Microsoft could release the dual-screen Surface Duo earlier than expected, according to Windows Central. It’ll reportedly arrive this summer if both hardware and software get finalized within the next few months. Sources indicate it’s a likely scenario, enabling Microsoft to sell the Surface Duo in limited quantities several months before the original release date scheduled for late 2020.
As for specifications, the leak reveals Microsoft wants to offer high-end components. The Surface Duo will allegedly ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855. It’s a top-tier chipset, and the entry-level model will pair that with 6GB of memory and 64GB of storage. Windows Central reports that Microsoft will sell other configurations, but none of them include 5G connectivity.
Current flagships feature the Snapdragon 855 and 5G connectivity. It’s another factor that could push Microsoft to release the Surface Duo as soon as possible. Microsoft doesn’t wish to see the Surface Duo labeled as an outdated smartphone upon its arrival.
You’ll notice a significant difference between the Surface Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola’s new Razr. The Surface Duo isn’t supported by a single display. Instead, users interact with two 5.6-inch displays attached to a hinge at the center. So an app can run on one display at a time, or it can expand to present more information across both. Overall, the Surface Duo should enter the market as a productivity-focused machine.
By introducing the Surface Duo in limited quantities, Microsoft could also learn all the difficulties to manufacture dual-screen products ahead of starting mass production. Reports suggest the Surface Duo entered development in 2016, but its software fell short of expectations. Hardware, though, didn’t turn nearly as problematic. Windows Central says the smartphone, which originally ran Windows Core OS, hasn’t experienced any major design changes in around two years. Microsoft chose Android to serve as the operating system, but optimizations were still necessary for Google’s software to run properly. Soon, the software engineers in Redmond could wrap up their contributions and allow Microsoft to schedule a release date.
Microsoft will reportedly announce the Surface Book 3 and the Surface Go 2 this spring; if that’s true, the Surface Duo could appear during the same media gathering. Of course, there’s also the coronavirus putting the entire plan at risk. It’s unclear if the Surface Duo, or any of Microsoft’s other yet-to-be-released Surface devices, will get delayed due to the closure of Asia-based factories. Microsoft might find itself forced to postpone the early roll-out, but we’ll know more about that possibility as the outbreak unfolds.
Further Reading
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