Google may be done making Android tablets, but folks who want a tablet-style device with Android apps may soon have a new option from Microsoft.
Microsoft is reportedly working on a dual-screen device that could run Android apps. The device is said to be a Surface product and, according to market research firm IHS Markit, it'll be a foldable device with two 9-inch screens with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The firm goes on to claim that this upcoming Surface will run Windows Core OS, a lightweight version of Windows, and that it will run Android apps.
Rumors also say that this dual-screen Microsoft Surface device will use Intel's 10nm Lakefield SoC and that it'll offer LTE or 5G connectivity. The Verge says that the device is codenamed Centaurus. As for a release date, IHS Markit claims that it could launch in the first half of 2020, possibly as early as the first quarter of the year.
While Google has said that it's not making anymore Android tablets, there are some companies out there still crankin' em out, including Samsung and Huawei. This rumored Microsoft Surface device could stand out in the Android tablet market thanks to its dual-screen foldable design, though, and it seems likely that it'd have a focus on productivity. With dual screens, a foldable form factor, and a lightweight Windows with Android apps, this Centaurus device definitely sounds intriguing, and we're looking forward to handling it ourselves.
Does this Microsoft device interest you?
