Microsoft Surface Duo Review: Features, Price, and Performance

Microsoft Surface Duo:

Network:

• GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch:

• Announced: August 12, 2020
• Released: September 10, 2020

Body:

• Dimensions:
  • Unfolded: 186.9 x 145.2 x 4.8 mm
  • Folded: 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9 mm
• Weight: 250 g (8.82 oz)
• Build: Glass front and back (Gorilla Glass 5)
• SIM: Nano-SIM + eSIM
• Stylus support: No

Display:

• Unfolded: 8.1 inches, AMOLED, 1800 x 2700 pixels, ~401 ppi density
  • Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Folded: 5.6 inches, AMOLED, 1350 x 1800 pixels
  • Ratio: 4:3

Platform:

• OS: Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
• CPU: Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
• GPU: Adreno 640
• Memory:
  • 128GB 6GB RAM
  • 256GB 6GB RAM
  • No microSD card support
• Storage type: UFS 3.0

Main Camera:

• Single camera setup:
  • 11 MP, f/2.0 (wide), PDAF
• Features: HDR, panorama
• Video:
  • 4K@30/60fps
  • 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
  • Gyro-EIS, HDR

Selfie Camera:

• Uses the main camera for selfies
• Features: HDR, panorama
• Video:
  • 4K@30/60fps
  • 1080p@30/60fps
  • Gyro-EIS, HDR

Sound:

• Loudspeaker: Yes
• 3.5mm jack: No

Comms:

• WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth: 5.0, aptX Adaptive, A2DP, LE
• Positioning: GPS
• NFC: No
• Radio: No
• USB: USB Type-C 3.1

Features:

• Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, proximity, dual compass

Battery:

• Type: Li-Po 3577 mAh
• Charging: 18W wired

Miscellaneous:

• Colors: White
• Price: Around 650 EUR

The Microsoft Surface Duo is a bold attempt to combine the worlds of smartphones and tablets into one versatile device. Launched in 2020, the smartphone features an innovative and unconventional dual-screen design that sets it apart from most smartphones on the market. With its high-quality build, unique form factor, and productivity-focused features, the Surface Duo aims to provide an alternative to traditional smartphones, especially for users looking for a more flexible multitasking experience. However, its sleek design and unconventional software have inspired both enthusiasm and criticism. In this review, we examine the Surface Duo in terms of design, performance, display, software, camera, and overall user experience.

1. Design and Build Quality :

The design of the Surface Duo is one of its most distinctive features. It is essentially a foldable device with two 5.6-inch AMOLED screens connected by a 360-degree hinge that can open and fold like a book. When fully unfolded, the device has a total screen size of 8.1 inches, allowing users to benefit from a larger screen area while still maintaining the portability of a smartphone.

The overall shape of the device is thin and slim, measuring just 4.8mm thick when unfolded. It folds up compactly and fits easily in your pocket, making it much easier to carry around than a traditional tablet. Its premium design features a metal frame and Gorilla Glass on both screens, making it sturdy and premium. The hinge is one standout feature, allowing for smooth and precise movement so you can open the screen fully or at any angle to multitask.

However, the foldable design does have some drawbacks. When folded, the device is slightly thicker than a regular smartphone, making it portable but a bit bulkier than a standard smartphone due to its dual-screen configuration. The hinge is sturdy, but there's a gap between the two screens that can make the device look fragile.

2. Display:

Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch AMOLED screens that deliver deep blacks, vibrant colors, and great contrast. When unfolded, the combined 8.1-inch display is perfect for multitasking, allowing users to run apps side-by-side or spread them across both screens. The display is sharp, with a resolution of 1800 x 1350, which equates to approximately 401 pixels per inch (PPI). The resolution is sufficient for most tasks, but keep in mind that the screen is not as sharp as other high-end devices with QHD+ displays.

One of the great features of the Surface Duo display is its versatility. When you unfold the device, it acts like a mini tablet, giving you more screen real estate to use for productivity tasks like editing documents, browsing the web, and using multiple apps at the same time. The ability to open multiple apps side by side and use the device in portrait or landscape mode improves the multitasking experience, especially for complex tasks that require switching between applications.

