Microsoft Already Thinking of an Android Device with Three Screens

Microsoft is fully committed to its Android device lineup, and the Surface Duo is a product that’s already at its second generation, with a third version also believed to be on the way.

But while Microsoft is working on preparing a third Surface Duo, it looks like the company might also be preparing something even more exciting.

As you could easily guess by just reading its name, the Surface Duo sports a dual-screen form factor, and this allows owners to use it in multiple modes, including phone and tablet. Well, Microsoft apparently wants to push the whole thing to a completely new level with a triple-display configuration that would therefore give birth to a so-called Surface Trio.

A recently-discovered patent reveals a Microsoft idea that would essentially sketch a Surface device with three separate screens that can fold and unfold in different modes.

Obviously still a patent

The patent provides a description that everyone should anticipate when hearing about a triple-display setup.

“Multi-panel display devices may be useful in a variety of different scenarios. For example, multiple software application windows may be visually presented on separate display panels at the same time. Multi-panel display devices may use a hinge to allow for the display panels to fold in different directions (e.g., inward/outwards). Such foldability allows multi-panel display devices to have a larger total display area relative to a similarly-portable single display device, while also allowing for smaller folded dimensions relative to a non-folding display device offering the same display area,” the abstract section reads.

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind this is just a patent for the time being, so there’s no guarantee that Microsoft would end up producing such a device. But on the other hand, it’s still a very early look at how the mobile industry could evolve rather sooner than later.