Here Comes the Surface Duo
- Paul Thurrott
- Aug 08, 2020
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78
With Microsoft expected to formally launch the Surface Duo in coming days, some promotional renders have leaked via Twitter.
As I noted on Twitter myself, Microsoft MVPs were invited to attend a virtual Surface briefing, presumably for Duo, on August 12. The images below are from ace leaker Evan Blass on Twitter , which I found courtesy of Neowin.
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Conversation 78 comments
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nicola
Log in to Reply<p>boy, those bezels… </p>
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reefer
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559938">In reply to nicola:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah, not nice at all. Still having a hard time imaging the consumer need for Duo. Its more geared towards office types, business that is. </p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559942">In reply to reefer:</a></em></blockquote><p>This is the interesting attack vector – how many consumer users are business people ?</p>
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starkover
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560018">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>Don't know, but I know how many business people are consumers…All of them. </p>
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r4961
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#559942"><em>In reply to reefer:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote>What are my choices and what is the level of palm rejection development in a "new" device? </blockquote><blockquote>If I have to have the same exact display dimensions, and I plan on doing ALOT of work with the stylus while in and out of airports, subways, and on the move, then please, please, give me the bezels. I now have a surface area just large enough to rest my moderately-larger hands and fingers as I — again — try to be PRODUCTIVE.</blockquote><blockquote> Develop better palm rejection and in later editions of the phone, THEN increase the display size (as bezels perhaps shrink) without reducing the surface area I need to write on.</blockquote><blockquote> If I just want to use it as Nintendo DS emulator for games, though, then, sure, take the bezels away immediately.</blockquote><blockquote> Clearly, the continual bezel complaints havent put an ounce of thought into using a stylus to do more than jot a quick note, which is something my multiple Galaxy Notes have failed at due to the size of them.</blockquote>
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michael_goff
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559938">In reply to nicola:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Am I the only person not bothered by bezels? </p>
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peterc
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559944">In reply to Michael_Goff:</a></em></blockquote><p>I agree Michael, people get way too obsessed with bezels in my opinion. </p>
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evox81
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559947">In reply to peterc:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't really care about the cosmetics of bezels, but when a device is 25% larger than it needs to be because of the bezels… Then I'm not a fan. </p><p><br></p><p>This device is too big because the bezels are ridiculous.</p>
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dannygt
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559952">In reply to evox81:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's really not. Not even in the slightest. I remember making fun of some guys holding the first NOTE at CES years ago, and look at the NOTE today, just MASSIVE and everyone's okay with it. This has that 'little black book' type of vibe to it, and I have a feeling it'll still fit better in a pocket than the biggest NOTE.</p><p><br></p><p>Hoping they take a page out of the Surface Pro, but dont wait until Ver3 to hit a home run. I have a feeling Ver2 will be the winner and even more so if the apps drive it.</p>
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ronh
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559944">In reply to Michael_Goff:</a></em></blockquote><p>No</p><p><br></p>
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omen_20
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559944">In reply to Michael_Goff:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's gonna depend on price. Considering it's not a foldable screen there's not much reason to have the bezels of a 5 year old phone. My only guess is that they wanted the battery space but not the screen drain. It it launches at $1k+ then it's in trouble. </p>
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scovious
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559938">In reply to nicola:</a></em></blockquote><p>The bezels you are referring to, at the top and bottom of the screens block out areas of the device which your fingers cannot reach without loosing grip on the device. </p><p><br></p><p>You must love having to shift around your hands trying to reach all the distant corners of the various 21:9 phones. Most people like UI elements both visible and accessible though, so this design is quite pragmatic.</p>
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ngc224
Log in to Reply<p>After all these years, there is no way Microsoft would exclude regular Microsoft fans from this virtual Surface briefing.</p>
