Microsoft wants back on the phone market
On the last day of February, 2024, there was published the Microsoft’s patent application concerning a dual-screen computing device with a flexible display and a central spine hinge (all words taken from the application itself). Commonly, such things are known as foldable phones, and while there aren’t really many variations of them commercially available today, this niche isn’t vacant.
What’s special about Microsoft’s new phone?
It basically looks and feels like a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Moreover, judging by the published patent application, there won’t be anything new in terms of internal hardware. Rather, Microsoft decided to innovate on the back of the phone: the model features what the designer calls “spine cover plate.”
This plate will adjust to the current state of the phone – folded or unfolded – and thus make its casing an always solid deal. This means:
- less dust getting inside;
- possible watertightness;
- less clumsy design overall.
Folded and unfolded. Snapshots from the patent application
The latter is confirmed by Microsoft in the application: “By retracting the spine cover plate toward the central spine as the first display-supporting frame and the second display-supporting frame are rotated into a face-to-face orientation, the width of the folded computing device is reduced, thereby enabling easier and more comfortable handling of the device, such as with one hand.” When you get through the clumsiness of that phrase, your mind may draw a picture of a smartphone that’s, well, easier to handle.
There’s no information when the new Microsoft phone will be released, but it’s safe to assume that we’re not seeing it neither in this year nor, possibly, in the next. Stay tuned for updates; we’ll keep tabs on this story and report developments as they unfold.
