Sunday, June 13, 2021
Surface Neo is a dual-screen PC by Microsoft, and this is everything we know about it so far.
Microsoft's dual-screen PC, known as the Suface Neo was announced in October 2019 as one of the first devices that would ship with Windows 10X. Since then, Microsoft has canceled Windows 10X and postponed the Surface Neo indefinitely. It was originally supposed to ship in the fall of 2020, but that never happened. We don't know when or if Surface Neo will ever ship.
So, to keep everything it all in one handy place, we've written up everything we know about the Surface Neo.
Surface Neo hardware
Surface Neo is a device that features two LCDs that are joined together by a unique hinge design that allows the screens to be used together via multitasking or individually. It's designed like a book, but can be used in many different postures such as a laptop or tablet when needed as well. The displays themselves are 9-inches each, which totals 13.1-inches of screen real-estate when both are in use together.
When closed, the device is 11.2mm thin, making both halves 5.6mm when open. It's also 655 grams, which is a little on the heavier side but adds to the overall premium feel of the device. On the outside, the device is covered in glass, which is a departure from other Surface products that historically use magnesium or aluminum.
The Neo also has a Windows Hello IR set up along the top bezel on the left side of the device, as well as a front-facing camera to go with it. On the left side of the device are the power and volume buttons, with a single USB-C port located near the hinge on the right side of the device.
On the inside, the Surface Neo is rocking an Intel Lakefield processor, along with an LTE modem for always-connected capabilities. We don't know anything about RAM or Storage at this time, although it's safe to assume it'll be available in your traditional 8GB/16GB RAM configurations along with 128GB/256GB of storage.
Surface Neo software
On the software side of things, the Surface Neo was announced as running a new version of Windows called Windows 10X. This was a new modern OS from Microsoft that's designed for lightweight computing and modern experiences no matter the device. It guts legacy components and features, which means everything from the Windows Shell to the underlying OS has been rebuilt with modern technologies, while still maintaining legacy app support for those who need it.
Unfortunately, Microsoft has canceled Windows 10X and is instead bringing the best of the Windows 10X UX over to the full version of Windows with the upcoming Windows 11 release. Mcirosoft hasn't said, but perhaps the company will end up shipping Surface Neo with Windows 11 instead? Windows 11 is expected to ship this fall.
Surface Neo accessories
In addition to the hardware itself, Microsoft also unveiled two accessories that pair with the Surface Neo. The first of which is a magnetic keyboard that attaches to the display and allows you to type with tactile feedback, just like on a laptop with a dedicated keyboard. The keyboard can also attach to the outside of the device, which is where it can wirelessly charge when not in use. The other accessory is the new Surface Pen, which also wirelessly charges on the back of the device.
The keyboard accessory, when attached to the display, enables "Wonderbar" that essentially turns half of the display into an enhanced TouchBar. You can find emoji, control functions, and even use a virtual trackpad.
Surface Neo release date
Microsoft had originally planned to ship Surface Neo at the end of 2020, however that plan has been delayed and now the product sits without a known release date. Now that Windows 10X is canceled, it's possible that we'll never see Surface Neo hit store shelves. That said, Microsoft could, if it wanted, ship Surface Neo with the full version of Windows. The upcoming Windows 11 release has a new UI that takes inspiration from Windows 10X, so I could definitely see that happen.
But we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Surface Neo? Let us know in the comments.
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