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Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Ready for Release but Still Flawed
In 2020, Microsoft launched the Surface Duo — running Android with a foldable design, w/o a foldable display. It missed the essence of foldable’s, a smartphone large enough to enjoy videos without a seam in the middle. Despite Microsoft’s multiple attempts, the Windows platform never achieved what Android or iOS could, and eventually died a slow death. Microsoft’s smartphone division, which was formed by acquiring Nokia, ceased to exist. While the hardware on the Surface Duo was excellent, it was let down by poor software and a sub-par camera. Now, a year later, Microsoft is expected to launch the Surface Duo 2 
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The current details about the device are all based on leaks and reports from various sources. Most of the render’s images used in this article are also of the original Surface Duo, while the hands-on images are presumably of the Surface Duo 2. Until more confirmed information flows out, here’s what we can expect from the Microsoft Surface Duo 2.
Since the phone came out almost a year later after its announcement, the internals couldn’t compete against more recent phones. Hopefully, this time around, Microsoft gets the pricing right or has improved its hardware and software enough to justify the asking price. As far as availability is concerned, the Surface Duo 2 would mostly go on sale first in the US and then launch in other regions.
Since the phone came out almost a year later after its announcement, the internals couldn’t compete against more recent phones. Hopefully, this time around, Microsoft gets the pricing right or has improved its hardware and software enough to justify the asking price. As far as availability is concerned, the Surface Duo 2 would mostly go on sale first in the US and then launch in other regions.
The Surface Duo 2 is expected to retain a similar form factor and design language as the Surface Duo but with some much-needed changes and improvements. The phone is still rumored to have two separate screens separated by a hinge instead of an actual folding display as seen in the leaked images by Tech Rat. The Surface Duo was one of the thinnest phones when unfolded and Microsoft would probably like to stick to that sort of form factor even with the second iteration.
The major change in design comes in the form of an actual camera module on the rear of the phone. This was absent on the original Surface Duo since Microsoft relied on an internal camera to take pictures. The camera was sub-par and especially when you factored in the asking price, it came nowhere close to what other OEMs were offering at the time. In a world where a triple or a quad-camera setup is the norm, a poor quality single camera just didn’t make the cut. Hence, there’s now an actual camera module just like on normal phones.
The added camera module would mean the phone can no longer be shut flat on its back like last year. This can hinder the experience when you want to use just a single screen by folding the other half back. The Surface Duo is expected to come with the same two-display design with both halves separated by a hinge. This design isn’t as polished as what you get with a true foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 since there’s no real obstruction in the view. A foldable display provides a much more seamless experience, especially while viewing content on the display. The Surface Duo 2 isn’t specifically meant for content consumption though and is primarily aimed at folks who multi-task a lot on their devices and perform productivity tasks like editing documents, browsing the web while taking notes, going through a presentation while on a video call, etc. For these sorts of use cases, the dual-display implementation on the Surface Duo might just make sense. The original Surface Duo had pretty thick bezels which made the phone look dated and didn’t seem to be in line with the bezel-less design most phones are going for recently. Hopefully, with the second-gen Surface Duo, Microsoft addresses these smaller things and updates the device to look more modern and up-to-date.
The Surface Duo 2 would be Microsoft’s flagship phone for the year, which makes it safe to assume the internals will also be flagship-grade. This wasn’t really the case with the Duo last year, since the release schedule meant the phone came with the previous year’s specifications. Hopefully, that won’t be the case this time with the Surface Duo 2, and we should ideally get to see a true flagship smartphone, even in terms of what’s under the hood.
Going by this logic and a recent Geekbench listing, the Surface Duo 2 might be powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC accompanied by 8GB of RAM. This is in line with most other flagship phones launched in 2021. The device is expected to run Android 11 with Microsoft’s customization and some added features on top to let you take advantage of the two displays. Of course, with the new chip, you’ll also get 5G connectivity.
Cameras
The original Surface Duo was a major letdown in the camera department, and we can only hope the Surface Duo 2 makes up for it this time. Going by the leaked images, it seems like the device will have an actual camera module this time around with a triple camera setup. While the specifications of the individual cameras are unknown, it’s safe to assume the primary camera will mostly be accompanied by an ultra-wide-angle lens and probably a telephoto camera for optical zoom.
The internal camera which was used on the first-gen Duo to take all pictures will still probably remain and could be used for selfies as well as video calls. A proper camera setup just like other phones will ensure the Surface Duo appeals to the average consumer for whom even the cameras play an important role, other than just being able to multitask on a device with two screens.
