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It is certainly not easy to think outside of existing categories.
But Microsoft requires that of its users when it talks about the Surface Duo.
Because the manufacturer does not use the word “smartphone”.
But what is it then?
"A Surface Duo" is the simple answer, a new device category.
And Microsoft makes this very clear with the design of the device.
Glacier white and covered with scratch-resistant gorilla glass, it is about the size of a Reclam notebook.
There is neither a camera nor a display on the outside.
So it can't be a smartphone.
The fact that it is a Microsoft device can be recognized by a silver Microsoft logo, the origin of which goes back to the Windows logo.
But the Surface Duo has nothing to do with Windows.
This can be seen when the Surface Duo is opened.
Because then the user is greeted by an Android home screen.
The Windows logo is emblazoned on the device, but Android is inside
Source: Microsoft
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Or rather: from two home screens.
Unlike Samsung with its Galaxy Fold smartphones or Huawei with its Mate X, the Surface Duo does not have a bendable display, but rather two screens that are held together by a hinge.
And unlike the competition, Microsoft can also be thin.
When folded, the Surface Duo is not even ten millimeters thin, so only slightly thicker than a current iPhone.
The good workmanship of the device is already evident on the hinge.
It is sufficiently stiff and feels very stable.
It can even be bent 360 degrees.
The heart of the Surface Dou: a high-quality hinge
Source: Microsoft
If the Surface Duo then has a 5.6 inch (14.2 centimeter) display on the front and back, it can best be compared to a smartphone.
Especially since the device can be made to do just that with a SIM card or an eSim.
And only in this way can it be held to the ear to have a conversation.
That looks strange.
But some smartphones are similar in size.
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The most sensible use of the Surface Duo, however, is when it is open like a book and shows its two displays.
The device is then pleasantly thin at less than five millimeters and can also be held well over a long period of time.
On the right side there is a fingerprint scanner for unlocking, the on / off switch and a volume rocker.
The Surface Duo offers the user the option of using several apps at the same time
Source: Microsoft
Fortunately, Microsoft decided to run the Surface Duo with the Google Android operating system.
After the debacle with its own mobile systems such as Pocket PC, Windows Mobile and Windows Phone, Microsoft is also better off keeping away from it.
With Android, Surface Duo users have access to around three million apps from Google's Play Store.
But what do you do with two displays?
Let's start with what you don't do with it.
Watching a YouTube video across the full width of the two screens is absolutely not recommended.
That works, but you have the hinge in the middle that cuts a film in half.
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Even a web page in the browser cannot be read like this because the hinge between the two screens swallows letters.
So we can see: The Surface Duo is not a tablet, even if the added display areas result in a diagonal of 8.1 inches (20.6 centimeters).
On the other hand, multitasking on the Surface Duo is a pleasure, because two apps can be run side by side, as if you had two smartphones.
You can do this on devices with a bendable display, but it's always complicated.
Double display and optimized Microsoft apps
In contrast, the Surface Duo is made for exactly that.
Predefined app groups can even be saved on the home screen.
If such an icon is tapped, two apps open on the displays at the same time.
A video conference about teams can be supplemented with a browser or with a calendar.
Spotify can run right next to the email application.
YouTube and chatting at the same time.
But there is more.
When users adapt their apps for such a dual display device, it becomes really practical.
Microsoft has shown this with its apps.
Outlook then shows the list of emails on the left and the reading area on the right display.
OneDrive shows photos in thumbnail view on the left and the selected photo in large format on the right.
The Edge browser, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, OneNote and the Outlook calendar are also optimized for the Surface Duo.
Even drag & drop works between Microsoft applications, so that, for example, a file from OneDrive can be moved from the left display to the Outlook e-mail on the right display and attached.
But as soon as you move away from the Microsoft apps, things get thin and you will only find something here and there, such as the Kindle app or TikTok.
Although Microsoft claims to have worked closely with Google to adapt Android, Google apps such as YouTube, Gmail or Google Photos cannot be used sensibly on both displays.
Annoying Android 10 disadvantage
The operation is easy after a short familiarization, the swiping gestures are learned quickly.
Only when the device is rotated can it become a bit confusing, because the logic of the gestures then also changes.
Because of the unusual device layout, Microsoft had to add something to Android here, because the operating system was not really developed for multitasking.
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The Microsoft customization also has disadvantages.
If Google brings a new version of Android, Microsoft has to adjust its addition again.
This will need time.
Android 10 runs on the Surface Duo, although current smartphones are delivered with Android 11.
By the time Android 11 hits the Surface in a few months, Google should have almost released Android 12.
Nevertheless, Microsoft promises update support for its Surface Duo for three years.
Conclusion: With the Surface Duo, Microsoft shows what it can do well.
The device is designed for productivity with its multitasking functions and drag & drop.
However, Microsoft has to convince a few other developers here.
This currently works with too few apps.
As with Microsoft's Surface tablets, the Surface Duo displays can also be operated with a Surface Pen, which has to be purchased separately because it is not included with the device.
The design of the Surface Duo is correct - but only partially.
Overall, it is thin and stable, the hinge is excellent and the displays are sharp. Unfortunately, the thick bezels above and below the display are no longer state of the art.
The Snapdragon 855 processor was also installed in flagship smartphones from 2019.
In the test he was fast enough.
The camera is a weak point
Microsoft says it wants to merge the work and private world with the Surface Duo.
Unfortunately, that doesn't work that well.
The device only has an eleven megapixel selfie camera, which can also be rotated with the screen outwards.
The camera quality is poor.
Photos taken in low light are basically not presentable.
Not only do users hardly have any options for manual camera settings.
The interaction between software and camera simply failed.
It always starts in selfie mode, but should show the viewfinder on the display facing the user when the display with the camera is turned outwards.
It only works sometimes.
It takes way too long for a snapshot.
The camera is definitely sufficient for a video conference.
If you want to watch a video on the Surface Duo, you can only do so sensibly on one of the screens.
If the device is opened so that a display becomes a stand, you should choose the right side on which the camera is also housed.
The loudspeaker is hidden behind the left display, and it emits a rather poor sound.
One of the two screens is also suitable for watching a film, the second becomes a stand
Source: Microsoft
In the cellular network, the Surface Duo can travel at a maximum of 4G speed, 5G is not supported.
Anyone who ventures into a new category with a device is taking a risk.
With a price starting at 1549 euros, depending on the memory size, Microsoft is pushing the risk very high.
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