Microsoft might have failed to make a dent in the tablet market with its Surface devices but that is not stopping the company from trying. The latest report points to Microsoft working on a dual-screen Surface tablet that will be capable of running Android apps.

Codenamed Centaurus, this tablet-like device will feature two 9-inch displays with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Market research firm IHS Markit believes that this new Surface device from Microsoft could launch in the first half of 2020.

The device will run Microsoft’s new Windows Core OS which will have the ability to run Android apps. The OS has been internally dubbed as “Windows Lite,” and it will aim to offer a ‘lite’ experience of Windows for devices that will take on the Chromebook. The OS is also being optimized for dual-screen devices like the one that Microsoft is working on.

It is interesting to see Microsoft launching a version of Windows that can run Android apps. The company will likely launch its own Android Store alongside the OS as well. However, if Microsoft does go ahead with this move, it will undermine the value of its own Universal Windows Platform which allows developers to write a Windows app once and ensure that it runs on any device running Windows 10.

The device will be powered by Intel’s upcoming 10nm mobile processor and feature LTE or 5G connectivity. Microsoft has been closely working on Centaurus for months now. The device was teased by Microsoft to its employees during an internal event.

While we have seen a few dual-screen tablets and other such devices hit the market, they have not really done well and were poorly executed. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft executes this dual-screen Surface device.