A canceled mid-range Surface Duo briefly appeared on eBay

Microsoft’s Surface Duo line is a rather different take on the foldable phone, offering a book-like form factor with two separate screens rather than one folding display. These devices were rather expensive at launch though, starting at $1400. 

Now, Windows Central has uncovered an eBay listing for a canceled mid-range Surface Duo device. The device was already sold and the listing has since been removed, but the outlet still managed to save a few photos. You can view them below.

The outlet reports that the device is code-named Cronos and was supposed to launch later this year as a cheaper take on the Surface Duo 2. This meant a plastic design, dual camera setup, an upper mid-range Snapdragon chipset, and flat screens without the glance bar. It’s unclear if this cheaper Surface Duo would’ve offered a 90Hz refresh rate like its more expensive stablemate, while a specific price segment wasn’t disclosed either.

Windows Central adds that the device was canceled in late 2021 so Microsoft could focus on the next high-end Surface Duo (presumably the Surface Duo 3). This flagship device is reportedly scheduled to launch next year.

Perhaps it’s a good thing that we didn’t see a mid-range Surface Duo device just yet. Microsoft’s first Surface Duo was an unpolished mess at launch, while the Surface Duo 2 was similarly disappointing at release. So what are the odds of a third Surface Duo model launching with a variety of issues too? Still, a cheaper device would make Microsoft’s dual-screen devices accessible to more people.