Surface Duo review: A dual-screen phone of tomorrow ... that's not quite ready today
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PotentialSurface Duo review: A dual-screen phone of tomorrow ... that'south not quite fix today
Can dual-screens be amend than one? The answer is aye, but Microsoft has some work to do before Surface Duo is gear up for the masses.
Update, December 2022: Surface Duo, 3 months later on
To propose Microsoft'south Surface Duo is audacious would be an understatement. The costly $1,400 device delivers a new vision in mobile computing, now six years in the making. It is as much scientific experiment as science fiction — a radical rethinking of what phones could be in a technophilic world focused on data instead of voice calls.
This first-gen release is an important milestone for Microsoft, and the theory backside Surface Duo is mostly solid; that's the good news. But most people should also agree off on getting i until its software can mature.
What is Surface Duo good for, and why should anyone consider this form factor? There are some answers here that get clearer after spending a few weeks unfolding the future. Our Surface Duo review has all the details.
Practice more with Duo
Surface Duo
Bottom line: Microsoft's Surface Duo delivers a unique dual-screen experience with Android that holds up (at least conceptually). With footing-breaking hardware design and the correct apps, it'south game-changing. But some early on jankiness with the Os, performance issues, and the lack of modern hardware holds information technology back.
Pros
- Hardware blueprint is fantastic
- Hinge is flawless
- Better than expected battery
- Dual screens increment productivity (and fun)
Cons
- Bone is buggy
- RAM and CPU may exist slowing down the experience
- Expensive
- Lacks Qi, NFC, more cameras, h2o resistance
Years of technology (and it shows)
Surface Duo review: Hardware is about everything
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
In this Surface Duo review, evaluating the hardware was the easy part. Surface Duo is a screen and hinges that also happen to be a handheld computer.
Putting aside the notable hardware omissions (more on that beneath), Surface Duo is a technological marvel. The outrageously thin 4.8mm chassis (unfolded), Gorilla Drinking glass 5 internal and external panels, and the dual hinges fine-tuned with NASA-level precision impart awe.
Each 5.6-inch AMOLED brandish has an 1800 x 1350 resolution giving a pleasing 401 pixel-per-inch (PPI) density. Each brandish's aspect is 4:3, but that changes when yous combine the two screens, resulting in a 3:two aspect plant on all Microsoft Surface devices. The screens support broad-colour gamut (WCG) with 100 percentage sRGB and 100 percentage DCI-P3, making them highly authentic for editing and viewing content.
Surface Duo FAQ: Everything you need to know nigh Microsoft's first dual-screen Surface
Display brightness is below that of Samsung's flagship Milky way phones, but good plenty to be used outdoors, fifty-fifty in the sunday. The text is sharp, clear, and overall pleasing. On occasion, Surface Duo's display ramps to extreme brightness when powered on, only to slowly accommodate down. Information technology is one of the many bugs that are part of Duo'southward early on days.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| OS | Android 10 |
| Display | Single: 5.6 inch (1800x1350), 401 PPI, four:3 aspect ratio Opened: viii.1 inch (2700x1800), 401 ppi, 3:2 aspect ratio Type: AMOLED |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Network | WiFi-5 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz) Bluetooth 5.0 LTE: 4x4 MIMO, True cat.xviii DL / Cat 5 UL |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM (no eSIM on AT&T model) |
| Network bands | FDD-LTE: one,2,iii,4,v,vii,8,12,thirteen,xiv,19 20,25,26,28,29,30,66 TD-LTE: 38,39,40,41,46 WCDMA: 1,2,five,8 GSM/GPRS: GSM-850, E-GSM-900, DCS-1800, PCS-1900 |
| Memory | 6GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.0 |
| Expandable storage | None |
| Camera | 11MP, ƒ/2.0 ane.0um, PDAF, 84.0° diagonal FOV |
| Audio | Mono speaker |
| Security | Fingerprint |
| Ports | 1x USB-C 3.one |
| Battery | 3,577mAh Fast Charging using 18W in-box ability supply |
| Pen | Surface Pen (not included) |
| Dimensions | Open up: 145.2mm (H) x 186.9mm (W) x 4.8mm (T) Closed: 145.2mm (H) x 93.3mm (West) x 9.9mm (T at hinge) |
| Weight | 250 grams |
Bear upon sensitivity is on the depression-cease, with some reports from other reviewers of typing errors and general inaccuracies. Some of this may necktie into software, merely it could also be a tradeoff with the digitizer and Microsoft'due south insistence on being thin. I had no issues typing, however.
