Back in August 2020, Microsoft released its first smartphone with a dual screen under the Surface product line, which was called the Surface Duo. Although the dual-display smartphone was very attractive to many, the smartphone was mired in controversy. Although the device comes with an expensive price tag, it was not strong enough. Various users have started complaining about cracks due to the very thin plastic around the Type-C port.
Soon after, Microsoft decided to drop the price tag by about $200, and then another $450. In addition, the smartphone did not even have time to become global. It doesn't look like Microsoft is ignoring the device, as the Surface Duo is expected to get Android 11 in the near future. It looks like Microsoft is currently working on the next iteration of its dual-screen device: the Surface Duo 2.
Microsoft is working on Surface Duo 2 with a bunch of improvements!
According to a new report from WindowsLatest, Microsoft is currently working on a Surface Duo 2 codenamed "Zeta". This time, the dual-screen display will get 5G connectivity, which makes sense given the current trend. According to a report, Microsoft recently posted a job requirement on its career page that surprisingly hinted at a smartphone. While the company removed those listings, one listing still exists. Microsoft is looking for a SW / FW Engineer II in Taiwan. The job description mentions that the employee will be on a "journey to create new Surface Duo experiences." To "fully express Microsoft's vision," the company will also provide 5G support for the second generation. The job description also mentions a requirement for an experienced person familiar with LTE and 5G.
All of these job listings combined give us a solid idea that the software giant is indeed working on the Surface Duo 2. The addition of 5G connectivity is also pretty clear.
Camera improvements are also in tow!
The report also adds that the Surface Duo 2 will bring some camera improvements. This makes sense since the company previously promised such an update. Microsoft intends to use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve camera performance. That being said, this is something that every other smartphone manufacturer is implementing.
Another interesting thing to look out for is the fact that Microsoft plans to partner with independent developers for new camera and photo editing apps. With that said, this is just an early leak and we should take it with a grain of salt. Hopefully, we'll learn more about the device in the coming months.
