Microsoft's dual screen foldable phone bridges the gap between two 5.6-inch AMOLED screens with a 360-degree hinge engineered to endure.

With mobile needs spilling well beyond communication duties for many users on a daily basis, there’s been a logical trend toward expanding mobile device screen real estate in the physical sense. Past attempts have been…disappointing. Conjoining two screens seamlessly has proven challenging, introducing the obvious issues of durability with a device intended to be opened and closed throughout the day. Instead of attempting to mask that divide, the Microsoft Surface Duo embraces the notion two screens are better than one with a robust hinged solution designed to work day in, day out.

The Surface Duo is the result of a formal partnership with Google intended to help optimize dual screen mobile computing. The specs are respectable, though nowhere bleeding edge. The intent here seems to be to offer a durable device ready to be used out of the box for actual workflow productivity rather than solely focusing upon the pageantry of new technology. The device’s (is it a phone, tablet, phablet") side-by-side configuration features two separate 5.6-inch OLED screens with 1800 x 1350 pixel resolution displays. As shown below, the benefits of such a device become obvious.

Like the Microsoft Surface Studio ? but significantly miniaturized ? each screen features an easy to read 4:3 aspect ratio, the sum which totals up to...