There is a lot of angst regarding the bezels of Surface Duo. Behind them is where all the antennas and sensor logic lay, and then it is not squandered space. Such bezels are necessary for rotating Surface Duo between its many positions without touching the display itself. While Microsoft could brand these bezels a pilus thinner, their functionality is apparent after spending a few minutes with the device.
Between using Gorilla Glass five on the outside and going with a white chassis, Surface Duo is adept at hiding any scratches or marring. For those worried about breaking the glass in a drop, Microsoft reportedly will have a program for fixing a cracked Surface Duo, though at the user's expense. You lot could, of course, buy one of our picks for the best Surface Duo cases, as well.
To help avoid such damage, Microsoft includes a bumper case in the box. It attaches via tape due to the device's unique folding design and is non meant to be removed and reused. The bumper is excellent, not interfering with folding, and it adds some security and grip. However, for most of this review, I did not bother with the bumper because I institute Surface Duo pocketable and piece of cake to handle without it. The bumper rubber is a bit tacky, making it harder to pull out of your pocket while also picking up dust and lint.
Surface Duo is as much scientific experiment as science fiction.
While the displays and chassis are covered in glass, the hinge is polished metal. It seems resilient, although it could pick upward minor scuffs. The hinge is terrific for opening and closing with consistency at every degree. It is essentially perfect, letting you open up the displays with ease, but it as well holds its place wherever you lot stop. There is no wobble, and considering Surface Duo is so well balanced, it feels neat to hold, especially in book style.
Surface Duo'southward edges are a composite material meant to allow the cellular and Wi-Fi reception to laissez passer through. That design likewise ways in that location are no visible antenna lines. The composite is off-white and precisely cut for each Surface Duo, but information technology tin can also larn unsightly discoloration, especially about the power and volume buttons. Using the bumper volition prevent this, but this is ane expanse where Microsoft can improve.
The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side of the brandish and take an enjoyable click. Beneath them is the fingerprint reader, which is superb. I had no misreads during my usage, and information technology blows away the one Samsung uses in the similarly priced Galaxy Z Flip. The fingerprint reader is inactive when both displays are closed, but when left in "telephone fashion" or with the screens exposed, users tin can touch the reader to wake the device upwardly and log in with ease.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Primal
On the bottom is a Type-C connector for charging. Hither is where you can appreciate how sparse Surface Duo is; if information technology were any skinnier, Microsoft could not even utilise a Type-C port. Included is an xviii-watt fast charger with folding prongs. Of course, any Blazon-C charger, including higher wattage ones, can be used.
Surface Duo weighs 250 grams, virtually 25 grams heavier than an iPhone eleven Pro Max (226 grams). But considering of Duo'southward pattern, nigh people think it is lighter. It's a subtle illusion created by having wide but thin displays.
The dual hinges are finely-tuned with NASA-level precision.
Regarding pocket-ability, I wrote a whole article on that question. Surface Duo is a smidge wider than a standard U.Southward. Passport, a bit taller and thicker. Compared to an iPhone 11, Surface Duo is wider, merely also a lot shorter. Carrying Surface Duo in a front jeans pocket, rear pocket, or even inner blazer pocket is very doable. Even female fashion, which is notoriously skimpy on pocket space, is adequate.
