Although foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold line and Huawei’s bold tri-fold Mate XT Ultimate have the lion’s share of this niche market, there was a time when Microsoft had a very different definition of what a foldable device could be. It was a vision that was years in the making but, unfortunately, only had four years to exist in people’s hands. The Surface Duo presented a dual-screen experience that spoke to the hearts of the Microsoft Courier concept, but now it is just a footnote in tech history.
But what if Microsoft remained stubbornly optimistic and held on to that dream far longer? What if Microsoft actually turned the Surface Duo into a portable productivity powerhouse that becomes the driving force in the hybrid work systems of the future? This concept design imagines a future that could have been for the Surface Duo, one that would have put Microsoft back on the map as the leading productivity platform in the market.
Designer: Nicolas Schmitt
Unlike the foldable phones that we know today, the Surface Duo delivered a completely different experience that literally spanned two screens. It had its perks and trade-offs, appealing to a different class of users from the more multimedia-focused products that we have now. The first two generations definitely had some rough edges, but we can only imagine what the Surface Duo could have been had it been given more time to mature.
The Microsoft Workstation imagines one such alternate reality, one where Microsoft designed accessories that would have made the Surface Duo shine even brighter. These designs focused on the device’s dual potential to be your only computer as well as an extension of your computer. Although the actual phones ran Android, it was also in the realm of possibility that Microsoft could have eventually put Windows on Arm on it in the future.
One accessory concept serves as a wireless charging dock for the Surface Duo, but it also has another purpose. When connected to an external monitor, for example, it could present a more traditional desktop experience, somewhat like Samsung’s DeX platform today. The hub initially looks like a flat box, almost like a Mac mini even, but the top lid can be lifted at an angle to make it easier to view the Surface Duo’s screen.
A bit more interesting is the idea of turning the Surface Duo into a portable second screen for Surface laptops and tablets. A simple-looking stand can magnetically latch onto the side of a Surface Pro screen, having the Surface Duo hanging from a more ergonomic height. While the Surface Duo will never realize its full potential, these accessory design concepts could still be applied to future foldable phones, still making that hybrid work scenario a feasible future.
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