Hands-On With Microsoft's $1,400 'Surface Duo' Dual Display Smartphone

[UnclePaulie]

Got this phone on release day.
First time away from an iPhone and I came running back after 2 days. The hardware is nice and the dual screen idea is neat when it works, but too many bugs - functions worse than the average Android phone and definitely worse than iOS.
To make matters worse Microsoft store online is abysmal to deal with - they have a 60 day return policy but nobody can figure out why the "return this item" isn't available on their website (it's been 3 days). Lots of time spent on phone support (no online chat) and still no results.
Never leaving Apple again. New iPhones can't come soon enough.

 

[sydney.cider]

So I've been using the Duo as a secondary device for the past 4 days and it's a really interesting piece of hardware.

What I like:
* The materials it's made of
* The form factor and ability to run the two apps side by side
* Outlook actually is usable on Android, better than GMail

What I don't like
* Android 10 - well at least the flavour that is running
* The fact some Google apps are not optimised for split screen - it seems to split before the hinge.
* The jankiness of Android 10


What I REALLY like:
* Running the Your Phone app on my Surface Pro X

This gives you full access to the device (including touch screen) all on the desktop.

There are 5 aspects to the application:
* Notifications
* Messages
* Photos
* Phone Screen
* Calls

When viewing the phone screen you are basically accessing the full device screen without the hinge.

You can interact back and forth between the phone and Windows like they are one device.

As much as macOS has all this functionality baked in, iOS and macOS are one and the same operating systems. Ideally Microsoft has achieved a level close to what macOS has with the integration of mobile and desktop.

The Your Phone app does alleviate a lot of the pains of Android 10 and the break in the screens but I'm still on the fence as to whether this is enough to make the Duo successful outside a business context.

 

[one more]

Apple are trying the same hinge-based design, apparently:

Apple's Foldable iPhone Prototype Allegedly Features Separate Display Panels Connected by Hinge

Apple is working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels that are connected by a hinge rather than a single display...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I bought one to try it and i LOVE the form factor. I mean i wish this was iOS. the biggest program is that the software has alot of bugs. I mean it's just choppy and so unpolished that if this was an apple product, people would be up and arms about it. But this is what I wanted I wanted a tablet half the size of the ipad mini folded up so i can put it in my pocket. I hope this takes off, it's really amazing to hold.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

So I've been using the Duo as a secondary device for the past 4 days and it's a really interesting piece of hardware.

What I like:
* The materials it's made of
* The form factor and ability to run the two apps side by side
* Outlook actually is usable on Android, better than GMail

What I don't like
* Android 10 - well at least the flavour that is running
* The fact some Google apps are not optimised for split screen - it seems to split before the hinge.
* The jankiness of Android 10


What I REALLY like:
* Running the Your Phone app on my Surface Pro X

This gives you full access to the device (including touch screen) all on the desktop.

There are 5 aspects to the application:
* Notifications
* Messages
* Photos
* Phone Screen
* Calls

When viewing the phone screen you are basically accessing the full device screen without the hinge.

You can interact back and forth between the phone and Windows like they are one device.

As much as macOS has all this functionality baked in, iOS and macOS are one and the same operating systems. Ideally Microsoft has achieved a level close to what macOS has with the integration of mobile and desktop.

The Your Phone app does alleviate a lot of the pains of Android 10 and the break in the screens but I'm still on the fence as to whether this is enough to make the Duo successful outside a business context.

I can’t stand it. It is like using the iPhone in developer mode. It doesn’t feel like it’s integrated the services into the OS at all but just gives you a remote viewer to your phone. Sure it’s better than other similar applications but it’s nothing at all like and not even close to how iOS and macOS integrate.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I don’t know why but I’ve suddenly started to think about Zune...

 

[ervingv]

Was about to say the same thing. I don't need or want a tablet in my pocket. Some would say the screens are already too big.

lol then this device is not for you. That’s why we have options.

 

[ervingv]

What’s gorgeous about the design? If Apple released something like this the tech media would laugh them off the stage for those thick/outdated bezels.

lol Like Apple doesn’t still sell hardware with "outdated" bezels. iMac and cheap iPads?

 

[bobob]

2 iPad Mini's and a piece of gaffer's tape.

BOOM!

You've got the form factor and a solid OS at half the price.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

this makes more sense than a galaxy fold IMO.

no, no and no.
everything the fold displays is already optimized for mobile use and you have just a bigger screen. with this you have 2 screens no website is optimized for that.
additionaly why have a break in the whole screen, when theres tech available where you have a single big screen.

the idea was fun - and maybe it helped microsoft internally to get some drive - but this device is just crap as their whole surface line up - i own a surface book 2 which shows why M$ is just crap when it gets to hw compared to apple - it just dont works!

