Surface Duo

[Oohara]

While having breakfast today I laid down my iPhone 11 Pro (appx. same height as the Duo) perpendicular to my viewing direction and and imagined it being around 50% wider and having a second screen rising up from the back edge like the screen of a laptop.

The Duo might be the perfect device for that situation, just casually catching up on news, messages etc. at the breakfast table. Like a mini laptop where the bottom half becomes a notepad, music app, WhatsApp window, second browser screen or whatever, while you continue your overview on the top display uninterrupted. A normal phone propped up sideways would obviously be too narrow, but the extra width of each Duo screen probably gives you enough display height in that situation.

Sorry for starting to sound like a Microsoft shill at this point But I'm just getting really hot for this device and can't stop playing around with imagining what it would be like to use in real world situations. The real hands-ons and reviews can't come soon enough!

 

[akuma13]

Productivity and Multitasking is going to be the killing stroke for this device. I'm enjoying using Clip Studio Paint on the Note20. The Duo would be So much better for me were the controls and toggles could be on one screen while the canvas can be on the other. An even better and productive way for me to draw is have my reference photo from a browser on one screen and then drawing on the app in another! Also watching instructional videos on one screen while drawing on another! Ugh why did Microsoft decided to introduce a new innovative form factor this year?!

 

[Zwhaler]

It's growing on me. Still team Z Fold2 though.

 

[SteveJUAE]

If they implement the same app pairing on the Fold 2 then as much as I like the Duo it's too lacking in normal smart phone feature/cameras for the amount of time I need the app pairing on larger screens

The Fold 2 as it now has the new Flex mode which allows dual screen modes under some useful situations or even as a sit up alarm clock like the Z Flip although can be done in tent or L shape mode on the Duo

The bottom line is the Duo is only barely pocket-able and far closer to a tablet than a phone like the IPP or TAB7, most media consumption will be on one screen as the hinge line will be too annoying for dual screen use

 

[Oohara]

 

[Dave245]

Wow, the Duo is presented nicely. That slide out to the Windows logo and background picture is a nice touch. It’s a shame they are not releasing it in the UK/EU, I would buy one. I’ve really liked the idea of the Duo since it was announced back at the October event.

The specs are a little outdated, however it’s about the experience with two screens and the fact that Microsoft are not marketing it as a phone, but it also is a phone.

 

[Oohara]

Wow, the Duo is presented nicely. That slide out to the Windows logo and background picture is a nice touch. It’s a shame they are not releasing it in the UK/EU, I would buy one. I’ve really liked the idea of the Duo since it was announced back at the October event.

The specs are a little outdated, however it’s about the experience with two screens and the fact that Microsoft are not marketing it as a phone, but it also is a phone.

Yeah I liked that touch as well. Probably just a press kit though.

I'm also bummed that it's not being released where I live. Hopefully it's a success and gets a worldwide release early next year. I've been looking to transition to a small very pocketable iPhone + one larger device, which could be the Duo. I'm torn though since I wanted the larger device also to serve for watching movies and series, and that's what the Duo won't really do well. It'll be awesome for productivity though, but again I'm torn as I have my whole professional (and personal lol) life on iCloud with my Mac synced. The Duo is so intriguing and innovative though that I could see myself adapting my work flow to it.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Would of preferred it in the MS Surface magnesium finish and not glossy

 

[akuma13]

I wish I could see a size comparison
Between the size of the screen compared to other phones. Microsoft is being really strict with their embargo.

 

[Oohara]

I wish I could see a size comparison
Between the size of the screen compared to other phones. Microsoft is being really strict with their embargo.

Same here. According to measurements though the device height is similar to an iPhone 11 Pro so I picture that screen but with iPhone 8 bezels and extended 50% in width. Times two of course Rather petite, if you take one screen at a time. I think for me the sweet spot would be a max version with a Duo the same height as an iPhone Pro Mac. But I won’t speak too loudly until I’ve actually held one.

In any case the reviews and in depth test vids can’t come soon enough. Gotta say I haven’t been this excited about new phone (or let’s say, smartphone sized device, it does feel kinda strange calling this thing a phone...) in a very long time. Maybe not since the Note II, which was the first device that opened up my eyes to “phablets”.

 

[Oohara]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1298643212228231175

Unboxing by Mr Mobile, some good questions in the comments but he’s only allowed to answer about the hardware of course.

 

[Oohara]

 

[Oohara]

FINALLY some decent size comparisons:

 

[nikster0029]

Too bad there are no more Microsoft stores to go and see these in person

 

[akuma13]

Finally some size comparisons. I saw supposed benchmarks on the XDA forums. The scores seemed rather high but they explained that Microsoft could have optimized the hardware really well to run with their version of Android. Im still contemplating whether to pre order. I'm really loving my Note20U. If I get this it'll be 5 smartphones in my collection

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Too bad there are no more Microsoft stores to go and see these in person

They are in some Best Buys.

 

[nospleen]

Oh geez, I'm going to end up buying one. I can already feel it. I'm a weak, weak man...

 

[nospleen]

I know it makes no logical sense to get this version. Large bezels, small battery, no wireless charging, last gen specs, no NFC, likely a poor camera, no external screen or led, yet here I am.

I don't think I've been this excited about a product since the Sony Clie NR-70 and UX-50. It even reminds me of those due to the color and clamshell design.

 

[Dave245]

I have watched a few of the Surface Duo unboxing videos, I really want to buy one (but can't because it's not been released for us in the UK yet). I do wonder if Microsoft will release it worldwide (or at least for us in the UK and EU) at some point this year?

Maybe Microsoft will announce further availability at their October Surface event, (where they usually announce Surface Pro and a couple of other things). It will be inter to see how successful the Duo will become.
Personally I really like the form factor that Microsoft have made, to me it looks much better than the Fold or any other folding or double screen device.

I just hope Microsoft have managed to nail the software side of the Duo as well as the hardware. If that is the case, they may very well have a hit on their hands

 

[Hal~9000]

Crappy video quality, but found this which shows off some of the Duo's software (unlike most of the current unboxing videos out there which are banned from turning the device on):

 

[Deefuzz]

ugh...I'm going to cave on this I think

 

[drinkingtea]

It looks nice until you see those bezels.

 

[nikster0029]

Just went to Best Buy, and had the opportunity to play around with it for about 15 minutes. They even offered to sell me one before the release date, but after playing around with it, it was just so slow, choppy, and unresponsive that I couldn’t justify buying it.

 

[nospleen]

Just went to Best Buy, and had the opportunity to play around with it for about 15 minutes. They even offered to sell me one before the release date, but after playing around with it, it was just so slow, choppy, and unresponsive that I couldn’t justify buying it.

Did it have demo software on it? I always think that messes up the performance. But, I am worried that Microsoft has not worked out all of the bugs.

 

[nikster0029]

Did it have demo software on it? I always think that messes up the performance. But, I am worried that Microsoft has not worked out all of the bugs.

No it didn’t even have that!