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Microsoft Surface Phone release date, specs rumors: prototypes are running with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, sources say

A Microsoft logo is seen on an office building in New York City, July 28, 2015. | Reuters/Mike Segar

The existence of a Microsoft Surface Phone is yet to be confirmed by the Redmond-based tech firm, but rumors keep coming about what can be found inside the speculated mobile device. Recently, "trusted sources" reportedly spilled that Surface Phone prototypes are currently running with Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.

Tech news outlet Nokia Power User, which has a pretty neat track record in spilling insider info about unreleased devices info, reported that the tip came from "trusted sources with good accuracy."

As per Nokia Power User's sources, there are more than one prototypes of Microsoft Surface Phone in the pipeline. These prototypes are generally powered by the 10-nanometer chip Snapdragon 835 that, according to Qualcomm, offers "30 percent increase in area efficiency with a 27 percent improvement in performance or up to 40 percent less power consumption compared to the previous version."

The prototypes are reportedly running a Windows 10 Mobile version as its operating system. Even better, sources also reveal that the Mobile version is prioritized in creating the Redstone 3 update of Windows 10. The Windows team is believed to be targeting a Surface Phone that's prepacked with Windows 10 Mobile version of Redstone 3 update upon release.

Aside from these info, the prototypes of Microsoft Surface vary from having a 6 GB random-access memory (RAM) while the other is running at 64-bit. It also looks like Quick charging 4.0 is a common denominator, aside from the Snapdragon 835.

The prototype that has 6 GB RAM is said to be running with x86 apps at the same time through the Continuum technology. However, at this stage of development, these prototypes can still not run x86 apps without the aid of Continuum. Another prototype has a lower 4 GB RAM but still has Snapdragon 835. However, it cannot run x86 apps even in Continuum.

The report says that the Surface Phone launch has been delayed to late 2017 instead of early next year as speculated before.