Microsoft has refined the Surface Duo 2’s design with new displays
While the overall Surface Duo design philosophy remains unchanged on the new model, Microsoft has made some very important tweaks here and there that should make using Surface Duo 2 a much more pleasant experience. For starters, the two screens that give the Surface Duo its name have grown, now measuring in at 5.8-inches instead of 5.6-inches. Combined, the new setup creates an immersive 8.3-inch display and is similar to what modern foldable smartphones like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offer, though without the long-term durability drawbacks of foldable displays.
A higher 90Hz refresh rate is supported as standard too, meaning the user experience should be more fluid than before, and Microsoft has pushed the displays closer together, adding curved edges in the process.
The curved edges also enable a new feature. When the Surface Duo 2 is closed, the edges can display notifications, the time, and also battery status while charging. That should be a hit with productivity-focused users.
A triple-camera setup sits on the back of Surface Duo 2
One of the biggest complaints about the original Surface Duo related to the camera system, or lack thereof. Microsoft has rectified that issue with the second-generation model by adding a new advanced triple-camera setup.
A Time-of-Flight sensor for better background blur is included as well, and Microsoft has designed a dedicated camera app for the dual-screen device too. The latter displays the viewfinder on the right and the most recent shot on the left.
Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 is also packed with 2021 specs
This smartphone is a premium product and that’s reflected by its specs sheet. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset powers Surface Duo 2 and is coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as standard. A pricier 512GB model will be available for anyone interested.
Other Microsoft Surface Duo 2 details include Android 11 straight out of the box, with an update to Android 12 presumably planned for next year. There’s also NFC for contactless payments, a fingerprint scanner mounted on the left side, and support for the Surface Slim Pen 2 which magnetically recharges on the back of Duo 2.
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 price, release date, colors
The original Microsoft Surface Duo launched at $1,399. It wasn’t very successful and has been the subject of several price cuts, but that isn’t stopping Microsoft from positioning the new model at an even higher price point.
Customers can pre-order dual-screen Surface Duo 2 smartphone starting today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan. Shipments start on October 21.