 

[Dkka1]

Soon $1000 will be a mid range phone. Ridiculous.

 

[connectcreative]

Two things: 1. Its not a folding phone, jus two screens glued together. 2. Why have they designed it like a 90's ebay Android tablet? I've seen thinner bezels on phones ten years ago.

 

[Phil A.]

If it ran Windows or Linux, it could be a useful sub notebook type machine but Android really hampers its potential and app support for dual screens is going to be slow in coming for a lot of apps which will lead to a disjointed experience

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

This is just sad. The kind of hardware design only Microsoft can produce.

 

[laptech]

From someone who has a background in the tech manufacturing world, when a company comes up with an idea and whats to develop that idea they have two ways of going about it, design it with the latest and best hardware that is available to date and hope that it all comes together and works or to design it with the products main features being prominant BUT using hardware that you know is guaranteed to work.

The 2nd approach is what I believe Microsoft went for, to build a foldable device that has hardware known to work so when it is shown off to the world, it will work rather have problem after problem. Buggy software will always let a product down regardless of who the company is that is making it. Apple is not imune to this either.

The Nintendo DS was a very popular handheld gaming device due to it's dual screens and I have no doubt that all this foldable device needs is some enterprising software developer to see it's potential and develop a killer app game that works perfectly across both screens and the device will be a seller but as it stands at the moment, many are seeing it as a gimmick.

On the very plus side, now Microsoft know they have a product that works they can now start updating the hardware piece by piece to get it to the latest hardware standards that customers expect.

 

[farewelwilliams]

no, no and no.
everything the fold displays is already optimized for mobile use and you have just a bigger screen. with this you have 2 screens no website is optimized for that.

What? Mobile apps are definitely not optimized for that type of screen as MKBHD stated in his video. When you need to be productive, you can't rely on websites. Apps are the way to go.

additionaly why have a break in the whole screen, when theres tech available where you have a single big screen.

1. The crease
2. No pen support (if it did, see number #1. drawing on a creased screen sucks).
3. Can't fold flat
4. Durability questions
5. Expensive
6. Can't unfold all the way back (360 degrees)

the idea was fun - and maybe it helped microsoft internally to get some drive - but this device is just crap as their whole surface line up - i own a surface book 2 which shows why M$ is just crap when it gets to hw compared to apple - it just dont works!

Galaxy Fold makes your 30% usage of a phone slightly better at the cost of the 70% of the usage.

 

[rp2011]

I don’t know why but I’ve suddenly started to think about Zune...

..yes, but more the Microsoft Kin phones. Remember those?
Everyone would like to forget those.

 

[Billyk711]

Good, well-balanced review.

I always thought this is more aimed at enterprise long-term, but it's still a first gen product.

You see how much better the Fold 2 is than the first one, but obviously Samsung is infinitely more experienced at making phones than Microsoft.

By 2022 I'd expect this to be a very solid addition to their enterprise line up. But Apple should enter the space by 2024 and honestly, I think they'll smash it.

What is way better on fold 2 than fold 1, still haven’t even seen anyone using a fold or any foldable things

 

[Billyk711]

What? Mobile apps are definitely not optimized for that type of screen as MKBHD stated in his video. When you need to be productive, you can't rely on websites. Apps are the way to go.




1. The crease
2. No pen support (if it did, see number #1. drawing on a creased screen sucks).
3. Can't fold flat
4. Durability questions
5. Expensive
6. Can't unfold all the way back (360 degrees)




Galaxy Fold makes your 30% usage of a phone slightly better at the cost of the 70% of the usage.

U know mkhbd just makes YouTube videos and throws frisbees, I would not rely solely on his word.
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I'm waiting patiently for a teardown and a stress test. See how it goes!

Sure you are .

 

[Billyk711]

Nothing excites people more about tech than making a good hinge.

No kidding, the least tech thing.
these you tubers are engineering experts now.

 

[farewelwilliams]

U know mkhbd just makes YouTube videos and throws frisbees, I would not rely solely on his word.

and i'm supposed to rely on a random macrumors user?

at the very least, I have a back catalog of MKBHD videos so that I can calibrate my expectations and feelings according to what MKBHD says on products I've used before.

 

[Billyk711]

and i'm supposed to rely on a random macrumors user?

at the very least, I have a back catalog of MKBHD videos so that I can calibrate my expectations and feelings according to what MKBHD says on products I've used before.

Why don’t you use your own judgment.

 

[Stuey3D]

Just waiting for this design to make a comeback, this thing was a beast back in the day.

 

[tridley68]

Not really impressed so it folds one more weak link I will be passing on this one

 

[AZcjohnson]

What's the video conferencing experience like? I'd love to see a Zoom/Teams demo.