Will Surface Mobile be the highest spec smartphone yet?

The specification of a so-called Surface Mobile has been leaked online, suggesting Microsoft is trying to woo consumers with the highest spec smartphone to date. Microsoft has yet to use its Surface brand for a smartphone, but the company is reportedly planning to launch such a device before the end of the year or in early 2016.

The leaked spec screenshot shows a device called Juggernaut Alpha, a codename previously associated with a Surface phone, according to the WMpoweruser site, which obtained the screenshot. Microsoft may use the Surface brand to distinguish a high-end handset running Windows 10 Mobile from the poorly selling Lumia devices using Windows Phone. It will also support the Surface Pen technology, adding further weight to the rumour.

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The device certainly doesn’t want for high-end components. It has a 5.5in 1,440 x 2,560 AMOLED display that’s protected by Gorilla Glass 4. The device is powered by an Intel Atom x3 processor and 4GB of RAM, with either 64GB or 128GB storage options, and microSD expansion of up to 256GB. That high-end spec could conceivably allow the phone to double as a desktop computer when plugged into a screen, part of Microsoft’s vision for Windows 10 Mobile devices.

The rear camera is a 21-megapixel PureView Zeiss model, whilst the front-facing camera packs eight megapixels. There’s a single USB Type-C port for charging and connecting peripherals, and wireless charging options for those who don’t want to fuss with cables.

All those components will be wrapped in a aluminium and magnesium unibody, which means no swappable battery – which could be a problem for a device with such energy-sapping components.

Microsoft will be hoping the high-spec device can transform its mobile fortunes. The company recently wiped almost $8 billion off the value of its smartphone business and has struggled to get out of single-digit market share across the globe.

Written by

Barry Collins

Barry Collins has been a technology writer, editor and broadcaster for more than 25 years. He was assistant editor of The Sunday Times’ technology section, editor of PC Pro and has written for more than a dozen different publications and websites over the years. He’s made regular TV and radio appearances as a technology pundit, including on BBC Newsnight, ITV News and Sky News. Now a senior contributor at Forbes.com, he also presents and produces tech-related podcasts.  

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