Surface Duo 2: I'll take it seriously when Microsoft does

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central | Jez Corden

Microsoft recently launched the Surface Duo 2, striking U.K. markets at a similar speed to U.Southward. markets for a change. Our exec editor Daniel Rubino reviewed the device, noting that while the course factor may not be for most people, the hardware enjoyed a sizeable leap.

Having previously tried out the commencement Surface Duo and remaining intrigued despite its issues, I couldn't resist picking up a Surface Duo 2 as someone drastic to rediscover a Microsoft that gives a crap about mobile phones. After a few days with the device, I'grand sad to say that my quest for rediscovery may accept to continue.

I asked recently if Microsoft really serious almost the Surface Duo, and unfortunately, the Surface Duo 2 convinces me that it isn't.

Can't judge a volume past its cover

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central | Jez Corden

The Surface Duo 2 is a gorgeous device, and nobody can take that away from Microsoft. The impossibly thin chassis, meticulous hinges, and off-black obsidian coloring and drinking glass trounce brand for a truly impeccable device. I've seen some people complain most how smudge-prone the blackness version is, and sure, it tin be smudgy, but that's hardly a deal-billow, especially if you plan to put a example on it.

I was worried the camera bump would interfere with the feel, and it does to some caste, but I go the merchandise-off. Instead of terminal yr's truly bottomless photographic camera assortment, we have something that at least passes for competence in 2022, with wide-angle and telephoto capabilities in tow. The camera samples won't blow your listen, and depression light functioning is a lot grainier than my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold three, but it'due south acceptable, at to the lowest degree if the rest of the telephone functions every bit advertised. Sadly, information technology simply doesn't.

Almost immediately out of the box, I was given bitter flashbacks to Windows x Mobile and its middling, buggy OS feel. Information technology had apps that weren't properly designed for the platform, random features that didn't work properly, and a phone that got weirdly warm.

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Cardinal | Jez Corden

The Bluetooth interference that cratered my Surface Duo 1 experience has, sadly, returned in the Duo ii. I don't know if it'southward the antenna positioning or my jeans are somehow too thick, but in one case again, the Duo 2 is unusable for music with the phone in your pocket. Information technology'southward certainly possible I have a faulty unit, given that our exec editor Dan Rubino hasn't seen similar issues, but there are other problems that are far more pervasive.

Even if you disregard the astronomical cost, the Surface Duo 2 OS feel is but unacceptable.

Ane of the biggest annoyances with this telephone is the performance. Despite how it beats basically every Android telephone out in that location in benchmarks, it seems that memory leaks caused by the OS reduce multi-tasking operation to a painful crawl while taking a video call on one screen and attempting to use apps on the other. My Galaxy Z Fold iii runs not ii, but three apps simultaneously without fifty-fifty the vaguest hint of performance degradation, video telephone call or not.

In that location's also a litany of other annoying bugs and broken features that brand the feel completely unacceptable in a phone this expensive. I've had issues where the keyboard just deciding it wasn't going to piece of work anymore, displaying an empty grayness box where SwiftKey should exist until I shut and reopen the app in question. The Amazon app randomly decided information technology wasn't going to work anymore, ignoring all taps and interactions. And finally, the bear upon response continues to be laughably bad.

Information technology sucks because this telephone might be the best way to feel Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming, thanks to the full-size touch gamepad y'all get on the bottom display. However, it's rendered pointless if it can't actually detect my taps when I need to state that crucial attack. Even if you disregard the astronomical cost, the Surface Duo two OS feel is but unacceptable.

Is Microsoft serious about this thing?

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central | Jez Corden

I primarily apply the Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3 to frame my comparisons, since information technology is effectively the Duo 2's closest competitor. I wrote in my Milky way Fold vs. Surface Duo article that the Duo'south course factor does come with some advantages over the Fold, and that sentiment remains truthful. The Fold apps multitask in siloed sections, whereas the Duo'south dual-screen setup adds telescopic for separate programs to collaborate with each other more seamlessly... at least in theory. It doesn't help that taps don't register the kickoff, second, or even the third time on occasion.

