[Joe Acerbic]

I, for one, absolutely do NOT want a "phone" that's 4 mm thin, made of gold plated Swarowski crystal and shatters into a trillion pieces if you lay it on a table carelessly. I like a 10 mm featureless, durable, matte black slab that does what I want it to do.

[Johnny Tremaine]

So the editor in chief of Windows Central Daniel Rubino, he himslef said that these are nokia and NOT Microsoft designs he is talking out of his rear? Im pretty sure he has more knowledge then you and i and everyone else on here about these things.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

Irrelevent.

-Microsoft bought the Nokia Devices Division, did they not? Of course they did.
-Point 2, Microsoft, very high up at the executive level, likely Satya Nadella himself, reviewed, signed off, and approved for these designs to go forward into production, with the Microsoft badge stenciled across the top of the devices, no?

Thus, these *are Microsoft designed devices*, I don't care if they pulled them originally out of the rear end of a camel.

[Musicman247]

Irrelevent.

-Microsoft bought the Nokia Devices Division, did they not? Of course they did.
-Point 2, Microsoft, very high up at the executive level, likely Satya Nadella himself, reviewed, signed off, and approved for these designs to go forward into production, with the Microsoft badge stenciled across the top of the devices, no?

Thus, these *are Microsoft designed devices*, I don't care if they pulled them originally out of the rear end of a camel.

You know why they signed off on them? Because fanboys were getting their panties in a twist about not having a flagship device. Why else would they be releasing a Surface phone just six months later? They went with what they had from Nokia to SHUT YOU UP. And now you're upset that they're not taking longer. Awesome.

[Joe Acerbic]

I don't care if they pulled them originally out of the rear end of a camel.

That would be the next super exclusive iPhone that's produced in strictly limited quantities by pulling not only the design but every individual phone out of the rear end of a camel. It will be magical and revolutionary and every Kardashian will want one.

[Johnny Tremaine]

You know why they signed off on them? Because fanboys were getting their panties in a twist about not having a flagship device. Why else would they be releasing a Surface phone just six months later? They went with what they had from Nokia to SHUT YOU UP. And now you're upset that they're not taking longer. Awesome.

Microsoft's market position in mobile is precarious. Nothing available for *another* holiday season would mean the whole mobile division gets padlocked and lights out. No flagship meant that 2.5% share becomes 1% and falling.
Because, nothing to buy= ta da! No sales!

I mean, that's likely happening *anyway* at this point, because that marketshare, she's-a-falling-through-the-floor-Mama-Mia!

[Visa Declined]

Why else would they be releasing a Surface phone just six months later?

I admit that I'm out of the loop, so let me ask...has Microsoft ever said that they're making a Surface phone? What exactly is the source of this information?

[Eisenhorn76]

I admit that I'm out of the loop, so let me ask...has Microsoft ever said that they're making a Surface phone? What exactly is the source of this information?

It seems to be all speculation at this point -- the idea was that because Nadella's focusing on aligning strategy/executing and getting a single Windows 10 platform pushed everywhere, the company wasn't devoting resources to putting out a *true* WP flagship this year and was instead focused putting out a 'Surface Phone' next year. I've not encountered anything definite. If anything, I get the sense that MSFT's smartphone strategy is still in flux.

Of course, the evleaks renders of the purported Cityman and Talkman phones have disappointed some (just look at Tremaine's posts to get an appreciation for that POV) and has accelerated speculation that this year's 'flagships' are merely stopgaps for a Surface Phone down the line.

[bo_woods]

It seems to be all speculation at this point -- the idea was that because Nadella's focusing on aligning strategy/executing and getting a single Windows 10 platform pushed everywhere, the company wasn't devoting resources to putting out a *true* WP flagship this year and was instead focused putting out a 'Surface Phone' next year. I've not encountered anything definite. If anything, I get the sense that MSFT's smartphone strategy is still in flux.

Of course, the evleaks renders of the purported Cityman and Talkman phones have disappointed some (just look at Tremaine's posts to get an appreciation for that POV) and has accelerated speculation that this year's 'flagships' are merely stopgaps for a Surface Phone down the line.

