Despite an intriguing concept, the sauce has never taken off for the Surface Duo range, these two-screen smartphones developed by Microsoft. After two generations, the manufacturer stopped the costs, but it still worked very seriously on a very different version 3.
The Surface Duo, launched in September 2020 (a few months later in France), stood out at the time. Not only Microsoft invested in Android, but it was with a foldable smartphone like no other: it is in fact equipped with two screens in a book format.
Good ideas that will never see the light of day
Unfortunately for Microsoft, it was not a success: too many bugs, no 5G, a mediocre camera and a staggering price exceeding €1,500 condemned the concept. Stubborn, the company nevertheless did it again in 2021, with a second generation that was better designed and more efficient, but still very expensive. In September 2023, Microsoft ended its investments in “experimental” designs for Surface devices, to better focus on products that sell.
Read Microsoft no longer supports the Surface Duo, three years after its launch
However, all this did not prevent Microsoft from working on a third generation. And this would have been very different with a single folding screen, like the Galaxy Z Fold. The device, known internally under the code name Neon, is revealed in a patent revealed by PatentlyApple. In addition to this famous screen, the device integrated a photo block of three modules, arranged like the iPhone Pro.
Another surprising aspect of this Surface Neon: a magnetic attachment system (reminiscent of Apple’s MagSafe) for accessories such as a kickstand. An external screen appears; and the selfie camera is hidden under the main screen. The two panels (external screen, internal screen) are edge to edge.
The power button should also allow you to open the smartphone, without having to use your fingers. According to Windows Central, it is indeed this smartphone that should have been launched. Unfortunately, Microsoft has decided to go in another direction.
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Source :
WindowsCentral
