Microsoft Surface phone rumored for launch in China with high-spec camera

Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Microsoft

A lot of hype is being raised about the possibility that Microsoft will be bringing the technology of the Surface laptops to mobile phones. However, is there actually truth to this rumor?

According to PC Advisor, rumors about the phone surfaced in December 2016, when a leaked image via Chinese site Weibo revealed an unknown Windows 10 phone with Surface branding. It reported that the phone supposedly would have a 5.5-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display with 1440 x 2560 pixels quad high-definition (HD) resolution. It is said to carry a 64-bit Intel processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB or 128 GB of storage, which can be further expanded using a microSD. For its camera features, it is said to have a 21-megapixel rear camera, while the front will have 8-megapixel resolution. It will reportedly come with a miniature version of the Surface Pen, and will support the USB-C port.

Another set of specifications, also reported on the site, pegs the Surface Phone as having a Snapdragon 835 processor, 512 GB of storage, and 8 GB of RAM. It will have a 5.7-inch AMOLED screen, and bear a 21-megapixel rear camera.

According to Korea Portal, the phone will be released on May 23, when a major Microsoft Surface event is set to be conducted in China. The Surface Pro 5 and the Surface Book 2 are expected to be launched then.

Last year, Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella shared in an interview with Financial Review that the company would continue to be in the mobile phone industry. He said, "We will continue to be in the phone market, not as defined by today's market leaders, but by what it is that we can uniquely do in what is the most ultimate mobile device." However, he did not specify if this meant they were working on a Microsoft Surface handset.

Given that Microsoft has not yet released an announcement about this device, it is best to take these details with a grain of salt.

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