Microsoft Surface Duo & The Future of Phones

My Enduring Obsession

I first discovered the Surface Duo a year ago when I was searching for a replacement for the phone I broke. As someone who doesn’t usually pay attention to ads, or want to give a brand the satisfaction of being interested in their product because of an ad, I was surprised to be blown away and immediately enamored by this phone of the future.

Like all great products, the Surface Duo was controversial from the start. The folding phones of rivals were only just starting to gain acceptance by the public as their issues were being slowly resolved, and the Surface Duo broke into the phone scene like a giant clumsy horse that barely knew how to walk.

It wasn’t originally advertised as a phone, and it’s clear why. The launching specs were subpar and the software wasn't complete. After reading reviews and watching YouTubers show it off, I raced to BestBuy to check it out myself; the floor model was an absolute disaster and could barely function for more than a couple minutes. It was cringeworthy how buggy it was when I tried to show it off to my partner so they could understand why I was so excited about it.

Despite all its issues, I was hooked and the Surface Duo was building a small but loyal following. I explored a subreddit devoted to it, now home to over 6,000 redditors, and enjoyed the energy of fellow fanatics. The Surface Duo promises a new perspective of what a phone is and could be. Rather than trying to suck you in and addict you to it, the Surface Duo aims to make using your cell phone a more conscious act, making it a tool once more.

Its strength lies in its focus on productivity above all else. With its native Microsoft environment, it makes utilizing their apps easier and more convenient than normal. It practically makes it a pocket-sized computer. With the optional Surface pen that can be used with it, you can draw and write as easily if it were a tablet.

While other phones have dabbled in letting you use multiple apps at the same time, the Surface Duo takes it to the next level with its dual screen capabilities. Having two screens attached with a hinge, rather than a screen that literally folds in half, will allow the Surface Duo line to advance faster and easier than its competitors. Instead of having to invent a new kind of screen, or having to worry about that screen giving out eventually, the Surface Duo relies on the tried and tested setup that the Nintendo DS employed. This will be much easier for the company to work with and much easier for consumers to deal with.

At the end of the day, all phones have their drawbacks. The Surface Duo isn’t just a phone, but a reinvention of our relationship with the technology itself, and is an experience of the future of the industry. While some companies, like Apple, just seem to release a slightly tweaked version of the same thing every year, Microsoft took a risk and gave the world something truly unique and fascinating to behold.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to buy my own Surface Duo yet due to a constricted budget, but plan to whenever my current one eventually dies. Instead, I chose a Samsung Note 9 (256 GB storage, 8 GB of RAM) at a much lower price of $350. At the time I needed to replace the one I ran over on my moped, the Surface Duo was still new and selling at full price, much to my enduring chagrin.

Specs

Although you may be familiar with the specs of a phone that came out nearly a year ago, I would be remiss if I didn’t include it here for you.

• Operating system: Android 10
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
• Memory: 6 GB of RAM
• Storage: 128 or 256 GB
• Display: Dual PixelSense Fusion Displays: 5.6” AMOLED, 1800x1350 (4:3), 401 PPI | Display Material: Corning Gorilla Glass
• Camera: 11 MP (front & rear)
• Connectivity: WiFi-5, Bluetooth 5.0
• Power: 3577 mAh dual battery
• Dimensions: 145.2 mm (H) x 186.9 mm (W) x 4.8 mm (T), 145.2 mm (H) x 93.3 mm (W) x 9.9 mm (T at hinge)
• Mass: 250 grams

How to Get Your Own

With the Surface Duo 2 set to come out in the next couple months, the original is likely to get bigger discounts as time goes on. Starting at $1400-1500 originally, the Surface Duo (new) now starts at $700, if you buy the most premium version. If you’d prefer a brand new one from Microsoft itself, you can get yours here. Otherwise, I would recommend buying it used from another source; you’ll be able to get it at new or almost-new quality for a much lower price. Swappa is what I prefer when looking for new electronics, it’s where I got my current phone at an extremely affordable price and even got three months of service free as part of a special promotion.

Wherever you get yours, make sure to verify all the details to make sure you get the 256 GB version, instead of the smaller one (gross), since you’ll need all the space you can to keep all your selfies and articles you’ll write with your new office upgrade. Verify its condition and any accessories; meet your seller in a safe place (if buying used locally) and check that it works before buying - it’s going to be your new best friend, so don’t compromise and don’t overlook any important information.