Design
I saw some leaked pictures of an old Microsoft phone—something they were working on before the Surface Duo—and the design actually surprised me. It was really simple: flat edges, clean lines, and nothing flashy going on.
Featuhttp://Before Microsoft’s Surface Duo, It Worked on This Leaked Windows Phone Versionres
From what’s been shared, this device was running a light version of Windows 10. It looked like Microsoft was trying to merge its desktop and mobile worlds, maybe even with Continuum support. For anyone working in Office or using Microsoft services all day, this could’ve actually been useful. It wasn’t trying to be the next iPhone killer, but it did seem focused on productivity.
Performance
We don’t have confirmed specs, but judging by the time it was in development, it probably used a mid-range Snapdragon processor. Not bad for everyday stuff—email, OneNote, some light web browsing. Definitely not a gaming phone or something you’d use for heavy apps, but for work? Could’ve done the job.
User Experience
If you were already in the Microsoft ecosystem, this might’ve been a solid little companion. But yeah, the biggest issue back then was always the app gap. No Instagram, half-baked versions of popular apps… it was a tough sell. Compared to the current Surface Duo, which runs Android, this felt more like a proof of concept.
Final Thoughts
Seeing this old prototype makes you realize how long Microsoft has been trying to figure out mobile. Before the Surface Duo ever hit shelves, they were already experimenting with ways to make Windows work on smaller screens. It’s a shame this version didn’t launch, but it’s clear it helped shape what came next.