Surface Duo Unboxing

The Surface Duo won’t be arriving for a couple more weeks but I got my hands on a device a little bit early and here is how Microsoft is packaging up the hardware.

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Conversation 28 comments

  • ghostrider

    26 August, 2020 - 9:18 am

    <p>These are review samples then. I certainly wouldn't say Microsoft's Mobile game is back – far from it. These are extremely expensive, functionally limited devices (no 5G, no NFC, last years chipset etc). Certainly not mass market, and likely for fanboys only.</p>

    • Vladimir Carli

      Premium Member
      26 August, 2020 - 9:53 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564166">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>fanboys can’t afford them. It’s unclear for whom they are </p>

      • jgraebner

        Premium Member
        26 August, 2020 - 12:57 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#564188">In reply to Vladimir:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's obviously aimed at businesses, although I have very strong doubts about whether business customers will actually want it.</p>

        • Truffles

          27 August, 2020 - 11:51 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#564237">In reply to jgraebner:</a></em></blockquote><p>I agree. At that price point most businesses will only offer the device to middle management. Those people will just see it as something else to lug around that's not their iPhone or iPad, so they'll say no.</p>

  • shmuelie

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 9:20 am

    <p>The packaging reminds me of Lumia packaging. If it was $1k or less I'd get it, but I just can't get it at the current price.</p>

  • drwindows

    Premium Member
    26 August, 2020 - 10:02 am

    <p>They put the Surface Earbuds in the review box, but not the Surface Pen?</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      27 August, 2020 - 8:44 am

      No one ever said Microsoft was good at marketing.

  • navarac

    26 August, 2020 - 10:17 am

    <p>Must be at least $200 worth of cardboard packaging there! What a waste.</p>

    • Usman

      Premium Member
      26 August, 2020 - 10:51 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564204">In reply to navarac:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's the PR / Press pack, the retail package is just the device box inside the big box</p>

      • navarac

        26 August, 2020 - 1:07 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#564224">In reply to Usman:</a></em></blockquote><p>Thank goodness for that!</p>

  • remc86007

    26 August, 2020 - 1:23 pm

    <p>I don't think the price is all that unreasonable considering the trade in program is paying back way over fair market value. The iPhone 8 is $400…</p>

    • SvenJ

      26 August, 2020 - 5:57 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#564243"><em>In reply to remc86007:</em></a><em> </em>My Lumia 950XL wasn't even on the list.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • jesam

    26 August, 2020 - 1:31 pm

    <p>I for one still mourn the death of WM10, miss my Lumia 950 every day, and deeply hate my Galaxy A40 with Android. I won't burn my hand on this one.</p>

    • spoonman

      30 August, 2020 - 7:04 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564245">In reply to jesam:</a></em></blockquote><p>Me too. I had the 950XL and it was a mostly excellent device. It's taken me years to get used to android. </p><p><br></p><p>This looks really cool and I can definitely see myself benefitting from being able to run two apps side by side. Out of my price range , but I would want one despite the shortcomings .</p>

  • aretzios

    26 August, 2020 - 2:30 pm

    <p>This thing is outrageously expensive for what it is!!</p>

    • sharpsone

      28 August, 2020 - 9:24 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#564251">In reply to aretzios:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not really all premium phones are in 1K range, this device seems like it will be a better form factor for productivity. More like PC production level instead of the frustrating experience of work g from a single screen. </p>

      • William Clark

        28 August, 2020 - 11:39 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#564631">In reply to sharpsone:</a></em></blockquote><p>The problem with comparing to premium phones is not acknowledging that $1000+ premium phones are outrageously priced. </p><p><br></p><p>While I do like the concept I think the problem will be that it's still 2 small screens, not one big screen. </p>

  • dexman335

    26 August, 2020 - 2:48 pm

    <p>Mary Jo Foley received a review unit as well. She noted that Microsoft requested that reviews of the Duo not be published until the day it officially goes on sale.</p>

