Skip to main content

Microsoft is getting ready for a coming wave of foldable Windows 10 devices

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Be it Windows RT or Windows 10 in S mode, Microsoft has long been on a path to make Windows more efficient, but there is now a reason to believe that it is now officially in the process of taking things to another level. A leaked string for an internal Windows 10 19H1 build shows that Microsoft is getting ready to build Windows 10 for a future wave of foldable devices.

Recommended Videos

Originally noted on Buildfeed, a website dedicated to finding references to Windows 10 build numbers, Microsoft is now internally working on a “rs_shell_devices_foldables” version of the next Windows 10 update code-named 19H1. Attached with the 18313.1004 build number, this is the first time that the new version of Windows 10 for foldable devices has been spotted. Previously, it was only rumored as Windows Core OS, a modular version of Windows 10.

Unofficially, that appearance now hints that an internal team at Microsoft is likely working on changing user interface elements and other apps on Windows 10 for a new family of foldable devices. However, this version of Windows is still not public, and it isn’t clear what features will be included. Still, The Verge confirms that Microsoft is “making foldable devices and dual screen hardware a big investment area for both Windows and Surface,” so this could likely be a new priority and the next big thing moving forward.

Given past rumors, it could be assumed that the internal build could be intended for Microsoft’s Andromeda device, but that was since pulled back and canceled. Instead, it is likely that Microsoft is building Windows 10 for a new wave of devices, perhaps the larger screen Surface Centaurus, coming later in this year. The presence of an internal build also hints that Microsoft could be working with its partners on other foldable devices, as a recent patent from Lenovo hinted at a future Yoga-style device with a foldable OLED display.

These wouldn’t the first internal changes rumored for Windows 10. Late in 2018, it was indicated that Microsoft could be working on a new Windows Lite OS to target Chromebooks. Lite OS will only run Progressive Web apps and other UWP apps downloaded through the Microsoft Store and can run on devices with any CPU, particularly with Qualcomm’s next processors. Either way, 2019 could be the year where Microsoft takes the stage with a new wave of Windows devices.

Arif Bacchus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
I hope Microsoft adds these 6 things to the next major Windows Update
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Windows 11 updates have a bit of a reputation, from slowing Intel's newest desktop processors to breaking games. Despite the occasional hiccup, we still look forward with cautious optimism.

Despite the occasional rough patch, Microsoft continues to evolve the OS, and each update feels like a chance for a new beginning. While Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything yet, the rumor mill is buzzing with what comes next, and I'm starting to feel excited. The talk of new features suggests fixes for long-standing annoyances, productivity boosts, and quality-of-life improvements worth waiting for.
What's coming to Windows in 2025?

Read more
Microsoft could make account-free Windows 11 installs a thing of the past
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

The offline Windows 11 install looks like it could officially be a thing of the past. 

Microsoft is officially shutting the door on local accounts during Windows 11 setup, confirming that all new installations, Home and Pro alike, will now require a Microsoft account. 

Read more
Microsoft sign-in gets redesign and, more importantly, dark mode
microsoft dark mode sign in.

Microsoft is rolling out a new authentication process for services like Outlook, Xbox, Windows, and Microsoft 365. The practical aim is to focus more on passwordless logins and the visual aim is apparently to step back from "product-centric" design and lean into "Microsoft-centric design" (whatever that means).

Passwordless login refers to other forms of authentication, namely face ID, fingerprint ID, or PIN -- sometimes collectively referred to as passkeys. Although a PIN is still a set of numbers or letters that you type in to get access to your accounts, they're safer than passwords thanks to the way they're stored. Instead of information being transmitted to and stored on servers that bad actors are constantly trying to break into,  your PIN is kept securely stored on your device.

Read more