After the successful launch of the Surface Duo in 2020,
Microsoft is looking to take the dual-screen idea one step
further. While we have already seen dual-screen and triple
screen phone concept, Microsoft is looking to experiment with a
foldable form factor that will use a moveable display.
In a patent filing, Microsoft noted that
phones with folding display include the risk of damaging the
display under certain circumstances.
To improve the durability of foldable phones or PCs, Microsoft
is exploring a new concept called ‘moveable display’. Unlike
the traditional folding screens or dual-screen setup, this will
allow the display around the Surface phone to globally fold
“with low internal strain in the display”.
In some cases, Microsoft plans to use curvature with a
pre-defined radius to provide folding display support against
point loads. Like Samsung Galaxy Fold, the patented Surface
device will also include a thin film transistor matrix.
Though the patent was first filed in 2017, it was published by
the USPTO in the first week of January and it’s likely that the
tech giant is still exploring foldable display designs for
future Surface products.
This patent takes the concept of a foldable working device to a
different level altogether with ideas for stronger display. You
also get an immersive media streaming experience thanks to the
multi-form factor foldable design of the patented device.
However, the idea might still be years away from being an
actual device. This is because Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Duo
is expected to use the same dual-screen design with improved
hardware and software compatibility.
Reports have suggested that Surace Duo could be announced in
the second half of 2021 with the
upgraded camera setup, faster Snapdragon SoC, NFC and other
improvements.
