Surface Duo fans may be able to rock the ingenious, dual-screen Android phone as early as this summer.
According to Windows Central’s sources, Microsoft wants to release the novel device months ahead of schedule. The mobile was originally announced with a Holiday 2020 release date, but an early launch is possible because both the hardware and software are reportedly finished.
“Android 10 has been complete since August 2019, so Microsoft is currently focused on finalizing the top-level OS customizations and in-box app experiences specific to Surface Duo,” explained Windows Central.
“I’m told that Microsoft is hoping to have all the software done by early April, and that Surface Duo could start shipping in limited quantities in time for the summer if everything goes according to plan. I expect that this initial launch will be aimed primarily at developers and enthusiasts, with its availability announced in the spring alongside the Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3.”
The Surface Duo looks like it could be a real boon for mobile productivity. Unlike other folding smartphones, Microsoft’s actually comprises two displays, which means that it shouldn’t suffer from any of the strange screen issues that have been plaguing devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy Fold and Motorola’s modern Razr. The dual displays are also ideal for mutitasking.
It’s powered by a Snapdragon 855 – the same SoC featured in recent flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S10, Sony Xperia 1, and LG G8 ThinQ – and includes 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage for the base model.