Microsoft Surface Phone release and specs: Win32 support, Snapdragon 820 processor expected

Twitter courtesy of Microsoft Surface

The long-rumored Microsoft Surface Phone will reportedly boast Win32 support when it comes out. Softpedia has word that the top-tier device out of Redmond will allow users to use Win32 apps.

This speculation was strengthened after an MSDN document for what was called an "Audio Engine Core Test" popped up. The file proved the existence of Windows 10 Mobile x86 version.

At the moment, there's not much known about the Microsoft Surface Phone, except that the Redmond-based software giant is making it to be the equivalent of its popular Surface 2-in-1 hybrid tablet.

"We need some sort of spiritual equivalent on the phone side that doesn't just feel like it's a phone for people who love Windows. It's got to be a phone where it's like, Wow, that's a real shock or that's a real breakthrough," chief marketing officer Chris Capossela said (via Softpedia.)

"And (for an Apple customer) that's going to make me pause before I buy my 17th iPhone. And we need time to actually go build that," Capossela went on to say. In the event Microsoft Surface Phone releases, Win32 support should work like a pocket-sized computer.

As for the specs of the much-awaited Microsoft Surface Phone, word on the street is that it will have the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 for a processor. A smartphone running Windows 10 recently popped up in a Geekbench with the said new-gen chipset on board.

It is still unknown if the device, which was spotted with a 6-inch display, is actually the Microsoft Surface Phone. If it isn't, it looks like Microsoft is preparing a new powerful Windows 10 device before the ultimate Microsoft-made handset will see the light of day.

As for previous reports, Microsoft Surface Phone will don a whole new design and will be marketed as a business-centric smartphone. It is expected to be announced either at the Mobile World Congress next month or the upcoming developer conference happening in April.