Microsoft Surface Duo: Unboxing & First Impressions

Specs

✓ 6GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of storage

✓ Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

✓ 3,577 mAh battery

✓ Android 10

✓ 8.1-inch AMOLED display with 401 ppi

✓ Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

✓ Corning Gorilla Glass 5

✓ 11 MP f/2.0 main sensor rear camera

Retail Price: $1,399.99

Buy on Microsoft.com

First Impressions

The future of smartphones appear to have a course set and that path revolves around multi-tasking. With every new foldable phone hitting the market, a validation of a developing form factor is quickly forming. Smartphones will one day replace the need for users to have a computer. Microsoft’s vision of this mobile world begins with the Surface Duo, their first handset since the ill-fated Windows phone experiment in the 2010’s. 

Here’s a phone that was announced a year ago alongside the Surface Neo as Microsoft’s triumphant return to the mobile hardware space. This phone was to be their champion as they migrated into the Android age for the ultimate productivity tool. This is supposed to be the future. When you pull the Duo out of the box it sure feels like something special.

I can’t fully put into words why I’m excited about the Surface Duo, but all I know is that I haven’t been this hyped up for a phone in quite a while. Some unboxing experiences just give you a wow factor. When you first set your sights onto the hardware, your eyes get larger and your heart beats faster in anticipation of getting your hands onto this phone. I felt this when that Windows logo appeared in front of me on that large glass shell. Oh and this a large glass shell indeed as the phone essentially consists of two 5.6 inch 1800 x 1350 p AMOLED displays folded together into a clamshell. Together they form a useless 8.1 inch wallpaper display surrounded by large bezels. I say useless as there are no full screen use case scenarios that are remotely enjoyable. Due to the screens being separated by a hinge, the immersion of videos or any media is hindered greatly. In many cases I’ve already noticed viewing information being removed due to the interference of the hinge.

If that’s just my initial impression after only a day or two with the phone, then I’m already concerned about the effectiveness of my entertainment needs with the Duo. After all, our phones and tablets double up as a resource for our amusement. 

Powered by the Android flagship processor of 2019, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 doesn’t hold up well here. This isn’t due to age, but most likely because of the multitasking pressure the Duo forces upon itself. With a modest 6 GB of ram and 128 GB of storage on our base model, the added stress of populating two ongoing displays shows considerable lag in modest tasks that I had not seen on single screen flagship phones utilizing the SD855 last year.

Running Android 10 with a heavy Microsoft Windows flavor, the Duo also tosses a 3,577 mAh battery into a well dispersed format. Both sides of the phone feel evenly distributed and stand independently without tipping over. If there’s one thing I’m certain of already after 48 hrs, it’s that I love the fit and finish of the Duo. Regardless if I’m holding this folded or open, I feel sophisticated having it in my hand. I feel like I want to do something on it. When any product can make you feel this way simply by existing, they’re onto something special.

There is one big compromise immediately glaring at you the instant you launch the single 11 MP camera that serves as both your primary and selfie camera. I’ve only used it a handful of times so far but this just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I’ll demonstrate why I feel that way in my full review of the Duo later this month.

There’s a little indenture on one side of the frame just as you’d find on a laptop. This spot houses a fingerprint scanner in a position where your thumb would normally rest to open up the lid of a laptop. I love how it feels like that scenario, especially with the included bumper “case” Microsoft supplies you with.

I’ll get into all you need to know about app combinations and how best to utilize the two screens in other videos I’ll be making with the Surface Duo. For now, I just want to marvel at how beautiful of a device the Duo is without sulking over how frustrating it is use at times.

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