Microsoft’s original Surface Duo was … problematic, to say the least, but the company seems determined to make amends in 2021. Windows headquarters Sources claim that a Surface Duo 2 (or whatever it may be called) will have a release date this fall, possibly September or October.
The Surface Duo 2 could also represent a much-needed performance upgrade. The tipsters said the dual-screen phone will announce the “newest flagship SoC” for 2021, suggesting it is jumping from the aging Snapdragon 855 (already obsolete by the duo 2020 launch) to a much faster Snapdragon 888 becomes. and the leak also suggests NFC support for tap-to-pay features.
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You also get a vastly improved camera system. Instead of the lonely 11-megapixel camera from before, the Surface Duo 2 would include an external camera array (complete with bump) for taking enhanced photos.
The basic Surface Duo design is reportedly carried over to the Duo 2 with a few tweaks. You would see “slightly bigger” screens in the same aspect ratio, but with rounded corners and thinner bezels. So it’s supposed to look more like a modern cell phone than a holdover from 2019, in other words. The general shape and size would stay the same, however, so don’t expect this to be any more pocketable if the leak is accurate.
However, some questions remain open, including the price. The first Surface Duo was $ 1,399 when new, which makes it very difficult to sell unless you were heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and willing to put up with the phone’s many early breakdowns. The Surface Duo 2 could face similar challenges if it costs similarly, even if the specs are much more competitive. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is arguably a better buy than the Duo because of its more powerful internals, reliable software, and smarter foldable display, and it could still be a smarter buy if the Duo’s sequel stays expensive.
