Surface shock

Microsoft hardware gets innovative and stylish

Microsoft has a sketchy history of making hardware (bar the Xbox), but its Surface series has shown that it can produce decent gear, and the latest additions to the family continue to impress.

First is the Surface Pro X, a superslim two-in-one tablet powered by a custom 3GHz Qualcomm ARM processor, boasting 13 hours’ battery life. It has extremely narrow bezels on the 1880x1920 screen, is just 0.28 inches thick, and weighs 1.7lb. It is beautifully light and thin. Prices start at $999, and it should be available now.

More startling are the Surface Neo and Surface Duo, two dual-screen folding devices. The Neo is essentially two 9-inch screens connected by a 360-degree hinge. It boasts the thinnest LCD screens ever created, according to Microsoft. There’s a keyboard that attaches magnetically to one screen, the remaining portion of which becomes a smart bar, or Wonder Bar, as Microsoft has it. It’s powered by a Intel Lakefield processor, and runs Windows 10X, a new version of Windows that intelligently supports dual screens.

The Duo follows the same format, but with 5.6-inch screens. It runs Android—a surprise. Despite what you might think, the Surface Duo is not a folding phone. Microsoft is quite clear on this, having given up on phones after spending fortunes on various projects. It certainly hasn’t been designed with phone use as a priority. There’s no external screen to view a caller on, for example.

Both look good, but neither will be available before late next year. Prices are unknown, but likely to be fairly high. Other announcements include the fact that the Surface Pro is to get USB-C ports, the release of Surface Buds, wireless earphones, and an AMD-powered Surface Laptop 3. Microsoft seems to have learned how to make impressive gear. It’s almost enough to make you forget the Zune.