Microsoft's smartphone family, the Lumia lineup, is not doing quite well these days, but that doesn't mean that the Redmond-based tech giant isn't cooking up something. Rumor has it that the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 is really happening and it could be out sometime in 2017. It is also believed to be the saving grace of the company.
Microsoft has already done a great job with the successful Surface laptops. If rumors are anything to go by, the company might already be equipped to join the competitive smartphone market. Latest rumors claimed that there is evidence proving that Microsoft is collaborating with HP to create the new Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 that runs on a Windows 10 OS.
Reports also mentioned that the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 may share similar features as Windows-powered Lumia handsets. That said, the new smartphone could have the remarkable features of the Lumia lineup, which include Glance, and the ClearBlack display. WCCFTech also reported about the possibility of a Snapdragon 830 chipset on board the new Microsoft Surface Phone.
Given that Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 could be running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor, it is expected to be power-efficient. In addition, the device is expected to have beefed up specs that should challenge today's big names in the smartphone industry. Apart from impressive specs, the Surface Phone is also expected to have more improved security and productivity features.
As for the release date, Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 is rumored to launch sometime in 2017. Several reports are betting on the Mobile World Congress 2017 as the venue for the smartphone launch. In that case, the device could be unveiled sometime in February next year. Furthermore, it is also rumored that the new Surface smartphone will share the spotlight with another one of Microsoft's hotly anticipated device, the Surface Pro 5.
While news of Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 release date, specs, and features may get Windows fans excited, it should be noted that they haven't been confirmed. The company has yet to make official announcement about the device. For now, it's best to take the reports with a grain of salt.