At that place are plenty of clear drawbacks to the hardware. Surface Duo lacks Qi wireless charging, NFC, IP-resistance for h2o, a headphone jack, and support for dual SIM (though it has eSIM and nano-SIM, just not simultaneously). It misses the 5G hype railroad train. At least for the lack of NFC for payments, if y'all have a Fitbit, you're skilful to become, or maybe it is an excellent opportunity to option up a Galaxy Watch, as these wearables support tap-to-pay.
While Surface Duo is missing many of the loftier-end features commonly found in smartphones today, the company was laser-focused on dual-screen functionality. Even calculation NFC would be tricky on this course-factor. Putting the sensor on the back of Surface Duo seems obvious, but so your displays are closed. That means you may need a sensor on the front display too to work when rotated around. These are the challenges that Microsoft needs to solve.
So-so power
Surface Duo review: Functioning and battery
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Microsoft uses the 2022-era Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 – a flagship CPU of its time, now usurped by the Snapdragon 865 and 865+. The Snapdragon 855, however, is comparable in many ways to the 865 minus the mandatory back up for 5G. That's a good thing as 5G correct now is a lot of hype, with not a articulate advantage for smartphones. 5G support drives upwards costs of the hardware while often reducing the bombardment life – both of which Surface Duo can't afford.
Using Geekbench 5.0, Surface Duo hit 737 on a unmarried-cadre score and 2,815 for multi-core. The single-core score is similar to other phones, such as Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+, while the multi-core does fifty-fifty improve, beating out the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with Exynos 990 (2,695 on Geekbench).
Surface Duo's iii,577 mAh batteries give all-day power despite dual AMOLED screens.
Benchmarks are one matter, and real globe-usage, peculiarly when powering ii displays, is some other. Surface Duo is, at all-time, OK for performance. When combined with the so-and then 6GB of RAM, no one volition charge Surface Duo of being fast. Instead, information technology is acceptable, and some would accuse me of beingness too generous in that location. Sometimes, Surface Duo is tedious to wake upward; other times, Microsoft Edge can have up to 7 seconds to resume. Minimizing window animation tin be janky besides.
It is not uncommon with 6GB of RAM to have but 700MB left to spare after a few hours of usage. When devices like Samsung's Notation xx Ultra are shipping with 12GB of RAM, you have to wonder if Surface Duo would take fewer performance slowdowns with a similar configuration. It is besides unclear if the lack of software optimization may be a culprit or a combo of both.
In specific scenarios like heavy spider web browsing or video streaming, the back of Surface Duo could go noticeably warm to the touch on, simply never hot.
Surface Duo battery life is an unexpected bright spot. While many have written off the insufficiently small 3,577mAh bombardment — especially when powering dual displays — information technology'due south good enough. The lowest I ever achieved for the remaining bombardment life is 25 per centum. Most days, I was closer to 45 per centum. While y'all need to charge Surface Duo every night for nearly people, information technology should last the whole 24-hour interval with moderate usage. Screen-on time was close to five hours. Standby battery is too excellent every bit Surface Duo barely uses any juice when its displays are closed.
Better than expected
Surface Duo review: Camera and images
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Prospects were depression for Surface Duo'south meager 11MP front-facing camera. Back in January, nosotros tempered expectations, knowing that Microsoft's focus was more about productivity than pixel-peeping.
Our Surface Duo review proved us correct and wrong. The f2.0 lens and Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) pale compared to any 2022 or 2022 flagship phone from Google, Samsung, or Apple. Considering many of those phones take multiple lenses for ultra-wide and telephoto and larger sensors and advanced software, it seemed unlikely Microsoft could compete.
This camera is ... non keen, but information technology is respectable.
But Surface Duo's camera is, dare I say, competent. In outdoor and even indoor scenes with adequate lighting, information technology'due south decent for social media. I've been quietly sharing photos on Twitter, and no i said a thing. Microsoft's color scientific discipline, contrast, and overall balance are quite pleasing. While 11MP limits details, it seems doubtful you volition be embarrassed sharing your weekend vistas to Instagram or Facebook. Images are a fiddling soft and washed out, but those are easy mail service-fixes too. Upping saturation and adding some sharpening is easy compared to the alternative.
