Revisiting Microsoft's biggest canceled devices — from revolutionary phones to dual-screen PCs

Microsoft may not primarily focus on hardware production, yet it has experimented with this concept. However, some of these experiments have failed to take flight and become fully-fledged products.

In honor of Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, let us reminisce about some of their most well-known abandoned gadgets from the past few decades.

Microsoft Courier (2010)

For nearly a decade, Microsoft has delved deeply into ideas related to dual-screen computing, and the Microsoft Courier marked the initial serious attempt to develop something beyond mere research, moving it off the ground.

Courier proposed the concept of a digital notepad centered around digital ink and stylus interactions, plus touch functionality. This device boasted twin 7-inch displays connected by a hinged mechanism, allowing it to unfold and fold like a traditional book.

The gadget was claimed to operate a customized edition of Windows, distinct from the primary line of Windows development which centered around the initial stages of Windows 8. Consequently, this device would not be compatible with standard Windows applications.

Rather than relying on external apps, Courier would boast its unique app platform, necessitating developers to create tailored applications for it to be compatible with the device. The user interface was centered around an electronic diary, where users could navigate through virtual pages to jot down notes or draw pictures.

Sadly, the project known as Courier was discontinued in the year 2010, with the specific cause remaining unclear. There have been whispers that its termination was due to several factors, such as its inability to operate on Windows 8 and its lack of compatibility with both traditional and Metro-style Windows applications.

Despite not being released, the development of Courier paved a significant path for the company’s subsequent dual-screen projects like the Surface Duo and Surface Neo.

Lumia McLaren (2014)

In 2013, whispers spread that Nokia and Microsoft were collaborating on an exceptional flagship Lumia phone, modeled as a successor to the Lumia 1020, boasting innovative “3D Touch” technology which would enable users to interact with the device without physically touching the screen.

The McLaren-named gadget boasted a 5.5-inch Full High Definition LCD screen and an aluminum unibody frame, marking a significant shift from the entirely polycarbonate designs of previous Lumia smartphones. Its main appeal was its 3D Touch technology, which was being jointly developed with Microsoft at that time.

Microsoft developed a unique user experience (UX) concept for McLaren called MixView, which allowed app icons on the Windows Phone Start Screen to expand into smaller tiles when a user hovered their finger over an app. This UX was both smooth and gratifying to interact with, but unfortunately, it never made it to market.

Unique features of McLaren included sensors placed along its edges that could detect how the device was being held, thus enabling automatic adjustments such as screen orientation lock. Additionally, apps were designed to leverage these sensors, creating virtual buttons on the edge of the phone for various functions.

McLaren was initially planned for release at the end of 2014, serving as Microsoft’s newest top-tier Windows Phone model. However, this product was ultimately scrapped during the summer of that year. The exact cause behind its cancellation remains unclear, but it’s speculated that Microsoft decided to discontinue it due to the high cost and complexity of the 3D Touch technology, making it difficult for everyday users to understand and use effectively.

Surface Mini (2014)

The Surface Mini, often recognized, gained its fame mainly due to its sudden cancellation at the eleventh hour. Known internally as Iris, the Surface Mini was initially designed as a compact 8-inch tablet running on Windows RT, emphasizing touch and stylus interaction.

The Microsoft Surface Mini started being worked on back in 2013, initially intended to debut alongside the Surface Pro 3 in 2014. This device was aimed at going toe-to-toe with the iPad mini, positioning itself as a portable digital notebook that seamlessly integrated with OneNote for convenient note-taking on the move.

The screen was a sharp, 1080p LCD display, and the casing had a soft, textile-like construction. This casing incorporated a foldable stand and a slot for holding the Surface Pen, as the design centered around this accessory.

Notably, the kickstand offered a distinctive feature, accommodating three adjustable angles rather than just two. Did you know that this innovative kickstand design was eventually reused for the Surface 3 a year down the line?

In the end, Microsoft decided not to release the Surface Mini as planned, despite having initiated early production and finalized marketing materials.

It appears that the Surface Mini wasn’t launched because Microsoft had chosen to abandon Windows RT at the point when it was expected to be unveiled. In simpler terms, it seems the Surface Mini didn’t come out due to Microsoft’s decision to stop supporting Windows RT around the same time.

During its initial stages, the company was working on Windows 10, an operating system designed for conventional computers, not devices like the Surface Mini running on Windows RT. As Windows 10 for ARM was still under development at that time, they were compelled to discontinue the Surface Mini project.

Xbox Joule (2014)

Prior to the Microsoft Band, there existed the Xbox Joule – a precursor that originated from the Xbox development team. It was essentially a fitness watch, developed as a prototype, designed to synchronize with the Microsoft Kinect and monitor fitness and health data within games that incorporated these technologies.

