Microsoft give us a first look at the Surface Neo

Microsoft have shown off the long-rumored dual-screen Surface Neo.

Featuring a notebook-esque design that features two 9-inch LCD displays tied together by a 360-degree hinge, Microsoft are pushing the new form-factor as one that privileges adaptability.

You can use the Surface Neo as a dual-screened tablet or as a screen-and-a-half laptop (similar to the ZenBook Pro Duo) via the magnetically-attached Bluetooth keyboard that flips around from the exterior of the device to the interior. When used in the latter form-factor, the leftover screen-space can be transformed into a Mac Touch Bar-inspired mini-screen or a digital trackpad.

Microsoft say that the Neo will be running on a special optimised version of Windows called Windows X. In addition to supporting "all" Windows apps, Windows X will also help assist with app continuity across both displays and help users get the most out of the Neo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fssZICsV4Rg

Under the hood, the Surface Neo is powered by a custom version of one of Intel's Lakefield processors. Additional details on the RAM, storage space and battery life of the Surface Neo are not known at this time. Regardless, with a 2020 holiday-season release date, there's plenty of time to learn more about Microsoft's first dual-screen Surface.

In a blog post, Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay says that "We’ve seen how the versatility of the 2:1 has pushed the PC category forward, and we’re excited about what dual-screen devices will do for mobile computing next year."