14 DAY TRIAL // Surface Duo marked Microsoft’s debut in the Android hardware market, and now the company is more committed than ever to continue its adventure in this yet to be explored industry.
And while Microsoft isn’t necessarily aiming to become an Apple rival and build an iPhone killer, the Surface Duo is first and foremost supposed to help innovate in the Android ecosystem. And this is the reason Microsoft has turned the Duo into a rather ambitious project with a dual-screen form factor and features supposed to boost productivity beyond the desktop.
While many people criticized the Surface Duo for its more or less outdated hardware, one of the biggest shortcomings was the limited availability, as the device was only sold in the United States.
In other words, if you live in Europe or Asia and want to buy the Surface Duo, you can’t get it unless you order the device from the United States, which in turn could substantially increase the price due to taxes and everything.
The Redmond-based software giant, however, is working on addressing the whole thing, and next year, the Surface Duo will launch in more markets.
Microsoft announced the new plans earlier today, explaining that more details would be shared in early 2021.
“Since introducing Surface Duo in August 2020, people have asked when we would make this product available outside of the US. We’re pleased to share that in early 2021, we’ll be offering Surface Duo in Canada, United Kingdom, France and Germany. We’re excited to share more information at the beginning of 2021, so stay tuned for more,” Pete Kyriacou, VP, Microsoft Devices, explains.
Microsoft says it’s also working with software developers out there to bring more apps to the Surface Duo and offer a fully optimized dual-screen experience.
One of the new apps to go live on the Duo is TikTok, the app that Microsoft was this close to taking over earlier this year. TikTok launches on the Duo with a UI optimized for both screens, thus making sure users can make the most of all capabilities.
“Customers love what Surface Duo allows them to accomplish with existing applications, and our partners are doing amazing work to optimize their experiences across two screens. At launch, we showcased Amazon Kindle and the incredible work they’ve done to allow you to read a book like a book on Surface Duo. Spotify has embraced dual-screen capabilities to improve music discovery. We’re excited to share that TikTok has released an enhanced app that brings entirely new experiences that light up on Surface Duo. Optimized for two screens, you can discover videos customized for you while, at the same time, exploring relevant hashtags, the latest trends and more,” Kyriacou continued.
Hardware upgrades for the Surface Duo are also planned, and it’s believed Microsoft is already working on a black version of the device. By the looks of things, the Duo could go live with a black finish in 2021, and there’s a chance this would ship in international markets as well.
At the same time, the Redmond-based software giant is also working on the second-generation Surface Duo, and without a doubt, Microsoft is aiming to resolve all the shortcomings customers have signaled on the first-generation model. This includes using the latest processor available on the market, as well as upgraded cameras, more storage, and other improvements that more or less turned the Surface Duo into a rather expensive below-premium model.
Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on its plans for a second Surface Duo, but there’s no doubt sooner or later it would still go live.