The Microsoft Surface Duo is due to hit store shelves later in the year and it is already shaping up to be an interesting device. Here’s what you need to know about the Microsoft phone that could genuinely be a real game-changer.
Microsoft’s phone ambitions have not really panned out over the last few years and even the Nokia name was unable to help Windows Phone combat the rise of Android and iPhone. In fact, and as if by magic, not long after Nokia Mobile turned to Android, the phone brand immediately become relevant once again. Now the question is whether Android can also help bring Microsoft out of the smartphone wilderness and back into the mainstream fold?
Microsoft first announced the Surface Duo late last year although the Microsoft website makes clear the device is not due to arrive until this year’s holiday season. More recently, however, Microsoft did confirm the Surface Duo will come running Android, but that’s not all with the new device also looking to compete in a highly competitive space right now - foldable phones.
Microsoft Surface Duo Is A Dual-Screen Android Phone
Technically, Microsoft doesn’t refer to the Surface Duo as a phone, although it remains to be seen what it is, considering it takes calls and is a “device that fits in your pocket.” In either case, one of the majorly interesting aspects is that it is similar to a foldable phone. Again, technically it does not make use of any flexible glass or plastic and therefore might not be considered a true foldable phone, but the inclusion of two screens - similar to the new LG V60 ThinQ - makes it just as capable as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or the Motorola Razr. The Surface Duo allows consumers to choose whether the device is used in a single or dual-display mode with each screen measures 5.6-inches and combining for an overall 8.3-inches of usable space. In addition, the device can be folded into a variety of positions for improved viewing angles, thanks to the included 360-degree hinge.
What also makes this device so interesting is the thought of what Microsoft might be able to achieve when using Android as the software basis for its Surface hardware. For example, a recent leak on Twitter seemed to showcase a new “peek” feature which circumvents the fact there’s no outer display for notifications. These types of customizations, along with the form factor, and how Microsoft outright refuses to even consider this a smartphone, suggests the company is thinking of this as more of a new, and forward-thinking product, that has yet to even be categorized. If all that sounds like hype, then consider that if this acts as a phone, but also as a tablet, and possible even a larger Surface device, then the experience is not one which would be bound by the usual product categories. In the meantime, while it has been confirmed the device will arrive in the holidays, the company has yet to provide any details on the price, and that might end up being the main hurdle (or yet another selling point) for the Microsoft Surface Duo.
More: Surface Book 3: What We Want (and Need) in Microsoft’s Next Laptop
Source: Microsoft
