Foldable.
Double screens.
Multimode devices.
Whatever you want to call them, one thing is clear: the future of the cell phone seems to have more screens.
We have seen different approaches.
Samsung has stuck with its truly foldable screen, as we've seen in the Z Flip, Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Fold and Z Fold 2. LG offers its dual-screen accessory, which is a case that brings a separate screen.
And then there's Microsoft with the Surface Duo a dual-screen device designed for productivity.
After more than two weeks with the Surface Duo we have to admit that we are impressed.
Not only is it one of the most different devices of 2020, but it has some of the best hardware and design tricks of any device we've ever tested.
Priced at $ 1,399.99 unlocked with 128GB of storage or $ 1,499.99 with 256GB, it's not for everyone.
It's at the top tier of smart phones and, coincidentally, at the bottom end of foldables.
But let's dive into the Surface Duo, starting with its design.
The hinge is a real touch of genius
PHOTO: Jacob Krol / CNN
What gives a phone or any device the ability to fold?
Well, the hinge, and it's probably the most important feature of any folding or dual-screen device.
The hinges aren't new to the Surface rig, and since it's not a one-piece screen, the formula is less complex than a Galaxy Z Fold 2. The screen doesn't actually fold or bend;
Rather, open up the Surface Duo and you'll see two separate 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1800 x 1350 and 401 pixels per inch set to a 4: 3 aspect ratio, which together offer a PixelSense display. 8.1-inch Fusion with 2700 x 1800 resolution and 401 pixels per inch set to 3: 2 aspect ratio.
Two hinges allow 360 degree rotation of these two displays.
The hinge moves effortlessly.
You don't have to force anything and it responds to whatever direction you need, but it also has the ability to stop and hold in that position.
You can configure it as a tent to view content on one of the screens or to take a video call on a platform such as Duo, Teams or Skype.
You can flip one screen on the back of the other to use the camera or one-handed phone experience, or place it like a laptop.
But the point is, it's easy to find the position you want.
There is also no noise when opening or closing.
There is, yes, a gap between the screens that also acts as a boundary between two applications.
The design of the materials is very good.
The display glass is strong and quality, the hinge is silver stainless steel, and the exterior glass panels have a glacier finish that creates a smooth white color.
The front of the phone has a small silver and mirror-finished Microsoft logo in the center.
There is a USB-C port at the bottom, which is technically at the bottom of the right screen.
The right side of the right screen also has a fingerprint sensor, a power button, and a volume controller.
The Surface Duo comes with a matching protector that is attached with an adhesive on the side.
It is made of a rubber-like material.
If you don't like color, Microsoft will eventually release other color options.
There is also something to be said for the lack of a screen at the front.
We have referred to the Duo as a Moleskine notebook, and the way to use it is quite similar.
You need to physically open the device to interact with it.
And like a Moleskine, you can pair the Surface Duo with a Surface Pen.
We've been testing it with the Surface Slim Pen, and while it wasn't a very well integrated feature, you can magnetically attach the pen to the front or back of the Duo.
The magnets used here are not designed for this, they are there to help keep the phone closed, but it is an option.
A little bit of Microsoft here and a lot of Android there
PHOTO: Jacob Krol / CNN
Surface Duo runs Android 10 with Microsoft customizations.
We have also received an early version of the Day 1 software update, which will be released to customers on September 10.
If you've used Android in the past, it will look vaguely familiar.
The Google Assistant search bar is in the center and above it has a clock and weather widget, courtesy of Microsoft, and there's an app dock at the bottom.
Covers both screens when open, with three apps on each side.
However, you can easily put six on one side if you decide to do so.
You will notice a mix of Microsoft and Google apps.
And there is a strong link to Microsoft 365 services.
Outlook, OneNote, Edge, Teams, OneDrive, Office, Bing, LinkedIn, Skype, To Do, News, Authenticator, Company Portal, and Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard are pre-installed.
The usual assortment of Google apps is here too: PlayStore, Google, Chrome, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Drive, Duo, and many others.
Arguably, however, one of the biggest software additions is Application Pools, essentially a mini-folder of two applications, one on the left and one on the right, which will automatically open together.
When we first set up, we opted for email and Twitter, allowing us to quickly sort or handle any urgent requests that may have come in while also keeping up with the ever-changing world.
We called that morning briefing.
But you have the ability to make as many combinations as you want (and call them whatever you want).