Low-calorie-free shots, especially at night, are simply foul. At that place is no "night mode" sadly, so results are muddied with lack of item and high levels of racket. At that place is a flash to assistance, which is not awful, only flashes on phones these days are more about being a flashlight than to assist in photos.
As far every bit front end-facing images, these too are satisfactory and even quite practiced. Microsoft tuned the software for either world-facing or self-facing scenarios, and it gets the job washed for utilize with Microsoft Teams. The camera overall seems on par with Samsung'due south front-facing camera in the Note 20 Ultra.
The software to handle the camera is curious. When Surface Duo is opened and the photographic camera launches, it defaults to a front-facing orientation on the right display. Going into "phone manner," with the left screen folded backside the right and rotating, it switches the camera to a rear-mode with photographic camera controls on the left screen. Information technology'south all bad-mannered.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal
I recently reviewed Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and have an iPhone xi, so I'1000 thoroughly familiar with the best-of-the-all-time, but Surface Duo has been good enough for what I demand. Of course, cameras can always be better, and hopefully Microsoft can proceed to refine things.
VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling
Surface Duo as a phone
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Surface Duo call audio quality is fantastic. In one instance, the person I was speaking with thought I sounded like I was using Wi-Fi calling – "Yous sound like you're side by side to me," is what I was told. While Surface Duo does support Wi-Fi calling natively, I was non using it at the time. The earpiece is crisp and loud.
Answering calls is too effortless. When i comes in, you open up Surface Duo to come across who it is with onscreen buttons for hanging upwards or answering. Instead of pressing a button, however, yous can just rotate the display dorsum onto itself, a.1000.a "telephone mode," which automatically picks up the call. Closing Surface Duo hangs up the call.
Phonation over LTE (VoLTE) is also natively supported, equally are nano and eSIM profiles (though not simultaneously, then it is non genuinely dual SIM). The unlocked model supports T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, plus world bands for GSM and LTE. All those U.S. carriers were tested for this review, and all worked without a hitch. Sprint users need to selection upwards a T-Mobile SIM due to the merger.
For AT&T users, things get tricky. If you want VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, and other carrier-specific functions like native visual voicemail, you demand to go the AT&T model. AT&T has stricter rules near such things.
Belongings Surface Duo up to your head during a phone call is weird, but nothing too strange if you have used a Lumia 1520 in the past. It never bothered me.
A bit green
Surface Duo review: Software experience
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Key
Microsoft is shipping Surface Duo with Android 10, and it has the September five Google security update as I write this review on September 6. The Annotation 20 Ultra is still on Baronial's update by comparison. With three years of committed Android updates, including Android 11 equally presently as information technology is ready, in that location is a lot of room for Microsoft to ameliorate the experience. That'southward terrific every bit this device needs it.
Surface Duo will likely get monthly updates. And it actually needs them.
Microsoft is working with Google on all the changes and modifications to make Duo happen. The uptick to that partnership is monthly security, and fixes should be very timely as there are extraordinarily little "forked" Os modifications hither. That differs from Samsung, who notoriously bends Android to its will with customizations and overlays, oftentimes resulting in delayed updates. The downside, still, is Surface Duo is barren right now with only core functions and features.
Considering this is almost a vanilla version of Android 10, things like Android Auto work just fine. The aforementioned applies with casting and other Google features.
Stability for Surface Duo is a moving target. More than half of this review was conducted with build 2022.723.130, but Microsoft pushed out 2022.812.86 on September 4 as a solar day-i update. That update improves "device stability, the stability, operation and image quality of the camera, calling features and stability, and in application gestures- specially when dismissing or moving apps to full screen."
