Freetel continues Japan's support of Windows 10 Mobile with Katana

Katana 02

If there's one country that seems to be getting right behind Windows 10 Mobile when it comes to new phones, it's Japan.

We've seen devices from the likes of Mouse Computer already, not to mention the Vaio Phone Biz, but at Mobile World Congress we stumbled across a couple more headed to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Carrier and phone maker, Freetel, has the Katana 01 and Katana 02, a pair of Windows 10 Mobile devices that its offering to its customers.

Neither are what you'd describe as high-end, but the continued Japanese support of the platform is encouraging.

The Katana 02 is the higher spec offering of the two, with a 5-inch 720p display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Round the back there's an 8MP camera with a 2MP up front for selfies, all powered by a 2600mAh battery.

It's all plastic, but on the back there's a brushed texture finish, with a chrome effect side trim. It's pretty unassuming looking round the front, with nothing but a black rectangle staring back at you.

The smaller, lower-spec model is the Katana 01, which has a soft touch finish on the back. It's very much an entry level phone, with a 4.5-inch 480x854 resolution display, quad-core processor, 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM.

Battery is 1700mAh and there's a 5MP camera on the back. But ultimately it's a way into the ecosystem for customers of Freetel in Japan.

And that's the bigger takeaway here. It goes to show that in corners of the world we may sometimes ignore, there's still support for new Windows 10 Mobile products. Limited markets, sure, but they're still happening.

And that makes for good news.

CATEGORIES
Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

Latest in Windows Phone
Windows Phones
Windows 10 Mobile’s app store bites the dust, half a decade after support ended
Lumia 950 XL
The director for one of 2025's best games was a Windows Phone fan, says Microsoft was "shocked" that he was voluntarily using it — I experienced similar
Lumia 1020 case with an iPhone SE (Gen 3) inside
Windows Phone revived: Tech Enthusiast "upgrades" Lumia 1020 with full-fledged iOS
Launcher 10 being used to make a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra look like a Windows Phone.
Here's how to turn your Android Phone into a 'Windows Phone' in 2024
POCO X3 Pro closeup shot featuring the back of the device.
Windows Phone in 2024?! Not exactly, but this is close.
iPhone home screen
Apple adding this feature to iOS 18 in 2024 is so basic it hurts my brain, and it makes me miss Windows Phone
Latest in News
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician and cosmologist
Nobel laureate claims "AI will not be conscious" and shouldn't be considered intelligent — Until it develops its own ideas
UGreen x Genshin Impact charging accessories: image shows magnetic wireless charger, power bank, GaN charger and USB-C cable
UGreen drops a stunning Genshin Impact collection of charging accessories AND it's all on sale
Lies of P boss
Grab these must-play games at killer deal prices during the CDKeys Spring Festival
In this photo illustration OpenAI ChatGPT icon is displayed on a mobile phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on August 13, 2024.
OpenAI says an excessive dependency on ChatGPT can lead to loneliness and a "loss of confidence" in decision-making
Alienware Area-51 laptops (2025)
Dell revives Alienware Area-51 with powerful new gaming PCs
The First Berserker: Khazan
The First Berserker: Khazan review and Metacritic score roundup — this stylish Soulslike sounds like a must-play action RPG