Microsoft Surface Phone News, Updates and Rumors: Will Microsoft Reveal the Surface Phone at the October Event?
The Microsoft Surface Phone has been one of the most anticipated phones to be launched this year. However, with no official word yet from the tech giant, will the Surface Phone see the light before 2016 ends? Here's everything we know so far about the mysterious handset.
Codename "Panos"
It is common practice for manufacturers to give codenames for their products, especially in the tech world. This time around, Microsoft is reportedly codenaming the Surface Phones as "Panos". This codename has been showing up a lot in rumors and leaks regarding the Microsoft Surface Phone since last year, so it is safe to assume that it indeed pertains to the upcoming smartphone.
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It is interesting to note that "Panos", in many languages, pertain to cloth or fabric. This may ultimately be the biggest clue to its link with the Surface Phone.
Release Date
The biggest question of all—when will the Surface Phone actually surface in the market? For so long, many have speculated that the new devices to replace the Lumia lineup will be released during Microsoft's October Event. However, with the lack of details and official statements from Microsoft, this possibility becomes smaller by the day.
Now, experts believe that Microsoft will be releasing the Surface Phones in 2017, along with the Surface Pro 5 hybrid tablet device. This would go on line with the company's goal to incorporate high end hardware and software specs which would not be released yet if they pursue a 2016 launch date.
Specifications
As reported earlier, the Microsoft Surface Phone will be coming in three variants. There would be consumer, enthusiast, and business models. Tech analysts have pointed out that the main difference among the devices could be the processors and screen sizes. Of course, the price points of the devices would also be increasing as the variant tier goes higher.
The reports on the display sizes vary from 5.5 inches to 6 inches of screen real estate. However, various reports agree that the resolution would be at least Quad HD. There are also rumors saying that the Surface Phones would be packing 3GB, 6GB, and a whopping 8GB of RAM, depending on the model. Internal Storage would also be at a minimum of 64GB.
The internal processor of the Surface Phone is targeted to be Intel's upcoming Kaby Lake chipsets. This could be the main reason for the delay in launching as the next generation processors are geared to be released next year. Same goes with the Windows 10 Redstone Update that will be running the devices' software.
Productivity features such as Continuum would also be present. Compatibility with different accessories such as the Surface Pen and a peripheral keyboard would also be present in the Surface Phones.