These updates brand a big divergence, but there are however lingering problems. One is the delay for Edge to resume and the overall slow responsiveness of the Os. The version of SwiftKey that ships cannot motility the cursor via the spacebar (the beta version has this). Peek fashion (whereby y'all tin can view the fourth dimension and date by cracking open the brandish slight) does not show notifications. There is no double-tap-to-wake or ever-on-display (which would be amazing to use Surface Duo in tent mode as an alarm clock and calendar). You cannot change icons with Microsoft Launcher, and there is no Timeline support or advanced abilities like blurring the groundwork.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
To be fair, this initial release's focus is to become the core experience of dual screen functionality correct. For the virtually part, Microsoft has succeeded. But the company seems to exist aware that Surface Duo needs some time to grow and evolve. Microsoft's Master Product Officer Panos Panay in a recent interview said the following regarding Surface Duo:
We have our roadmap in forepart of us, we can see it. We see where the production goes over fourth dimension. Nosotros know that what we take in paw now is right for at present. We know that. I believe that others volition follow suit. These products take time for adoption.
Some of the piece of work done by Microsoft is very creative. When Surface Duo has both screens on, and an app is opened on the correct side, the keyboard shifts to the right, letting you type (or swipe) with your right thumb. The aforementioned happens on the left side. Going into "compose mode," where the phone resembles a laptop, users can put SwiftKey into thumb-layout, letting you lot blazon quickly. Switching apps betwixt screens or spanning them across both works very well.
Microsoft's Swiftkey keyboard adapts to your hand position for more than comfy one-handed typing (or swiping). Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Microsoft apps included with Surface Duo
- Microsoft Office: Give-and-take, Excel, PowerPoint, Office Lens, PDF reader, and More
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Microsoft Border
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft To Do
- Microsoft News
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Microsoft Bing Search
- Intune Company Portal
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection
- Surface Sound
- Microsoft SwiftKey
Google apps preinstalled on Surface Duo
- Google Search
- Google Banana
- Google Calendar
- Google Bulldoze
- Google Duo
- Google Photos
- Google Play Movies & TV
- Google Play Shop
- Google Maps
- Chrome
- Gmail
- YouTube
- YouTube Music
- Contacts
- Messages
- Phone
- Files
- Clock
- Calculator
- Sound recorder
I think many of these initial concerns are expected with a new class factor and an early Surface Duo review — this is firmly in the early-adopter territory. Refinement is something that tin have months and years. None of these bugs completely ruin the experience, there were no Bone crashes or loss of data, and the 2022.812.86 update does a lot to make the ride smoother.
The good news is while Surface Duo is buggier than I would like, the solution is software tweaks and optimizations — not a fundamental issue with the device itself. That said, it may be best to let Surface Duo bake a bit before taking a seize with teeth.
Multimedia fourth dimension
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Microsoft did not send a Surface Pen for reviewers, although my Slim Pen with Surface Pro Ten worked fine and information technology's ane of the all-time Surface Duo accessories available right now. Any in-market Surface Pen works, just let'due south just say inking support is barely here correct now.
Inking and annotation-taking
Microsoft Surface Slim Pen
Inking on the get
With a focus on pocketable productivity, the Surface Duo (soft of) embraces digital inking. The grade cistron mirrors a notepad, making it ideal for quick note-taking, annotations, and sketches. The device supports most Surface-branded pens, merely the newest Surface Slim Pen fits best with an ultra-portable design.
The Microsoft Surface Slim Pen trims the fat of its alternatives, measuring 136.8mm long, and xi.3mm by 6.3mm thick. It's too the only rechargeable Surface Pen, using an included wireless cradle to elevation up the xv-hour battery life. When eyeing a new stylus, this is the ane to purchase.
Since Microsoft is working within the Android system, there are no advanced Samsung S Pen-like enhancements. The Surface Pen merely works wherever app developers have put it, like Microsoft OneNote, Pasty Notes, Office, Adobe Acrobat … and probably not much else.
There is no need to pair Surface Pen with Surface Duo equally the top button has no function, and there is no optimization or features enabled. Inking is OK, only far behind Samsung and its Annotation 20 series. Notwithstanding, Surface Duo's grade gene and screen size brand it more enjoyable to write with due to infinite considerations.
