Microsoft Surface Phone release date, specs news: late 2017 specs updated; design from canceled Intel-powered device to be used?

Despite Microsoft's radio silence, the web continues to find pieces of evidence that point to the existence of the Microsoft Surface Phone.

A well-known tipster shared on Weibo renders believed to be showing the early design of the handset. Unlike previous leaked images, these leaks show the device bearing the Surface Phone name.

There is no word yet on whether the Microsoft Surface Phone will be called as such when it comes out. If these photos are anything to go by, the Redmond-based tech giant is going with the moniker.

Based on the protruding camera seen on the device, Phone Arena concluded that these could be dated renders simply because of the Carl Zeiss branding, which was retired back in 2013.

This suggests that the Microsoft Surface Phone might have already undergone cosmetic changes and might not necessarily look like the one in the leaked renders.

Other notable features seen in the renders include a USB-C port and almost bezel-less sides. The home button appears to be capacitive too rather than physical, which shows that the Lumia devices somehow inspired this handset.

However, since these are old renders, changes may have already made on the design. For the uninitiated, Microsoft scrapped an Intel processor-powered Windows 10 device not too long ago.

That device could actually be the one on the renders, but it is unknown if the tech company will retain this design for the Microsoft Surface Phone.

Microsoft has been heavily silent with regard to its plans in the mobile department. The company is instead leaving this to OEMs such as HP, which came out with the Elite X3 last year.

A follow-up to this device is actually expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 happening in Barcelona next month although this is yet to be corroborated.

As for the Microsoft Surface Phone, the smartphone is rumored to see the light of day by the end of the year, if not early next year, as Microsoft wants to wait for the Redstone 3 update on the Windows 10 to be able to improve the flagship including the addition of x86 emulation.