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SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#559941"><em>In reply to ngc224:</em></a><em> </em>As a former MVP, we would have been thrilled to have MS give us a heads up before the general public on any news. Doesn't hurt anyone else and throws an exceptionally loyal and enthusiastic group a bone. Hope they did this. </blockquote><p><br></p>
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JerryH
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I'm sure this is technically very competent and all, but I still just can't see what the use case is for the device. I guess we'll see; I've been surprised by what takes off in the market before.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559946">In reply to JerryH:</a></em></blockquote><p>For me the first instant feature I cannot wait for is expanded screen space for my emails. This one feature alone makes me want the device yesterday.</p><p><br></p>
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michaelmdiv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I think this design would have been an instant hit, if it was released three, four, or five years ago. </p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559949">In reply to MichaelMDiv:</a></em></blockquote><p>Market was not ready for this. It is now and the advantages of it simply out weight a single screen smart phone. It's launching at the right time.</p>
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sherlockholmes
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>And it surely will cost as much as a Galaxy S20. No thanks. </p>
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codymesh
Log in to Reply<p>I have a feeling that this device will be more of a hit then whatever folding thing samsung/whoever else have been working on.</p>
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bryan1up
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>It’s a business device. I can see it being popular with businesses.</p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559959">In reply to bryan1up:</a></em></blockquote><p>Exactly – those that don't have to personally pay for this type of thing.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559967">In reply to navarac:</a></em></blockquote><p>As opposed to what? Crazily over priced iPhones? Why don't we wait until we hear how much it will be for this before we judge? Even if it was as expensive as the iPhone I would take it in a heart beat over the iPhone. </p>
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Shel Dyck
Log in to Reply<p>considering how badly microsoft launcher behaves on LG and other dual screens, I'd be really worried about poor first impressions being made.</p>
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r4961
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559964">In reply to ShelDyck:</a></em></blockquote><p>You can't truly fully develop good behavior of an app like that in your basement. You have to get it out to the masses, and they have to get annoyed by it just as you have in order for it to improve.</p>
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I can see why they are not marketing it as a phone, since, these days, the camera is a primary function of a phone. It simply is not for this device.</span></p><p>Placement of the single camera over the right screen seems a weak point for regular users, "<em>Err…excuse me while I unfold my phone fully so I can take this picture</em>." Not that it would be much better with a rear facing camera, since one would still have to open the device to take a picture. Microsoft has gone from the company that insisted on a dedicated camera button for quick shots, to the other extreme.</p><p>If it could run 10X, I would consider it as a hyper portable computing device for travel; but I have no interest in running an Android device. For those who do not mind Google's constant hoovering of data, though, I could see this being a nice option for mobile computing. It would just require another device for photos.</p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<p>I'm not even excited now I can see it up close.</p>
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redstar92
Log in to Reply<p>Looking forward to this. Kindle, email, calendar, todo, teams on this will be money</p>
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TFinch
Log in to Reply<p>A lot of medical students, myself included, were excited by this device when it was announced. I don't think there's a better use case for two screens like this than for advanced students (professional or graduate) who need to balance study materials and notes side-by-side. No one is going to be happy about losing an external camera, a critical and core function of cell phones, but what will really make or break this for our use case will be stylus support (for notes and annotating lecture slide PDFs) and real-world performance. Nearly all apps used by professional students (OneNote, PDF annotation software, LiquidText, etc.) are designed and run better on iOS than android unless you are sporting a truly beefy-spec'd phone, and as rumors go, the Duo isn't packing the latest and greatest. I'd love to ditch the cramped split-screen of an iPad mini for this, but I need to be convinced that it'll meet my needs.</p><p><br></p><p>So. For my use case? Very interested, a bit wary, and hoping it does well enough for me to ultimately buy into an improved second generation of the device class.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559975">In reply to TFinch:</a></em></blockquote><p>It comes with an external camera.</p>
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SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#560011"><em>In reply to VancouverNinja:</em></a><em> </em>Depends on how you define external. All the renders show one camera. If you fold it so both screens are outside, then yes the camera is external.</blockquote><p><br></p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<p>I have to admit, if any Android device could tempt me out of my Apple Zen Garden…it might be this one. :)</p>
