Rumor: Microsoft will release three Surface smartphones in early 2017

Microsoft reportedly still has plans to release Surface smartphones. Three models should appear at the beginning of 2017, that is the plan now. None of the three devices should become a budget smartphone.

In early 2017, Microsoft would like to launch a Surface smartphone for consumers, one for businesses and one for so-called prosumers, i.e. a high-end model, Windows Central claims, based on sources familiar with the Redmond company’s plans . The release should mean a restart of Microsoft’s smartphone line and no new Lumia devices would appear.

Unlike Lumia, according to the report, no budget model will appear in the coming line and Windows Central notes that Microsoft is not targeting the lower end of the market with Surface either. A release in early 2017 is in line with the arrival of a Windows 10 update, called Redstone 2, which according to Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley will appear by then due to new hardware that Microsoft is working on. Perhaps this also concerns a Surface Pro 5 or Surface Book 2, in addition to perhaps new Surface devices.

Intel plays a role in the development of those smartphones, according to Windows Central, but whether these are actually smartphones with Intel socs is unclear. It recently emerged that the eligible soc, the high-end Broxton, is on Intel’s roadmap before the end of 2016, which leaves open the possibility that the ‘Surface Phones’ will be based on x86. That would provide Microsoft with many benefits with Windows backwards compatibility and also greatly increase the long-term capabilities with Continuum and Universal Windows Apps.

Reports about a Surface Phone have been circulating for years, but as yet there is no evidence that Microsoft is working on it. At the Microsoft Build conference last week, Microsoft barely talked about the Windows mobile platform. According to Windows Central, Microsoft is rethinking, wants to develop Windows 10 Mobile first for new releases and gives partner companies the chance to come up with their own hardware before coming up with a new lineup.