Skip to main content

Microsoft looks to tone down its portfolio by releasing no more than 6 smartphones a year

In the heels of relieving 7,800 employees in its phone business of their duties, Microsoft will reportedly release no more than six smartphones per year moving forward, Bloomberg reports.

According to an unnamed source, Microsoft will streamline its smartphone portfolio in the form of three types of devices: phones meant for those on a budget, business-centered devices, and high-end devices. The source said Microsoft will release one or two models a year in each of the three aforementioned categories in the future. In addition, Microsoft will no longer maintain its mobile presence and carrier relationships in locations where it hasn’t seen much success. Even though one can argue that the United States itself is one such market, Microsoft will likely keep making phones for the region due to its size.

Recommended Videos

Interestingly enough, Microsoft already has six phones in the market for 2015: the Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 430, and Lumia 540 Dual. However, rumor has it Microsoft will release two new high-end Lumia handsets, codenamed Talkman and Cityman, later this year. Both will reportedly sport 3GB of RAM, QHD displays, 20-megapixel cameras, and triple-LED flash. More specifically, the Cityman will allegedly support Windows 10’s Continuum, which will transform the phone into a desktop when plugged into a monitor.

Those might not be the only two Lumia smartphones due out for later this year, however. Over on Twitter, known industry leaker Evan Blass teased that Microsoft is working on a Lumia smartphone with front-facing LED flash:

We’ve seen front-facing LED flash on smartphones before, such as on the HTC Desire Eye and the Sony Xperia C4, but it would be the first time such a feature is incorporated in a Lumia smartphone. Unfortunately, that’s all Blass revealed about this enigmatic smartphone, so we’ll keep you updated when we get more information.

Regardless, taking into account Microsoft’s $7.6 billion writedown yesterday, as well as rumors of a streamlined smartphone portfolio, one can’t help but think the company might be slightly moving its focus away from smartphones. By that same token, however, Microsoft doesn’t seem ready to give up on its mobile business just yet.

Williams Pelegrin
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
The ROG Phone 6 Diablo Edition looks like it’s straight out of hell
ASUS ROG Phone 6 Diablo Edition unboxed

“Do you guys not have phones?” Well, what about a Diablo-themed phone? If you’ve ever wanted a smartphone decked out in all things Diablo, then Asus has you covered. Asus partnered with Blizzard for a special edition of the ROG Phone 6, based off of the mobile game, Diablo Immortal. The unique theming isn’t just on the hardware, but the software as well — everything about this phone is based on Diablo, from the setup process all the way down to even the notification sounds. If you’re even the slightest Diablo fan (whether or not you like Immortal), there’s a lot to like here.

While I've spent hundreds of hours playing Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, and I'm eagerly waiting for Diablo 4, I personally haven't spent much time in Diablo Immortal just because I'm not a huge fan of microtransactions and free-to-play games. But that doesn't make me any less excited for a Diablo-themed smartphone.
This is undoubtedly a Diablo gaming phone

Read more
More than 5 billion mobile phones to become waste this year
A pile of e-waste.

What do you do with your old phone when you replace it? If you’re one of the responsible folks who trade it in or recycle it, then good for you.

But according to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, most mobile phones that get switched off for good simply disappear into drawers, closets, and garages, or get chucked into trash cans bound for landfills or incineration.

Read more
Microsoft Defender has one key weakness its rivals don’t
A Windows 11 device running Microsoft Defender.

Nothing beats free antivirus protection on Windows, like Microsoft Defender, but some of that software might not be as strong as you think based on a new study from an anti-malware assessment company.

The latest AV-Comparatives report shows data that reveals Microsoft Defender doesn't perform as well with virus scans when it is offline when compared to competitors.

Read more