Surface Duo is perfect for getting lost in your favorite volume.
Microsoft'southward Your Phone is hither instead of any type of Samsung DeX-like big-screen feel. Your Phone is a wireless connection that works on any Windows 10 PC, letting you receive and answer to text messages, accept calls through your estimator, manage phone notifications, and even mirror your Android telephone's display. Only Your Telephone here is behind where Samsung's high-end phones are currently, with no support withal for the new "Apps" feature — instead, it is mirroring via "Phone screen."
Gaming on Surface Duo is fun. You can run games on either brandish or fifty-fifty two at a fourth dimension, kind of. Cloud gaming via Microsoft'due south Project xCloud, or GeForce NOW, Project Stadia, all piece of work as expected. Simply pair up an Xbox controller via Bluetooth, and you are skilful to go. Playing Destiny 2 as part of my Surface Duo review, via streaming over Wi-Fi, was an impressive experience. Unfortunately, Microsoft has not implemented any onscreen controller support teased in the original Surface Duo sizzler. Seeing as Duo is not being positioned as a gaming machine, that seems rational, albeit still disappointing.
Video and television, such as YouTube TV, are adept besides. The display attribute leads to some odd black bars, but because yous tin position Surface Duo in tent mode or compose mode, it makes upwards for that experience. While you can span a video beyond both displays, almost will disfavor the gap.
"Peek" reveals the fourth dimension and date when yous barely open up Surface Duo, but shows fiddling else. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal
At that place is no headphone jack, so brand certain y'all have a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Surface Earbuds paired with no fuss and worked as well equally you would hope.
If you want to utilize a speaker, there is just one on the left display most the top. Surface Duo is a far cry from the dual-speaker setups with Dolby enhancements of modern high-cease phones, but the speaker and sound are improve than expected. Information technology'due south non great for music, but it works well for spoken words, making it best for video meetings and voice collaborations.
But how IS IT?
Surface Duo and the theory of dual displays
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
At the crux of Surface Duo is the question of dual displays and their efficacy. These are early days for Microsoft's vision, so many of these dual-screen experiences are limited to Microsoft's inbox apps like Outlook, To Do, Role, Microsoft News, and some third party ones like Adobe, Spotify, Amazon Kindle, and Mylio (photo editor). Of grade, even without dual-screen optimization, any Android app can run on Surface Duo.
App experiences similar Microsoft News, Amazon Kindle, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat, and Outlook exercise low-cal upwards Microsoft'due south "spanning" vision on Surface Duo. For instance, Microsoft News lets y'all browse manufactures on the left side while reading the selected story on the right. That is clever, only what is ingenious is the ability to go into "reading mode," which formats the news article to span Surface Duo like a book.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a really great experience. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Amazon's Kindle is also stunning. It, too, lets yous read a book with each page on each of Surface Duo'due south displays. The folio-turning blitheness is lovely, allowing yous to see the flipped page with reverse impress. It's very Apple-like.
Microsoft Outlook is more familiar, browsing your email inbox on the left side, while reading specific emails on the right. It may seem obvious, but this method of triaging your inbox is game-changing for email fanatics. Photo-organizer Mylio besides lets you scan photos on the left while editing a specific picture on the right. While I find Mylio'south toolset a bit baffling, information technology shows the ability of this concept. Adobe'southward Acrobat Reader lets yous read a PDF on the left side while inking, highlighting, or signing the document on the right.
Mylio is a free photo editing app that makes use of both displays. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Another ingenious characteristic is app pairing, where you tin link two apps together to launch at the same fourth dimension. Pair upwardly Microsoft Teams and Outlook to launch as your out-of-bed app experience. I use FedEx and UPS apps to track packages, or Ring and Eufy, for security. You tin can pair any Android app with another – Instagram + Twitter, Facebook + OneNote, New York Times + Washington Post. It takes multitasking to a new level. The aforementioned applies to "drag and drop," where you tin drag a news article into OneNote, or something into To Do. It is besides paradoxically like using Windows.
