Surface Duo

[tbayrgs]

Seems like it's actually officially released announced already: https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-duo-announcement

I don't know how the price comes as a shocker. Sure the specs aren't top of the line, but this is a first gen dual screen device in a world where a one screen device can cost $1400, and the Z Fold costs $2000...

Personally I wouldn't have much use for this one but still following with interest.

Yeah I thought the price wasn't that bad to be honest. The Note 20 and S20 cost about the same for single screen.

Agreed—I don’t think the pricing is too unrealistic, considering the pricing of other high-end devices.

My hesitation comes from this being Microsoft’s first go at a smartphone style device. Historically, Microsoft’s first (or sometimes second) offering of a new product isn’t great. All of their Surface products were noticeably improved with the second go around so I think I’m going to opt out of being their beta tester (at that price) and see how the subsequent version improves.

 

[sracer]

I love Surface devices, but this has flop written all over it. It's not a true "foldable" but a dual-screen device, the single camera and SOC are mediocre, no NFC, huge bezels, US only and $1400...yikes.

All true. But that is what the Surface line is. It's Microsoft's boutique line in the same way that Apple's line-up is.

I think dual-screen is superior to a folding screen given the current folding screen technology. I'm looking forward to what the competition will produce as a result.

 

[jamezr]

Agreed—I don’t think the pricing is too unrealistic, considering the pricing of other high-end devices.

My hesitation comes from this being Microsoft’s first go at a smartphone style device. Historically, Microsoft’s first (or sometimes second) offering of a new product isn’t great. All of their Surface products were noticeably improved with the second go around so I think I’m going to opt out of being their beta tester (at that price) and see how the subsequent version improves.

I haven't seen anything where they sing the praises of the Surface Duo camera? But I guess we will see more from the usual suspects of Youtubers once it is officially released.

 

[mjschabow]

I don't know about you all, but these devices are both exciting and confusing at the same time. I guess I'm just thinking about my every day use. Do I really need something that folds out to be this huge tablet/dual screen? Maybe I'd get used to it but I just don't know if this technology really even interests me that much.

 

[Oohara]

 

[Oohara]

OK, so I guess I could see myself enjoying this design for some things.

For reading, it might give a rather pleasant feel in the hands, more like a real book but digital. And it does have OLED which is easy on the eyes. I adore the display quality on my 11 Pro but reading on a phone in portrait always feels like...reading on a phone.

For lazy times watching YT movies or streams while surfing the web, it would work well. I mean a split screen device would also do the trick but anyway. I guess my iPhone can't do split screen yet after all... But Android phones can.

For productivity, I often work on one document while viewing reference docs on the side. Nice to not have to juggle docs like on a single display phone. On iPad I can have them side by side of course, but this is a smaller category device so a different case. I could also dig being able to write text with the pen if the input field would appear on one screen leaving the doc unobstructed on the other screen.

Being able to flip it backwards so it becomes its own stand is actually very nice for watching vids. The YT vid above reminded me of that.

So I guess there are some situations where this thing would be rather handy. Where it gets weird though is that it doesn't seem like it'd do very well when folded up. No display on the outside, so it would never feel like a phone when in that mode. I guess you can fold it the other way with both screens out...? But that seems like really asking for trouble.

Haha I guess I'm getting more intrigued the more I think about it. But still, for what I could see myself doing with it, I wouldn't pay $1400. More like $500 for a tiny tablet, and then maybe a $150 premium on top for the convenience of having it fold up. Of course I know $650 isn't anywhere near realistic for a device like this, but honestly that's about what it'd be worth to me. It's something like an iPad Mini that folds up. Not a large phone that folds out to a small tablet, like the Fold.

And the real drag is that it'll never be a very nice format for when you want to watch a movie on as large a pocketable screen as possible. That's something the Fold does a million times better.

This thing seems to fall between a few different chairs. All in all, I would probably adore it if I got it as a gift. But I wouldn't buy it for myself.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I jumped in on a preorder, doesn't ship until September 10th, so I will be able to see the Fold 2 on September 1st and decide between the two. I just really like the looks of this, very appealing to me. Should probably wait for version 2, but I am in as of now.