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mattbg
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Google search box? This better run Bing or I'm out.</p>
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tonchek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559978">In reply to mattbg:</a></em></blockquote><p>You don't need Bing to find google. Just type http://www.google.com... ? </p>
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JCerna
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Is it true they are making the same mistake as they did with windows phone and making it exclusive to At&t. Hope not because At&t ignore and made fun of any customer who came in to get a windows phone.</p>
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jimchamplin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559980">In reply to JCerna:</a></em></blockquote><p>That was never my experience. Maybe the management at the location I went to actually wanted to make money.</p>
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pdhemsley
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Slightly dumb question, but how will you type on it? Will the keyboard span both screens or just one? I’m not sure that typing on the move (as opposed to sitting down, at a desk) will be especially easy. Time will tell!</p>
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will
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>i kinda of wished they would release a Surface Uno, candy bar phone, with a similar design but for those that want just the single screen. </p>
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docpaul
Log in to Reply<p>I want one. </p><p>Weird though MS canceling Cortana for Android rather than using this as a chance to promote her as default. </p>
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gpmpapas
Log in to Reply<p>I think this will be THE business phone….</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560006">In reply to gpmpapas:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think it will take over where businesses truly care about security and are the ones paying for the phones for their employees. All smart phones today are are really consumer devices; you nailed it as this is a business smart phone. </p>
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mtalinm
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560006">In reply to gpmpapas:</a></em></blockquote><p>"toy" SMH…this is the sort of arrogance that caused MSFT to miss mobile in the first place.</p><p><br></p><p>I edit word/excel/ppt documents on my phone. why would I want the screen split for that?</p><p>I remote into a compute server and edit script files on my phone. why would I want the screen split for that?</p><p><br></p><p>I can see two use cases for a split screen:</p><ol><li>you're on Zoom and you want to check email at the same time</li><li>you get a lot of emails and so you want to have the list on the left panel and the current message on the right panel.</li></ol><p><br></p><p>plenty of email readers have solved #2. #1 is enabled via on-demand split screen. again, SMH and I expect the Duo will be yet another failure.</p><p><br></p><p>(I say this BTW as someone who has owned nearly every Surface device. not a msft hater)</p>
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mtalinm
Log in to Reply<p>having had the amazing Galaxy Fold for a year now, I cannot imagine wanting to have the screen split down the middle. the whole point is to have a large screen for reading pages and watching videos. What are they thinking?</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560007">In reply to mtalinm:</a></em></blockquote><p>Galaxy fold is cool tech but the screen format is wrong in my books. Microsoft got the sizing right and apps will work very nicely across these two screens. They are thinking that there is a percentage of the 1 billion + Windows users that would like a Microsoft mobile device like this – and they are correct about that.</p>
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mtalinm
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560016">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>do you have one? it's amazing. it's a true Kindle replacement. You can read web pages and they're not "skinny.' and of course, everything from YT to Prime Video to Netflix looks fantastic. editing Word and PowerPoint docs is also great on the large screen.</p><p><br></p><p>None of this would work with the screen split down the middle. I could see that working in a few cases – maybe for having your list of emails on the left pane and active email in the right pane. other than that, I'll wait to be convinced. for now, it sounds like they are being different for the sake of being different.</p>
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dbp
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560025">In reply to mtalinm:</a></em></blockquote><p>Dunno. I could see web pages and books working similarly if you turn the thing so the fold is horizontal.</p><p><br></p><p>Not sure whether this appeals to me or not. I love the ability to do inking, though, so I could be convinced.</p>
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r4961