The about egregious part of this feel is the fact most of these criticisms were nowadays in the Surface Duo 1. The crappy Bluetooth stability. The weak impact detection. The generally unpolished, unfinished experience. Why didn't Microsoft address any of this feedback? Is it not reading the reviews or looking at YouTube? Is it ignoring Reddit? Is there anyone at Microsoft even actively using this phone? I have no idea, and I have no idea because Microsoft is so irritatingly secretive nigh it.

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central

Somebody needs to permit the Surface team know that it's a long way from being Apple tree. Apple has this aureola of smugness, allowing it to shrug off criticism for selling wheels for $1,000 and napkins for $xv. It does this by just ignoring, well, everyone. And to some degree, it's earned that airs by way of being a trillion-dollar company known for making largely polished products a huge portion of the population use and dear. Surface takes a similar radio-silence approach to its customs while selling its products for Apple tree prices and without beingness anywhere near Apple tree's quality level.

Somebody needs to let the Surface team know that it's a long mode from existence Apple.

When Xbox torpedoed its brand in 2022, it launched a near decade-long campaign to reconnect with its customers and fans in an endeavour that is still ongoing today. The Xbox team is generally forthcoming with updates to its products via the Xbox Insider Program, with the vast majority of its executive leadership squad engaging consistently and direct with Xbox customers on Twitter and Reddit. I am by no means suggesting the Surface engineering science team needs to get on socials in their personal time, but it couldn't help to have some course of community managers or community engagement that goes beyond the very basic marketing presence the brand has on Twitter and Instagram. Taking the hands-off Apple-style approach is admittedly the wrong position.

Nosotros know virtually nothing about update timing plans to the Duo 1 or 2, salve for the odd leak we occasionally go via my colleague Zac Bowden. We know zilch about the roadmap of products or services Microsoft intends to build to enhance its Android presence. SwiftKey, OneNote, the Microsoft Launcher, and various other Microsoft Android apps accept barely had a meaningful update in what feels similar forever. Instead, nosotros got a Microsoft "Commencement" app, with Microsoft hoping that nobody would notice that it's literally simply the Bing app with a new proper name. How can Microsoft await to exist able to sell these devices for north of £1,300 while putting in what appears to be the bare minimum attempt?

I'll take it seriously when Microsoft does

Dear Surface,

If you desire to develop the Surface Duo line iteratively, do it with us, the community. You haven't earned the correct to ignore the people substantially acting as unpaid testers for your half-broiled vanity projects however.

I wanted to love the Duo 2, and certain, the Surface Duo 2 went all in on addressing some of the most obvious complaints like the lack of a existent photographic camera. The Duo 2 inking experience, I felt, was likewise superior to the Milky way Fold 3. Notwithstanding, the fact some of the smaller day-to-solar day usability complaints have been completely ignored absolutely blows my mind.

In an Android earth dominated by mature Samsung experiences, why is Surface failing at the very bare basics like bear on and Bluetooth, things that even very expressionless Android OEMs similar BlackBerry TCL and HTC could nail? How is it the Surface team tin can style the nearly elegant hinge in the history of engineering, but screw upward basics white characterization phones sold on Wish.com for 100 bucks seem to land with ease? I remember I've made my point.

I will take the Surface Duo line seriously when Microsoft does.

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android 11

It'south here

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android eleven

After a very long wait, the original Surface Duo is now eligible to receive its over-the-air OS update to Android 11. Here is what is new and fixed with the biggest update yet for Microsoft's first dual-screen Android device.

Deals

Grab a case to protect your Surface Duo 2 with these options

Looking for a example to protection your shiny, new, and very expensive Surface Duo 2? Nosotros've got y'all covered with a round up of the all-time Surface Duo 2 cases yous tin find. Unfortunately, in that location aren't many (all the same) but we'll continue updating this post with new products as nosotros find them!