Microsoft Surface Phone release date, rumors: Will device see light of day in 2017?

It is long been rumored that Microsoft will be releasing a new phone series called the Surface Phone. While there has been no official announcement from the tech giant regarding this piece of information, various speculations and predictions have circulated the Internet regarding the rumored device, and the most recent information comes in the form of images.

Famous leaker Evan Blass posted three images featuring a thin mobile phone bearing the Microsoft logo. The device is black and has thin bezels on the left and right sides of the screen.

"Powered by a laptop-class Intel processor, would this have blown your mind?" Blass wrote.

Many are skeptical about the authenticity of the images, however. While some believe that it is the Surface Phone, others believe that it's only a render. According to the International Business Times, there are those who think that it was a phone model by Dell that was rejected.

One Twitter user commented that it's "a nice concept, but nothing more."

Blass replied by posting a set of promotional photos showing the device being used. There is one by a business executive working in the backseat of a car with his laptop and phone. There is also what looks like a tourist or photographer taking pictures using the device. Another image shows a man in what appears to be a home office, looking at an image on his handset. The fourth image shows a person who seems to be following a direction from a map.

In this tweet, Blass wrote, "Much more than just a concept. Stay tuned."

If Blass' posts prove to be true, then mobile phone enthusiasts can expect a new phone series out in the market soon. But when will Microsoft release the rumored Surface Phone? Although many would undoubtedly want to see it by the holiday season, they should probably expect it to come out later.

Microsoft released its mid-range phone, the Lumia 650, in February 2016, so there are speculations that the Surface Phone will be introduced in one of the 2017 electronics expos — either at the Consumer Electronics Show in January or at the Mobile World Congress in late February.

Fans should wait until Microsoft makes an official announcement.