Folding tech devices seem to be on the rise, although it’s also true that we almost always associate this concept with cellphones. The new Galaxy Z Flip phones or Samsung’s Z Fold are one of the main reasons for this, although Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei also have their own foldable phones.
Microsoft has also joined this trend with its Surface Duo, but with a dual-screen design instead of a single screen that folds in half. It was first announced in October 2019 alongside the Surface Neo, a larger version running Windows 10X.
The latter has since been cancelled, but surely Microsoft is still considering a foldable Surface device that can be both a tablet and a laptop. With the Windows 12 launch set to take place in 2024, Microsoft might see the perfect opportunity to introduce us to this smartphone-less foldable phone.
These are the four reasons we think we’ll see a foldable Windows 12 soon.
1. Windows 12 is probably two years away…
Considering Windows 11 went on sale last October, it’s no wonder its successor isn’t expected anytime soon. However, that probably won’t look like the six-year difference between Windows 10 and 11.
Last month, a report from Windows Central claimed that Microsoft was moving to a three-year update cycle for major versions of Windows. If true, that would mean an eventual Windows 12 would arrive in 2024.
Given the current state of the hybrid market, launching a new foldable device would be a huge risk for Microsoft. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and Asus’ Zenbook 17 Fold OLED are extremely expensive and still aren’t a compelling enough argument to replace the laptop and tablet.
Within two years, the situation could have changed significantly.
2. …which will give Microsoft time to optimize Windows 12 for foldables
Taking the time to develop such a product will not only benefit the Material. The Software is just as important, and the development of Windows 12 could be conditioned by the growing number of foldables.
With Windows 11, Microsoft has taken significant steps to make the operating system user-friendly, despite the removal of tablet mode. But no doubt more improvements will be needed to make it work on a device that can be folded in half, introducing scenarios that weren’t possible before.
Regular testing of new features, both internally and through the Windows Insider Program, will be crucial to keeping Windows 12 optimized.
3. Microsoft is no stranger to foldable devices
As I mentioned before, future foldable releases from Microsoft won’t be the first. We’ve had two generations of the Surface Duo already, and the second generation received a flurry of updates from Software
It stands to reason that Microsoft will join that lineup with a new foldable in 2024. A lot of work has already been done on the Surface Neo to prepare it for the initial announcement, and the company will have learned a lot from that experience.
There are arguably few companies better positioned to make a foldable computer than Microsoft.
4. A major Windows release often leads to a new Surface device
When Windows 12 comes out, chances are we will see a new product launch. Since the launch of the Surface line in 2012, each major release of Windows has come with a new device.
It was the Surface Pro 3 with Windows 8.1, before the first Surface Book ran Windows 10 out of the box. With Windows 11, last year we saw the new Surface Laptop Studio. And of course, the Surface Neo was supposed to run Windows 10X.
Given this history, it would be odd if Microsoft released Windows 12 but not a new addition to the Surface lineup. The company covers just about every other type of computer, so a foldable would make a lot of sense.
It is worth reiterating that a major version of Windows in 2024 is only a rumor, and there is no guarantee that there will not be a significant update of Windows 11. in his Material as in his Software.
Original article published in English on our sister site TechAdvisor UK.
Table of Contents
