Microsoft might be developing a foldable phone, and I am excited about it.

Recently, the possibility of Microsoft returning to the phone market has emerged, thanks to the appearance of a patent that describes a 360-degree foldable phone design. This patent, published on October 1 after being filed in February with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, features a device similar to a notebook that folds horizontally, akin to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Like this model, Microsoft's phone folds flat and has an external display, although the size of this and the main display is not specified.

The design indicated in the patent suggests that the foldable device would have grooves in the glass layer of the cover and on the back, facilitating smooth folding movement on the screen and avoiding the annoying creases that affect many current foldable phones. What could differentiate Microsoft’s potential foldable phone from other competitors, such as the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold or the OnePlus Open, is its ability to fold in both directions. This feature could offer more versatile usage, for instance, by allowing it to serve as a suitable mini-screen for watching movies on Netflix during travel.

Although the patent doesn’t provide information about the device’s specifications, it is believed that Microsoft could bring some innovation to the foldable phone arena. Despite the fact that the Surface Duo, a previous attempt by Microsoft in the phone world, was unsuccessful, it is thought that a new device that better leverages Microsoft’s ecosystem and software platform could be attractive to productivity-oriented users.

Imagining a foldable phone that could run Android on one side and Windows on the other would allow access to prominent Microsoft programs, such as Word for work tasks and Xbox for entertainment, as well as various third-party applications. To make this possible, the right processor would be needed, but there are signs that Microsoft has advanced in running Windows on Qualcomm’s ARM chips, as observed in the analysis of the Surface Laptop 7.

However, this is mere speculation, and it is likely that the patent may not come to fruition. Still, if Microsoft decides to return to the phone market, the trend of foldable devices could be the way forward.