Microsoft’s Surface Duo, a pocket-sized dual-screen device designed for double the productivity, may be released in a few weeks.
Previous rumors suggested the new phone may be released this month, but the timeline for its release has been shifted, perhaps due to COVID-19.
Whatever the reason for the apparent delay, the device is now listed on the FCC and Bluetooth SIG certification page, which typically indicates imminent release for new devices.
Rumors of Upcoming Launch
The Surface Duo, originally announced in October of 2019, has been in the testing stage this summer, according to Twitter posts from the company.
While some developers actually do have the product in their hands, Microsoft had originally guaranteed that the Surface Duo would be released to the public by the 2020 Holiday season. These pre-COVID plans appear to have changed.
According to a Verve article, the official word from Microsoft is that the Surface Duo will be shipped by September.
However, tech enthusiasts have reason to believe it may be coming even sooner.
Indications of the new phone’s upcoming release include images Microsoft’s communications chief Frank Shaw posted on Twitter of the phone and a new case, which were consistent with a video on Linkedin.
Hints from notorious phone leaker Evan Blass have also surfaced. Blass tends to leak information a few weeks or months behind the release of a new product, so if this case holds true to form, the Surface Duo is almost ready.
Hardware and Specs?
Microsoft has not been forthcoming about hardware specifications, but the company has released the device internally for testing, and their employees have been a little more loose-lipped.
According to leaks, in addition to the dual 5.6-inch displays from which the device draws its name, the device’s hardware may also include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.
Information on the device has been elusive since Build (like most in-person events) was moved to a virtual venue, due to the virus. Originally the pandemic was expected to delay the launch of the Surface Duo, but it seems to have accelerated the release of the product, delaying only the dispersal of information from Microsoft.
While dual-screen technology for personal devices has occupied tech horizons for a while, COVID-19 was rumored to push them into the stratosphere.
However, based on leaks and posts on social media, the Surface Duo and other dual-screen technology may be much closer than tech companies and enthusiasts believed at the outset of the pandemic.
This new phone, a device millennials and older members of Gen Z may liken to a mature version of Nintendo’s dual-screen gaming device, the DS, is likely only a few weeks away.
