Microsoft may end the Surface Duo lineup as we currently know. The company was the only major OEM to commit to a dual-screen form factor, but according to the latest rumors, the company is about to switch things up with his next Surface Duo model.
According to Windows Central, Microsoft is abandoning the dual-screen form factor in favor of devices with foldable displays. According to their sources, the company aims to build a phone that mimics some of the best foldable phones on the market, with an internal foldable display and an external cover screen. , this new foldable smartphone appears to replace the dual-screen Surface Duo 3, which was set to launch at the end of 2023.
Of course, this news may disappoint Surface Duo fans who prefer two separate displays to one foldable panel. After all, the former is arguably a more durable setup than the still-fragile folding displays found in devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Also, a seemingly underrated form factor, although I haven’t used this device for a long time.
Last year, I wrote about how I hope dual-screen phones hit the market as an alternative to big-screen flip phones. It’s a form factor that it tried to popularize, and only Microsoft seemed to be fully committed to it. It looks dead.
Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, says dual-screen phones haven’t really found a foothold in a world increasingly focused on foldable devices. “Apart from Microsoft’s design, dual screens were pretty cumbersome, not as smart as many foldable devices, and the software was optimized for foldable devices rather than dual-screen devices, so it never really caught on. think.”
“Microsoft is already putting up a very uphill battle to convince consumers to buy phones.”
Windows Central’s Daniel Rubino explained why he prefers the Surface Duo 2 over the Galaxy Z Fold 4, saying that while it may not be the desired course for Microsoft and its fans, the decision to switch to a foldable display is a necessary one. says there is. Custom He becomes part agnostic, which may make it easier to source components. “Single-screen foldables are clearly where the rest of the market is headed, and Microsoft is already putting up a massive uphill battle to convince consumers to buy their phones. It’s unfolding,” Rubino said. “This design change takes that burden off and makes this Surface phone more ‘normal’. ”
The report also mentions that Microsoft is considering other form factors, such as more traditional slab smartphones, which could boost its hardware efforts. Microsoft could not provide comment on plans for future Surface Duo models.
Rubino explained that the Surface Duo community is relatively small compared to the increase in consumers buying Samsung’s foldable phones. This is partly due to the Surface Duo being positioned as a more productive device, but Samsung’s focus on entertainment benefits from its large, idiosyncratic display. The device’s poor reception is due to his lack of a major marketing push from Microsoft. Microsoft seems to be keeping the much-improved Surface Duo 2 on store shelves until it’s out of stock.
Still, I can’t help but be disappointed by the idea that there’s no longer a viable dual-screen option, and the Surface Duo 2 isn’t a bad phone by any means. It has a pair of great-looking OLED displays, an upgraded triple-camera setup, a functional stylus pen, and a great software experience. That said, Microsoft always seemed to catch up with each iteration of the Duo, even though the Duo 2 minimized the technology gap with its aging Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Luckily, the Surface Duo 2 seemed to rely on a good software experience. Windows Central says there are reportedly “larger software efforts underway internally” aimed at differentiating Microsoft’s foldable device from its competitors. It doesn’t quite look like this, but it does blend Microsoft’s productivity features with an enhanced focus on media and entertainment. Called “Perfect Together” (not to be confused with Google’s “Better Together”), the effort could also affect the expansion of connectivity between Android phones and Windows PCs. by Motorola.
“One way Surface Duo fans want Microsoft to implement an experience like a virtual dual screen,” Rubino said. “With the Fold 4, a single-screen/single-app experience is the default, and users can optionally split the screen to see two adjacent apps. You can set the default experience to run two apps side by side that need to be centered to “span” it. This is basically what users are experiencing with the current Duo model, but the separation between screens is software-only.
Sag said Microsoft has an opportunity to differentiate in ways Samsung doesn’t really take advantage of. “For Microsoft, it will undoubtedly have to come from AI capabilities and deeper integration with existing products such as Office 365 and Xbox xCloud. Samsung has already taken many of Microsoft’s strengths with the Fold series. So the best way to differentiate is for Samsung to be in a place where AI doesn’t like it.” With plans envisioned to integrate ChatGPT into Bing, Microsoft can certainly leverage this in its own software.
In terms of UI, the Android 12L update saw a number of improvements to the foldable front, introducing features like improved multitasking and the taskbar. The Surface Duo update included his more Windows-like UI and new pen features. Microsoft needs to focus more on these improvements while walking the fine line between preserving the experience Surface Duo fans have come to love and creating a device that appeals to a wider audience. There may be
As of now, we don’t have a set date for the new device’s launch, but hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see what Microsoft comes up with so they don’t fall further behind.
