What you need to know
- Surface Duo 2 is official with upgraded specs, bigger displays, and more!
- Featuring a new "glance bar" down the spine, 5G connectivity and NFC.
- Pre-orders are now open with an expected ship date of October 21.
It's finally official! Microsoft's has taken the wraps off its second-generation Surface Duo handset, aptly dubbed the "Surface Duo 2" and features upgrades across the board, including the latest Snapdragon 888 processor, 5G connectivity, NFC, and much more. The device is available for pre-order today for $1,499 and is expected to start shipping on October 21 in select markets.
Top billing for the Surface Duo 2 includes a new triple camera system on the backside of the device. This new camera system consists of a wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lens at 12MP, 16MP, and 12MP respectively. Microsoft says these cameras will provide a flagship camera experience, including support for features such as night light photography, portrait mode with adjustable depth control, and low-light and Auto HDR photography improvements.
Microsoft has also increased the displays of Surface Duo 2 to 5.8-inches each, which now equates to around 8.3-inches of total screen space. The displays have a refresh rate of 90hz and are slighly curved down the middle as well, which allows a small section of the display to be exposed down the spine when closed. Microsoft calls this the "glance bar" and it will show notifications as they come in.
| Category | Surface Duo 2 | Surface Duo 1 |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Network | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4/5GHz)Bluetooth 5.1LTE: 4x4 MIMO, Cat 20 DL / Cat 13 UL | Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz)Bluetooth 5.0LTE: 4x4 MIMO, Cat.18DL / Cat 5 UL |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Nano SIM + eSIM |
| Network bands | FDD-LTE: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,14,19,20,25, 26,28,29,30,38,39,40,41,42,46,48,66,71WCDMA: 1,2,5,8GSM/GPRS: GSM-850, E-GSM-900, DCS-1800, PCS-1900 | FDD-LTE: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,14,19 20,25,26,28,29,30,66TD-LTE: 38,39,40,41,46WCDMA: 1,2,5,8GSM/GPRS: GSM-850, E-GSM-900, DCS-1800, PCS-1900 |
| Display | Single: 5.8 inches (1892x1344), 401 PPI, 4:3 aspect ratioDual: 8.3 inches (2688x1892), 401 PPI, 3:2 aspect ratioAMOLED, HDR, 800 nits, 90Hz | Single: 5.6 inches (1800x1350), 401 PPI, 4:3 aspect ratioDual: 8.1 inches (2700x1800), 401 PPI, 3:2 aspect ratioAMOLED |
| Memory | 8GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Camera | Front-facing: 12MP, ƒ/2.0, 24mm, 1.0umRear-facing wide: 12MP, ƒ/1.7, 27mm, 1.4umRear-facing telephoto: 12MP, ƒ/2.4, 51mm, 1.0umRear-facing ultra-wide: 16MP, ƒ/2.2, 13mm, 1.0um | 11MP, ƒ/2.0, 1.0um, PDAF, 84.0° diagonal FOV |
| Audio | Stereo speaker | Mono speaker |
| Security | Fingerprint reader | Fingerprint reader |
| Ports | USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) | USB-C 3.1 |
| Battery | 4,449mAhFast Charging | 3,577mAhFast Charging |
| Dimensions | Open: 145.2mm (H) x 184.5mm (W) x 5.5mm (T)Closed: 145.2mm (H) x 92.1mm (W) x 11mm (T at hinge) | Open: 145.2mm (H) x 186.9mm (W) x 4.8mm (T)Closed: 145.2mm (H) x 93.3mm (W) x 9.9mm (T at hinge) |
| Weight | 284g | 250g |
| Color | GlacierObsidian | Glacier |
Interestingly, Microsoft is also releasing a new "case" that snaps onto the front and supports magnets to store the Surface Slim Pen 2, and can also wirelessly charge it. The Surface Duo 2 is available in Glacier White, just like the first Surface Duo, but it can now also be had in a new Obsidian Black color.
Other improvements to the Surface Duo 2 include improvements to the overall fit and finish. The exterior glass now curves into the device around the edges, and the device is more robust thanks to a slight increase in thickness to 5.5mm on each side. Microsoft says this should address the USB-C cracking issue that the first-generation Surface Duo suffered from.
It's clear that Microsoft has worked hard to make the Surface Duo 2 a better phone, so it should come as no surprise to hear that the Duo 2 finally supports NFC technology for wireless payments; a must-have on any modern smartphone in 2021.
Surface Duo 2 is available for pre-order right now and is expected to ship on October 21 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan. U.S. pricing is as follows:
| SKU | Price |
|---|---|
| 128GB | $1,499.99 |
| 256GB | $1,599.99 |
| 512GB | $1,799.99 |
Upgraded in almost every way
Surface Duo 2 is a major upgrade for the dual-screen form factor, featuring larger 90Hz displays that curve down the middle, the latest Snapdragon 888 processor with 5G, 8GB RAM, NFC and can even charge the Surface Slim Pen via an optional case accessory.
