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Just over a yr after the unique, Microsoft returned with a a 2nd era of the Surface Duo.
The top rate foldable headlines with plenty of notable upgrades starting from the top-tier Snapdragon 888 chip, 5G connectivity, higher RAM, better presentations and a triple digital camera set-up. We’ll be diving into the entire key specifications and options under.
The Duo 2 introduced along the
Surface Pro 8,
Surface Go 3,
Surface Pro X (2021) and a brand spanking new
Surface Laptop Studio at Microsoft’s 22 September match.
Here’s the whole lot that was once introduced.
Much like Samsung’s dual-screen
Galaxy Z Fold 3, Microsoft’s large center of attention at the Duo 2 is productiveness – in particular with immersive multi-tasking around the two displays with Microsoft 365 apps and more potent digital camera beef up for video calls. The processor and RAM spice up additionally makes the Duo 2 extra provided gaming, particularly because the instrument comes with Xbox Game Pass integrated.
Here’s the whole lot you want to grasp in regards to the Surface Duo 2, together with unencumber date, pricing, specifications and new options added in instrument updates.
When was once the Surface Duo 2 launched?
- Announced on 22 September
- On sale from 21 October
The Surface Duo 2 is on sale now, following its unencumber on 21 October. That was once lower than a month after it was once introduced, a large growth at the long delays with the unique.
We’re one by one monitoring the most productive Surface Duo 2 offers UK and US (each on contract and SIM-free).
How a lot does the Surface Duo 2 price?
The handset is to be had in Glacier (white) and a brand new Obsidian (black), with a brand new 512GB garage possibility too.
At release, the Duo 2 began at as the similar value because it’s predecessor in the United Kingdom, however $100 extra in the USA. Here are all 3 configurations:
- 128GB garage – £1,349/$1,499
- 256GB garage – £1,429/$1,599.99
- 512GB garage – £1,589/$1,799.99 (in black best)
However, the instrument has observed some steep reductions in the United Kingdom and US only a few months after being launched. We’d be stunned to look the Duo 2 go back to its RRP from those costs anytime quickly:
- 128GB garage – £860/$999.99
- 256GB garage – £940/$1,099.99
- 512GB garage – £1,034/$1,299.99 (in black best)
Surface Duo 2 design & options
There Duo 2 improves at the unique Duo in a couple of important techniques. Here’s what you’ll be expecting…
Snapdragon 888 5G
The largest soar is underneath the hood for the Duo 2, which strikes up from the Snapdragon 855 to the brand new Snapdragon 888 with 5G, because of this you’ll be expecting considerably quicker core functionality and graphics speeds at the side of higher battery potency.
There’s additionally the great addition to 8GB RAM (from the unique Duo’s 6GB), making the handset the entire performance-driven whether or not that with gaming or multitasking throughout tough apps.
The step up in functionality specifications isn’t a marvel given how a lot Microsoft touts the Duo 2’s productiveness advantages. With two presentations, Microsoft guarantees the Duo will permit operating two apps concurrently, dragging and shedding between displays (in supported apps), growing App Groups for the apps you employ maximum incessantly, word taking and sketching and optmized show stories with leisure apps reminiscent of TikTook, Kindle and Spotify.
Of path, cellular productiveness will get a spice up with 5G – whether or not that’s for calls or participating on Microsoft 365 or getting access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and the use of the Duo as an on-screen controller.
Bigger show
The Duo 2 preserves the AMOLED show high quality of the unique Duo, however the panels are better. The unmarried panel spans 5.8in (1344×1892) and reaches 8.3in (2688×1892) when totally open, provides a 5th of an inch extra to the unique dimension.
Refresh charges get a spice up too – whilst nowhere close to the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s 120Hz, the Duo 2 strikes up from 60Hz to an adaptive 90Hz.
A “look bar” alongside the backbone of the phone additionally displays you the entire very important notifications and main points, together with battery lifestyles.
This was once considerably stepped forward in a June 2022 replace, with the likes of WhatsApp and Telegram additionally now supported. As Windows Central studies, it additionally brings enhancements to how the Slim Pen 2 stylus works and makes the digital camera revel in higher.
Bigger battery
The unique Duo had a three,577mAh battery, which it stated may get you as much as 15.5 hours of native video playback, 27 hours of communicate and as much as 10 days of battery lifestyles on standby. The Duo 2 positive factors a 4,449mAh battery, with All-Day Battery Life, consistent with Microsoft. The higher limits of video playback stays at 15.5 hours however communicate time will get a minor bump as much as 28 hours, most.
Microsoft could also be introducing 23W Fast Charging (to be offered one by one), up from the unique Duo’s 18W.
