Microsoft Corp. is pushing off the launch of dual-screen Windows devices it planned to release this year to 2021 at the earliest, according to a new report.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended consumer buying habits and is leading at least some phonemakers to consider delaying product launches. By contrast, certain other segments such as the cloud communications market are seeing surging demand, with Microsoft disclosing earlier today that its Teams collaboration platform has reached yet another adoption milestone.

According to a ZDNet report published late Wednesday, the company sees a less positive near-term outlook for Windows 10X devices. Windows 10X is an upcoming version of Windows 10 for dual-screen and foldable devices. Microsoft insiders told the publication that the company won’t allow manufacturing partners to ship any dual-screen products powered by the operating system this calendar year.

Additionally, Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay is said to have told members of his team that the company is delaying the release of its Windows 10X-powered Surface Neo tablet (pictured). The company had originally planned to launch it in time for the holiday season. The Surface Neo, unveiled in October, features two displays measuring nine inches across, forming one big 13-inch screen when the tablet is unfolded.

Though the devices may be delayed, it’s possible Windows 10X will still roll out to users this year in a limited form. Microsoft is said to have adjusted its development roadmap and is now looking to bring the operating system to standard, single-screen computers before rolling out it for dual-screen models.

In addition to the foldable device support, Windows 10X packs a number of other new features that should also be useful for devices with more conventional form factors. Chief among them is a virtualization engine that allows the operating system to run applications in software containers. According to Microsoft, the technology will improve security by isolating applications from the operating system and should also improve the battery life of laptops.

The mass shift to telework is likely to create new enterprise demand for software that can protect remote employee computers from malware. Windows 10X’s containers could put Microsoft in a better position to address that need among its corporate customers.

However, there are also other factors that will influence the operating system’s release date: As of February, Microsoft engineers were reportedly still ironing out application compatibility issues in Windows 10X containers.

Photo: Microsoft