This article is more than 1 year old

Surface Mini fondleslab farewelled

Microsoft cancels device it never launched

Rumours are emerging in Asia that Microsoft has decided not to enter the phablet market and has canned its rumoured Surface Mini.

According to Taiwanese outlet Digitimes, manufacturers' reps say Redmond has followed up its decision in May to delay the never-actually-announced device by cancelling build orders.

Digitimes' sources put the unconfirmed decision down to competition in the “phablet” market. “Compared to other small-size tablets in the market, the Surface Mini's specifications have nothing in particular to boost its competitiveness and therefore Microsoft has decided to postpone the tablet's launch and may not even launch it to the market at all”, the story states.

The story suggests that the $US50 (for unbranded kit) to $US100 (from branded vendors) price range of the phablet market has Microsoft spooked, as does Apple's plans for 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones.

Redmond is at least spared the embarrassment of cancelling a product it had announced. While it's been an item of speculation since 2013, with a user guide leak in June fanning the flames, in spite of “no comment” responses from Microsoft.

The Register has given Microsoft the chance to offer “no comment” to the latest speculation, and received the expected response. ®

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