[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] Microsoft (MS) will launch its new foldable smartphone, the 'Surface Duo,' which folds and unfolds like a book, in the U.S. market next month.
According to The Verge and CNBC on the 12th (local time), the Surface Duo, set to be released on the 10th of next month, features a dual-screen design with two 5.6-inch OLED displays connected by a hinge. Each screen supports a resolution of 1800 x 1350, and when unfolded, 2700×1800. Unlike Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Fold, it is equipped with Gorilla Glass reinforced glass.
The display is also designed to operate similarly to a Windows PC monitor. Two applications can be run separately on the two side-by-side screens. You can watch a video on one screen while making a video call on the other. You can also view your inbox on one screen while reading each message in detail on the other. The camera is an 11-megapixel f/2.0 camera.
Economic media outlet CNBC described it as "offering a completely new form factor" and "one of the most exciting devices to be released in the coming months."
However, the Surface Duo does not support 5G. While most smartphones have moved to Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 865+ version, it only features the Snapdragon 855. It also lacks near-field communication (NFC) for mobile payments and wireless charging. CNBC noted that it is a difficult time to launch high-priced devices but added that the Surface Duo, even without the latest processor, is priced higher than some laptops as a new flagship smartphone.
The price starts at $1,399.99 (approximately 1.66 million KRW) for the 128GB storage version. The 256GB version is priced at $1,499.99.
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