We've noted for a while that Microsoft was considering building its very own foldable Surface model, and if the data provided by an analyst is anything to be believed, the debut of this device should happen in under 12 months.

Jeff Lin, Associate Director, Consumer Electronics at IHS Markit, told Forbes that Microsoft is indeed focusing on a foldable Microsoft Surface, and it is expected by now next year.

Lin claims Microsoft is targeting the first half of 2020 for the launch of the device, but when it's ready earlier, it could go reside in the very first quarter of the season.

The brand new Surface device will use two different 9-inch screens connected to each other and boasting a 4:3 aspect ratio. It'll run WCOS (Windows Core OS), and can feature several optimizations for any dual-display interface. The OS itself, in addition to apps, need several updates to run correctly on a dual-screen tool and to support this aspect ratio.

Support for Android apps

The analyst says there's a good chance Microsoft's new Surface model will use Intel's 10nm system-on-a-chip called Lakefield and will feature always-on connectivity like LTE or even 5G.

The greater interesting bit is the fact that Microsoft apparently wants its foldable Surface to boast support for Android apps, a thing that users have been requesting on Windows phones as well. There's a chance that Android apps could be supported to be able to cope with the possibility insufficient apps optimized for any dual-screen Windows device.

Lin says the device will also run the "iCloud service" in Windows 10, but at this time it's not clear if Apple's software could come pre-installed or not.

Given the foldable Surface is still a work in progress, some details should be taken having a healthy dose of skepticism, especially as Microsoft can invariably change its mind overnight by the time it gives the project its go-ahead.