Is This Microsoft’s Canceled Surface Phone From 2014? Mysterious Windows Phone Prototype Appears in New Photos

 Introduction

Microsoft once had ambitious plans for its own Windows Phone hardware. Before the company acquired Nokia's phone business, reports suggested that Microsoft was experimenting with an in-house smartphone that could have launched under the Surface brand.

That phone never reached consumers.

Now, newly published photos have revealed a mysterious Microsoft Windows Phone prototype from around 2013–2014, giving technology fans a fascinating look at a device that may have been part of Microsoft's internal smartphone experiments.

The prototype has a metal frame, a Microsoft logo on the back and a design that looks surprisingly similar to the Surface hardware Microsoft was producing at the time.

However, there is an important caveat: there is no official confirmation that this prototype was the canceled Surface Phone. It may have been one of several devices Microsoft was developing internally during the same period.

You can also explore our latest tech guides and helpful tutorials on TechGuideZone.

Microsoft Was Working on Its Own Windows Phone

Before Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia, the company was reportedly exploring the possibility of creating its own smartphone hardware.

Microsoft already had the Surface brand for tablets and PCs, so bringing a Surface-branded smartphone to the market would have made strategic sense.

At the time, the company was competing with Apple's iPhone and Google's growing Android ecosystem while trying to establish Windows Phone as a serious mobile platform.

A Microsoft-designed phone could have given the company greater control over both hardware and software.

Unfortunately for Windows Phone fans, that device never officially launched.

The Newly Discovered Prototype

The newly revealed device appears to be a Windows Phone prototype from the late 2013 period.

The phone reportedly runs an early development build of Windows Phone 8.1, with the software build dating back to September 2013.

The device also features several design characteristics that make it particularly interesting.

According to the available information, the prototype includes:

• A 720p display

• An unknown Qualcomm processor

• A silver metal frame

• A Microsoft logo on the rear

• Dedicated Windows Phone navigation buttons

• Physical volume buttons

• A dedicated camera button

• A power button

• A micro-USB port

• A headphone jack

• A SIM card slot

These specifications place the device firmly in Microsoft's Windows Phone development era.

Why Does It Look Like a Surface Device?

One of the most interesting details is the phone's appearance.

The prototype features a silver metal frame that reportedly resembles the color and design language of Microsoft's Surface 2 tablet, which launched around the same period.

This similarity has fueled speculation that the phone could have been intended to become a Surface-branded smartphone.

The Surface brand was already becoming associated with Microsoft's own hardware designs.

A Surface Phone using a similar design language could therefore have been a natural extension of the product family.

Still, appearance alone isn't enough to prove the device was the canceled Surface Phone.

Was It Actually the 2014 Surface Phone?

This is where things become uncertain.

The prototype fits the general timeline of Microsoft's rumored Surface Phone project.

Microsoft was reportedly exploring an in-house Windows Phone around 2013 and was expected by some observers to launch a Surface-branded phone in 2014.

The newly revealed prototype is also from approximately the same period.

However, available evidence does not definitively establish that the device was the specific Surface Phone Microsoft was rumored to be developing.

It could instead have been one of many experimental prototypes created by Microsoft's hardware teams.

So the safest description is:

It may be related to Microsoft's canceled Surface Phone plans, but it has not been officially identified as the Surface Phone.

The Prototype May Have Been Codenamed Raven

The device has been associated with the possible codename Raven, although very little reliable information is publicly available about the project.

Its exact purpose remains unclear.

It is possible that the phone was part of Microsoft's internal Windows Phone hardware testing rather than a finalized product.

Companies such as Microsoft typically create numerous prototypes before deciding which designs and technologies should move forward.

Some devices exist only to test hardware configurations, software builds or industrial designs.

That means a prototype can look like a finished smartphone without ever being intended for commercial release.

Windows Phone 8.1 Was Still in Development

Another clue comes from the software.

The prototype reportedly runs an early pre-release version of Windows Phone 8.1.

Windows Phone 8.1 was an important update for Microsoft's mobile operating system.

It introduced several improvements and features designed to make Windows Phone more competitive with Android and iOS.

Seeing an early development build running on this mysterious hardware gives enthusiasts a glimpse into Microsoft's internal testing process.

It also helps establish when the device was being developed.

Microsoft Was Preparing for a Major Mobile Strategy Change

The timing of the prototype is particularly interesting because Microsoft was going through major changes in its mobile strategy.

In 2014, Microsoft completed its acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business.

That acquisition changed the company's approach to smartphone hardware.

Instead of focusing primarily on creating its own separate Surface-branded smartphone, Microsoft gained access to Nokia's existing Lumia hardware business and engineering resources.

