Microsoft did not achieve the success it had hoped for with its Android-powered Surface Duo-series smartphones. Despite discontinuing the lineup after the Duo 2, the company is not giving up. A new patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 29 reveals that Microsoft is working on another foldable or dual-display mobile device.
The patent application describes Microsoft’s approach to the foldable smartphone concept with a single hinge technology called “spine cover plate”. The next Microsoft smartphones could potentially feature a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold with a “flexible display” in a bookstyle design. The highlight of this design is the spine cover plate mechanism aimed at protecting the single-hinge system by covering the structural element.
The key difference between the regular hinge and Microsoft’s design is the automatic adjustment of the spine cover during the phone’s opening and closing to prevent unnecessary gaps around the hinge, protecting it from dust and water. Samsung’s current design offers an IPX8 rating for water resistance for their foldables.
The patent also suggests that the new hinge mechanism could make the hinge crease less visible compared to existing options in the market. Microsoft may also reduce the overall thickness of the foldable smartphone by allowing the spine cover plate to move closer to the device’s hinge when folded.
Although Microsoft’s idea sounds interesting, the practicality remains a question mark. With the smartphone market striving to eliminate foldable creases, adding another layer or movable part may not be the most prudent choice, despite the additional benefits and durability Microsoft claims in the patent application.
