The Microsoft Surface Duo is a dual-screen Android phone that will be the first smartphone from the company since the Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL, which both ran the now-defunct Windows Phone operating system.
First unveiled last October, rumor has it that the Surface Duo could go on sale this summer. And now it looks like we have a few more details courtesy of a listing on the FCC website.
Update: It’s received Bluetooth SIG certification too.
While the FCC documents don’t refer to the Surface Duo by name, there’s plenty of evidence that this is Microsoft’s dual-screen phone. It’s described as “phablet device,” and testing was done “in four configurations with both screens: folded and closed/open 90 degrees/flat 180 degrees/folded and open.”
Since “both screens” suggests a device with two screens, this is most likely the Surface Duo, unless Microsoft has another dual-screen phablet device in the works.
According to the FCC listing, the device supports WiFi 6, Bluetooth, 4G LTE, and NFC.
No other specs are listed, and Microsoft hasn’t confirmed what hardware the phone will use. But a report from Windows Central earlier this year indicated that we can expect dual 5.6 inch displays with resolutions of 1800 x 1350 pixels each, 6GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 3,460 mAh battery, and an 11MP camera.
Microsoft reportedly went with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor rather than a newer Snapdragon 865 chip, which means the phone will not support 5G networks, and may not be as fast as some newer flagships.
But the phone’s key selling points are the dual displays and the Microsoft software that takes advantage of them by allowing you to span a single app across both displays, run multiple apps in side-by-side windows, or use the lower screen as a keyboard or controller, among other things.
You can also probably expect the phone to come pre-loaded with Microsoft apps including the Microsoft Launcher, Edge web browser, Your Phone app (for pairing the phone with a PC), Skype and Office, among others.
Microsoft hasn’t officially updated its estimated release date for the Surface Duo, so the last we’d heard from the company it would be available in time for the 2020 holiday season. But given the facts that it’s now received FCC certification and that Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay keeps sharing photos of himself using a pre-release Surface Duo, it seems plausible that its will launch soon.
via Droid Life
I’d get it if it ran desktop Windows 10 with decent performance.
I really hope this is a US specific variant. Of the LTE bands supported, only 1 is in use in my country (UK). In other news good to see NFC making an appearance.
“an 11MP battery” – Wow that’s a big battery… I think.
I still think it’s unfortunate this isn’t running Windows 10 either on ARM or x86 (if such a CPU existed for this form factor). For me, this is too big for a phone (I’m using an 2016 iPhone SE) and a great size for a UMPC with built-in LTE (mobile data is cheap for me).
Even with MS’ tweaks, this is still running a mobile-oriented OS with all its drawbacks from my point of view of wanting to run a desktop OS on the go.
I disagree, Windows 10 isn’t fit to be a smartphone OS. It doesn’t allow you to control data usage on your mobile data connection properly. Windows will allow you to control data usage for its own OS updates and OS functions, but theres no way to tell 3rd party software that it isn’t allowed to download a 2gb update whenever it feels like it.
Not to mention the supreme lack of proper apps for some of the most commonly used services, and social media/networking platforms. I personally don’t use any social networking, but I’ve noticed that Windows 10’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter apps are all perpetually 6 months to 1 year out of date, and lack major features. For example, last year a friend pointed out to me that the Facebook app lacks proper support for Messenger, and you need to use a browser to use it correctly.
I could make a list of the top 25 apps on Android and iOS, and I’m willing to venture a guess that less than 10% of them are on Windows 10, and probably less than half of those are in an acceptable state of update.
Also, Windows 10 lacks an app for Youtube and Google Maps. Two services that I would refuse to use the website versions on a mobile device.
Android was the right move for Microsoft here. Transforming Windows 10 into an acceptable Smartphone OS is a stupid idea. They failed to do it with Windows 8, and it cost them a huge amount of money.
A battery less than 3500 mAh for two displays? How long will that last? Even if they opted for the 855 over the 865 and separate 5G modem, it can’t be that long.
Also, it’s interesting looking at the comments on the October story, with several people saying the truly foldable phones meant this would be dead in the water. Nine months (and a few fragile foldables) later, Microsoft’s decision is looking pretty good.
I would imagine that most people will use 1 display most of the time
I only see 1 comment talking about foldable screened phones being better. Everyone else liked the device or want it running a desktop OS instead.
I guess Richard is someone who likes looking down on people by making things up.
I was thinking the same thing about the battery, but for all we know this might be a 12v battery rather than the more typical 5v battery, and 3500mAh might be amazing.