Microsoft reduced the price of the Surface Duo from $1399.99 to $999.99 this past week, and it will start selling the device in the UK on February 18. (UPDATE: And in Canada, France, and Germany.)
The Duo’s first price cut puts it in much more affordable territory, though given the poor reviews, you might want to wait a bit longer. Granted, it’s natural to wonder whether the Duo’s two displays limit how much Microsoft can cut the price. But a $400 cut is a $400 cut, and this device could start to get interesting if it ever hits the $700-$800 range.
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Regarding the UK launch, Microsoft announced in mid-December that it would finally bring Duo to countries other than the United States in 2021. “In early 2021, we’ll be offering Surface Duo in Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Germany,” Microsoft wrote at the time, providing links to be notified when exact dates were available.
Well, the UK notification just hit paydirt: It’s happening in one week, on February 18.
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#612791">In reply to remc86007:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>"She claims to use the dual screens at work (she's a nurse), but the primary use of the design I see her taking advantage of is putting the thing in "tent mode" for watching video"</em></p><p><br></p><p>So… just get a much-cheaper Android phone or tablet with a decent case that can fold-over and also do this?</p><p><br></p><p>Of all the uses I can think of for the "Duo", this seems an odd choice: I can fold it in such a way I can watch content on one of its screens, totally ignoring the second one, thus negating the main USP it has…!</p>
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#612871">In reply to diono:</a></em></blockquote><p>I wouldn't say "hate", but £1349 is a lot of money just for the benefits of (1) having two documents open side-by-side, rather than having to switch between them, as you would on any-other Android tablet or phone; or, (2) have one document open in landscape orientation on one screen, and on the other a full-screen, landscape keyboard that's easier to type-on, but still not as-great as using a physical keyboard.</p><p><br></p><p>Whereas, for a cheaper price, you could just get an Android tablet, along with a decent stand and Bluetooth keyboard (and even a mouse, too!); put the tablet in landscape orientation, and then use Android's "split-screen" mode to have two apps side-by-side…</p>
dftf
<p>I get mixed-feelings about the Duo.</p><p><br></p><p>Currently, I have no real-need to run multiple Android apps side-by-side. If I just want to, say, browse the web while having a YouTube video play, I use the "split-screen" mode to do this, so I can't see any personal need for the Duo. (Sure, many apps don't support Android's split-screen view: but not-enough for me to justify needing a dual-screen device).</p><p><br></p><p>The only real use-case I can see is "I need to edit documents when travelling, and will have the document I'm typing on one screen, and then a reference website or document on the other. The larger screens are better for this, and I prefer not having a single-screen Android phone or tablet and having to constantly switch apps".</p><p><br></p><p>And I think this is a limited use-case. (1) Given the current pandemic, how many people are regularly travelling now anyway? (2) How many people want to do long edits purely via an on-screen keyboard? Sure, you could carry a keyboard and mouse with you to pair, but then, why not just get a slim Chromebook, which will be cheaper, and current versions of ChromeOS can run Android apps, I understand. And (3) if you'll rarely be travelling, something like Samsung Dex would offer a cheaper solution, or for supported devices, the "Your Phone" app will let you run multiple Android apps side-by-side on your Windows 10 laptop or PC.</p><p><br></p><p>Maybe if a future Duo 2 allowed you to detach a screen, and essentially then turn it into two independent tablets, so two people could do different things, then when you snap them back together it returns to the original session, it might offer something unique. But for now I just wonder how-many people can live purely on Android, need to regularly have two apps running side-by-side, are travelling frequently and are happy to do most of their editing purely via the on-screen keyboard…</p>