I feel the same way... I also strongly believe the Surface Phones are coming, and these two are stopgaps... I'll probably aim to pick up the 950... And then the Surface Phone next year

The Surface Phone In my eyes is just as real as the 950 & 950 XL, because not only have good sources windows central heavily suggested its existence in the rumor mill, but the cityman and Talkman are after all as of right now also simply rumored unconfirmed phones...

A business device (or two... Perhaps an XL or Pro model) has been confirmed from MS.. And many sources including an article from this very site has said that the devices may very well be Surface branded.

[Joe Acerbic]

The Surface Phone In my eyes is just as real as the 950 & 950 XL, because not only have good sources windows central heavily suggested its existence in the rumor mill, but the cityman and Talkman are after all as of right now also simply rumored unconfirmed phones...

Perhaps your eyes would need to see the few leaked actual photos of 950 / 950 XL. The Surface Phone is not even close to as real and I'm certainly not going to wait for it if I the demons of exclusivity fail and I get a chance to buy a 950 XL

[dakken]

Irrelevent.

-Microsoft bought the Nokia Devices Division, did they not? Of course they did.
-Point 2, Microsoft, very high up at the executive level, likely Satya Nadella himself, reviewed, signed off, and approved for these designs to go forward into production, with the Microsoft badge stenciled across the top of the devices, no?

Thus, these *are Microsoft designed devices*, I don't care if they pulled them originally out of the rear end of a camel.

You ask for proof and they say its irrelevant. The point is No matter WHO signed off on them they are 100% Nokia designs regardless of what branding they have.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

[Visa Declined]

The Surface Phone In my eyes is just as real as the 950 & 950 XL, because not only have good sources windows central heavily suggested its existence in the rumor mill

What "good sources" have heavily suggested a Surface phone exists? Can you please be specific?

From what I've read, it seems to me that Cityman and Talkman are Microsoft's Hail Mary flagships. They offer all of the neat tech that has been promised over the past few months, and I really don't think we should expect another flagship anytime soon.

If nobody buys these phones we're probably screwed, and I wouldn't expect Microsoft to dump more cash into bringing another flagship to market. What more could a Surface phone possibly bring to the table other than a better looking design? Is that really what everyone is hoping for?

[Johnny Tremaine]

What "good sources" have heavily suggested a Surface phone exists? Can you please be specific?

From what I've read, it seems to me that Cityman and Talkman are Microsoft's Hail Mary flagships. They offer all of the neat tech that has been promised over the past few months, and I really don't think we should expect another flagship anytime soon.

If nobody buys these phones we're probably screwed, and I wouldn't expect Microsoft to dump more cash into bringing another flagship to market. What more could a Surface phone possibly bring to the table other than a better looking design? Is that really what everyone is hoping for?

1000x this.

The increasing tendency to again move to, 'Oh these do suck, but just WAIT for (fill in rumored unicorn device) that will surely change the smartphone game, for real this time" is irksome.
My eyes roll so far back into my head, I probably resemble a slot machine.

[Krystianpants]

Here's a new phone introduced today. It looks awfully familiar to a lumia device.

[bo_woods]

Here's a new phone introduced today. It looks awfully familiar to a lumia device.

Other than the hideous worded logo on the front, that device is absolutely beautiful (front he perspective in getting of the front at least)

[Visa Declined]

Other than the hideous worded logo on the front, that device is absolutely beautiful (front he perspective in getting of the front at least)

I agree, Huawei makes some beautiful phones now.

[colinkiama]

Here's a new phone introduced today. It looks awfully familiar to a lumia device.

1320/640xl. The device looks way better than those lumias (in my opinion)

[bijak_riyandi]

I have the best "theory": we haven't seen any designs, only renders not from Microsoft and a few fuzzy leaked photos, so we don't know what the phones will look like.

exactly
I could see that the bottom bezel on the docked 950 XL picture is definitely smaller than the leaked "official render"

[bijak_riyandi]

Other than the hideous worded logo on the front, that device is absolutely beautiful (front he perspective in getting of the front at least)

I hope you weren't one of those guys who lamented the 950 (XL)'s leaked pictures for having big bezels, because this one got even bigger bezels

[Kram Sacul]

You know why they signed off on them? Because fanboys were getting their panties in a twist about not having a flagship device. Why else would they be releasing a Surface phone just six months later? They went with what they had from Nokia to SHUT YOU UP. And now you're upset that they're not taking longer. Awesome.

