Pros: two screens, two apps side-by-side, multiple modes, top performance, hardened glass screens, decent camera, head-turning design.Ĭons: gap between screens, few optimised apps, average battery life, bulky camera lump, chunky in pocket, hard to use one-handed, no real water resistance, only three years of software updates from release. But ultimately the Duo 2’s two screens are just not yet as good or useful as either a single phone screen or a bigger folding screen, making it an expensive halfway house. Lightning fast 5G to do what’s important. Position apps, websites, photos, Microsoft 365, and all the Android apps in. It is good to see Microsoft trying something different. Now with lightning-fast 5G 1 and dynamic triple lens camera. Microsoft is only offering a disappointing three years of software and security updates from release for the Duo 2, too, losing it a star. There is more potential in apps like Outlook that provide a multi-pane view, but few apps or games are optimised for the dual-screen system. Using two apps side-by-side works well, but few combinations proved useful or faster than just quick switching between two apps on one screen on a normal phone. The gap at the hinge makes combining them into one big tablet screen awkward too. The individual screens are short and stout, forcing lots of scrolling in apps when using it like a phone and making one-handed use very difficult. The Surface Duo 2 is an improvement on its predecessor, but is still a very odd proposition that’s neither a good phone nor a good tablet. The width of the device makes it a challenge to fit into smaller pockets. The stereo speakers are decently loud but a bit tinny, fine for watching YouTube videos. The Duo 2 supports Microsoft’s Slim Pen stylus, which can be magnetically stored and charged on the back of the device when not in use. The shiny power button is also a fingerprint scanner, which was fairly fast and reliable. The camera lump on the back stops the device folding fully flat, creating a wedge shape when using one screen only. Microsoft’s last planned update for the Duo 2 will be 21 October 2024. The Duo 2 will receive three years of software updates from release, including monthly security patches, which is disappointingly at least a year short of what rivals, including Samsung and Apple, offer. But it is generally a fast and responsive experience given how unusual the device is. The software can be a bit unpredictable at times, such as opening the keyboard or text box of an app on another screen or hiding a second app from the screen when you try to type. One of the best is the ability to drag the gesture bar at the bottom of an app to move it between screens or to drop it on to the gap between the screens to span it across both displays. Microsoft Surface Duo 2 - Specifications CPU: 1x 2.84 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x 2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x 1.8GHz Cortex-A55 GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 660, 840 MHz RAM: 8. The Duo 2 runs Android 11 – not the latest Android 12 – and generally behaves like a standard Android smartphone or tablet with a few small additions that make it easier to use each screen separately. Microsoft could have more to say about the Android 12L update if it holds its annual Surface event, typically in late September or October.The single screen mode is hard to use one-handed and most Android apps and websites are designed for longer screens, not short and fat ones, so you end up having to do a lot more scrolling than you would on a regular phone. That update should bring some of the first UI customizations that more closely match the design of Windows 11, along with better OS and support for dual-screen apps. Microsoft is purportedly in the final stages of validating Android 12L for release for Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. When Surface Duo 2 will return to store shelves is up in the air, but we’ll continue to follow this story and update accordingly. Not only does Mix Fold 2 fold without a gap, but it is a hair thinner (0.1mm) than Surface Duo 2 while also packing a substantial 4,500mAh battery. We’ve also heard that the new Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 has shaken the industry and likely impressed the Surface team. Recent sourcing by Zac Bowden has claimed that Microsoft is currently deciding whether to go with another dual-screen design or lean into a single-screen foldable akin to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4, but likely with a different aspect ratio and thinner design. The company goes further by noting it will continue to “update and innovate on this form factor,” suggesting that Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 receive more significant updates, and a third version is also very likely. More interestingly, Microsoft doubled down on the statement by emphatically stating that Surface Duo 2 is not discontinued. Microsoft Surface Duo 2 (Image credit: Future)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |