Microsoft is back in the phone game, and it just unveiled its player. In its October event, Microsoft announced the Surface Duo, a dual-screen smartphone that is ready for the competition.

Dual-Screen Smartphone

Foldables are the main thing in the smartphone market right now, but it is quite apparent that even major companies have yet to perfect the art of the foldable. Apart from Samsung and Huawei that are making actual foldable phones with folding displays, LG also made its own version of the foldable smartphone with the LG G8X ThinQ, the smartphone that can be linked to a case-like attachment to give it two screens.

While not exactly facing Samsung and Huawei head-on, the concept is admittedly unique.

Surface Duo

Now, Microsoft is throwing its hat in the smartphone game again with the Surface Duo, a dual-screen device that supports Android apps along with the Surface hardware. The Surface Duo can be used in various modes depending on the users’ needs, making full use of the two 5.6-inch screens that can unfold to 8.3 inches.

“And, yes, it makes phone calls,” Microsoft said. “We’re excited to work with developers and the industry to create the next wave of dual-screen computing and unlock a new era of mobile creativity.”

While Microsoft did not go into too much detail about the Surface Duo, the company notes that it will be the first Surface to fit in users’ pockets. Further, while it is similar to the LG G8x's concept, the Surface Duo does not have to be attached to a case to be dual screen.

The Surface Duo as well as the larger dual-screen device, the Surface Neo, are expected to be released in Holiday 2020.

Microsoft Phones

Microsoft is not exactly known for its phones, and even they know that. In fact, in a September musical video made by its interns and employees, Microsoft the Musical, they even joked about Microsoft products being known all around the world “except for when we tried to make a phone.”

Jokes aside, however, it is true that Microsoft has been trying to get into the smartphone business but has yet to succeed. Only time will tell whether the Surface Duo is the one that will get Microsoft’s shoe in the smartphone competition.