Microsoft Announces Surface Duo - An Android Dual-Screen Device
by Andrei Frumusanu on October 2, 2019 12:15 PM EST- Posted in
- Mobile
- Microsoft
- Surface Duo
Today at Microsoft’s Surface event in New York, alongside new laptops and various other Surface devices, we saw the company announce a new kind of device; the new “Surface Duo”. The new device more or less loosely described as a phone, is a clamshell dual-screen phone with a full swivel hinge design.
The design of the phone at the moment look relatively simplistic, but we were certainly shown just prototype devices. The interesting design aspect was that the device lacked any kind of external features aside from the Windows logo – particularly missing from the device was any kind of rear camera.
On the “inside” – or rather more aptly, on the side with the screens, we did see the device have an earpiece speaker as well as a camera. It’s possible Microsoft where is envisaging you using this single camera in all scenarios and would be relatively practical given you can use the opposing outwards facing screen as the viewfinder.
The screens themselves has two 5.6” screens which when unfolded amount to a diagonal of 8.3”.
The device is running a customized version of Android as the OS.
Currently the prototype devices are said to be running Android 9 Pie with a Snapdragon 855 SoC – although these specifications are sure to change until the device’s actual launch.
Much like the Surface Neo, this has been pretty much just a teaser pre-announcement of the Duo as the devices aren’t scheduled to come out until the holiday season in 2020.
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5080 - Thursday, October 3, 2019 - link
It's okay to criticize Microsoft, but unfortunatly the alternative doesn't look much better either. Don't forget these devices are made for the average Joe and not for power users. 99% of Surface customers don't care about any of this.HardwareDufus - Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - link
funny, because they also announced Windows10X (that's Windows Ten Ten) will also be available holiday season 2020 (which is code for 4th quarter 2020.. or 2021 if it gets delayed). With this device coming out at the same time and using Android...it certainly sends a mixed message.wr3zzz - Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - link
It certainly will be too heavy as a phone. More interesting if it runs Windows.eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - link
Thanks Andrei! I actually like the design, at least it doesn't try to be a seamless folding something with a soft, scratch-magnet screen retailing for $ 2000. I take the hinge and the gap for a clamshell dual screen instead any day. Here's to hope that Xiaomi or another Chinese manufacturer took notes and pictures, and comes out with one like this for about $ 300. Knowing MS, theirs will be $ 1000 and up, and start with 2 GB of RAM and minimal storage.s.yu - Friday, October 4, 2019 - link
My previous phone from 2015 had 3GB of RAM...they need to stop insulting peoples' intelligence.ET - Thursday, October 3, 2019 - link
This has a real coolness factor for me, but price would probably be too high (for something that I don't really need).Would be interesting to see what kind of OS updates Microsoft provides for Android devices over time.
alexvoda - Thursday, October 3, 2019 - link
I know we are all excited MS is returning to the phone business and the Courier is becoming a reality, but this looks like a product with a very niche market. It doesn't look like it has a main camera (only a front camera). So it's probably not going to replace a phone. It's probably designed to more of a productivity device. I'm really not sure who this is for. At least for me the Surface Neo is a lot more interesting.boozed - Thursday, October 3, 2019 - link
I suppose Microsoft no longer considers Linux to be a cancer?