14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier today, a new Samsung handset officially emerged in the United States, with the Windows Phone 8 operating system loaded on top, in the form of ATIV SE, but it seems that Samsung is actually preparing a new handset running under Microsoft’s mobile OS, namely the Samsung ATIV Core.
Unlike the Samsung ATIV SE, the yet unannounced ATIV Core is expected to arrive on the market with the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system loaded on top right from the start.
However, Samsung ATIV Core will be only a mid-range device, unlike the ATIV SE, which was unveiled as a high-end device, a recent article on SamMobile notes.
Apparently, this will be the very first Samsung smartphone to land on shelves with the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system loaded on top. However, no official confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now, and it remains to be seen whether this will pan out in the end.
According to the leaked info available on the new Samsung ATIV Core, it will be released with a 4.5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a 720p resolution.
The specifications list of the upcoming handset will also include 1GB of RAM, but no details on the processor packed inside it has been provided as of now.
Apparently, the device will also arrive on shelves with an 8-megapixel or a 13-megapixel camera on the back, most probably with the former, given that this will be a mid-range smartphone. A 2100mAh battery is also expected to be included in the phone.
All in all, it appears that Samsung is aiming at launching this phone as a rival to Nokia Lumia 630, which went official two days ago, with similar specs.
Unfortunately, no specific info on when the phone might arrive on the market has been provided as of now, but chances are that will be announced sometime in May, given that Nokia is also set to release its first Windows Phone 8.1 device next month.
Although the aforementioned Samsung ATIV SE went up for pre-order at Verizon Wireless today with the Windows Phone 8 platform loaded on top, it should receive an update to Windows Phone 8.1 as well.
After all, Microsoft did say earlier this week at the BUILD 2014 conference that Windows Phone 8.1 would be released to all Windows Phone 8 handsets out there, and ATIV SE is certain to taste it as well, given that it is a high-end smartphone.