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560007">In reply to mtalinm:</a></em></blockquote><p>tbh,…I think they were thinking about more than you and what you like to do with phones.</p><p><br></p><p>Can you believe that although we're going back to circa 100 BCE for the 1st binded books in history,…our society's youngest kids are getting ready to begin classes following the same basic 2-page/turn format? With all the tech and possibilities we have in 2020, no less?</p><p><br></p><p>There's something to be said for things that aren't broke. In all of its glory, the Galaxy Fold does not and cannot adapt to such a format. 1st and foremost, look at it's form factor. Seam down the middle or not, the aspect ratio simply does not connect with this form factor.</p><p><br></p><p>If I were planning to take a bunch of high-def photos going around town in the morning, followed by watching Youtube, movies, and toying around on Social Media, I think a new Fold would probably be my pick. However, that's just not me at the moment. I don't take pictures, I spot-check what's going on on social media on my computer instead of off so as to not get too absorbed into it, and I enjoy watching videos on the same since I'm not into needlessly straining my eyes.</p><p><br></p><p>But I actually plan on doing WORK on 1 of these as a student that has a great amount of handwritten problems to work out. That will probably be done on OneNote on the bottom display as I scroll through the pages of pdf books, powerpoints, and tutorial videos on the top display.</p><p><br></p><p>Does your device even have a stylus right now to begin with? No. Do I want less surface area for viewing/reading books? No. Would I enjoy the slim form factor of both "skinny" sides of that device once I want to use it as a 2-page, folded book? No.</p><p><br></p><p>I think you get gist of what I am saying by now. Great toy for you,…no doubt,…but I've got a little work to get done.</p>
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gpmpapas
Log in to Reply<p> I've been running Notes since they came out. If it had 2 screens wouod never switxh. Did hard fan. But to replace a phone and tablet with one compact is awesome. I agree it's geared to business clients mostly.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#559981">In reply to ndelena:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you re-watch the Panos launch of the device he said we would be surprised by the cost. I am waiting for it to be moderately priced at the low end of premium.</p>
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SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#560013"><em>In reply to VancouverNinja:</em></a><em> </em>Surprised, "Wow!", or surprised, "Oh my Gawd?"</blockquote><p><br></p>
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sherlockholmes
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560029">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>I bet its the last one. </p>
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rheuser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I am eager to buy one if I can afford it.</p>
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GCalais
Log in to Reply<p>No foldable display and with those very thick bezels? This looks dated. </p><p><br></p>
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rmlounsbury
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Provided this isn't off thr charts expensive I'll probably move to this. But given it's dated specs and likely average camera it's DOA if it is north of $999. </p><p><br></p><p>I'd assume this ends up being $1500 or more which is too expensive for dated internals the Duo has. </p>
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docpaul
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560026">In reply to rmlounsbury:</a></em></blockquote><p>Don't forget mediocre camera. I'll eat a hat if it costs more than $699. </p>
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mclark2112
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I don't know, just not feeling this thing.</p>
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dexman335
Log in to Reply<p>As a Verizon Wireless customer, I would like to be able to, at least, consider the Duo as the replacement for my aging Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft opted to forgo CDMA certification for the last group of Lumia smartphones thus rendering them irrelevant to customers of Verizon Wireless, Sprint and US Cellular.</p><p><br></p><p>Now that VZW has mothballed that legacy network, there doesn't seem to be a reason for Microsoft to NOT submit the Duo for acceptance into VZW's 4G network.</p><p><br></p><p>With the lack of concrete information coming from Microsoft, my guess is that the Duo will be announced out of the gate as an exclusive AT&T device with "more carriers coming in the months ahead". <img draggable="false" role="img" class="emoji" alt="?" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/12.0.0-1/svg/1f914.svg"></p>
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rafaelsolmaker
Log in to Reply<p>Usual complaints: "Oh the bezels are so large yadda yadda", "it's not thin enough bla bla bla", "Samsung/Motorola/Whatever manufacture did it better with foldable screen wobble wobble" and all the superficial stuff that people can't understand what this phone is aiming for will gonna say for sure. </p><p><br></p><p>Other than that, finally a dual screen phone that made sense (mostly). Hope it's good quality hardware-wise (hinges are a nightmare for any product) and software-wise as well, otherwise is a big no-no for me. I just abandoned WP few months ago, I was the last to jump the ship and I don't want to be burned by MS again.</p>
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omen_20
