The Surface Duo 2 has been announced by Microsoft. The dual-screen phone has a new and more modern design, a vastly improved camera setup and flagship performance. It also connects directly to Windows PCs.
Microsoft Surface Duo 2
Last year, the original Surface Duo, Microsoft’s first Android phone, received mixed reactions. This time, the company tries again, and we see the second-generation of Microsoft’s dual-screen phone. Microsoft has the Surface Duo 2 announced at an event where it also announced other Surface devices. If we look at the specifications, we can say that it has improved in every area.
Let’s start with the design of the Surface Duo 2. The device looks like a modern flagship, but one that has two screens. Screen edges are still present, but Microsoft has the insides of the two screens bent towards the hinge, so that the panels look more like a whole.
Three screens in total
They are in fact two 5.8 inch AMOLED screens, together good for an 8.3 inch diagonal. One such screen has a resolution of 1892 x 2844 pixels, and both panels have a 90 Hz refresh rate. According to Microsoft, the screens are also brighter than the previous generation.
If you thought you’d heard all about the screens with that, you’re wrong, because this Surface Duo 2 has a third, hidden screen. Microsoft calls it the Glance bar, and it sits on the side in place of the hinge. On that long strip you can see information such as the time, incoming notifications and the battery percentage of the phone.
Snapdragon 888 and Surface Pen
The first Surface Duo 2 came with a Snapdragon 855 processor that was already a year old at the time. This year, its successor will be spared, and it will come with the Snapdragon 888. There is also 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, but you can also get it with 256 GB or 512 GB.
The phone is powered by a 4498 mAh battery that users can charge with a 23-watt fast charger, which is available separately. If you want to unlock the phone, you can do that with a fingerprint scanner that is incorporated in the power button. You can order the phone with a Pen Cover, and then you can magnetically attach a Surface Pen to the side of the phone.
Major camera improvements
And then we come to the camera, which could really use a major upgrade over the single 12 MP sensor on the original. Microsoft then made the wrong assessment and found that camera performance was inferior to phones that are mainly intended for the business user. That’s where the company went wrong. It seems Microsoft has now understood that everyone takes a photo from time to time, because the Surface Duo 2 comes with something better.
There’s a 12MP main camera, this time with optical image stabilization, but that lens is assisted by a 16MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP telephoto camera. The latter also has optical image stabilization. This time, a selfie camera is also provided, also a 12 MP camera.
– Read more below the images –
Integration with Microsoft services
Finally, the software. The Surface Duo 2 again works with the Microsoft Launcher and Android 11. The software on this phone integrates directly with Microsoft’s services. For example, when a meeting is shown in a calendar widget, you can immediately join with Microsoft Teams.
The company has also renewed the design of its Your Phone app, which is the application that aims to bridge the gap between your smartphone and Windows. It will also be possible to open your Surface Duo 2 apps directly on your PC. Microsoft has not yet made any statements about the phone’s update policy, but the previous generation was entitled to three years of version updates and security.
Prices and availability
The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will be released on November 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium. The device will only be available on the business market, and that from 1649 euros for the model with 128 GB storage. The phone is available in a white and black variant.
- Buy Microsoft Surface Duo 2 (8GB/128GB) – 1649 euros
– Thanks for information from Androidworld.