Microsoft may introduce Surface version with three screens

Microsoft is developing a Surface device with no fewer than three screens. This is the conclusion of Patently Apple experts on the basis of a discovered Microsoft patent.

According to the experts at Patently Apple, Microsoft filed a patent in June 2020 with the US government patent office, the US Patent and Trademark Office, for a foldable device with three panels. This patent was recently made public.

Three screens

Specifically, the patent that has now been found concerns a ‘multi-panel display device’ with three screens and two areas with hinges. The experts at Patently Apple state that this is a new version of Microsoft’s current Surface Duo, but with an extra screen that folds towards the front of the device. This device has now been given the working name ‘Surface Trio’ by the paptent experts.

Three screens means, among other things, that a screen is always open, instead of the device having to be unfolded first. With the Surface Duo, this problem has been solved with a so-called ‘glance bar’ that shows incoming calls or messages on a narrow strip on the hinge side of the device.

Other Microsoft patent

In addition to the patent for the supposed ‘Surface Trio’, Microsoft recently filed another patent. In this case it concerns an ‘Orientation sensor’ for what appears to be the keyboard. This functionality should have been made available in the Surface Neo earlier. The Surface Neo should have been a foldable tablet based on a modified Windows version, Windows 10X.

The Surface Neo is still in development and it is not clear whether this device will ever reach the market.