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Microsoft's Surface Duo Now Available, Starting From $1,399

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Microsoft has made its Surface Duo dual-screen Android phone available for purchase, with prices for the device starting at $1,399.

The Surface Duo combines two 4:3 OLED displays that are connected side by side with a hinge. The two 5.6-inch displays result in a 3:2 8.1-inch overall tablet-style screen size.


The device can be held horizontally or vertically, with the same app utilizing the two screens or different apps displayed on either screen. Alternately, it can be stood up like a tent to watch movies on one screen in landscape mode. The 360-degree hinge means it can also be folded up into a more traditional form factor with a screen on either side, or closed up altogether like a book.
"Join a Microsoft Teams meeting and see participants on one screen while you present your PowerPoint slides on another. Open the Amazon Kindle app and read a book like a book. Position Surface Duo's screen like a tent and watch a video hands-free. Use Surface Duo in Compose mode to quickly respond to an email, or tilt it into portrait for a more immersive way to scroll through web pages or photos. Pair your Surface Duo with a supported Bluetooth controller to play games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or with Surface Earbuds, coming Sept. 10 in Graphite Grey, to listen to your favorite playlist or podcast. Or easily take notes with the Surface Slim Pen, sold separately.
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The Surface Duo is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and has 6GB of DRAM, up to 256GB of storage, an 11-megapixel f/2.0 camera, Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, USB-C 3.1, and a 3,577mAh battery that Microsoft says provides "all-day battery life."

The device supports LTE on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon networks, but there is no support for 5G. The Duo works with Microsoft's Surface pens (sold separately) and comes with a protective bumper cover.

The Surface Duo runs a heavily skinned version of Android, and any Android app will run on it without modification. Developers can optimize the layout of their apps to take advantage of the dual displays. Microsoft is also using specifically-designed algorithms to instruct apps to open on the correct display depending on the user's needs.

The Surface Duo was unveiled in October 2019, alongside the larger Surface Neo. The release date and specific details of the Surface Neo remain unknown, but it's expected to run Windows 10X, a new custom software based on Windows 10 that's designed for dual display devices.


Check out the video embedded above for MacRumors' first look at the two devices at Microsoft's October event.

Article Link: Microsoft's Surface Duo Now Available, Starting From $1,399
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/11/microsoft-launches-surface-duo/
anodibu said:
The duo doesn’t seem very useful as a phone. Folded it is too wide to be ergonomic and you have to fold all the way open as the back does not contain a display. I wonder how long it takes to answer a phone call when it is closed.
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I tried it for 2 hours, you are right, too wide for a phone, everything you want to check you must open the device. It has glass but no inductive charging..so why not aluminum then to be lighter and not as easy to crack?!
The software on this.. jesus..
Camera is from 2016
 
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Apple might already had folded iOS powered device, I assume it would transform regular iPhone into iPad like view when unfolded.
 
Really interesting piece of tech and amazingly engineered hardware, if MKBHD is to be believed. I wouldn't be an early adopter for sure, but I'm curious how it will evolve.

I wish Apple could also take some bold new hardware/software direction instead of 3 year old notches, AR gimmicks, Memoji and sh!tty TV shows. Something more courageous than removing a headphone jack.
 
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When are companies going to realize not many people want two screens stuck together with a massive bezel in the middle.

Fair few companies have made a similar device and watched it fail.

Having android on it doesn’t help it’s cause either, their mobile phones are a fragmented mess, android tablet apps let’s not even go there lol 🤦‍♂️

Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves selling rubbish like that, it’s a laggy stuttering mess, if that’s not enough they want $1399 for it. 😂😂😂😂
 
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i am a bit puzzled. seems even they don't know how this abomination is supposed to be used
 
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Price is high. Software buggy. This is my second device after my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

I have one. But it is not my (primary) phone.

it is a mobile computer that has LTE and fits my pocket. I use it to be productive wherever I go.

Best camera is the one you have with you. In the same way the best computer is the one you have with you. I can work wherever I go and “inspiration hits”.

For me that alone is worth the price. It is rather useful for those trying to be productive everywhere if you are big in the MSFT ecosystem (O365) especially.

Pretty much everyone else should stay far away. When it clicks, it really is something.
Right now sadly it is let down by its buggy software. I might return it and wait until the software is more mature.

Sadly, classic Microsoft.
 
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This is something I would definitely look at. Sort of like an electronic "book". The phone functions would be an added feature. It wouldn't work for videos too well. And this is obviously simpler to make than those single screen units. $1400 is a deal breaker, though. More like half that to sell me.
 
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kodos said:
Price is high. Software buggy. This is my second device after my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

I have one. But it is not my (primary) phone.

it is a mobile computer that has LTE and fits my pocket. I use it to be productive wherever I go.

Best camera is the one you have with you. In the same way the best computer is the one you have with you. I can work wherever I go and “inspiration hits”.

For me that alone is worth the price. It is rather useful for those trying to be productive everywhere if you are big in the MSFT ecosystem (O365) especially.

Pretty much everyone else should stay far away. When it clicks, it really is something.
Right now sadly it is let down by its buggy software. I might return it and wait until the software is more mature.

Sadly, classic Microsoft.
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Smart move, put that money aside for the apple foldable phone. 👀😁

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