The Joule model came equipped with a 1.5-inch low-resolution touchscreen, along with fundamental software that monitored heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. Additionally, it offered interchangeable bands for customization and included a charging dock for convenience.

The interface closely resembled the style used in Windows 8 and the Xbox dashboard during that period, featuring a boxy layout. It responded to various gestures for navigation; you could close apps by swiping them off to one side or downwards from the screen’s top edge.

Back in early 2014, the project for the Xbox Joule was abruptly halted. However, many of the initial ideas and designs developed for it paved the way for the release of the Microsoft Band towards the end of that same year. Unfortunately, the reasons behind the cancellation of the Xbox Joule remain unclear.

Microsoft Band 3 (2016)

In relation to wearable technology, Microsoft chose to abandon the Band 3 project in 2016 as they lost interest in the fitness wearables market. The Band 3 prototype had been seen on several employees’ wrists, and the product was nearly ready for release when it was suddenly discontinued.

Band 3 showcased a slimmer body, introduced a novel charging method that facilitates effortless attachment and adjustment, and boasted enhanced water resistance features enabling it to monitor aquatic activities like swimming.

Appearance-wise, this new device bore a resemblance to the Band 2, but they weren’t identical twins. The sleeker frame made it more comfortable to wear on your wrist, and it was designed to be more robust, aiming to overcome the tearing problems that were frequently encountered with the Band 2.

Surface Andromeda (2018)

The Andromeda, one of Microsoft’s most notorious canceled projects, found a new life in the Surface Duo. However, it’s important to note that the Surface Duo didn’t resemble the Andromeda exactly. The original Andromeda was Microsoft’s initial foray into dual-screen phones, running Windows and offering a unique user experience unlike any other device.

The Andromeda gadget was designed with a Windows variant emphasizing stylus and handwriting input. Essentially, it aimed to be a portable digital notebook that could accompany you wherever you go, capturing all your thoughts using a pen which magnetically attached to the front of the device for both writing and charging purposes.

This operating system was designed with a focus on digital journaling, offering a versatile home screen that functioned as a sketchpad for jotting down notes, inserting images, and personalizing to your liking. It also included Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps and a Start screen, which could be accessed by swiping from the left edge.

Instead of Surface Duo, this gadget had a camera on its backside. The metallic borders along its edges added a luxurious touch when held, enhancing its overall feel. However, the project named Andromeda was terminated in 2018. Nevertheless, the hardware from that project was repurposed for Surface Duo in 2019, but with some significant modifications and alterations.

Surface Neo (2021)

The latest attempt by Microsoft in creating a two-display computer, aiming for the objectives set by the Courier model but with a contemporary take on the Windows operating system, is known as Surface Neo. This project started in 2018, initially referred to as Centaurus during its development phase.

The Surface Neo boasts twin 9-inch displays, which accommodate both stylus and touch interaction, connected via a versatile 360-degree hinge system. This unique mechanism allows the gadget to open and close like a book, and it can even rotate completely into a single-screen mode.

In a nutshell, Neo could’ve used an exclusive edition of Windows, named Windows 10X, which was capable of operating regular Windows applications. This particular version of Windows introduced the centralized Start menu and Taskbar layout that we observe in Windows 11 today.

Inside, the Surface Neo was fueled by an Intel Lakefield processor, accompanied by 8GB of RAM. This device also enabled wireless charging for both the Surface Pen and a brand-new keyboard accessory designed for the Surface Neo. This accessory could lie flat on the left screen, transforming the Neo into a compact laptop.

2021 saw the cancellation of the Surface Neo, following Microsoft’s decision to discontinue Windows 10X and Intel’s withdrawal from the Lakefield processor project.

Surface Cronos (2022)

Following the release of Surface Duo 2, Microsoft decided against releasing a mid-tier version of their dual-screen smartphone, which was internally referred to as Cronos. This device was intended to bridge the gap between the Duo 2 launching in 2021 and the anticipated Duo 3 release in 2023.

The Cronos sported a completely plastic outer shell and sported two cameras at the rear. Unlike the Duo 2, it lacked the costlier curved display strip. Essentially, the Cronos was designed with a focus on reducing costs.

Regrettably, the device met its end after the company determined that dual-screen gadgets weren’t proving successful. Consequently, both Cronos and Duo 3 were discarded, paving the way for the company to focus on developing a smartphone with a single, foldable screen instead.

In 2023, Microsoft would cancel all plans to release more phone hardware.

2025-03-30 17:10

Revisiting Microsoft’s biggest canceled devices — from revolutionary phones to dual-screen PCs