What you need to know
- Windows 10X will not be launching in 2020.
- This means PCs like Surface Neo are delayed.
- Surface Duo still on track for 2020.
Microsoft's upcoming Windows 10X and Surface Neo products may not be shipping in time for the holiday after all, according to a new report from ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley. This means that other Windows 10X devices from third-party manufactures also won't be launching at the end of this year like originally planned. Microsoft's dual-screen Windows 10X effort has been put on pause.
I have also heard from my own sources that Windows 10X has been delayed beyond 2020. Interestingly, Mary-Jo Foley says that Microsoft wants to prioritize bringing Windows 10X to single-screen devices first, a monumental shift in strategy for Windows 10X as a whole, which so far has been all about dual-screen support.
Windows 10X on a single-screened device is codenamed Pegasus, and is an effort Microsoft has been working on alongside bringing Windows 10X to dual-screen devices. It was a surprise when Microsoft announced Windows 10X that was going to be for dual-screen PCs as those who knew better understood that was not the case. Mary-Jo Foley's report suggests Microsoft is returning to its original idea instead of pushing for the dual-screen form factor first.
Unfortunately, we won't be seeing Windows 10X on any device form factors this year. Microsoft needs more time to finish the OS, and it's likely the ongoing pandemic hasn't helped in getting that done. The good news is Microsoft may be planning to bring some of the technological advancements found on Windows 10X over to full Windows 10, such as the ability to run legacy programs virtualized.
I'm still hearing that Surface Duo is on track for this year, and could launch as soon as this summer. But Surface Neo, and Windows 10X, looks to be coming at a later date now.