Realme usually launches two numbered series phone families each year, a tradition that dates back to its very first launches. It launched the Realme 1 and 2 in 2018, the Realme 3 and 5 families in 2019, and the Realme 6 and 7 range last year.
It’s since launched the Realme 8 series this year, and so you’d think that the Realme 9 family would be on the way later in 2021. Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has now told GSMArena that this will not be the case. Sheth cited the global chip shortage as being a reason for the Realme 9 series being delayed. “We have resolved this through close discussion with chipset makers and Realme 9 series will come to users in 2022,” the executive was quoted as saying. Sheth has claimed, that all the remaining Realme launches in 2021 are proceeding as planned.
Realme isn’t the only company to be affected by the industry-wide chip shortage though, as Samsung apparently delayed the Galaxy S21 FE’s release due to this shortfall as well. The low-cost JioPhone Next, made as part of a partnership between Google and Reliance, has also reportedly been delayed from its September 10 launch.
The major change in design comes in the form of an actual camera module on the rear of the phone. This was absent on the original Surface Duo since Microsoft relied on an internal camera to take pictures. The camera was sub-par and especially when you factored in the asking price, it came nowhere close to what other OEMs were offering at the time. In a world where a triple or a quad-camera setup is the norm, a poor quality single camera just didn’t make the cut. Hence, there’s now an actual camera module just like on normal phones.
The added camera module would mean the phone can no longer be shut flat on its back like last year. This can hinder the experience when you want to use just a single screen by folding the other half back. The Surface Duo is expected to come with the same two-display design with both halves separated by a hinge. This design isn’t as polished as what you get with a true foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 since there’s no real obstruction in the view. A foldable display provides a much more seamless experience, especially while viewing content on the display. The Surface Duo 2 isn’t specifically meant for content consumption though and is primarily aimed at folks who multi-task a lot on their devices and perform productivity tasks like editing documents, browsing the web while taking notes, going through a presentation while on a video call, etc. For these sorts of use cases, the dual-display implementation on the Surface Duo might just make sense. The original Surface Duo had pretty thick bezels which made the phone look dated and didn’t seem to be in line with the bezel-less design most phones are going for recently. Hopefully, with the second-gen Surface Duo, Microsoft addresses these smaller things and updates the device to look more modern and up-to-date.
The Surface Duo 2 would be Microsoft’s flagship phone for the year, which makes it safe to assume the internals will also be flagship-grade. This wasn’t really the case with the Duo last year, since the release schedule meant the phone came with the previous year’s specifications. Hopefully, that won’t be the case this time with the Surface Duo 2, and we should ideally get to see a true flagship smartphone, even in terms of what’s under the hood.
Going by this logic and a recent Geekbench listing, the Surface Duo 2 might be powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC accompanied by 8GB of RAM. This is in line with most other flagship phones launched in 2021. The device is expected to run Android 11 with Microsoft’s customization and some added features on top to let you take advantage of the two displays. Of course, with the new chip, you’ll also get 5G connectivity.
Cameras
The original Surface Duo was a major letdown in the camera department, and we can only hope the Surface Duo 2 makes up for it this time. Going by the leaked images, it seems like the device will have an actual camera module this time around with a triple camera setup. While the specifications of the individual cameras are unknown, it’s safe to assume the primary camera will mostly be accompanied by an ultra-wide-angle lens and probably a telephoto camera for optical zoom.
The internal camera which was used on the first-gen Duo to take all pictures will still probably remain and could be used for selfies as well as video calls. A proper camera setup just like other phones will ensure the Surface Duo appeals to the average consumer for whom even the cameras play an important role, other than just being able to multitask on a device with two screens.
Realme usually launches two numbered series phone families each year, a tradition that dates back to its very first launches. It launched the Realme 1 and 2 in 2018, the Realme 3 and 5 families in 2019, and the Realme 6 and 7 range last year.
It’s since launched the Realme 8 series this year, and so you’d think that the Realme 9 family would be on the way later in 2021. Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has now told GSMArena that this will not be the case. Sheth cited the global chip shortage as being a reason for the Realme 9 series being delayed. “We have resolved this through close discussion with chipset makers and Realme 9 series will come to users in 2022,” the executive was quoted as saying. Sheth has claimed, that all the remaining Realme launches in 2021 are proceeding as planned.
Realme isn’t the only company to be affected by the industry-wide chip shortage though, as Samsung apparently delayed the Galaxy S21 FE’s release due to this shortfall as well. The low-cost JioPhone Next, made as part of a partnership between Google and Reliance, has also reportedly been delayed from its September 10 launch.