Microsoft has just revealed its new Surface Duo 2. Unlike last year's phone, this new model includes flagship-level specs, like a Snapdragon 888, 5G connectivity, and a triple-camera setup. Pre-orders are open now, with availability set for October 21st. Prices start at an eye-watering $1,500.

SPECS

Chipset

Snapdragon 888

Display

8.3" "Dual PixelSense" AMOLED 2688x1892, or 5.8"/ 1344x1892 when a single display is used, 800 nits

RAM

8GB

Storage

128, 256, or 512GB

Battery

4449mAh

Software

Android 11

Cameras

Primary: 12MP, f/1.7, 27mm equivalent

Telephoto

 12MP, f/2.4, 51mm equivalent

Ultra-wide

 16MP, f/2.2, 12mm equivalent

Front-facing

12MP, f/2.0

Connectivity

5G (including mmWave), Bluetooth 5.1, up to Wi-Fi 6

Misc.

Power button FP sensor, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, supports all "in-market" generations of Surface Pen variants

Price

Starting at $1499

Colors

Glacier, Obisidian

Dimensions

145.2 x 184.5 x 5.50mm while open, 145.2 x 92.1 x 11.0 mm closed

On top of that Snapdragon 888, Microsoft has revealed several other key specs for things like the camera, including a 12MP f1.7 primary with OIS, 16MP f2.2 ultrawide, and a 12MP F2.4 OIS telephoto, paired with a time of flight sensor. The Duo 2 supports 5G connectivity as well — Microsoft called it the thinnest 5G device you can get, but I suspect that's because the company is touting the 5.5mm thickness when folded open. While closed, it's a substantially chunkier 11mm.

There's no Wi-Fi 6E support, but it can do Wi-Fi 6, mmWave 5G, and Bluetooth 5.1, as well as NFC for contactless payments.

The "glance bar."

The new screen has curved edges which are just barely visible when the phone is closed along the hinge — something that Microsoft calls the "glance bar." It's pretty ingenious, actually, and probably one of the few applications for a curved display that our readers might like.

The two-part display is 8.3" from corner to corner when combined and folded open, (5.8" each) and it sports a relatively smooth 90Hz — a bit behind the 120Hz many flagships include now, but smoother than the original's 60Hz displays. Microsoft claims it has a redesigned hinge, and the phone also works with a "pen" that can attach magnetically to the back.

As with last year, there's a fingerprint sensor on the power button, and Microsoft touts using the "toughest glass from Corning" — that should imply the latest Victus glass, but it's actually just Gorilla Glass.

Half of the folding phone game, of course, is software, and the Duo 2 will ship with Android 11, not the upcoming Android 12. Of course, last year's Duo is still just running Android 10, so the new model may be stuck on the soon-to-be-dated version for longer than you might expect. Microsoft claims to be including some features like using the second screen as a dedicated controller for certain titles. Allegedly 150 games are optimized for the dual-screen setup in some capacity. Apps like the built-in camera also make use of both displays to put editing controls on one side and previews of photos on the other, and it will support copy and paste from your phone to Windows 11 — probably via the Your Phone app's existing functionality.

Last year's Surface Duo wasn't particularly well received. In addition to having some build quality issues I anecdotally experienced, the phone was both expensive and included dated internals and a single mediocre camera, issues this new model would seem to fix.

The Duo 2 will be available in both black and gray/silver. Microsoft didn't reveal pricing details at its event, but a pre-order page for the phone claims an October 21st release date, with prices starting at $1,500.