of APIs can't end well.

One of the reasons MS can't do this, even if they wanted to (ha ha!) is the patent encumbrance. There are so many patents in this field, it's kinda crazy.

As if MS isn't a heavyweight itself. Yes, if they wanted to, they absolutely could do this.

Whatever we can say about how MS handled Windows Phone development, the OS itself was designed very well - my mother had no issues navigating and reading information out of it (on small HTC 8S), especially tiles. Now she struggles with Android Go on some cheap no-name device.

I still own Nokia 1320 which - if I'm not mistaken, was one of first "phablet" sized devices and I was quite fond of it up until applications have stopped working. Now it just works as any pre-smartphone device: I only pick up calls, send text messages; battery had to be replaced on 4th year which just confirmed the durability of electronics today and planned obsolescence. Back then I've managed to run some beta of Windows 10 Mobile but in the end, my Nokia didn't get it.

Sadly the easiest answer is just to get your Mom an iphone. Not the best but it will solve 99% of the issues and will last five years+ if you get a new model.

Like other commentor said. Look for deals on iPhone SE 2020 or iPhone 12 mini or any other lowest iPhone mode since 2018 fall release (iPhone 11 and iPhone XR). Any of them will last for many years. Battery replacement might be needed after 3 years.