Microsoft’s Surface Duo dual-screen Android phone is going to launch on September 10th. It was in news for a very long time and Microsoft often tweeted about it. The company has already invited the pre-orders for the Surface Duo dual-screen Android phone, starting from today in the US. The price starts from $1,399 and is available for pre-order at Microsoft’s online store, Best Buy, and AT&T.
Microsoft’s Surface Duo design
In October 2019, Microsoft had already disclosed the design of the Surface Duo. However, it hasn’t disclosed anything regarding the specs used. The device consists of two distinct 5.6-inch OLED displays (1800 x 1350) along with a 4:3 aspect that further joins to devise an 8.1-inch workspace (2700 x 1800). The Surface Duo uses a real Gorilla Glass. Also, the displays designed works in the same way in multiple monitors on a Windows PC.
Also, the Surface Duo has a single camera that works as the main camera as well as can be used for video calls. For the camera, the company is using an 11-megapixel f/2.0 camera. It will have features including HDR multi-frame captures, super zoom (up to 7x) option, and auto modes for low lights.
Does Surface Duo support 5G?
Surface Duo’s hardware also includes 6GB RAM, storage up to 256GB, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. The device doesn’t support 5G. However, the LTE is handy on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. As a bonus or a reward, the customer will get a bumper cover for the protection of the Surface Duo.
The overall capacity of Surface Duo (3577mAH) is comparatively lesser than that of the original Galaxy Fold (4380mAH) and Samsung’s single-screen Note 20 Ultra (4500mAH). Microsoft has also introduced a promise of “all-day battery life”. It indicates the local video playback of up to 15.5 hours along with a standby duration of up to 10 days.
Panos Panay, the Windows, and Devices chief said, “It’s probably one of the sexiest devices we’ve ever built. It does things that single-screen devices can’t do, period.”
The vision behind creating the product was to improve productivity. And to make that happen Microsoft had already been working ok the software along with hardware. So that both software and hardware complement each other in their process.
Since the Surface duo has two separate displays. This will enable any Android to run on the Duo without any modifications. If the developers of the apps want to optimize their app’s layouts they can do so. Just as Microsoft did to his apps like OneDrive and Office Suite.
Even Amazon has made some changes to the Kindle app so that it feels better and different on the Surface Duo.
Microsoft’s Algorithms for opening the apps on Several Displays
Panay said, “There is an algorithm in there that’s very smart and trying to be predictive. If you’re on one screen and you’re invoking a link, it will fill the other screen.”
The result that comes out is that if you click in a link in your email app on one screen. The link will be opened on the other screen and this will enable you to stay on the email app and read the mail. Alson certain apps like PowerPoint and Microsoft Teams have also made some necessary changes that enable one to see and receive a video call and your other Teams chat.
Microsoft x Google
Microsoft is also working patiently with Google on Android for its Surface Duo. Panay talks about their partnership with Google. He said, “It was interesting at first. It was a bit of a head-scratcher Satya and I had a lot of conversations.”
The main question stays the same. How well Surface Duo and the similar devices will work when it comes to productivity and battery life. Though Microsoft has begun its journey towards the future of the devices they want to build. Do we need two mobile screens? If the customers agree with Samsung, Microsoft, and the other companies that are also on the view of dual screens, then the future is near.
