Last week I purchased a Samsung Galaxy Fold[1] and am blown away by the innovation and engineering in this device. Then today Microsoft reached out and told Samsung to hold its beer.
As ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley wrote, the Microsoft Surface Duo[2] is an Android-powered dual-display device that is scheduled to launch in about a year. Two aspects similar between it and the Galaxy Fold are that it runs Android and folds up, but there are some major design differences to distinguish the two devices.
Also: Galaxy Fold first look: Prepare to be amazed by the future of smartphones[3]
Design comparison
Microsoft hasn't yet provided much in terms of specifications since the Surface Duo is still more than a year away, which is a long time in the mobile space. The video embedded below from Microsoft shows how the two 5.6-inch displays are standard flat screens that fold up with a hinge to close like a book. There is no outer display like we see on the Fold, but the two screens can fold back on themselves so that the Surface Duo then looks a bit like the Huawei Mate X.
LG offers a similar dual-screen approach with Android[4] with its V50 and G8X devices, but this new Surface Duo looks like a much