Surface Phone Rumours... AGAIN!!!
Can we just let this die already?
I will agree, it has become more feasible with news of ARM chips that may soon be able to run x86 based Windows and Windows apps. Unfortunately, I don't think we're at a point yet, technologically where Microsoft could deliver a phone with that as the sole selling feature which would be worthy of the Surface moniker.
And, if that isn't the focus, then why take another stab at the market at all?
Strategically, it just doesn't make sense. Microsoft has basically written off the entirety of the Nokia purchase and put a stop to Lumia production. They have publicly stated that they effectively feel they missed the boat on consumer phones and are looking to the next big thing instead.
None of this rules out new phones. In fact, they never explicitly said that they wouldn't make more. But, what they have said is fairly telling. Either, they come up with something mind blowing, they come up with something for niche markets, they come up with something more accessory than device or nothing at all. The two least likely categories there are the ones where fans of Windows Phone MIGHT have a chance of getting their hands on one.
Anyone who has bought a Windows Phone in the past knows that the carrier support simply isn't there. That makes it difficult to even obtain a device directly and thus on a payment plan or subsidized. As far as niche products go, Microsoft doesn't go cheap. In other words, if Microsoft releases a Surface Phone in the short term, it is probably something that will A) be expensive and B) that you'll need to buy outright. Those things may hold true even if Microsoft releases a new consumer focused device.
My prediction; Microsoft, most likely, isn't planning a Surface Phone soon if at all. If they are, I'm thinking maybe late 2017 to mid 2018 timeframe. At which point it would probably be a device which runs x86 Windows, but only Phone apps unless connected to an external display and/or mouse and keyboard. It will probably have some other new feature as well. It will likely bear a premium or higher price tag and not be available through carriers.
If they are working on something for earlier than that, then I think it will be a business facing device. It may not even be sold through carriers.
Supposed leaks have been released which is fueling speculation that an earlier than expected reveal is upon us. But I think they are fakes. They look VERY much like a lot of fan renders I've seen before, if a bit more detailed. The damning part to me is that the renders make them look like a Surface Pro in a phone form factor with the body angled inward at the back and the same look/materials as the Surface Pro. This strikes me as unlikely for 2 key reasons... Microsoft has never simply recycled an old look for a new device. Look at Surface Book and Studio, NEITHER share that design language with the angled body and neither looks like the other either. Sure, they share the color and the Microsoft logo, but nothing else from a design perspective.
Every form factor has different requirements, both functionally and aesthetically. The angled back for instance reduces internal device space. In a tablet the size of the Surface Pro, this isn't a huge deal. In a phone, that space loss means a smaller battery. It also does nothing to improve the grip on the phone. It makes protective cases more difficult to manufacture. And on a device that size it just look wrong.
I get it. People like the Surface Pro design and wish there was a phone with those same looks. But just because MS might slap the Surface name on a phone, it doesn't mean it will look as identical as possible to any other device in the Surface lineup.
I'd also say... IF they were to use an angled back... the ONLY reason I could think to do it would be to increase the width of the device without making it feel as wide. But then, why do that and still leave the camera hump? Again, fan boys doing renders who revere the camera hump as the sign of a superior camera. Ordinary people on the other hand like a phone that sits flat.
But here we reach another problem. The article I was looking at seems to show two completely different phones, but being part of the same leak. The first set of images don't show the back. But they do show a VERY thin phone with flat edges rather than angled ones. Subsequent photos, presumably from the same leak show a much fatter phone, with angled edges AND a camera bump.
I can't find the online article from my news app, but for those interested here is another article with the same "leaked" pictures. I suspect you'll reach the same conclusions as me. There is just too much about this phone which doesn't make sense with the angled body replicating the Surface Pro being just a silly to do and the camera bump not being necessary on such a thick phone.
I will agree, it has become more feasible with news of ARM chips that may soon be able to run x86 based Windows and Windows apps. Unfortunately, I don't think we're at a point yet, technologically where Microsoft could deliver a phone with that as the sole selling feature which would be worthy of the Surface moniker.
And, if that isn't the focus, then why take another stab at the market at all?
Strategically, it just doesn't make sense. Microsoft has basically written off the entirety of the Nokia purchase and put a stop to Lumia production. They have publicly stated that they effectively feel they missed the boat on consumer phones and are looking to the next big thing instead.
None of this rules out new phones. In fact, they never explicitly said that they wouldn't make more. But, what they have said is fairly telling. Either, they come up with something mind blowing, they come up with something for niche markets, they come up with something more accessory than device or nothing at all. The two least likely categories there are the ones where fans of Windows Phone MIGHT have a chance of getting their hands on one.
Anyone who has bought a Windows Phone in the past knows that the carrier support simply isn't there. That makes it difficult to even obtain a device directly and thus on a payment plan or subsidized. As far as niche products go, Microsoft doesn't go cheap. In other words, if Microsoft releases a Surface Phone in the short term, it is probably something that will A) be expensive and B) that you'll need to buy outright. Those things may hold true even if Microsoft releases a new consumer focused device.
My prediction; Microsoft, most likely, isn't planning a Surface Phone soon if at all. If they are, I'm thinking maybe late 2017 to mid 2018 timeframe. At which point it would probably be a device which runs x86 Windows, but only Phone apps unless connected to an external display and/or mouse and keyboard. It will probably have some other new feature as well. It will likely bear a premium or higher price tag and not be available through carriers.
If they are working on something for earlier than that, then I think it will be a business facing device. It may not even be sold through carriers.
Supposed leaks have been released which is fueling speculation that an earlier than expected reveal is upon us. But I think they are fakes. They look VERY much like a lot of fan renders I've seen before, if a bit more detailed. The damning part to me is that the renders make them look like a Surface Pro in a phone form factor with the body angled inward at the back and the same look/materials as the Surface Pro. This strikes me as unlikely for 2 key reasons... Microsoft has never simply recycled an old look for a new device. Look at Surface Book and Studio, NEITHER share that design language with the angled body and neither looks like the other either. Sure, they share the color and the Microsoft logo, but nothing else from a design perspective.
Every form factor has different requirements, both functionally and aesthetically. The angled back for instance reduces internal device space. In a tablet the size of the Surface Pro, this isn't a huge deal. In a phone, that space loss means a smaller battery. It also does nothing to improve the grip on the phone. It makes protective cases more difficult to manufacture. And on a device that size it just look wrong.
I get it. People like the Surface Pro design and wish there was a phone with those same looks. But just because MS might slap the Surface name on a phone, it doesn't mean it will look as identical as possible to any other device in the Surface lineup.
I'd also say... IF they were to use an angled back... the ONLY reason I could think to do it would be to increase the width of the device without making it feel as wide. But then, why do that and still leave the camera hump? Again, fan boys doing renders who revere the camera hump as the sign of a superior camera. Ordinary people on the other hand like a phone that sits flat.
But here we reach another problem. The article I was looking at seems to show two completely different phones, but being part of the same leak. The first set of images don't show the back. But they do show a VERY thin phone with flat edges rather than angled ones. Subsequent photos, presumably from the same leak show a much fatter phone, with angled edges AND a camera bump.
I can't find the online article from my news app, but for those interested here is another article with the same "leaked" pictures. I suspect you'll reach the same conclusions as me. There is just too much about this phone which doesn't make sense with the angled body replicating the Surface Pro being just a silly to do and the camera bump not being necessary on such a thick phone.
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