Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 is a big step up from its outdated predecessor

Microsoft made a comeback to the smartphone space last year with the launch of the Android-powered Surface Duo. The device wasn’t well-received, as it came with a hefty price tag, year-old hardware, and several other shortcomings. But many praised its slim dual-screen design and its multitasking capabilities. Microsoft has now unveiled its successor, the Surface Duo 2, and it brings some much-needed improvements over the older model.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2: Specifications

Specification	Microsoft Surface Duo 2
Build	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on displays Corning Gorilla Glass on the outside surfaces
Dimensions & Weight	Closed: 145.2 x 92.1 x 11.0mm Open: 145.2 x 184.5 x 5.5mm 284g
Display	Dual PixelSense Fusion displays 8.3-inch AMOLED, 2688 x 1892p Single PixelSense screen: 5.8-inch AMOLED, 1344 x 1892p 401 PPI HDR 100% sRGB, DCI-P3 90Hz adaptive refresh rate 800nits peak brightness
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM & Storage	8GB LPDDR5  + 128GB 8GB + 256GB 8GB + 512GB
Battery & Charging	4,449mAh dual battery 23W fast charging support Fast charger sold separately
Security	Fingerprint sensor with enterprise-grade security
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 12MP f/1.7, dual pixel PDAF, OIS Telephoto: 12MP f/2.4, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom Ultra-wide: 16MP f/2.2, 110° FoV with distortion correction
Front Camera(s)	12MP f/2.0
Port(s)	USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
Audio	Stereo speakers Dual mic AI-based noise suppression and acoustic echo cancellation
Connectivity	Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.1 NFC 5G-NR NSA (mmWave) US only 5G-NR NSA (Sub-6) Gigabit LTE, 4×4 MIMO GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS
Software	Microsoft Surface Duo 2 UI based on Android 11
Colors	Glacier Obsidian

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As you can see in the specifications table above, the Surface Duo 2 is a major step up from the original Surface Duo. While it may not look a whole lot different on the outside, it packs larger displays, a more powerful SoC, better cameras, and a bigger battery.

Starting with the displays, the Surface Duo 2 features two 5.8-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1344 x 1892 pixels each. These join up to form a larger 8.3-inch Dual PixelSense Fusion display with a resolution of 2688 x 1892 pixels and a 401 PPI pixel density. Much like last year’s model, these displays offer 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage. In addition, they also come with HDR support, a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 800nits of peak brightness. Both displays are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus.

The Surface Duo 2 packs Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 888, instead of an outdated SoC like the previous model. This should result in even better multitasking performance, which will surely attract more buyers. The SoC is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of storage.

As we saw in a couple of leaks earlier this year, Microsoft has included respectable camera hardware on the Surface Duo 2, unlike the sub-par cameras found on its predecessor. The phone packs a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP 2x telephoto camera with PDAF and OIS, and a 16MP ultra-wide camera with a 110° FoV. On the inside, the device has a single 12MP selfie shooter.

As far as the battery is concerned, Microsoft has managed to include a substantial 4,449mAh dual battery on the Surface Duo 2 despite its slim profile. It supports 23W fast charging, and it’s rated for up to 15.5 hours of local video playback and up to 28 hours of talk time.

Microsoft has also made some noteworthy improvements on the connectivity front. The Surface Duo 2 now offers 5G support (mmWave limited to the US), Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and NFC. The phone also packs a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port for charging, data syncing, and video output; a stereo speaker setup; and a fingerprint sensor with enterprise-grade security.

On the software front, the Surface Duo 2 runs Microsoft Surface Duo 2 UI based on Android 11. It comes with a bunch of preloaded Microsoft apps, including LinkedIn, Intune Company Portal, Microsoft Authenticator, Microsoft Edge, the Office Suite, Microsoft Start, Teams, and more. In addition, the software includes a couple of cool features to help you make the most of the dual screen setup. These include App Groups, Dual screen windowing, the ability to span apps automatically, and universal search. The software also makes use of the curved parts of the display peeking through the hinges to show important information when the phone is closed using the Glance feature.

Pricing & Availability

The Surface Duo 2 is available for pre-order starting at $1,499.99 in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and UK. It will be available in two colorways — Glacier and Obsidian. The device will start at $1,499.99 for the base 8GB+128GB configuration, going up to $1,599.99 for the 8GB+256GB model, and $1,799.99 for the 8GB+512GB model. It will be available starting October 21.

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