 

[Dave245]

I jumped in on a preorder, doesn't ship until September 10th, so I will be able to see the Fold 2 on September 1st and decide between the two. I just really like the looks of this, very appealing to me. Should probably wait for version 2, but I am in as of now.

You are lucky, those of us in the U.K or Europe can’t pre-order at all I was really hoping Microsoft would do a global release.

 

[tbayrgs]

OK, so I guess I could see myself enjoying this design for some things.

For reading, it might give a rather pleasant feel in the hands, more like a real book but digital. And it does have OLED which is easy on the eyes. I adore the display quality on my 11 Pro but reading on a phone in portrait always feels like...reading on a phone.

For lazy times watching YT movies or streams while surfing the web, it would work well. I mean a split screen device would also do the trick but anyway. I guess my iPhone can't do split screen yet after all... But Android phones can.

For productivity, I often work on one document while viewing reference docs on the side. Nice to not have to juggle docs like on a single display phone. On iPad I can have them side by side of course, but this is a smaller category device so a different case. I could also dig being able to write text with the pen if the input field would appear on one screen leaving the doc unobstructed on the other screen.

Being able to flip it backwards so it becomes its own stand is actually very nice for watching vids. The YT vid above reminded me of that.

So I guess there are some situations where this thing would be rather handy. Where it gets weird though is that it doesn't seem like it'd do very well when folded up. No display on the outside, so it would never feel like a phone when in that mode. I guess you can fold it the other way with both screens out...? But that seems like really asking for trouble.

Haha I guess I'm getting more intrigued the more I think about it. But still, for what I could see myself doing with it, I wouldn't pay $1400. More like $500 for a tiny tablet, and then maybe a $150 premium on top for the convenience of having it fold up. Of course I know $650 isn't anywhere near realistic for a device like this, but honestly that's about what it'd be worth to me. It's something like an iPad Mini that folds up. Not a large phone that folds out to a small tablet, like the Fold.

And the real drag is that it'll never be a very nice format for when you want to watch a movie on as large a pocketable screen as possible. That's something the Fold does a million times better.

This thing seems to fall between a few different chairs. All in all, I would probably adore it if I got it as a gift. But I wouldn't buy it for myself.

I multi-task on my iPad all the time and would love to have similar functionality on my phone but even the 6+” displays on the largest phones aren’t big enough for truly useful multi-window multi-tasking. Having the extra screen real estate on these types of folding devices (the Duo and Z Fold 2) is much more appealing to me vs. the “smaller phone turning into a larger phone” style of the Z Flip.

But you got the nail on the head identifying where this design falls down—no external display when folded closed.

I’d rather have the more durable glass displays found in the Duo (vs. Z Fold 2) but having to open it every time to check a notification or take a photo would become tiresome real quick.

 

[ian87w]

A definitely niche device.
The device was cool when it was announced, but I don’t know now.

$1400 for mere 128GB, US only, last year's SD855, no wifi 6, and what bloatware it comes with. People were making fun of Samsung, but this Surface Duo is worse, it comes with duplicates of Google vs Microsoft apps (Chrome and Edge, Gmail and outlook, Drive and OneDrive, etc). The worse part is if you get the AT&T locked version. Not only your eSIM is disabled, you have even more bloatware. The only redeeming factor is its compatibility with Surface Pen.

The original Samsung Galaxy Fold looks like a better deal and more practical at this point.

 

[LeeW]

I have already mentioned on other threads but still worth noting again. No NFC, lol I just don't get it.

 

[SteveJUAE]

What a shame great price and potential but just a niche mobile OS tablet and I love gadgets but can't find how this would slot in to any workflow advantage unless it dual booted in to W10

Will stick with my Fold and trade up to Z Fold 2

 

[Dave245]

Shame it’s not available to pre-order outside the US

I’m not bothered about NFC, it’s not a feature I use. 5G isn’t even mainstream here in the U.K and it will be a longtime before we get it where I live, so I can easily live without that. It’s just a shame I can’t pre-order this, otherwise I would!

