Microsoft scraps plans for dual-screen Ground Duo 3, pivots to new foldable show display screen design

What it is important to know

Microsoft’s subsequent foldable Ground phone obtained’t be a dual-screen machine

The company is pivoting to an actual foldable design with 180-degree hinge

The switch comes after the Ground Duo 2 acquired blended opinions.

Microsoft’s subsequent foldable Ground phone obtained’t be a dual-screen machine, in line with my sources who’re accustomed to the company’s plans. After an prolonged 12 months of {{hardware}} prototyping and experimentation, the company has decided to pivot over to a further standard foldable design, with a 180-degree hinge, inside foldable show display screen and exterior cowl present, very similar to models similar to the Vivo X Fold and Honor Magic Vs. (opens in new tab)

I’m instructed this new foldable machine occurred after the company had already finalized a dual-screen design for Ground Duo 3. This genuine dual-screen design was presupposed to ship on the end of 2023 as the following Ground Duo, that features narrower and taller edge-to-edge exhibits, wi-fi charging, and totally different enhancements.

That dual-screen design has now been scrapped, and the Ground crew is now centered on delivering this new “true” foldable design. Microsoft began exploring single-screen foldable designs as a doable successor to the Ground Duo 2 in late 2021 after it launched and was met with blended opinions.

It’s nonetheless too early to know the exact specs that this new foldable machine goes to operate {{hardware}} intelligent, or whether or not or not or not Microsoft plans to simulate a dual-screen experience by the use of a software program program operate or mode. My sources say there’s no concrete transport window for the machine in place however each, which suggests it’s unlikely to be ready in time for this fall.

(Image credit score rating: Vivo)

Microsoft simply recently filed quite a lot of design patents for single-screen foldables with a 360-degree hinge, predominant some critiques to take a position that this can be what the following Ground Duo pivots to. My sources say that’s inaccurate, and that the foldable machine will instead operate a 180-degree hinge much like most totally different foldable telephones.

In spite of everything, with the change in kind subject may come a change in title. It’s nonetheless too early to tell, nevertheless given this machine isn’t a typical Duo in kind subject, perhaps the company will take this opportunity to rebrand the highway, very similar to what it did with the Ground E e book and Ground Laptop computer pc Studio. Regardless, sources inform me this machine stays to be considered a third-generation Duo internally.

My sources moreover inform me there’s a much bigger software program program effort ongoing internally that’s designed to raised differentiate its future Android {{hardware}} selections from the rest of the opponents. This effort is dubbed “Wonderful Collectively” and objectives to ship an ecosystem experience between Microsoft’s Android {{hardware}} and Dwelling home windows PCs very similar to that between an iPhone and Mac.

I moreover hear that Microsoft is eager to develop its line of Android smartphone selections, and has been exploring fully totally different kind elements to ship together with a foldable machine. Whereas nothing is prepared in stone, I’m instructed the company has already prototyped quite a lot of standard slab smartphone designs, which could ship as a “mainstream” Ground phone offering, allowing the foldable machine to exist as an fanatic product.

Whole, these changes and plans for Microsoft’s Android efforts are very important, and my sources inform me Microsoft is remaining “all-in” on delivering its private Android {{hardware}} and software program program, on the very least for now. Let’s merely hope the following Ground phone is ready sooner reasonably than later.