Windows Phone 8 to support 1080p by end of year

Windows Phone 8 will support 1080p resolution displays by the end of the year, according to a report.

Speaking to The Verge, sources “familiar with Microsoft’s Windows Phone plans” said the computing giant would release a new update later this year enabling support for the resolution and new five-inch smartphones.

Displays currently support by Windows Phone 8 include 720p, WVGA and WXGA.

The new update, also known as general distribution release 3 for Windows Phone, will also provide support for new quad-core Qualcomm processors.

The news comes as Microsoft looks to gain ground on Apple and Android, with devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 expected to adopt a 1080p display.