  • scovious

    26 August, 2020 - 3:39 pm

    <p>Any theories on the strange shape of that bumper case?</p>

  • Rob_Wade

    26 August, 2020 - 3:58 pm

    <p>As I thought it could be even less desirable….this video proves me wrong. WAY too big to fit in the pocket, horrible form factor, and useless to replace my tablet. It's just plain ugly, and those ridiculous "bumpers" just add to the ick factor. In my work, the Surface Pro is the primary productivity weapon. When that's not practical/convenient, my smartphone is MUCH more convenient.</p>

  • mitip

    26 August, 2020 - 4:27 pm

    <p>Actually it could be clever. i walk around with both a Surface Book and an iPhone 11. One is pretentious, effective as a phone and too siloed and small for much else. The other effective for all else but whats app skype zoom ring on both. why not combine them. What OS will it run, how powerful?</p><p><br></p>

  • glenn8878

    26 August, 2020 - 4:28 pm

    <p>A timely release. Not too early, yet not too late. The packaging is so Apple iPhone style. The box is much too large for the size of the device.</p>

  • mikes_infl

    26 August, 2020 - 4:34 pm

    <p>That looks like a modern version of a dualbook I had in 2010 – the Entourage Pocket Edge. One screen was e-ink and the other was LCD. Sort of like a larger PDA with extra abilities. </p><p><br></p><p>The bigger difference though is the price. ouch</p>

  • Christopher Spera

    26 August, 2020 - 5:02 pm

    <p>I know Windows Mobile is dead; but this hardware really wants to be a WM device. It really does. I'm also not happy with the price point. At $1400, its just a short $200 shy of the entry level Surface Book 3. When your phone costs nearly as much as a high end PC, there's a problem. While it may double as a full functioning Android tablet, its missing a keyboard, and desktop app compatibility (but that's the case with any and every Android tablet)… for the price.</p><p><br></p><p>I am VERY attracted to this phone; but I have an issue with paying over $1000 for a phone, and this is nearly $1000 and a half (the 256GB version retails for $1499). I also am too entrenched in the Apple ecosystem at this point to completely abandon it for the Google-sphere, especially when YouTube Music really sucks and Google Play Music is all but dead.</p><p><br></p><p>This is a neat device, but I don't know how viable it is, at this price point, with Android, as it currently stands.</p>

    • SvenJ

      26 August, 2020 - 5:52 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#564282"><em>In reply to chrisspera:</em></a><em> </em>Many phones cost as much or more than common laptops these days. Have for years. You can buy cheaper phones just as you can buy cheaper laptops. The price of this is eye watering but when you consider it has two phone sized, pen enabled screens on it, and compare it to phones with pen capability and one screen, or dual screened phones, it isn't that outlandish. The Note 20 is $1K (single screen). The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is expected to be $1800 (no pen). Yes they have features that the DUO doesn't but they also each lack features the Duo does. I imagine that they could have added all the features the Galaxy Z fold has, keeping the pen support, but then it would likely have been north of $1800. Tough sell as it is.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • curtisspendlove

    26 August, 2020 - 6:00 pm

    <p>I honestly find this kinda gorgeous. I was on the fence about trying Android again this fall. And if I did, this was going to be the device. </p><p><br></p><p>However, I have a few concerns after watching a few videos. The aesthetic of the hardware very much appeals to me. However, I want to see it running before I make any decisions. </p><p><br></p><p>I’m assuming I’d get used to the bezels, but performance issues would kill it for me. Especially for that price. </p>

  • Nick Tsiotinos

    26 August, 2020 - 10:03 pm

    <p>Paying with my phone is now so ingrained to me that I no longer carry any payment cards. </p><p><br></p><p>I'm afraid I cannot use a phone without NFC.</p><p><br></p><p>No matter how "productive" or nice it may be.</p>

  • sharpsone

    28 August, 2020 - 9:20 am

    <p>She's a beaut… Can't wait to get my hands on one. Ive been looking for something more than the boring slabs out there. I want more screen real-estate without the bulk of a tablet, laptop or 2-in-1. This looks like my next device… </p>

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