Microsoft reportedly nixes the Surface Duo 3 and will build a foldable phone instead

Right on the heels of reports that said Microsoft has stopped production of its dual-screen Surface Duo 2 model, Windows Central says that the company has canceled plans to build a Surface Duo 3. With the current Android-powered Surface Duo model now completely sold out, the latest word from Windows Central's sources is that Microsoft will now focus on building a phone with a foldable display.

The fresh report states that the new foldable model that Microsoft is working on will feature a 180-degree hinge, an external cover screen, and an internal tablet-sized display that is revealed when the device is fully opened. It is similar to the basic design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models.

The report adds that Microsoft had already decided on the design for a dual-screen Surface Duo 3. Penciled in to ship at the end of this year, the Surface Duo 3 was to include support for wireless charging with taller and narrower edge-to-edge displays. Windows Central's sources say that there is no time frame set to ship the new foldable phone which means it is unlikely to be released this year.

Rumors about a Surface phone started circulating after Microsoft closed up shop on Windows Phone. In 2018 Surface chief Panos Panay addressed rumors about such a device after patents showed that Microsoft was working on a dual-screened handset. Panay denied that the company was working on a Surface phone although the next year, the Surface Duo was introduced.

Even though the phone was unveiled in 2019, it wasn't released until 2020. The Surface Duo 2 started shipping in October 2021 with added specs including 5G support, slightly larger displays, more RAM (8GB vs. 6 GB), a triple-camera setup compared to a single-camera, and a big improvement in battery capacity (4449mAh vs. 3577mAh).

Users who prefer the form factor of the Surface Duo will apparently be forced to pick up a previously owned Surface Duo or Surface Duo 2 unit. However, there is always the possibility that Microsoft will resort to using some software magic to simulate the experience of using a dual-screen phone even on a foldable display.