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Surface Duo 2 is Microsoft’s last shot at mobile redemption

Surface Duo 2 is Microsoft'due south last shot at mobile redemption

Microsoft Surface Duo 2
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft announced the Surface Duo 2 at its September Surface event, and I found myself feeling pretty blah about information technology initially. After the original Surface Duo letdown, I couldn't muster any excitement for another go at the form factor. Don't get me incorrect, I'm all for new things, particularly as the traditional slab smartphone design continues to grow stale, but the next folding phone from Microsoft didn't pique my interest.

That'southward because although I didn't review it, I had the misfortune to use the Surface Duo. I came away underwhelmed past its battery life, ergonomics, and offensively bad software back up. (The original Surface Duo still doesn't have Android 11 when Android 12 is right effectually the corner.) Every bit Microsoft's starting time effort at an Android telephone, I agreed with the sentiment that information technology was an apple-polishing failure.

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From the information I received and what was presented at Wednesday'southward Surface event, I think Microsoft took several of the Surface Duo'south many criticisms to heart for the second version. Making phones is hard and no one expects a get-go-generation production to be perfect, but people also await to get the most for their coin. When yous launch a phone for $ane,400, you'd meliorate go a lot of things right.

The Surface Duo ii looks to rectify most of its predecessor'south mistakes. Information technology has current specs (whereas the Surface Duo launched with twelvemonth-old hardware), NFC, 5G, and rear cameras. The bombardment is bigger and the displays are larger, with higher pixel densities. Even the hinge has gotten some love, supposedly.

On paper, the Surface Duo two looks like a massive improvement in the bare minimum sense of the word — I never thought I'd requite a phone in 2021 kudos for adding rear cameras, but here we are. But more chiefly, the Surface Duo 2 is a adventure for Microsoft to redeem itself in the eyes of Android users.

For Microsoft, the showtime step is to provide competitive hardware, especially things that many consider standard, and the second is to back your telephone with regular and timely software updates. Know your market.

surface duo 2 in its different modes

(Image credit: Microsoft)

What I've seen of the Surface Duo 2 seems to indicate that Microsoft went dorsum to the cartoon board for many of the new phone's features. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to take addressed two of the Surface Duo's problems. The first is ergonomics— the original Surface Duo was uncomfortable to hold and impossible to use one-handed (even when folded over on itself). Using the dual-screen touch on controls in Game Laissez passer wasn't pleasant, either. I'g not sure if the new version tackles that upshot.

The 2nd, and arguably the most important for product adoption, is the toll. Microsoft actually raised the starting cost of the Surface Duo 2 by $100 to $1,500. Many lambasted the Surface Duo for costing also much, and information technology rapidly dropped in toll in the time since it launched.

I go it, this stuff is expensive. The higher-end CPU, 5G modem, 2 higher-resolution displays with a 90Hz refresh charge per unit, all of it adds up. Plus, Microsoft has to recoup some of its R&D costs. Merely Samsung managed to provide a foldable phone at the $999 marking in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 with much of the same hardware that the Surface Duo 2 sports.

And for another $300 over the Surface Duo 2's cost, you lot tin can get the excellent Milky way Z Fold 3. It not only offers a tablet-similar experience when folded out, simply it besides has an external brandish, making it usable as a phone. Plus, Samsung and Microsoft already play squeamish together.

Microsoft has already tried its manus at smartphones with Windows Phone and the Lumia series. As you might know, Windows Phone died unceremoniously a few years ago and Microsoft ceased its mobile hardware aspirations, until the Surface Duo.

I'one thousand skeptical of the Surface Duo 2, merely trust me, I'd like it to succeed. Information technology's a cool device in theory, but a lot of concepts in this world are good on newspaper — that doesn't brand all of them good or advisable in practice. Microsoft has to non only actually provide a compelling phone this time, it also has to counter its negative mobile device image.

The Surface Duo ii is a risk to practice but that, only information technology's probably the last one for Microsoft. You tin can only fail and so many times before people surrender on yous.

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Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things telephone-related. He's written virtually phones for over five years and plans to continue for a long while to come. He loves goose egg more than than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing projection. Hashemite kingdom of jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Hashemite kingdom of jordan tends to lurk on social media, but you can all-time reach him on Twitter.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/microsoft-surface-duo-2-is-a-chance-at-redemption-and-i-hope-it-works

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