![]() ![]() When it's closed, it's closed, with no real outer screen or display. Simply put, the Surface Duo 2 still looks like nothing else on the market. So now we have the Duo 2, which fixes the original Duo's problems while still standing in a class of its own. That's so Microsoft, right? Like Windows 1.0 or PC DOS 1.0, Microsoft is nothing if not consistent. The first model was a disaster, lacking basic features such as primary rear cameras and launching with unacceptably buggy software. The Surface Duo 2, as the name says, is the second of its line. But if find yourself wishing for an alternative to using the task switcher on your Android phone all the time, the Duo 2 might be right for you. The form factor is likely too radical for most people, who want to hold a phone to their heads for calls, and send texts, take pictures, or play games on a single screen. With no real external display and with a bezel between the screens, it's not like other foldable phones such as the $1,800 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. A dual-screen, handheld Android phablet, the Duo 2 lives up to its name: It practically demands that you look at two windows at once. ![]() Microsoft's $1,499.99 Surface Duo 2 works, and it doesn't work like anything else. ![]() Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.A main 12Mp sensor is joined by 16Mp ultrawide and 12Mp telephoto lenses, mirroring what you’ll find on many modern smartphones. Microsoft has emphatically put that right here, with a new triple camera system. New wide, ultrawide and telephoto rear camerasįor some reason, the original Surface Duo didn’t have any rear cameras.This tweaked version is specifically designed for foldables and devices with larger displays, so it could be another big step for the Duo 2’s software. Rather than the regular Android 12, the Duo 2 (and original Duo) is expected to get Android 12L soon. But you’ll know that already if you’re considering buying one, and the other issues are no longer dealbreakers. This is a direct consequence of the design and unlikely to be fixed in any software updates. When browsing social media or gaming, it’s best just to stick to one. Opting for the latter means some keys will be obscured, a problem which affects most apps that are extended across both screens. A 3.5mm headphone jack would have been nice, but it’s far from a priority these days. Using the latter feels awkward as a result, and you’ll probably miss out on time-sensitive shots.Įlsewhere, ports are kept to a minimum – there’s a single USB-C port, plus space for one SIM card and no expandable storage. You can fold away one of the displays and use it as a single-screen device, you’ll have no access to the rear cameras. The design of the device also makes it difficult to use as a regular smartphone at times. Storing the Duo 2 in your pocket is still possible, just less comfortable than a candybar phone. You could argue that you’re getting two screens for that, but it’s undoubtedly less portable. As well as being much wider and around twice as thick as regular smartphones, it also weighs in at a hefty 284g – that’s up from 250g on the original Duo. However, even when closed, the Surface Duo 2 is still a bulky device. Unlike the original, it’s also available in Obsidian Black. It tends to pick up fingerprint smudges, but that’s less of an issue elsewhere on the glass exterior – especially if you opt for the Glacier White model. Support for other app notifications would make it much more useful. You’re also currently limited to incoming calls, messages, current volume and battery percentage. Microsoft is calling this feature a “Glance Bar”, but there are two big caveats here.įirstly, there’s no raise or move to wake functionality – you need to press the power button for it to show up. The inside of each display curves slightly at the edges, meaning it’s just about visible from the outside. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but it’s great to have so many potential use cases within one device.Įven when the Duo 2 is closed, you can still check key information. Microsoft officially advertises five key modes: regular Book (both in portrait and landscape), Compose (with the bottom screen used as an on-screen keyboard), Single screen and Tent. Having a 360-degree hinge you can rely on makes the Duo 2 impressively versatile. At no point throughout my testing did it feel anything but strong and sturdy – that’s a testament to Microsoft’s engineering. It feels impressively robust, reinforced by aluminum that extends down the back of the phone where the screens meet. They’re nowhere near as slim as you’ll find on modern smartphones, though – you still need room for a tough metal hinge above to connect the displays.
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