Microsoft Surface Duo buyer’s guide: The info you need
The Microsoft Surface Duo is official! The new device has two displays that fold in on each other to form a pseudo-fold. It is the first Microsoft product to run the Android operating system.
Is it a really big phone? A tiny laptop? Two phones that make a tablet? The judges aren’t sure yet how to define the Surface Duo, but it’s real, and it costs $ 1,399 and is available today.
Connected: Microsoft Surface Duo test: prototype first, product second
Here’s everything we know about Microsoft Surface Duo.
Microsoft Surface Duo: what kind of thing is it?
The Microsoft Surface Duo is a dual display computer. It is part of Microsoft’s Surface product line, which previously included laptops, tablets and premium headphones.
Despite the company name attached to this device, it is not a Windows tablet or phone. The Microsoft Surface Duo is running Android. This makes it the first commercial product from MS to run the operating system.
This is Microsoft’s first Android product.
This gives you access to the millions of apps in the Google Play Store as soon as you turn on your Surface Duo. However, most of these apps are not optimized for the duo’s unique dual-screen format. However, they will all work.
Note that Microsoft makes no commitment to referring to the Surface Duo as a phone. The device will make phone calls and perform most of the other smartphone functions, but the company would only commit to calling it the “Surface”. The greatest clarity Microsoft would give is this: It never said it was not a telephone. Take what you think is best.
Microsoft Surface Duo: Technical Specifications
| Microsoft Surface Duo | |
|---|---|
| Show | Single: 5.6 inch AMOLED 1,800 x 1,350 (4: 3 aspect ratio) 401ppi Dual: 8.1 inch AMOLED |
| processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| R.A.M. | 6 GB |
| camp | 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.0 No microSD card slot |
| battery | 3,577mAh double battery 18W wired charging No wireless charging |
| camera | 11MP sensor in the interior (ƒ / 2.0, 1.0 μm) 84 degree field of view HDR support 4K and 1080p video (30 fps or 60 fps) HEVC and H.264 support |
| Audio | Single speaker Noise-canceling dual microphone Supports aptX Adaptive Codec |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac (2.4 / 5 GHz) Bluetooth 5.0 LTE: 4×4 MIMO, Cat. 18 DL / Cat. 5 UL, 5CA, LAA Bands: |
| SIM | Physical nano sim Support for additional eSIM (AT&T model only has nano SIM) |
| safety | Physical side-mounted fingerprint sensor No face unlock support |
| Colours | glacier |
| Dimensions / weight | Open: 145.2 x 186.9 x 4.8 mm Closed: 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9 mm 250 g |
Two screens, many options
The most important feature of the Microsoft Surface Duo is undoubtedly the dual display format. You can close the entire device like a book protecting the 5.6 inch internal displays while you carry it around. If you want, you can also open the whole thing 360 degrees so that each display is shown one after the other. You can also put it in tent mode or just lay it flat.
If you want to run two apps on each display at the same time, you can. This allows you to work on a spreadsheet while watching a TV show, for example. You can also fold it out like a small laptop and type on a virtual keyboard while keeping the top display uncluttered.
Connected: I’ve been using a dual screen laptop for months and don’t want to go back
There is also an app continuity function here. This allows you to move an app from one display to another as if it were a large tablet. Certain apps also format themselves automatically depending on how you’re using Surface Duo. For example, you could use Google Maps in an area to find a local restaurant. When you tap to open the restaurant’s website, it will open in the second area so you can’t keep viewing the cards.
Finally, you might be wondering where the camera is. The back walls of the Surface Duo are blank except for the Microsoft logo. The only camera is the front-facing selfie camera, which is embedded in the top right inner area. This makes it great for selfies, of course, but you can also fold the device so both displays are facing out and then turn the whole thing around. The viewfinder of the camera is displayed on the back so that you can operate it like a “normal” smartphone.
Competition and alternatives
There has never been anything like the Microsoft Surface Duo. That being said, the product isn’t entirely revolutionary; There are other comparable devices on the market.
The phones most similar to the Surface Duo are the latest dual-screen devices from LG. The LG Velvet and LG V60 both have optional secondary displays. This is obviously very different from the Surface Duo, however, in that you can still use the Velvet and V60 as standalone regular phones. However, the dual display capabilities of these phones are very similar to the Surface Duo.
The Surface Duo isn’t a “real” foldable phone, but that’s the market it seems to be targeting.
The recent flurry of foldable phones – especially from Samsung – also resembles the Microsoft Surface Duo. The Surface Duo doesn’t have foldable ultra-thin glass inside like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, but the concept of a phone-sized display that can be turned into a tablet is the same in both lines.
Time will tell whether the approach from LG, Samsung or Microsoft is the formula for success for our future after the smartphone. For now, we can only commend Microsoft for trying something bold and fresh with the Surface Duo.
Where to buy Microsoft Surface Duo
The Microsoft Surface Duo is available now. The 128GB variant is priced at $ 1,399, or you can purchase the 256GB storage variant for an additional $ 100.
You can buy the unlocked duo directly from Microsoft.com or from some third-party providers like Best Buy. The device may also be available from AT&T in a locked state. AT&T appears to be the only vendor currently supporting the Surface Duo. If you’re not an AT&T customer, you’ll need the unlocked version, which works on all US networks.
Microsoft Duo For enthusiasts only
Microsoft’s Surface Duo is trying to be less traveled for foldable devices, but it’s not ready for mainstream just yet due to its buggy software and niche use cases.
Top questions and answers about Microsoft Surface Duo
Q: Does Microsoft Surface Duo support 5G?
A: No. The processor and modem in the duo do not allow 5G connections. Microsoft cannot “switch on” this even with a later update. The duo is only blocked for 4G connections.
Q: Does the Microsoft Surface Duo have a headphone jack?
A: No, there is no headphone jack on the Surface Duo. You must be using Bluetooth headphones or wired USB-C headphones with the Duo.
Q: Does Microsoft Surface Duo support wireless charging?
A: No it doesn’t. It is charged at a speed of 18 W via a USB-C cable and the included power adapter.
Q: Does the Microsoft Surface Duo have dual SIM capabilities?
A: Technically, no. The unlocked version of the Surface Duo supports both a physical nano SIM card and a separate eSIM, but not two physical SIM cards. The AT&T variant of the Duo does not support eSIM.
Q: Does the Microsoft Surface Duo have a microSD card slot?
A: Unfortunately the phone doesn’t support expandable memory.
Q: In which memory variants is the phone available?
A: The phone is available in 128 GB and 256 GB versions. The storage is UFS 3.0 which is a faster type of storage.
Q: Does the device have stereo speakers?
A: No, the Microsoft Surface Duo has a single bottom-firing speaker.
Q: Can I use a pen with Microsoft Surface Duo?
A: Yes. The Surface Duo supports all commercially available generations of Surface Slim Pen, Surface Pen and Surface Hub 2 Pen. However, the Duo does not come with any of these devices.
Q: What colors is Microsoft Surface Duo available in?
A: From now on there seems to be only one color for the duo: Glacier. It’s an off-white that we’ve seen on other Surface products.
Q: Will there be cases for the Surface Duo?
A: The device comes with a bumper case that wraps around the edges. This does not protect the rear walls. However, third-party manufacturers may find better protection solutions soon.
Q: What is in the box with the Microsoft Surface Duo?
A: When you open the box, you’ll find a Surface Duo, a bumper case, an 18W power adapter, a USB-C cable, a SIM tool, and various brochures and documents.
Publisher’s Note: This Microsoft Surface Duo buying guide will be current as of September 2020. We will update it regularly with new content.