Excuses everywhere. They could've easily given us a better/more high end design. It's not like they have a shortage of design inspiration over at MS there unless that wasn't part of the deal with the badly thought out Nokia purchase.

Surface phone. lol

[Eisenhorn76]

I agree, Huawei makes some beautiful phones now.

The funny thing is Huawei doesn't always insist on putting their logo on their devices. I was just curious to try one of their devices so I bought a Huawei Honor 4x. Pretty good device -- it's around on-par with a Lumia 640XL, specs-wise, if you're curious. There is no Huawei logo at all on the device -- the rear cover has an etched stylized 'Honor' logo on the back (it's actually not that bad) but there's no Huawei anywhere.

I sold it after 6 days of owning a new one but, by and large (it was too awkward to carrying four 5.5"+ smartphones around), it left me with a good impression of Huawei's phones. In fact, it got a 5.1.1. Android update (albeit as a public beta) much earlier than the vast majority of Samsung's Note 4 line (at the time, the Note5 was still just leaks and renders), which shows that the manufacturer is at least more conscious of providing after-sales support than in the past.

20 years from now, we might all be speaking of Huawei and Xiaomi in the same frame of reference that we speak about Samsung and LG today. We might also be thinking of MediaTek in the same manner that we think of Qualcomm today. It really shouldn't surprise anyone -- Apple, Sony, MSFT/Nokia et al have had their devices built/assembled there for a decade or so now. It was only a matter of time before their design and technical expertise flowed through to the local talent pool. It was never going to stay inert. I mean, who's leading the iOS Jailbreak scene now? It's Chinese talent.

[iamakii]

There were nicely designed polycarbonate phones like 930, 1020, 1520 to name a few. 950 clearly isn't. And it's a flagship for J sake.

[iamakii]

I have a better theory. Phones just don't pop out of know where. It takes years to produce a phone from design to market. So I think MS is simply just finishing up some old Nokia designs that were already in the works, although with some tweaks. The next wave, perhaps including a Surface Phone, will be MS true phone vision.

Just a theory 😉

I hope this is true because I am waiting for a true flagship phone from MS aka Surface Phone. That or it's time to say goodbye.

[Vishca]

Personally I think the prototypes and renders ,and I repeat renders look OK. Remember renders can end up being better or worse in real life than presented. I tend to buy a phone based on what it can do for me at the time of purchase and how it fits in the hand, and as I have large hands I like a phone with a bit of weight. As stated by others most phones do live in a case, mine do until I get to my work place office or home as I like the feel without the case. Looks for me are secondary, functionality comes first. Be patient all, MS are giving you Flagship specs and possibly looks also. Besides you should be buying a phone for what it can do for you now, not purely it's looks. Would you partner up with some that looked good but are useless? I guess some of you would lol.

[bo_woods]

What "good sources" have heavily suggested a Surface phone exists? Can you please be specific?

From what I've read, it seems to me that Cityman and Talkman are Microsoft's Hail Mary flagships. They offer all of the neat tech that has been promised over the past few months, and I really don't think we should expect another flagship anytime soon.

If nobody buys these phones we're probably screwed, and I wouldn't expect Microsoft to dump more cash into bringing another flagship to market. What more could a Surface phone possibly bring to the table other than a better looking design? Is that really what everyone is hoping for?

Windows Central has posted quite a bit of articles detailing Microsoft's phone strategy, saying there would be six different MS phones released a year divided by three different phone tiers.. Budget Devices, Flagship Devices, & Business Devices (so most likely two phones in each tier)
After a few articles detailing on this strategy, not too long ago Windows Central posted an article stating their business device may be Surface branded

Microsoft may release as few as six smartphones per year going forward | Windows Central
Satya Nadella: Microsoft currently lacks good flagship phones, but 'we hope to change that with Windows 10' | Windows Central
Satya Nadella still 'committed' to Microsoft's phone business despite layoffs | Windows Central
Microsoft execs say Windows 10 Mobile 'is significantly feature complete', hints at Surface Phone | Windows Central

[theefman]

You know why they signed off on them? Because fanboys were getting their panties in a twist about not having a flagship device. Why else would they be releasing a Surface phone just six months later? They went with what they had from Nokia to SHUT YOU UP. And now you're upset that they're not taking longer. Awesome.

Like the procession of low end crap was such a success at 2.5% marketshare and falling, right?