Microsoft video shows what it really had in mind for the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

Imagine the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Microsoft Lumia 950 XL with a Surface Pen. That was the original plan, according to marketing documents that Microsoft had produced back in 2015. Eventually, the decision was made not to spend the money on producing such high-end features. Shortly after the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL were unveiled by Microsoft, we passed along a rumor that Surface Pen support was coming to the two phones. That, of course, never happened.

The video at the top of the story was turned over to Windows Central by an anonymous source and was believed to be produced early in 2015. You can see the obvious differences in the design of the 950 and other concepts that Microsoft was considering at the time. That includes a different Glance screen with more information, Pen support, and "Active Sides" 3D Touch. The latter would allow the phone to know when it was being held so that the screen could stay on. It would also know when to rotate the image.

Besides supporting the Surface Pen, the original plans for the two top-shelf Microsoft Lumia models called for an optional smart cover that would work with the Glance Screen. A cut-out window on the cover would allow users to see some information from the Lumia's touch display. Microsoft was apparently going to promote the two phones using the tag line "Leave your laptop behind."

Would anything different have happened if the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL launched with these features? Probably not, outside of a few more handset sales. Still, for those who blame Microsoft for not having a clue when it released the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the truth is that they did have a clue. What Microsoft lacked was the faith to release the two handsets in the form it originally intended to.