Microsoft surprised everyone following the Surface Live Event on October 2nd, 2019 by announcing six new products in total. Besides successors of well-known Surface devices, the product range will be extended with dual screen devices. The new tablet-sized Surface with dual screen will be published under the name Surface Neo.

Flexibility on a new level

The Surface Neo is likely to be built with two 9-inch LCD displays and a revolutionary 360° hinge. According to plans both screens can be connected to a 13,1-inch display. A thin glass cover is supposed to offer extra stability and better protection against scratches in comparison to plastic screens. Following the announcement during the live event, both screens will be only 5,6mm thin with a total weight of the device of not more than 655 grams. According to Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay, the Surface Neo will be the thinnest LCD device ever manufactured.

A woman is tapping with her finger on a screen of the Surface Neo.
The Surface Neo with two 13.1-inch screens.
The Surface Neo stands unfolded on a surface and shows a film on a screen
The revolutionary 360 degree hinge of the Surface Neo connects the two screens.

The ideal device for every situation

Microsoft is currently developing a Software specially made for dual screens called Windows 10X. Users would have the choice to run multiple apps on each screen parallelly or to combine both screens to one. The suitable Bluetooth keyboard is supposed to be used in combination with the device or magnetically attached even on one screen. As suggested in the product presentation video, the Surface Neo will be able to recognize this magnet attachment and will automatically minimize the previously used application.

The Surface Slim Pen is magnetically attached to the outside of the Surface Neo.
The Surface Slim Pen can be magnetically attached to the Surface Neo.
The keyboard and trackpad of the Surface Neo are placed on a screen of the device.
An additional keyboard and a virtual trackpad support the usage of Surface Neo.

Performance of the device is expected to be provided with an Intel Lakefield processor.

Mobile creativity

The second screen which is connected with the keyboard on screen, might offer a toolbar to access special characters or emojis even faster. The official Microsoft product presentation video shows how the toolbar disappears and a touchpad appears below the magnetic keyboard if it is being moved to the top of the screen. Moreover, according to the announcement the Surface Neo will be perfectly compatible with the Surface Slim Pen and even offer a magnetic charging functionality.

A general view of the Surface Neo including the keyboard
Thanks to the dual-screen function, two different applications can be used in parallel on the Surface Neo.
The Surface Slim Pen writes on the Surface Neo
The Surface Neo is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen.

We are beyond excited for all new possibilities the #ModernWorkplace will have thanks to the Surface Neo. All product information outlined in this article come from the official Microsoft event on October 2nd, 2019 or from the official product presentation video. However, none of these information has been confirmed. This article only presents the opinion of Surface.Love.

All images used are Microsoft press photos. Changes and further development of design or performance might happen. All new information and details will be regularly updated on Surface.Love  and Stories.Surface.Love until the anticipated official release at the end of 2020.