The Next Dual-Screen Phone is Coming Soon
The Microsoft Surface Duo has been found on various listings and production of it has already started, hinting that it’s launching soon.
Rumors and teasers of the Microsoft Surface Duo have been circulating the Internet for several weeks, but new listings of the device confirm its upcoming launch. Although Microsoft has not officially announced a launch event for the Surface Duo, Bluetooth and FCC listings of the phone have popped up around the Internet. Devices like this are typically announced weeks after these listings emerge, so we can expect to see it announced soon.
Microsoft has sent developer units of the Surface Duo to many people, as shown in tweets posted by some Microsoft executives and developers, including Surface chief Panos Panay, Modern Life, and vice president of Devices Corporate Liat Ben-Zur. Based on sneak-peeks like theses, here is what we know about Microsoft’s re-entry into the smartphone market.
Design & Display
The main feature of the Surface Duo is its two 5.6-inch screens that can either be used individually or as one larger 8.3-inch screen, which is even bigger than the iPad Mini 5, sporting a 7.9-inch display. This large screen, though, makes some people consider this device a tablet or a “phablet” instead of a phone. The two screens are separated by a hinge that allows users to flip it 360° and use it as a phone (shown at the top) or completely close it, dismissing the need for a screen protector or cover case. Each screen is an AMOLED panel with an 1800 x 1350 pixel resolution and Surface Pen support. A major focus of this phone is multitasking, as shown in the teaser video below, so the screens should make it easier to use two apps at once and do more work.
The actual phone, when unfolded, will be 4.8 mm thick, making it very portable for such a large device. It’ll also have a USB-C port for charging, a nanoSIM slot for storage, and a fingerprint sensor somewhere on the flat side-rails of the phone. The device shares the same minimalist design elements with other Surface products, including the smooth gray chassis and centered Windows logo, making the user experience feeling very premium.
Specs
The Surface Duo will not contain the latest or greatest internal hardware because the internal structure was designed last year, so it would be extremely difficult to accommodate for better specs. Rumors suggest, though, that the phone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 CPU, which is a step down from the 865 and not 5G enabled, along with 6 GB of RAM. As for storage, this phone will come with either 64, 128, or 256 GB of storage, and if you plan on buying it, make sure to get enough because there is no expandable storage option. The battery is also mediocre, as it is only 3,460 mAh. As of now, we don’t know much about the camera, but we do know that the Surface Duo will sport an 11MP sensor. All in all, the phone’s hardware isn’t great, but that’s not really why people want to buy this phone, as the display is the real moneymaker here.
Price and Release Date
The Surface Duo was first announced at Microsoft’s October event last year, but according to their website, it will be on sale this holiday season. Some people speculate that it will be released earlier because it’s already appeared at the FCC and on the Bluetooth SIG certification page. According to Zac Bowden, Surface Duo production has already started and phones could be shipping to customers as early as August 24!
We have no idea how much the Surface Duo will cost, but it shouldn’t cost an outrageous amount due to its mediocre specs, large bezels, and lack of NFC and wireless charging capabilities.
The Surface Duo is Microsoft’s first phone since 2016, and unlike the Lumia 650, this phone will be running Android. It’ll be interesting to see how Google and Microsoft work together to create this smartphone, and hopefully, it won’t be a bust like the phones that ran the Windows Phone OS. I can’t wait for Microsoft to reveal the phone and detail its plans for the Surface Duo, hopefully in a couple of weeks. Until then, we will have to sit tight and let Microsoft prepare for the release.
Want to learn more about the Surface Duo? Check out these websites:
