Microsoft Surface Phone release date, specs: Snapdragon 830 among the features of new flagship?

General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France.Reuters/Charles Platiau/Files

Microsoft has yet to make its Surface Phone official, although speculations about the anticipated flagship have already surfaced. According to rumors, the new iteration will be a top-notch flagship, featuring a next-generation Snapdragon 830 processor.

According to WCCFTech, a supposed page on a Microsoft OEM website reportedly lists the yet-unofficial Qualcomm chipset. This leads the industry follower to surmise that the Redmond-based tech giant has something in store for a Snapdragon 830-run device. Allegedly, the flagship iteration that will house the next-gen chipset will be the upcoming Surface Phone.

While this remains unconfirmed, having the latest Snapdragon processor for the Surface Phone is highly possible. Among the many Microsoft lineups, only a new smartphone is supported by Qualcomm's mobile processor. Meanwhile, there is no talk of a new Lumia flagship waiting in the pipeline. In fact, there are talks claiming that to focus on the new Surface Phone, Microsoft is likely to drop the Lumia series.

Aside from a Snapdragon 830 processor, other purported specs of the upcoming Surface Phone paint a novel flagship. TechRadar reports that the new flagship may have a new featured tech inside it. It has been reported that the Surface Phone is likely to have a fingerprint scanner integrated into the front glass, meaning that the whole phone display will be its sensor. Microsoft has apparently filed a patent for the technology, although it is not a confirmation that the feature will make it to the Surface Phone.

The rest of the supposed specs include at least 4 GB of RAM, a 6-inch display, and its own accessories lineup.

As to when fans can expect the new flagship, it is possible that the new Surface Phone will appear next year. While Qualcomm has only released a step-up Snapdragon 821 to date, its next-gen series chipset — the 830 — is expected to come out by 2017.