Is Microsoft secretly gearing up to revive its Surface Duo folding smartphone? It might be the case, as a recent patent filing reveals that the company is still innovating in hinge designs essential for folding devices. The unique hinge design outlined in the patent is unlike anything we typically associate with Microsoft’s previous approaches or foldable devices in general.
While most folding smartphones utilize a “water drop” hinge style, allowing the flexible screen to curve into a water drop shape when closed for enhanced durability and minimal creasing, Microsoft’s new patent appears to deviate from this standard. Instead, it describes a hinge configuration that consists of various “sub-assembly” parts that slide and flex, allowing for the flexibility of the screen.
This marks a shift from the earlier Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 models, which featured two distinct screens connected by a central hinge. The new patent suggests an approach resembling the single-screen designs found in devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open. Furthermore, the patent’s illustrations depict the hinge housed within a compact foldable device akin to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Motorola Razr 2024.
While a new version of the Surface Duo would be exciting, it’s important to consider that Microsoft might not be focusing solely on smartphones with its new hinge design. The patent language specifically mentions both “folding smartphone devices” and “computing devices that consist of first and second portions linked by a hinge assembly.” This raises the possibility that Microsoft could be looking at applications for laptops, a space where its Surface line has experienced considerable success.
The patent discusses the current struggles with foldable smartphones, such as reliability issues and consumer preferences for thinner devices over bulkier models. Its proposed hinge aims to tackle these challenges. Although there are indications that the hinge could be applied to laptops, the overall wording seems more inclined toward use in smaller gadgets. This approach may simply reflect a strategy to cover all potential bases in the patent filing.
This isn’t Microsoft’s first foray into hinge innovations. Back in 2019, the company proposed a hinge filled with liquid or gas to enhance durability. In 2022, they explored a method for folding a single screen both inward and outward—a concept they revisited in 2023. The Surface Duo 2 debuted in 2022, but its software support concluded in late 2024.