Triple Camera
One of the most important upgrades within the Duo 2 is the triple digital camera arrange with a 16Mp ultra-wide (f/2.2 aperture, 110-degrees), 12Mp telephoto (f/2.4 aperture with 2x optical zoom and OIS), and 12Mp broad lens (f/1.7 aperture with OIS). The front-facing digital camera gives a 12Mp sensor (f/2.0 aperture).
It’s an important soar up from the unique Duo’s 11Mp digital camera which served each because the entrance and rear digital camera.
Video recording options come with HDR video in 4K (at 30fps and 60fps).
Software
The Duo 2 runs on Android 11 and comes pre-loaded with the total vary of Google apps (Assistant, Calendar, Maps, Photos and so forth.), whilst additionally providing core Microsoft apps too together with Edge, OneForce and Teams.
However, with early evaluations suggesting instrument is as soon as once more the most important sticking level, Microsoft has launched a considerable replace for the Duo 2.
Microsoft merely says the replace “improves instrument balance”, and not using a point out on how that is accomplished. Initial evaluations on
Reddit had been sure, with customers reporting a quicker, bug-free revel in.
Software was once the Duo 2’s large weak spot in
our complete overview, however that is probably not the case for for much longer.
Android 12L was once first introduced by means of Google in 2021, and is designed to make the OS really feel extra optimised for tablets and foldables. In a
weblog put up from March 2022, the corporate showed {that a} deliberate replace to units from Samsung, Lenovo and Microsoft will start ‘later this yr’. The Duo 2 is the most obvious candidate, but it surely will also be to be had for the
first-gen Duo.
But a up to date Windows Central video claims the Duo 2 is just right presently, following a number of fresh instrument updates from Microsoft. With the corporate anticipated to concentrate on instrument moderately than freeing the Duo 3 in 2022, this bodes neatly for current and potential house owners of the present era.
Microsoft highlights probably the most Surface Duo 2’s key options in a up to date video on its ‘Microsoft Mechanics’ YouTube channel:
The five-minute clip covers design, instrument, multitasking and extra, making it price looking at should you’re a present or potential Duo 2 proprietor. You’ll additionally pay attention some justification for the dual-screen shape issue, with Microsoft findings suggesting the use of two displays side-by-side reduces the psychological workload in comparison to single-screen units or foldables.
Surface Duo 2 complete specifications
- Snapdragon 888 5G
- Dual PixelSense Fusion Displays
- open: 8.3in AMOLED (2688×1892)
- Single PixelSense Screen:
- 5.8in AMOLED (1344×1892)
- HDR, 100% SRGB, DCIP3
- Dual presentations with 90Hz adaptive refresh fee
- 800 nits max brightness
- Cameras:
- Rear: 12Mp broad f/1.7, 12Mp telephoto f/2.4, 16Mp ultra-wide f/2.2
- Front: 12Mp f/2.0
- Android 11
- Wi-Fi-6 802.11ax (2.4/5GHz)
- Bluetooth 5.1
NFC - Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
- Stereo audio system
- 4449mAh (standard) twin battery
- 23W USB-C Fast Charge
The Surface Duo 2 additionally ships with the next Microsoft programs:
- Intune Company Portal
- ConnectedIn
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Microsoft Bing Search
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Lens – PDF
- Scanner
- Microsoft Office: Word,Excel, PowerPoint & More
- Microsoft OneForce
- Microsoft OneBe aware
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Start
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft To Do
- Surface
- Tips
- Xbox Game Pass
On 6 December 2021, the Surface Duo 2 won its largest replace to this point. As
Microsoft’s beef up web page explains, it fixes the next problems:
- Addresses eventualities defined within the December 2021 Android Security Bulletin
- Improves gadget reliability and balance
- Improves app navigations with added beef up animations
- Improves digital camera usability
- Improves contact responsiveness
- Improves beef up for LDAC enabled Bluetooth units
- Improves reliability within the Android Auto revel in
However, the extra thrilling information is that model 2021.923.272 additionally brings a number of new options. If you employ the Duo 2 steadily, those would possibly toughen your revel in:
- Ability to open OneBe aware by means of clicking peak button of Surface Slim Pen 2 (as soon as paired with Duo 2)
- Ability to make a choice which of the 2 presentations acts because the default when folded
- Ability to customize how the Duo 2 behaves when answering phone calls
Want extra Surface Duo 2 goodness? It featured because the lead speaking level in
episode 84 of our weekly podcast Fast Charge, the place we additionally mentioned the reasonably priced new 5G-capable Nokia G50 and our impressions at the first public unencumber of iOS 15.
Here’s the whole lot you want to grasp in regards to the unique
Surface Duo.
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