14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will no longer launch the new Surface Neo this year, according to a new report, as the company is pushing back the project to 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
More specifically, Microsoft wants to delay not only the launch of its very own dual-screen device, but of all similar models that were supposed to run Windows 10X.
Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley reports that the Chief Product Officer Panos Panay has already reached out to team members to inform that the Surface Neo is now projected to go live in 2021, and so are dual-screen and foldable devices manufactured by partners and running Windows 10X.
Originally, Surface Neo was expected to go live in the holiday season of this year alongside similar products from the likes of Lenovo, HP, Dell, and probably others.
Surface Duo still launching this year
The good news is that the Surface Duo Android phone won’t be delayed, and it’s still due in holiday 2020.
On the other hand, while Microsoft isn’t yet ready to power dual-screen experiences with Windows 10X, the company actually wants to bring this new operating system to single-screen devices this year. So the operating system would still go live this year, most likely as part of Microsoft’s push against the Chromebook.
Furthermore, the company is still working around the clock on certain features of Windows 10X that could make their way to Windows 10, including running apps in containers.
For the time being, however, not even Microsoft can provide an accurate timeline for Windows 10X and Surface Neo, especially due to the coronavirus outbreak that’s hitting the United States hard. Microsoft wants the debut of its most ambitious new device to go as smoothly as possible, so at this point, it’s better not to hold your breath for the Surface Neo.