Microsoft shocked lots of people when it returned to smartphones in 2019, even when the brand new system was a dual-screen Android foldable.
The Floor Duo finally arrived the next yr, nevertheless it had critical {hardware} shortcomings that had been onerous to miss. 2021’s second try was an enormous step ahead, though there’s nonetheless loads of room for enchancment.
A 3rd technology is due quickly, nevertheless it won’t be known as a Floor Duo or characteristic separate shows. Or might Microsoft surrender on folding telephones solely? Right here’s every little thing we all know at this stage.
When will the Floor Duo 3 be launched?
With the unique Floor Duo lastly being launched in September 2020 and its successor arriving October 2021, you can be forgiven for considering Microsoft had settled into an annual replace cycle – as is the case with most telephones.
Nonetheless, there was no new Floor Duo in 2022, with Microsoft specializing in delivering a number of software program updates to the Duo 2 as a substitute. Ewan Spence at Forbes prompt in Could 2022 that there would now be two years between generations.
But when the January 2023 Home windows Central report of its cancellation seems to be true, writer Zac Bowden says its book-style substitute is “unlikely to be prepared in time for this fall”.
A late 2024 launch now seems to be the goal, however might the mission be cancelled altogether? In a Could 2023 Home windows Central article, Bowden says “it doesn’t appear like Microsoft has the assets to totally make investments on this imaginative and prescient”.
For the Duo 3 (or any Microsoft folding telephone) to reach in the direction of the top of subsequent yr, it’s going to “want all of the essential Android software program groups at Microsoft to get behind any future imaginative and prescient”. In the mean time, the system is quickly “on the again burner”.
How a lot will the Floor Duo 3 price?
Pricing is normally one of many final product particulars to be revealed, so it’s no shock that the price of the Duo 3 stays a thriller. Nonetheless, we are able to nonetheless use the pricing of the primary two generations as a tough information:
- Floor Duo – From $1,399/£1,349
- Floor Duo 2 – From $1,499/£1,349
The Duo 3 touchdown across the identical value appears the most probably, however that would all change if the redesign rumours transform true. Home windows Central suggests the Duo 3 shall be scrapped in favour of a book-style design much like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which might push the value even larger.
Writer Zac Bowden additionally says the corporate is “wanting to broaden its line of Android smartphone choices”, which might embody a extra reasonably priced foldable or common smartphone. An earlier Home windows Central article from 2022 reported {that a} mid-range model of the Duo 2 was thought-about and even briefly listed on eBay.
What to anticipate from the Floor Duo 3
The most important information up to now comes from Home windows Central‘s Zac Bowden, who says Microsoft has scrapped plans to deliver the Floor Duo 3 to market. He expects it to get replaced with a book-style foldable, much like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Vivo X Fold and Honor Magic Vs.
Fairly that the present dual-screen design, this could imply a regular-sized exterior telephone show which opens to disclose a small pill inside. It might technically nonetheless be marketed as a Floor Duo, however a reputation change could be probably.
Often we’d take information like this with a pinch of salt, however Bowden has such a powerful monitor report for Floor information, it’s fairly doable this may find yourself occurring.
No specs have been revealed at this stage, however the article signifies earlier patents such because the one beneath received’t grow to be the ultimate product:
The system continues to be anticipated to run Android, and this could hopefully be no less than Android 13 by the point it launches. However Zac Bowden additionally says Microsoft is making an attempt to additional differentiate its model of Android from the one discovered different telephones.
A customized Microsoft launcher is already pre-installed on each generations of the Floor Duo, however the firm is needs to ship an Apple-style ecosystem expertise between Microsoft telephones and Home windows 11 units. There might even be new common smartphones to assist help that.
In that very same Home windows Central article, Bowden says Microsoft had already finalised a dual-screen Floor Duo 3 earlier than scrapping it. It might’ve apparently featured upgrades together with taller shows with slimmer bezels and wi-fi charging, making it a major enchancment on the Duo 2.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s essential to not learn an excessive amount of right into a single report, so the prospect of an upgraded Floor Duo 3 coming to market shouldn’t be dominated out solely. However it now appears probably Microsoft will shift to this dual-screen design.
We’ll replace this text as soon as extra is revealed about Microsoft’s future foldables.