Microsoft has officially confirmed the launch of Surface Duo 2, its new folding smartphone with dual screens that comes with 5G network technology, wireless charging and even a ‘smart’ hinge.
Designed to take entertainment and productivity to another level, the new Microsoft Surface Duo 2 arrives with the idea of becoming more than just a phone. The Surface Duo 2 arrives packed with high-end features, plus the promise to make up for the rest of its predecessor’s weak spots.
The new generation has become narrower and has been supplemented with important functions that characterize a modern premium smartphone, as Microsoft calls the device itself — 5G support, NFC for contactless payment and a dynamic triple-lens camera, with which pictures and videos can be recorded in 4K.
Like the previous generation, Microsoft Surface Duo 2 comes with two screens, in this case, 5.8-inch AMOLED and with a refresh rate of 90 Hz each. When joining, the user gets an 8.23-inch panel, ideal for consuming multimedia content in an immersive way. The brightness is up to 800 cd/m². The so-called PixelSense touch displays also support digital input using a pen.
One of the strengths of the two displays is that they allow the Surface Duo 2 to be placed in any position to suit the user’s needs. In terms of design, it highlights its new ‘smart’ Glance Bar hinge that shows important information, such as volume, charge or notifications, without having to open the phone.
Several applications have been adapted to this format, and thanks to the company’s software, two or more apps can now be run at the same time, dragged and dropped so that the user can arrange the windows to their liking, even forming a ‘third screen’.
Inside, Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 wears a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which is accompanied by 8 GB of RAM and 126/256/512 GB of internal storage. It is powered with a 4449 mAh battery that supports 23W fast charging over USB-C and has wireless charging support.
Surface Duo 2 integrates three cameras — a 12 megapixel main, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle and a 12-megapixel telephoto, while on the front it features a 12-megapixel selfie camera. Microsoft has also added photo capture while video is being recorded, being capable of recording at a maximum of 4K at 30 fps and slow-motion at 120 or 240 fps.
Microsoft has confirmed that the new Surface Duo 2 will arrive in the coming weeks in a number of selected markets at a starting price of $1,499.