According to a newly filed patent, Microsoft has some new ideas for the next generation of its Surface smartphones. Though much of its history in the mobile phone industry is marked by failure, Microsoft’s headquarters are in Redmond, Washington. When phones first came out, Microsoft’s Windows software was often seen running on them. This was common until the middle of the 2000s. As time went on, Microsoft realised that it had to change its strategy because of the rise of iPhones and Android phones. As a result, Microsoft spent a lot of money on its Windows Phone division. The gamble didn’t pay off, and the division was shut down in 2017.
Microsoft came back into the smartphone market in 2020 with the $1,399 Surface Duo, a two-screen foldable that runs Android. Clean lines and a multi-angle hinge made the book-like phone look like it would be a good fit. Some thought its outdated internals and sluggish software couldn’t justify such a high price because they didn’t work well enough for most people to use. As you might expect, Microsoft tried again with the Surface Duo 2 in 2021. Even though it was able to fix some of the previous problems, the device hasn’t been a big hit on the market at all.
As a result of its tepid return to smartphones, it doesn’t look like Microsoft is giving up on the mobile phone market. Recently, the U.S. Patent Office made public a document that shows how the company is thinking about making a device that has three foldable screens. In order to demonstrate the concertina opening and closing capabilities of the handset’s two hinges, the company created the illustration shown below.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Microsoft’s applying for a patent is that they filed it months before the first Surface Duo came out. This means that while the company was breaking the rules with its first foldable, it was also preparing for something even more far out. Even though people haven’t been very excited about the Surface Duo line at all. That’s why it’s logical to assume Microsoft will take additional time to refine the dual-screen experience before releasing the tri-fold product.
Even if a redesigned Surface smartphone with a third display (the Surface Trio?) is released, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of such a gadget. Three screens would be great for multitasking, but if you fold it in half, it might look like a hamburger. With all the glass, metal, and plastic, the weight of the phone might also be a problem. The biggest challenge for Microsoft may be to find people who will pay for all that screen space.