 

[michael9891]

You are lucky, those of us in the U.K or Europe can’t pre-order at all I was really hoping Microsoft would do a global release.

Don't tell me you were actually going to buy a device? ?

 

[Dave245]

Don't tell me you were actually going to buy a device? ?

? yea it does happen. I want the Surface Duo, I have for a while. It’s just typical that the one that I do want is not available in my country (YET). I just hope it’s not a long wait.

 

[sracer]

The price of the Duo has me taking a 2nd look at Planet Computer's Gemini PDA.

 

[Expos of 1969]

The price of the Duo has me taking a 2nd look at Planet Computer's Gemini PDA.

That looks interesting and they are currently having a 25% off sale. Does Planet have much of a track record?

 

[SteveJUAE]

I think on reflection this will make a great enterprise device for niche uses just not for general public IMO

 

[SDColorado]

Well....as a phone, that thing is HUGE. I dont see the draw or how it ould be used as a phone. Or is this more of a desk/office worker type phone to have? This device actualy confuses me.

I think you would have to use it with wireless earbuds or wireless connection in the car. Holding it up to your ear for any length of time would be something I wouldn't care to do and I have large hands.

 

[SDColorado]

I don't know about you all, but these devices are both exciting and confusing at the same time. I guess I'm just thinking about my every day use. Do I really need something that folds out to be this huge tablet/dual screen? Maybe I'd get used to it but I just don't know if this technology really even interests me that much.

I think for now it's something to keep an eye on, just like the initial Surface Pro. It was exciting and confusing for a few generations and then finally MS found a path for it. I think the Duo 2 or Duo 3 will be a more desirable device if you have the patience to sit tight.

I really like the Surface line and own a couple devices, but I will take a hard pass on the Duo and see what the Duo 2 brings down the road.

 

[jamezr]

I would love to have the Duo.....but I want to hold one in my hands first. I also want to see a camera review.
I wish it had an outside screen to interact with without having to open it up all the way.

 

[Oohara]

I multi-task on my iPad all the time and would love to have similar functionality on my phone but even the 6+” displays on the largest phones aren’t big enough for truly useful multi-window multi-tasking. Having the extra screen real estate on these types of folding devices (the Duo and Z Fold 2) is much more appealing to me vs. the “smaller phone turning into a larger phone” style of the Z Flip.

But you got the nail on the head identifying where this design falls down—no external display when folded closed.

I’d rather have the more durable glass displays found in the Duo (vs. Z Fold 2) but having to open it every time to check a notification or take a photo would become tiresome real quick.

Yeah, I agree that the kind of multitasking you can do with splitscreen on the small tablet size category is a different beast from what is actually realistic on a phone. When I say Android phones can multitask but not my iPhone, I'm only really referring to stuff like following a Discord chat or surfing the web while watching a stream. While I did enjoy that on the last Galaxy Note I owned, and sometimes miss it on my iPhone, I've never found any real productivity use for split screen on a phone no matter how big.

 

[akuma13]

After watching Panos demonstration of the fold I’m sorta sold. However I see this more of a PDA that happens to be a phone. If all you do is talk and watch movies, this isn’t the device for you. Microsoft really perfected the best way to use android in split view mode and do actual multitasking. One of the major reasons i preordered the note is to have a pocketable device to take notes and draw. This device is more advantageous to me in that regard because i can use one screen for reference and the other to draw easily on.

 

[ian87w]

After watching Panos demonstration of the fold I’m sorta sold. However I see this more of a PDA that happens to be a phone.

As such, it's going to be a niche device. It's an awesome PDA, but it's not going to be a practical phone.

Imo this is going to be the problem of the Surface Duo. Of course, if Microsoft can market it right (eg. focus on bringing the device into enterprises for specific uses), the Surface duo can flourish. But not at consumer market imo.

I'd dare to suggest that the direct competitor of the Surface Duo is actually the iPad mini.

 

[akuma13]

I’m shocked that Microsoft got Amazon to mold their kindle app to work on the duo. It’s not even a productivity app. I hope Microsoft is talking to other developers because there is ton of potential in dual and folding screen technology for the future.