First Windows Phone 8.1 handsets to be available starting April 23?

There’s been a constant stream of leaks about Windows Phone 8.1 lately, and we are all expecting Microsoft to fully reveal the new OS in early April (next week) at its Build Developer Conference. But when will customers be able to actually buy a Windows Phone 8.1 handset? Well, this might happen later in April.

According to WP Central, the very first devices running Windows Phone 8.1 should be available to purchase starting April 23. There is no word on exactly what WP 8.1 handsets we’ll be seeing hitting shelves that day. However, Nokia’s Lumia 630 and Samsung’s Ativ SE (for Verizon) could be among them - since both appeared in lots of leaked images during the last few months.

WP Central also reports that Microsoft’s hardware partners now have the final build of Windows Phone 8.1. Thus, they can test it and get their new WP devices ready for consumers. As you may know, the list of Windows Phone hardware partners is quite large at the moment, including - besides Nokia and Samsung - HTC, LG, Lenovo Huawei, ZTE, and others.

We are assuming that current Windows Phone 8 handsets will be updated to WP 8.1 starting April, too.