Rumor: Microsoft Surface phone scheduled for early 2016 release; check out the specs

posted by Alan F. / Aug 17, 2015, 7:23 PM

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a Surface branded phone

While Microsoft is still working on Lumia branded handsets, the company is rumored to be looking at expanding the popularity of its Surface brand by developing a Microsoft Surface Phone. It's quite a turnaround from a marketing standpoint considering that just before the Surface Pro 3 became a rousing success, the Microsoft Surface brand was not connecting with tablet buyers.

The Microsoft Surface handset is reportedly in the prototype stage and is known as the "Juggernaut Alpha." That happens to be a code name that dates back to 2012, in reference to an earlier Surface phone being developed by Microsoft. According to a report published today, the new Surface phone is being scheduled for an early 2016 release, as Microsoft is still working on the unannounced Microsoft Lumia 950 and Microsoft Lumia 950 XL.

The Microsoft Surface phone is rumored to feature a Gorilla Glass 4 protected 5.5-inch Clearback AMOLED display, with a 1440 x 2560 resolution. An Intel Atom X3 SoC powers the phone, carrying a quad-core CPU. 4GB of RAM is inside along with 64GB/128GB of internal storage. On back is a 21MP camera. An 8MP snapper adorns the front of the phone, carrying a Zeiss wide angle lens. The handset will have a unibody build made from Aluminum-magnesium, and will offer wireless charging capabilities. According to the rumor, the Surface phone will feature a Pen similar to the S Pen used on the Samsung Galaxy Note series.

Thanks for the tip!

source: WMPoweruser

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65 Comments

1. theguy2345

Posts: 1216; Member since: Jun 24, 2014

Sounds like a beast. I usually don't upgrade early, but this might make me. Especially if it has the build quality of the surface.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:29 PM 8

16. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

I would just hope it doesn't have the terrible charging issues I had with my surface 3. My first surface 3 developed an issue within two weeks after I got it. It was plugged in and then refused to charge and would say "plugged in, not charging". None of the trouble shooting steps resolved it. I received a replacement and that had the same issue out of the box. So i drove two hours to the closest microsoft store and traded it in for instore credit towards a surface pro 3. Very painless process. I had the surface 3, 128gb version. Now I have a surface pro 3, i7, 256gb version, with no issues thus far.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:17 PM 0

19. AnTuTu

Posts: 1603; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

We have around 60 Pro 3 in our company and none of them had the charging issue which you just mentioned. Bad luck may be?

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:37 PM 4

26. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

Not the pro 3, the surface 3 had the charging issue. "Surface 3" and "Surface pro 3" are two different products, please re-read what i said.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 9:08 PM 1

39. snowgator

Posts: 3621; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Easy, Pluto... very simple mistake. I do not blame AnTuTu as much as I do MS. Naming has never been a strong suit of theirs, and the Surface 3 VS. the Surface Pro 3 is an excellent example. Tough to separate the Pro from the consumer-style tablet in casual conversation or when just breezing over posts. Same problem I have with the numbering system in the Lumia line.

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 12:46 AM 2

49. TylerGrunter

Posts: 1544; Member since: Feb 16, 2012

Either we don't have the same concept of what is a beast or you don't know what is an Atom X3 SoC...

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 4:28 AM 0

2. carlemillward unregistered

Seems like everyone these days are hopping on the phablet train, goodbye 5.2 inch or smaller phones.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:30 PM 4

41. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

They pretty much have to if it's going to have a stylus and full fledge windows. I think that how they are going to try and differentiate. They probably want this to be the most productive phone ever and that's why they probably chose an atom. The most productive phone ever has to be a phablet.

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 12:59 AM 0

3. ikenvape

Posts: 308; Member since: May 28, 2014

Just waiting for MS to come in and state that it's not happening lol

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:31 PM 1

4. jojon

Posts: 433; Member since: Feb 11, 2014

if this is right, this thing would be an absolute animal. Be unusual though given that it would be arriving at or near the same time as the new 950/950XL's, this would remove some gloss from those units.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:38 PM 3

5. Tziggy14

Posts: 624; Member since: Sep 02, 2014

They can keep trying. but the problem is, there is only room for two operating systems in this market. And everyone is already well established on iOS and Android at this point.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:44 PM 0

9. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

That's not inherently true. There is plenty of room in the market for Windows 10 mobile to take hold and grow, with so many dissatisfied with Android(people discontent with lag, an insecure os, or google's spyware) and IOS(people tired of subpar hardware that needs to be replaced inevitably because each new IOS version is more bloated than the last and eventually after several updates, the phone is bricked because it has too much lag to tolerably use, IOS is the most vulnerable mobile OS, the second most vulnerable OS that is in current usehttp://www.gfi.com/blog/most-vulnerable-operating-systems-and-applications-in-2014/ ,the battery life on Iphones also degrades much faster over time than other devices, overall cheapest possible hardware for most profit) , especially enterprise consumers who need a more secure platform.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:03 PM 2

13. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

the problem with this microsoft OS is their empty app market, not much selection for daily app, and almost no decent game u can play

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:10 PM 1

15. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

I disagree with that statement. When was the last time you actually checked? I have no problems finding main apps(except snapchat), there are plenty of decent games to be found on the app store. Asphalt 8, Asphalt 8 airborn, Plague Inc, Candy Crush, Star Wars Commander, etc...

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:12 PM 1

36. miketer

Posts: 514; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

I've been a Lumia 920 user for the last 2 years, until I bought a Passport a few months ago. I can assure you it's an amazing phone and a solid operating system. I might've reset it 2 or max. 3 times because of hanging. I don't have to go to any list every night, trying to close apps. I don't have to restart every 2 or 3 days to keep it running smooth. My only gripe (and they haven't corrected this in subsequent updates) is the lack of alphabets on the numerical keys which will help me choose contacts. I'm still at a loss to understand why this is not added on. Other issues were, until recently, we could not choose more than one pic to be sent on Whatsapp, which got corrected after a recent update, while such problems are not inherent in other platforms. Apart from that, a free world class GPS, MixRadio,informative live tiles, good call quality, a good screen, all adds to a great experience. My wife is using a Galaxy, hence I've used an Android platform. I don't deny the fact that Android has got many advantages, but the smooth UI and no reasons to soft reset, makes me a true Windows fan.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 11:41 PM 2

34. Furbal unregistered

Looking forward to it. I miss my 1520 and really hate only having Android as an option (bbos and ios are not for me).

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 11:14 PM 2

55. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

ebay 180 for a 1520, quite the steal

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 9:03 AM 1

6. Emmanuelz

Posts: 222; Member since: Aug 01, 2013

No apps. And i don't care what you fanboys say about them having 100,000 apps i need real apps not those fake bulls**t apps like metrotube.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:46 PM 3

10. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

There is a real youtube app(but it is inferior to metrotube and metrotube is even better than the youtube app on Android and Iphone), all the major apps are available except snapchat.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:05 PM 3

56. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

So you like an inferior youtube app? You're as bad a fanboy as most can come.

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 9:16 AM 0

62. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

Its not inferior, its better, besides that, I don't use it much anyways, I rarely watch youtube except on my desktop or surface.

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 10:43 AM 0

7. cleatglitch

Posts: 163; Member since: May 25, 2013

skipping the note this year...need a windows phone this time around...fingers all over that surface

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:50 PM 5

14. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

We will see if it really happens, people have wanted this to happen for a long time, perhaps its just wishful thinking. But if it does exist, I may end up buying three new phones within the next year, lol... I'm definitely getting a Lumia 950 XL, and the 1020's successor if that is released next year as well.. It would certainly go well with my Surface Pro 3.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:10 PM 0

8. Troysyx

Posts: 181; Member since: Jul 30, 2012

Damn, this thing is probably going to be amazing looking! But i'm not going anywhere near Windows phone. TRIED it for a week on a lumia, no thank you!

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 7:56 PM 2

11. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

It won't be running Windows Phone, it will be running Windows 10 mobile. Besides that, what was wrong with Windows Phone and which Lumia did you try? In my experience Windows Phone is faster and smoother than android or IOS with no lag.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:07 PM 1

24. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

So because you haven't experienced lag, no one has. I've already told you that I have experienced lag on both the Icon and 1020, thanks s was before the 8.1 update, and I only handled them for about 10-15 minutes in the store. If I can experience lag in that short amount of time, then I would say it's a random occurrence.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 8:51 PM 1

27. Plutonium239

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

That's odd, the only lag I ever experienced on my 1020 has been on Windows 10 mobile, which is not finished yet, so its to be expected.

posted on Aug 17, 2015, 9:11 PM 0

61. Troysyx

Posts: 181; Member since: Jul 30, 2012

Whatever its called. It was a windows 8 based version ( I dont keep track). However, i absolutely hate the metro (whatever they want to call it now) UI. It looks hideous. I dont even like using Windows 8 on a computer that much.

posted on Aug 18, 2015, 10:15 AM 0

12. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

Wow that sounds so beastly! Sounds like a great second phone to my soon to have note 5