Microsoft Surface Phone release date rumors: Device expected to drop in 2017; flagship not Microsoft's focus
Until Microsoft finds the best processor for the Microsoft Surface Phone, the device won't see the light of day, according to new reports.
Since the Microsoft Surface Phone is the first phone that Microsoft will have all to its name, and the first non-Lumia device they will release, the Redmond-based company is doing its best to get it right.
This is allegedly why the company is on a serious hunt for the right processor that will give life and power to the Microsoft Surface Phone.
Flagships of today have Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 running the show. However, if Microsoft wants the Surface Phone to stand out, they would want a more powerful unit.
This bid for excellence fuelled rumors that the smartphone will be the first handset to don the Snapdragon 823/830, which is believed to be the next-gen Qualcomm chipset offering.
Meanwhile, other reports about the release date of the Microsoft Surface Phone hint that waiting for the chipset isn't the only reason the device is slated for a 2017 launch.
Back in March, Microsoft has said right off the bat that smartphone development in the company is on hold.
"We're fully committed to that 4-inch screen, there will be a time for it to be our focus, but right now it's part of the family but it's not the core of where I hope to generate developer interest over the next year," Windows and Devices Executive Vice President Terry Myerson told The Verge.
"There's no lack of recognition to realize how important that form factor is, but for Microsoft with Windows and for our platform it's the wrong place for us to lead," he continued.
Even so, Myerson promised that they are going to do "cool things" with their smartphone line, but now won't be a good time for that.
Meanwhile, there are also rumors that the Microsoft Surface Phone will not be released this year because the company wants to complete the Redstone 2 upgrade for Windows 10, which would allow them to further enrich the smartphone and add more features.
At the moment, Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to release by spring 2017.