And that is the sum of where Surface Duo excels: immersion. While some merely want a pocket phone to check a message, view Instagram, and take a phone call, Surface Duo is better for sitting downwards and going in deep to your e-mail, reading, taking notes, document creation, or collaboration on Microsoft Teams.
Surface Duo is heady ... but also something many people practise not demand.
Surface Duo is a powerful concept. It'south likewise one that many people likely do not need. Some do, nevertheless, and they volition capeesh what Microsoft has enabled with Surface Duo.
What most answering calls or hearing notifications come in, and did I always tire of opening Surface Duo for the basics? No. I love how endmost Surface Duo kind of shuts that world off to allow me focus on another chore. While my Samsung Galaxy Active 2 watch worked great with Surface Duo, I never felt I needed to have it (I unpaired after a solar day to get back to a regular watch). I also never dropped Surface Duo, had problems carrying it, or using information technology daily. While 1-handedness is non-real, the ability to dive deep into my work is a notable tradeoff.
Only for the bold
Should you lot purchase Surface Duo?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Who it's for
- Those who want to be more productive while mobile
- Fans of Microsoft 365, Surface, and Android
- Early adopters
- Those who aren't worried about the cost or who take a modern telephone to trade-in
Who it isn't for
- Those on a upkeep
- Those who prioritize familiarity and are OK with electric current phones
- Those who want the all-time photographic camera experience
The conclusions of this review are simple. Premature software, the lack of optimized dual-screen apps, missing hardware, and the loftier price are proficient reasons to stick with your current telephone. This advice is also accurate for iPhone users, who will find switching to Android and a new form cistron specially unsettling.
Surface Duo holds a ton of promise, but the software needs work.
Those who know Android, love Microsoft 365 and Function, and continuously swallow data would do good most from Surface Duo, so long as you know what y'all are getting into this early, you shouldn't be disappointed with it.
Pricing starts at $ane,400 for the 128GB model, and for $one,500, you can knab 256GB — both with 6GB of RAM. Microsoft is making it easier on your wallet if you're upgrading from an iPhone 11 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Notation 10+, every bit yous can get up to $700 back, halving the price. The Microsoft Store also offers a generous sixty-twenty-four hour period render policy, along with matching prices, should it drop in 60 days.
If you are interested in buying Surface Duo, my advice is straightforward: Maybe wait a few months to see how the software improves. Utilize Microsoft's 60-twenty-four hours return policy to endeavor Surface Duo yourself. Reading a review of Surface Duo is hugely different than living with information technology. The same is truthful or trying it in a shop for five minutes. Exercise non purchase Surface Duo as a secondary gadget — you lot need to go all-in; otherwise, it is too bizarre. Driblet-in that SIM and encompass dual screens.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental
I can't wait to meet what Microsoft does with Surface Duo in the adjacent year. Do software updates ameliorate early on jankiness and bugs? Practice apps like Twitter, Edge, websites, and media apps follow Microsoft and Google with dual-screen optimized apps, or does it stay isolated to only a few? These questions will seal the fate of Microsoft's dual-screen mobile dreams.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Key
Microsoft gets points for a radically new mobile idea that has 18-carat merit. Microsoft loses points merely because the software is halfbaked, and it needs more dual-screen apps; only nix is fundamentally wrong with the underlying concept. With a few updates, Surface Duo could absolutely be life-irresolute, opening new doors for working on the get or the burrow. But if you're going to purchase Surface Duo, but it for what it is, non what it may be.
I am going to continue using Surface Duo every bit my primary mobile telephone. I legitimately desire to. Surface Duo represents a shift in mobile technology, and I'k here for information technology today.
At present bachelor (in the U.Due south.)
Microsoft Surface Duo
Two screens are better than i.
