A new Microsoft patent suggests the company has some fresh ideas for its next Surface smartphone. The Redmond-based firm has a long history in the mobile phone world, though much of it has been marked by failure. Until the mid-2000s, it was common to see a pared-down version of Microsoft's Windows software running on the smartphones of the day. However, with the arrival of the iPhone in 2007 and the subsequent rise of Android devices, it was clear that Microsoft would have to change tactics. As a result, the tech giant invested heavily in its Windows Phone division, but ultimately, the gamble did not pay off, and Microsoft shuttered the unit in 2017.

Microsoft re-entered the smartphone space in 2020 with the $1,500 Surface Duo, a dual-display foldable running Android. From a design perspective, the book-like handset certainly seemed to fit the bill with clean lines and a multi-angle hinge. But for usability, many found its out-of-date internals and sluggish software could not justify such a high price. Needless to say, Microsoft took another shot in 2021 with the Surface Duo 2, and though it was able to fix some of the previous issues, the device has hardly set the market alight.

Related: Huawei's Former Subsidiary Is Getting Into the Foldable Game

Despite its lukewarm return to smartphones, it seems Microsoft is far from conceding the mobile phone landscape all over again. As a newly published U.S. Patent Office filing shows, the company is considering a device that features three foldable screens. The firm has prepared an illustration that demonstrates how the handset's two hinges allow the displays to concertina open and shut. Rival device-maker TCL previously showcased a similar concept.

Filing Was Made Before Surface Duo Launched

MICROSOFT FOLDING DEVICE PATENT

Possibly the most exciting aspect of Microsoft's patent filing is that they registered it several months before the launch of the first Surface Duo. So while the company was bending expectations with its debut foldable, it was also planning for something even more far out. But, as already noted, the response to the Surface Duo lineup has been tepid at best. So it's reasonable to consider Microsoft might spend more time perfecting the twin-screen experience before rolling out a tri-fold product.

Still, should a refreshed Surface smartphone come out that features a third display (the Surface Trio?), it's worth considering what the pros and cons of such a device might be. For example, three screens would almost certainly be great for multi-tasking, but when folded, it might just resemble a hamburger. Still, an added panel could allow for more battery capacity, but with all that glass, metal, and plastic, the weight will probably also become an issue. But maybe Microsoft's most significant challenge of all will be to find customers willing to pay for all that screen real estate.

Next: A New Motorola Razr Foldable Phone Is on The Way

Source: U.S. Patent Office