14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to launch its very first Android device, despite the company still officially claiming that the Surface Duo is set to go live in the holiday season of 2020.
Announced in late 2019, the Surface Duo is a dual-screen Android device that is supposed to push the Surface lineup beyond the PC market with the same high-quality and premium recipe.
But on the other hand, some of the specs of the Surface Duo could make Microsoft’s device lose the battle for customers seeking a high-end device.
First and foremost, it’s the processor, as the Surface Duo will most likely be powered by the Snapdragon 855 paired with 6GB RAM. Then, according to Microsoft watcher Zac Bowden, the Duo will stick with just one 11-megapixel camera installed at the top of the right display – depending on the position of the screen, it can be used for both selfies and as a rear camera.
The Surface Duo won’t feature 5G despite launching at a time when most manufacturers are going for such capabilities – Apple, for example, is projected to unveil the iPhone 12 in the fall, and all models in the lineup will support 5G.
Dead on arrival?
Surface Duo won’t feature wireless charging either, but instead come with fast charging support. NFC will be missing too, and this means no wireless payments with the Android device.
The battery powering the Surface Duo is likely to be a 3,460 mAh unit, and the aforementioned source says this should guarantee one full day per charge. Of course, this also depends on how you use the Duo, but it’s pretty clear the battery life isn’t impressive.
And last but not least, Android 10 will be installed out of the box, with Android 11 to be offered at a later time as a software update.
Many believe all these specs make the Surface Duo a device that’s likely to be dead on arrival. Certainly, the choice of an old-generation is questionable, to say the least, so it’ll certainly be interesting how Microsoft plans to make the Duo the hit that every Surface product is supposed to become.