The rumor mill has been churning all sorts of speculations around Microsoft's highly anticipated Surface Phone, which multiple sources claim will be a hybrid device, meaning, it can be used as a tablet as well.

Microsoft Surface Phone Release Date

Citing the hype surrounding the purported Surface Phone, it is hardly surprising that the device has been subject to a slew of leaks and rumors. The device was initially expected to hit the store shelves mid last year, but much to the dismay of smartphone lovers, that did not come to fruition. Now, some tech pundits suggest that the highly anticipated phone could finally arrive this year.

Recently surfaced reports, however, does not allude to 2017 as the Surface Phone's release date, in fact, a new report now points to a 2018 launch. Apparently, Microsoft's chief executive Satya Nadella's conceptualized phone is nowhere close to being ready for its big launch.

Nadella has been trotting out Microsoft Surface Phone as the game changer and if this is anything to go by, the possibility that gadget freaks will be treated to an unboxing this year is next to nothing. Moreover, the purported phone powered by Windows 10 arriving this year could turn out to be premature. There is a higher possibility that the device will make an appearance sometime in 2018; however, even that is not officially confirmed yet.

Apparently, there are umpteen conditions that Microsoft needs to meet in order to bring about the Surface Phone envisioned by Nadella. The one thing that is likely to grease the wheels for the Surface Phone is ample developers' support.

According to WindowsCentral, apps will play a vital role in propelling the Surface Phone to huge popularity. But these applications are highly unlikely to be made available before 2018.

Constant connectivity will be another key component. The addition of dependable apps coupled with a reliable cellular connection, in contrast to Wi-Fi, will further boost the Redmond-based company's plan to tie up the new Surface Phone to a stable ecosystem.

Microsoft Surface Phone Specifications & Features

In terms of hardware, rumors running rampant online hint at the inclusion of ARM-based chips, particularly Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 SoC that will reportedly power the new Surface Phone, thus, revving up the handset's Continuum feature that will consecutively pave the way for the emulation of x86 apps on the device. Practically, users will have access to a phone that can act as a desktop machine.

The Surface Phone is expected to be a foldable phone-to-tablet mobile device if a new patent applied by Microsoft is anything to go by. The purported phone is said to be a foldable tablet that is supported by a flexible hinge, MSPowerUser reported.

This is probably the Surface Phone that Nadella envisioned. However, if latest reports proved to be true, Microsoft Surface Phone will not arrive until 2018.