The Surface Phone is here, and it’s powered by Android

The long-awaited Surface Phone, titled the Surface Duo, is here, and it is not what you might have expected from Microsoft. You see, this device comes packed with a ton of Microsoft-made apps, of course, but then it becomes apparent that Windows is not at the base, but rather, Android.

Surface Duo Phone is powered by Android

No doubt this is a huge surprise in the tech world, but at the same time, one has to wonder, what other choice did Microsoft have? Windows Phone is dead, and it didn’t make sense for the company to use Windows 10X as the operating system of choice because it lacks the necessary apps.

Microsoft has pushed itself in a corner because now the company is in a situation where it must rely on software made by its competitor, and that might not be a good thing for the foreseeable future. But let’s not discuss that right now and focus on what the Surface Duo brings to the table.

OK, so it comes with two screens, each at 5.6-inches, and taps out at a single 8.3-inch when opened. The current version is powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor, but chances are, Microsoft will add the upcoming chip since it won’t hit shelves until 2020, holiday.

AT first glance, the operating system looks like Windows 10X, but such is obviously not the case. Microsoft made sure to alter the look of Android to give off a Windows-like experience, and that could be the key to its success.

Like the Surface Neo, the Surface Duo can be used in a variety of modes that are unique to the device.

What does this mean for Windows on mobile?

Well, such plans are dead in the water, indefinitely. Microsoft’s success on mobile is now tied to that of a competitor, and that’s not good. Furthermore, if you’re a fan of Microsoft but not a fan of Google, well, this product might not be for you.

At the end of the day, this is the best Microsoft could have done to keep its presence in the mobile market. But surely, this cannot be the plan for the long term.