Photo of Michael WestMichael

Microsoft — 2020

Surface Duo

See at Microsoft

Do one better. There's a new way to get things done.

Microsoft Surface Duo in its dual-screen configuration showing the home screen.

Surface Duo combines the absolute best of Microsoft with the absolute best of Android into one product.

It brings together the power of Microsoft 365 experiences and the full ecosystem of Android mobile apps into one device, with two screens that you can take anywhere.

These groundbreaking experiences are packaged into a robust and sleek industrial design that is synonymous with Surface. It is the thinnest mobile device on the market.

Surface Duo is the result of years of Surface design and research. Pictured with Surface Slim Pen and Surface Earbuds.
Surface Duo is the result of years of Surface design and research. Pictured with Surface Slim Pen and Surface Earbuds.

Duo enables you to be more productive, either by spanning one app across the dual 5.6-inch PixelSense Fusion displays or by using two apps at the same time and multitasking across them.

You can multitask with two apps on Surface Duo, one on each screen. Shown is Spotify and Outlook.
You can multitask with two apps on Surface Duo, one on each screen. Shown is Spotify and Outlook.

As part of my role on SwiftKey keyboard, I worked with the team to adapt and tailor our typing experience to this brand new form factor. Input is one of the most critical experiences on any device and so it was essential that we got it right.

SwiftKey is able to adapt to every single one of the modes this device supports -- from single mode to dual mode in both portrait and landscape orientations that are a category first.

SwiftKey adapts to the various modes of Duo. Shown is the keyboard when the device is rotated into compose mode.
SwiftKey adapts to the various modes of Duo. Shown is the keyboard when the device is rotated into compose mode.

We spent a lot of time researching how people react to and use SwiftKey on this device. This was crucial to our design process, more so than usual due to the new nature of the form factor.

SwiftKey on Surface Duo being used to reply to a message.
SwiftKey on Surface Duo being used to reply to a message.

I also had to opportunity to collaborate closely with the Surface design team themselves to craft tailor-made software experiences that work beautifully in any posture.