We also enjoy the combination of Slack on the left and Outlook on the right, for example.
And it's a unique take on multitasking, no doubt.
You can open a group of applications and dive right into the environment you expect.
Let's say you start with messages on the left but open a web page, you can have it open on the right, this way it doesn't take you out of an app.
As Microsoft Product Manager Panos Panay would say, it keeps you in your workflow.
It's practical.
Unlike the iPhone, which would handle that request by closing messages and opening the web browser, this allows you not to lose your concentration on a task.
Microsoft also promises monthly updates to the Surface Duo to eliminate bugs and improve the experience.
It is necessary;
It is a first generation product, so you should expect some hiccups.
Surface Duo uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 mobile platform with 6GB of RAM.
It works well with a variety of applications that we have been running.
Things are not as instant as on the Note 20 Ultra, but Slack, Outlook, Gmail, Edge, Facebook, Twitter, Chartbeat, Trello, TikTok, Amazon, Kindle, CNN, Chrome, and a host of other apps all worked without a hitch.
We rarely encounter problems with the performance of the application.
PHOTO: Jacob Krol / CNN
There are some cases where applications, particularly streaming apps like Netflix, that run on one side will stop when you are also using the right side.
We expect app developers to update apps to work on devices like the Duo, but that's part of the difficulty Microsoft faces.
They can update the Android kernel and gestures, as well as their own apps for Duo, but many of the other optimizations fall to third-party developers.
And since there's no screen on the front, you'll feel the Duo vibrate or rattle with notifications, but you need to open it up to see what's going on.
If you open the screen slightly, a peek view will appear to show you the date and time, but it doesn't do much for us.
We found that the fingerprint sensor on the side was also quite sensitive.
Made it easy to unlock while the Duo was deployed and jump right into the action.
When you only have one screen in use (when it's fully folded), a two-finger tap is enough to change which screen is on.
We had some notable issues in this area and we hope Microsoft will fix it soon.
There may also be a slight delay when rotating the device or changing the orientation.
(Pro tip: Make sure auto-rotate is enabled.)
The other mode, holding one screen flat and the other vertically with the Duo at a 90-degree angle, the setup looks like a laptop and was great for responding to emails and writing content.
Don't buy this for photos
PHOTO: Jacob Krol / CNN
You shouldn't buy the Surface Duo for photography.
It has only an 11 megapixel camera that sits above the left screen.
We like to believe that it does its best, and while it works for video calls, it is not good at photography and video capture.
We have encountered slow shutter speeds and times that you were unable to take a photo or capture video.
And when we got the Duo to take a photo, the results varied.
At the Central Park Zoo in New York City, it was difficult to get a clear shot that had the correct detail and lighting balances.
Zooming made us get some pretty blurry shots.
You won't find many shooting modes either, and that's honestly okay, we just wish the camera performed better.
For video calls it works fine.
Unfortunately we cannot call this a good camera.
The Duo sometimes takes a good photo and sometimes leaves us scratching our heads.
We'll keep testing it, but we're not sure how much it can be improved with just software.
Lastly, getting the camera to display on the correct screen when rotated can take some time and makes it difficult to snap a photo quickly.
Solid battery life for two displays
PHOTO: Jacob Krol / CNN
Since we received the first software update shortly before this review was published, we are still running our full CNN Underscored battery test on the Surface Duo.
Inside the Surface Duo is a dual 3577mAh battery;
cells are divided between the left and right sides of the device.
It all goes back to the wild amount of detail paid to hardware design and internal engineering.
Microsoft includes an 18-watt fast charger with a long USB-C to USB-C cable in the box.
However, the Surface Duo does not support wireless charging of any kind, so you will have to connect it to the power.
But luckily the battery life has been solid.
We've been averaging six to eight hours of screen time, but if you're planning intense tasks, carry the charger with you.
conclusion
The Surface Duo is incredibly practical.
It is also clearly a first generation device with bugs that need to be fixed.
But for $ 1,399 you get the best hinge we've tested on a foldable device and a cell phone that's great for productivity.
We really like the nature of running two apps side by side and maximizing one app that fills both screens.
It is not a device for everyone, but it is clear that Microsoft has found something interesting.
For those who want the latest or need more productivity, the Duo makes perfect sense and deserves to be considered.
Just be prepared to find a few bugs along the way and don't set the bar high for the camera.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.