Surface Duo 2: New Android phone promises to fix all of Microsoft’s problems

Microsoft has just revealed its next generation of Surface Duo and it appears the US firm has listened to the criticism that was flung at its first attempt at a folding phone. When the first Surface Duo went on sale last year, the reviews weren’t exactly glowing …with many saying its software was buggy and had a terrible camera.

The new Duo 2 arrives with a bunch of improvements to solve those issues, including a speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, dynamic triple rear camera – which can shoot video in up to 4K picture quality – and access to 5G data speeds.

The larger dual 8.3-inch PixelSense screens have also been upgraded with a 90Hz high-refresh rate making things appear silky smooth and stutter-free. It’s not quite up there with Samsung’s 120Hz screen technology, but it’s certainly an improvement on its predecessor.

With this second-generation Duo, when the folding handset is closed, you will be able to see notifications – such as calls and incoming texts – appear down the spine of the device, so you don’t have to flip open the Duo 2 each time it pings with a new notification.

Other nice extras include improved compatibility with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams, plus you can easily play Xbox games right on the device with one screen being transformed into a mini controller whilst the other shows the action.

Like before, this device runs on Android so there’s full access to all the apps available on Google’s Play Store.

Now, before you get too excited, it’s not exactly cheap with the Duo 2 starting from a hefty £1,349. If that hasn’t put you off it will be available later next month in Obsidian and Glacier colours.

Speaking about the Surface Duo 2, Pete Kyriacou, VP, Microsoft Devices, said “Designed to showcase the power of Microsoft 365 in your pocket, Surface Duo brings dual-screen productivity and entertainment with you wherever you go. When Surface Duo launched last year, we pushed the boundaries of what a mobile device could be. With Surface Duo 2, we’re pushing that vision even further while offering the core capabilities people expect from a modern premium smartphone.”