Microsoft hasn’t made a phone in several years, since it abandoned the mobile version of Windows 10. Now, Microsoft has everything included in Android and plans to launch its dual-screen Surface Duo later this year. However, the launch may come sooner than you think. Microsoft has sent the Duo to the FCC, indicating that the work on the hardware is complete.
Microsoft announced the Duo alongside the Neo with Windows in late 2019. While the Neo may not start when Microsoft originally envisioned it, the Duo may appear a little earlier. Manufacturers have to send the final hardware to the FCC for testing to make sure it meets key regulatory metrics. So while the FCC won’t tell us what the phone is like, it can check cell bands, model numbers, and more. In the case of the Duo, it has the 1930 model number and the usual assortment of LTE frequencies. However, there is no 5G.
Windows Central believes the Duo could launch a little before the vague “2020 vacation” time frame that Microsoft has announced. The FCC documents also support that assessment. It is common for device manufacturers to request confidentiality when shipping devices for testing. That means the FCC will not make device images or manuals available for a period of time. For the Duo, the confidentiality agreement only runs until October 29. Sources claim that the Duo could even be released before October.
Panos Panay from Microsoft announced the Duo along with the dual-screen Neo laptop. Credit: Microsoft / Live Stream
The Duo will launch at a difficult time for smartphone makers. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic shocks have caused consumers to not buy new phones – some reports claim that smartphone sales have fallen as much as 25 percent this year. And yet, display panels are among the most expensive components of modern smartphones, and the Duo will have two of them. Microsoft also risks looking back, as some manufacturers have begun rolling out devices with folding screens.
Microsoft has not announced pricing or specs for the Duo, but leaks have pointed to a Snapdragon 855, 6GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The OLED displays will be 5.6 inches each with a 4: 3 aspect ratio. The Duo will take on new and established phones like the Galaxy Note and the iPhone.
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