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560042">In reply to rafaelsolmaker:</a></em></blockquote><p>All of those issues you downplayed will make absolute sense if this device comes out anywhere near as expensive as the Galaxy Z line.</p><p><br></p><p>Personally, I don't foresee Microsoft baking in dualscreen support better than Google. There is a Pixel project, per leaks, that is targeting a dualscreen/foldable for next year.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft's potential advantages could be more than 3 years of support and updates, and a better onboarding experience for company phones.</p>
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glenn8878
Log in to Reply<p>Dual screen for Android, but not for Windows (yet). </p>
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jackwagon
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560131">In reply to glenn8878:</a></em></blockquote><p>If I recall, Acer made a dual-screen laptop once (granted, one of the screens acted as a keyboard generally).</p>
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ponsaelius
Log in to Reply<p>They will be demoing a dual screen version of TikTok to push the youth sales. </p>
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Jorge Garcia
Log in to Reply<p>Like the wonderfully prophetic (yet Vaporware) Vulcan Flipstart had, this thing REALLY needs a tiny display on the outside that would let you see notifications and swipe them away. It would prevent many, many anticlimactic and wasteful openings and closings :)</p>
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drjohnnyray
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The duo could be useful as a portable device for Telemedicine, having one screen for the patients electronic chart, and the other screen for video chat. But, like any other Microsoft device, will it be supported, or die on the vine, (zune, windows phone, etc)?</p>
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Cain69
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560260">In reply to drjohnnyray:</a></em></blockquote><p>Die. Add MS Stores to the list …</p>
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anthonyfear
Log in to Reply<p>I'm excited about this product and I'm in the prime target audience for it. But I've been burned many times by being an early Microsoft adopter. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'm also anticipating it's going to be crazy expensive, so </span>I'm unlikely to rush into purchasing one. </p><p> </p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Will watch progress eagerly, but might wait for V2 to confirm MS and developer commitment and give them time to reduce those bezels :-)</span></p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560268">In reply to anthonyfear:</a></em></blockquote><p>While I love single-screen devices, I believe you when saying to belong to the prime target audience for the Duo. I just want to better understand it: what usage scenarios do you have for such a device?</p>
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Rob_Wade
Log in to Reply<p>I'll be candid….I hope this thing crashes and burns in a spectacular way. It's such a stupid idea and even worse implementation.</p>
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illuminated
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560288">In reply to Rob_Wade:</a></em></blockquote><p>You must be real inspiration for people around you 🙂 </p><p>Let's see how that device works and if there are any advantages. It is great to see companies try something instead of repeating the same thing over and over and over again.</p>
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minke
Log in to Reply<p>I just don't see the advantage for me personally. Doesn't solve any problem I have with a regular smartphone. If I need a productivity tool I'll switch to something with a real keyboard and a larger screen.</p>
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Jorge Garcia
Log in to Reply<p>People knocking it for the bezels don't understand just how much goodness this thing is packing for being such a slim device. Stuff has gotta go somewhere…and those aren't just garden-variety hinges, either.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplySorry, what goodness is it packing under those bezels? 🙂
The real innovation in this space is happening at Samsung, which has hidden even more sophisticated hinges under a folding screen. This thing already looks antiquated.
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Tsang Man Fai
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560528">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>The top & bezels are quite thick. It is much better if If they are a bit thinner.</p><p><br></p><p>But overall, Duo looks sexier than Galaxy Fold.</p><p><br></p><p>Especially when folded – Duo still looks good, but Galaxy Fold looks ridiculously thick, like two phones stacked together.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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mrdrwest
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560528">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>The Galaxy Fold reminds of one piece of bread folded to make a sandwich. Still not feeling it, yet.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyWell, me neither. I’m just saying that folding displays are from the future and a hinge is from the past.
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#560321">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>There is a single camera above the right screen.</p>
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derekaw
Log in to Reply<p>It will sell as well as the galaxy folding phones. </p>
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anderb
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>$1400US for the base model. It's dead, Jim.</p>
![https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/12.0.0-1/svg/1f914.svg"></p>](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/12.0.0-1/svg/1f914.svg"></p>){kind=link}