Do We Actually Need A Microsoft Phone Again?

Just be happy it isn’t another Windows Phone.

- Koh Wanzi

Microsoft is making phones again. That’s a pretty stark reversal, considering how the company threw in the towel two years ago and conceded that Windows phones were never going to beat Android or iOS. Fortunately, the Surface Duo isn’t another Windows phone. It runs Android, so Microsoft hasn’t suddenly changed its mind about whether or not Windows can succeed on mobile. And as is typical for Microsoft, it’s all about helping people be more productive.

The Surface Duo is a dual-screen device with two 5.6-inch displays that can unfold to make an 8.3-inch split-screen display. After swearing off phones, Microsoft is suddenly back with a dual-screen model in a similar vein as the Galaxy Fold. It’s leapt right to the supposed cutting-edge of phone form factors, and it’s all part of Microsoft’s efforts to help advance the category of dual-screen computing.

In comparison to the Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X though, the Surface Duo is a bit more conservative. Instead of utilising a flexible OLED display, the Surface Duo has a good old hinge that divides two individual displays. It runs the risk of looking a little dated, but someone who buys a device for work probably doesn’t want to deal with all the issues that come with a foldable display anyway.