The new Microsoft phone, the Surface Duo.
Microsoft
Microsoft is making a phone. Again.
The tech giant, which stopped making phones years ago, is hoping to make a comeback with the Surface Duo. Like the name suggests, the device has two screen, connected by a hinge that effectively makes the phone a dual-screen device.
“This product brings together the absolute best of Microsoft, and we’re partnering with Google to bring the absolute best of Android in one product,” Microsoft Product Chief Panos Panay said. “This is industry pushing technology.”
Watch this:
Microsoft unveils Surface Duo, a foldable Android phone
4:58
The whole thing is a bit of a surprise, considering Microsoft gave up making phones after its troubled purchase of phone giant Nokia for more than $7 billion in 2014. This time, Microsoft says its new innovations, like the dual-screen folding display and special technology it built for the Google Android software that powers it, will help make the difference. We won’t know for sure until it’s released next year.
Those aren’t the only products Microsoft announced Wednesday. The company also showed off updates to its Surface laptop lines, including the Surface Neo, a larger dual-screen laptop powered by a new version of Windows designed to allow apps and keyboards to work more seamlessly with these new devices. It too isn’t being released until next year.
It’s rare for a company to pre-announce new devices so far in advance of their launch, particularly because excited customers may hold off purchasing this year’s new devices while they wait for the ones coming next year.
But for Microsoft, the risk may be worth the reward of surprising the tech industry with new devices and a promise of a different approach to its laptops. Microsoft surprised the tech industry when, in 2012, it announced the first Surface hybrid tablet. Until then, Microsoft had primarily been a software company, with the exception of its Xbox video game console and some phones.
Now, seven years later, the Microsoft Surface Pro is still well-regarded for its tablet-like slim form, keyboard cover and digital stylus pen, even if Microsoft doesn’t sell enough of them to compete with the likes of Lenovo, H-P or Dell.
New laptops for this year
The attention on Microsoft may be focused on next year’s new devices, the company also announced new laptops coming this year. They include an update to the Surface Pro line, a new Surface Laptop with new high-performance “Ryzen” graphics chips from AMD. The company also announced an ultra-slim Surface Pro X tablet-laptop hybrid, powered by a custom chip that promises better performance and battery life.
Everything announced
Videos from the event
Watch this:
Microsoft unveils Surface Duo, a foldable Android phone
4:58
Watch this:
Microsoft’s Surface Neo is a dual-screen foldable tablet
5:17
Watch this:
Microsoft reveals 5.3mm ultrathin Surface Pro X
3:18
Watch this:
New Surface Pro 7 adds USB-C
2:44
Watch this:
Microsoft debuts Surface Earbuds
2:56
Watch this:
Microsoft introduces Surface Laptop 3
3:52