Microsoft delves into the future of foldables with an aggressive dual-screen device, featuring two ultra-thin 5.vi-inch AMOLED displays bound by a 360-degree swivel. This pocketable inking-enabled Android smartphone marks the latest in the Surface lineup, geared for mobile productivity.
Microsoft Surface Duo
Master
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- Best Surface Duo accessories 2022
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- Save up to $700 on Surface Duo
Surface Duo, 3 months subsequently update
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Key
Since my initial review, I have been using Surface Duo as my primary phone. While I have an iPhone 12 Mini for a side review (and to follow Microsoft's iOS app ecosystem), it remains on a secondary SIM.
I live with Surface Duo more than most reviewers who take moved on to the adjacent big matter, or any their personal preference may be. I could do the same and go right back to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, one of the best overall smartphones of 2022. Information technology is difficult to resist that 120Hz display and impressive camera array.
Why do I like Surface Duo? It'southward a modern PDA for a information-centric globe.
Just there is something about Surface Duo that clicks with me. I find myself using information technology a lot on the couch for reading books and comics via Amazon Kindle and Google Play Books. Indeed, I am merely reading a lot more at present, thanks to the dual-screen book-similar experience. I also triage email similar a dominate, read more in-depth news articles via Microsoft News, and enjoy the overall experience, including the surprisingly good battery life. I find myself reaching less for a laptop because of Surface Duo.
Why practise I like it and then much? It recently dawned on me: Surface Duo brings dorsum the classic concept of the PDA (personal digital assistant). I'm old enough to accept used a Dell Axim, my first real exposure to Windows Mobile and what I saw as the futurity of mobile computing. I've written but how transformative the PDA was for my career, and Surface Duo feels a lot like it.
The Dell Axim was far from perfect, besides (as were all PDAs at the time). If the bombardment died, the device'south retentivity was wiped. Wi-Fi was barely a affair in 2003, and it would exist years before cellular was integrated. You lot also had to sync the PDA to your desktop to refresh the information on information technology, making everything static when in use. None of this was ideal, but information technology was still wild. The same tin can be said of Surface Duo.
File management using Solid Explorer is efficient and effective with ii screens. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Primal
My Surface Duo is now my life secretary. When I open it up, I encounter not just my latest notifications, but a list of all my emails and important alerts (via BlackBerry Hub and Electronic mail), my week's calendar appointments, and current info. Whatsoever Android phone can simulate that experience, simply it's the dual brandish and blueprint that makes it experience amend. It's an splendid organizer for those who bargain heavily with data, schedules, data, and management.
Speaking of the BlackBerry Hub+, Microsoft should create a unified inbox experience for all your significant apps (Teams, Skype, Slack, Telegram, SMS, etc.) similar that one. BlackBerry always had a knack for mobile productivity similar its privacy shade. I wrote in 2022 how BlackBerry and Microsoft should team up, and I however call back that'due south the case. At the very to the lowest degree, emulate them, Microsoft.
I likewise enjoy the ability to close Surface Duo like a book, allowing me to focus more on my writing and piece of work instead of always looking at my phone.
So far, information technology'south mostly been bug fixes with Surface Duo, with barely any new features. That'due south boring but necessary.
However, my review's conclusion hasn't changed in the last iii months. Surface Duo is still a "dual-screen phone of tomorrow that'due south non quite ready today." It'south only now slightly better.
Simply the only real thing I was concerned with was the concept of Surface Duo and if it was a breakthrough or a gimmick. I tin can written report that it is the former. Information technology'due south withal not a device I would tell regular consumers to purchase, but it is i to watch going forward.
What Microsoft does with Surface Duo 2, which we expect could launch in belatedly 2022, volition be fascinating. For at present, I'm hooked on the idea of dual screens regardless of the (dwindling) flaws. I'll check back in on Surface Duo three months from now, and hopefully, we'll have Android 11 and some more improvements and features.
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Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Primal. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007 back when this site was called WMExperts (and afterward Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, laptops, and mod computing. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-duo-roundup
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