This may have contributed to the cancellation or suspension of other internal phone projects.

Nokia Became Microsoft's Main Windows Phone Hardware Partner

Following the acquisition, Microsoft's mobile hardware strategy became closely associated with Lumia.

The company continued releasing Lumia smartphones running Windows Phone.

Devices such as the Lumia 640, Lumia 650, Lumia 550 and Lumia 950 were part of Microsoft's later Windows Phone hardware lineup.

These phones carried forward Microsoft's mobile ambitions, but the broader Windows Phone ecosystem struggled to compete with Android and iOS.

Eventually, Microsoft abandoned the Windows Phone platform.

Microsoft Eventually Abandoned Windows Phone

Windows Phone never achieved the market share Microsoft needed.

Developers were hesitant to invest heavily in the platform because its user base was relatively small.

At the same time, consumers had increasingly strong reasons to choose Android or iPhone.

This created a difficult cycle:

Fewer users → fewer developers → fewer apps → fewer users

Microsoft eventually stopped pursuing Windows Phone as a major smartphone platform.

The company effectively abandoned the platform in 2017.

That makes the discovery of an early Microsoft smartphone prototype particularly fascinating today.

The Phone Has Dedicated Hardware Buttons

The prototype's physical controls also tell us something about its era.

The device reportedly has dedicated Windows Phone navigation buttons.

These buttons were common on Windows Phone hardware at the time and helped distinguish Microsoft's mobile operating system from modern gesture-based smartphones.

The device also reportedly includes separate volume controls and a dedicated camera button.

The camera button was a recognizable feature on many Windows Phone devices.

Microsoft and its hardware partners placed considerable emphasis on smartphone photography during the Lumia era.

A Dedicated Camera Button Was Useful for Windows Phone

The physical camera button allowed users to launch the camera quickly and take photos without navigating through the operating system.

This was especially useful because smartphone photography was becoming an increasingly important part of the mobile experience.

The presence of the button on this prototype further supports the idea that it was designed specifically for the Windows Phone ecosystem.

What About the Processor?

The exact Qualcomm chipset used in the prototype is reportedly unknown.

That makes it difficult to determine the phone's final performance characteristics.

Prototype hardware can also differ significantly from what would eventually be included in a commercial device.

Manufacturers frequently test different processors, displays, cameras and other components during development.

Therefore, the specifications visible on a prototype should not necessarily be interpreted as the specifications Microsoft intended for a retail Surface Phone.

The Phone Has a 720p Display

The prototype reportedly features a 720p display.

For a smartphone from 2013–2014, that resolution would have been relatively typical.

At the time, manufacturers were moving toward increasingly sharp smartphone screens, but Full HD displays were not yet universal across every device category.

Again, the display specification is evidence of the prototype's era rather than proof of what a final Surface Phone would have offered.

What Ports Does the Prototype Have?

The phone reportedly includes a micro-USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Both were standard smartphone features during the early and mid-2010s.

Modern flagship smartphones have largely moved away from these physical connections, but they were common when Windows Phone was still competing in the market.

The prototype also reportedly includes a physical SIM card slot.

Could This Have Been a "Skype Phone"?

There is another fascinating possibility.

Around 2013, Microsoft was reportedly experimenting with the concept of a Skype Phone.

The idea involved a Windows Phone device with mobile data that could use Skype for calls and messaging rather than relying entirely on traditional cellular voice services.

Microsoft owned Skype, making such a product concept technically and strategically interesting.

However, there is no definitive evidence that the newly discovered prototype was this rumored Skype-focused phone.

It remains one possible explanation for Microsoft's internal experimentation during the period.

Why Did Microsoft Cancel the Project?

The exact reason this particular prototype never reached consumers is unknown.

However, Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia in 2014 provides an important piece of context.

Once Microsoft moved toward Nokia's mobile hardware business, there may have been less reason to continue developing separate internal phone designs.

The project could have been paused, canceled or replaced by Nokia-derived hardware.

Technology companies frequently cancel hardware projects when business strategies change.

A working prototype does not guarantee that a product will ever reach stores.

The Surface Phone Eventually Became Something Else

Interestingly, Microsoft eventually did release a device associated with the Surface Phone concept.

That device was the Surface Duo.

However, the Surface Duo was very different from the Windows Phone prototype shown in these new images.

The Surface Duo featured two displays connected by a hinge and ran Android rather than Windows Phone.

Development of the Surface Duo reportedly began years later, around 2016, and the device launched publicly in 2020.

So while Surface Duo is sometimes considered Microsoft's eventual answer to the Surface Phone idea, it was not the same device as this mysterious 2013–2014 prototype.