However, the dual-screen design does have some drawbacks. There is a noticeable gap between the two screens, which can be annoying when using certain apps that span both screens. Additionally, some apps may not seamlessly support dual-screen layouts, resulting in a choppy UI or an unusable experience when the app spans both screens. This is something Microsoft has been working to improve, but it remains a design limitation.

3. Performance :

The Surface Duo is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, which was the flagship processor at the time of launch. It can handle most tasks and moderate multitasking, but it's not as powerful as newer smartphones with the latest processors like the Snapdragon 888 or 8 Gen 1. The Duo's 6GB of RAM is also low compared to many smartphones. As a modern flagship, it may struggle with intensive multitasking or running heavy apps. However, the device's performance is adequate for general productivity, social media, web browsing, and light gaming.

Internal storage options are 128GB and 256GB, with no expandable storage, which may be a limitation for users who need a lot of space for media and apps. Given its role as a productivity device, the limited storage capacity may feel restrictive for power users who store a lot of data on their phone.

4. Software and user experience :

Surface Duo runs on a modified version of Android 10 (upgradable to Android 11). Microsoft has optimized the software for the dual-screen experience and introduced several features designed to improve multitasking. These include the ability to run two apps side-by-side, drag and drop content between screens, and use one screen for apps and the other as a taskbar for quick access to apps.

Android is known for being highly customizable, but the software experience on Surface Duo is still in development. Some apps don't take full advantage of the dual-screen configuration, and the software can have trouble managing multiple windows. Additionally, the device comes with a suite of Microsoft apps, including Office, Outlook, and Teams, making it an attractive device for productivity-focused users. However, the software is also somewhat fragmented. The device can sometimes experience consistency issues between apps that aren't optimized for the dual screen, resulting in glitches and awkward layouts.

One of the more exciting aspects of the Surface Duo is its ability to act as a "productivity hub" for apps that take advantage of the dual-screen capabilities. For example, users can keep a web browser open on one screen and type in Microsoft Word on the other, or keep their calendar open on one screen and respond to emails on the other. So, while it's not perfect in terms of optimization, it's an ideal device for anyone who wants to stay productive on the go.

5. Camera :

The Surface Duo has a single 11-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 4K video recording capabilities. Unfortunately, the camera isn't the standout feature of this device. While it can take decent photos in bright lighting conditions, it struggles in low light, producing grainy and blurry images. The camera lacks features like an ultra-wide-angle lens or advanced zoom capabilities, and its performance is inferior to other flagship smartphones. For selfies, the Surface Duo uses the same camera on the back, which can also be rotated to use as a front-facing camera. This is a creative solution, but it means that users don't have a dedicated front-facing camera, as is the case with many competitors.

6. Battery Life :

The Surface Duo has a 3,577mAh battery, which is a bit small given the device's dual-screen design. Battery life depends heavily on usage patterns, but with moderate use, the device will typically last a day. For users who frequently use both screens for multitasking or gaming, battery life may be shortened and charging may be required during the day.

Considering the relatively small battery capacity of the device, it is not surprising that the Surface Duo does not support fast charging above 18W, which may result in a longer charging time compared to other modern devices that support faster charging.

7. Conclusion :

The Microsoft Surface Duo is a unique and innovative device that offers a new perspective on mobile productivity. The dual-screen design makes it an attractive choice for users who need the flexibility to run multiple apps simultaneously, and the device's top-level build quality and software optimization make it an interesting choice for users in the Microsoft ecosystem. However, relatively disappointing performance, an average camera, and inconsistent software keep it from being a true flagship competitor. It's an exciting glimpse into the future of mobile productivity, but it's likely to appeal more to early adopters and power users than to the average smartphone buyer. If you're looking for a cutting-edge device that prioritizes multitasking and productivity, the Surface Duo could be a great choice, but be aware of its limitations.