Why the Prototype Matters Today

At first glance, an old smartphone prototype may not seem particularly important.

But hardware prototypes provide valuable insight into products that consumers never got to see.

They can reveal:

• Internal design experiments

• Hardware choices

• Software development stages

• Product naming possibilities

• Microsoft's mobile strategy

• Features that were considered but abandoned

In this case, the prototype provides another piece of evidence about Microsoft's ambitions before the Nokia acquisition changed its mobile strategy.

What If Microsoft Had Released a Surface Phone?

It is impossible to know what would have happened.

A Surface Phone could have given Microsoft greater control over Windows Phone hardware and software.

It might have provided a premium alternative to Lumia devices and positioned Microsoft's Surface brand more strongly in smartphones.

However, hardware alone probably would not have solved Windows Phone's biggest problem: its app ecosystem.

Even a well-designed Surface Phone would have faced competition from Android and iPhone.

The lack of popular apps and developer support remained one of the platform's biggest challenges.

Could a Surface Phone Have Saved Windows Phone?

Probably not by itself.

Microsoft needed more than an impressive smartphone.

It needed:

• A strong developer ecosystem

• Popular apps

• Competitive hardware

• Strong carrier support

• Consistent software updates

• A clear mobile strategy

• Enough consumers to attract developers

A Surface-branded phone could have improved Microsoft's hardware story, but it would not automatically have solved all of these problems.

Why Microsoft Prototypes Are Still Fascinating

Microsoft has developed many products that never reached consumers.

Some prototypes are completely different from the final products, while others reveal features that eventually appeared years later.

The company's Windows Phone era is particularly interesting because Microsoft was experimenting with several different approaches to mobile hardware.

The discovery of this prototype gives enthusiasts another glimpse into that period.

Microsoft Surface Phone Prototype: Key Facts

Feature	Details
Company	Microsoft
Possible era	2013–2014
Possible codename	Raven
Operating system	Early Windows Phone 8.1 build
Display	720p
Processor	Unknown Qualcomm chip
Frame	Silver metal
Rear branding	Microsoft logo
Navigation	Dedicated hardware keys
Camera	Dedicated camera button
Charging/data	Micro-USB
Headphones	3.5mm jack
SIM	Physical SIM slot
Status	Prototype; never commercially released

The exact identity and intended market position of the device remain uncertain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the canceled Microsoft Surface Phone?

It may be connected to Microsoft's canceled Surface Phone plans, but there is currently no official confirmation that this exact prototype was the Surface Phone.

When was the prototype made?

The device appears to date from around 2013–2014, with the software reportedly based on an early Windows Phone 8.1 development build.

What operating system does the prototype use?

The prototype reportedly runs an early pre-release build of Windows Phone 8.1.

What is the Raven prototype?

Raven is a possible codename associated with the mysterious Microsoft Windows Phone prototype, although publicly available information about the project is limited.

Did Microsoft ever release a Surface Phone?

Microsoft never released the rumored traditional Surface Phone from the Windows Phone era.

The company later launched the Surface Duo in 2020, a dual-screen Android device that is sometimes viewed as Microsoft's eventual Surface phone concept.

Why did Microsoft cancel Windows Phone?

Windows Phone struggled to gain enough market share and developer support to compete effectively with Android and iOS. Microsoft eventually ended its mobile platform strategy.

Did Microsoft acquire Nokia?

Yes. Microsoft acquired Nokia's Devices and Services business in 2014, significantly changing Microsoft's smartphone hardware strategy.

Could this prototype have been a Skype Phone?

It is possible, because Microsoft was reportedly experimenting with Skype-focused phone concepts around the same period. However, there is not enough evidence to definitively identify this prototype as that device.

Final Thoughts

The mysterious Windows Phone prototype is a fascinating reminder of Microsoft's ambitions during the company's mobile era.

Its silver metal design, Microsoft branding, Windows Phone 8.1 software and 2013–2014 development timeline all make the device look like something that could have belonged to Microsoft's Surface hardware plans.

But it is important not to overstate the evidence.

At this point, the prototype should be described as a possible candidate connected to Microsoft's canceled Surface Phone work, rather than definitively calling it the 2014 Surface Phone.

Whatever its exact identity, the photos offer a rare glimpse at hardware Microsoft was developing internally before the Nokia acquisition changed the company's mobile strategy.

For Windows Phone fans, it is another fascinating look at a smartphone world that might have been very different if Microsoft's Surface phone ambitions had reached the market.

You can also explore our latest tech guides and helpful tutorials on TechGuideZone.