Surface Duo 2: I'll take it seriously when Microsoft does

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central | Jez Corden

Microsoft recently launched the Surface Duo 2, hitting U.M. markets at a like speed to U.South. markets for a modify. Our exec editor Daniel Rubino reviewed the device, noting that while the form factor may non be for most people, the hardware enjoyed a sizeable leap.

Having previously tried out the kickoff Surface Duo and remaining intrigued despite its issues, I couldn't resist picking up a Surface Duo two equally someone desperate to rediscover a Microsoft that gives a crap about mobile phones. Later on a few days with the device, I'm deplorable to say that my quest for rediscovery may have to continue.

I asked recently if Microsoft actually serious about the Surface Duo, and unfortunately, the Surface Duo 2 convinces me that it isn't.

Can't judge a volume by its cover

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Central | Jez Corden

The Surface Duo 2 is a gorgeous device, and nobody can take that abroad from Microsoft. The impossibly thin chassis, meticulous hinges, and off-black obsidian coloring and glass shell make for a truly impeccable device. I've seen some people complain most how smudge-decumbent the blackness version is, and certain, it can exist smudgy, just that's hardly a deal-billow, especially if you lot programme to put a case on information technology.

I was worried the photographic camera crash-land would interfere with the experience, and it does to some degree, only I become the trade-off. Instead of concluding year'south truly bottomless camera assortment, nosotros have something that at least passes for competence in 2022, with broad-angle and telephoto capabilities in tow. The photographic camera samples won't blow your mind, and low light operation is a lot grainier than my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, but it's adequate, at least if the rest of the phone functions equally advertised. Sadly, it just doesn't.

Almost immediately out of the box, I was given bitter flashbacks to Windows 10 Mobile and its middling, buggy OS experience. It had apps that weren't properly designed for the platform, random features that didn't work properly, and a telephone that got weirdly warm.

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Primal | Jez Corden

The Bluetooth interference that cratered my Surface Duo 1 experience has, sadly, returned in the Duo 2. I don't know if it'due south the antenna positioning or my jeans are somehow too thick, just once again, the Duo 2 is unusable for music with the phone in your pocket. It'southward certainly possible I have a faulty unit, given that our exec editor Dan Rubino hasn't seen like issues, merely at that place are other problems that are far more pervasive.

Even if you disregard the astronomical price, the Surface Duo two OS experience is simply unacceptable.

One of the biggest annoyances with this telephone is the functioning. Despite how it beats basically every Android phone out there in benchmarks, it seems that memory leaks caused by the Bone reduce multi-tasking functioning to a painful crawl while taking a video phone call on 1 screen and attempting to apply apps on the other. My Galaxy Z Fold 3 runs not two, but three apps simultaneously without even the vaguest hint of performance degradation, video phone call or not.

At that place's also a litany of other annoying bugs and broken features that make the feel completely unacceptable in a telephone this expensive. I've had issues where the keyboard simply deciding it wasn't going to piece of work anymore, displaying an empty gray box where SwiftKey should be until I close and reopen the app in question. The Amazon app randomly decided information technology wasn't going to work anymore, ignoring all taps and interactions. And finally, the touch response continues to be laughably bad.

Information technology sucks because this telephone might be the all-time way to experience Xbox Game Pass deject gaming, thank you to the full-size touch gamepad yous get on the lesser brandish. However, information technology'south rendered pointless if it can't actually detect my taps when I need to country that crucial attack. Even if you lot disregard the astronomical price, the Surface Duo 2 OS feel is just unacceptable.

Is Microsoft serious most this thing?

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Fundamental | Jez Corden

I primarily use the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 to frame my comparisons, since it is effectively the Duo 2's closest competitor. I wrote in my Galaxy Fold vs. Surface Duo article that the Duo'southward grade cistron does come with some advantages over the Fold, and that sentiment remains true. The Fold apps multitask in siloed sections, whereas the Duo's dual-screen setup adds scope for split programs to interact with each other more than seamlessly... at to the lowest degree in theory. It doesn't help that taps don't register the first, second, or even the third time on occasion.

The well-nigh egregious part of this feel is the fact most of these criticisms were present in the Surface Duo i. The crappy Bluetooth stability. The weak touch on detection. The generally unpolished, unfinished feel. Why didn't Microsoft address any of this feedback? Is it not reading the reviews or looking at YouTube? Is it ignoring Reddit? Is there anyone at Microsoft fifty-fifty actively using this phone? I accept no thought, and I have no idea considering Microsoft is and then irritatingly secretive virtually it.

Surface Duo 2 Jez 2022 Source: Windows Cardinal

Somebody needs to allow the Surface squad know that it'southward a long way from being Apple tree. Apple tree has this aura of smugness, allowing it to shrug off criticism for selling wheels for $1,000 and napkins for $15. It does this by only ignoring, well, everyone. And to some caste, it's earned that arrogance by way of being a trillion-dollar company known for making largely polished products a huge portion of the population use and dear. Surface takes a similar radio-silence arroyo to its community while selling its products for Apple prices and without beingness anywhere nigh Apple's quality level.

Somebody needs to let the Surface team know that it's a long style from existence Apple.

When Xbox torpedoed its make in 2022, it launched a well-nigh decade-long entrada to reconnect with its customers and fans in an endeavor that is still ongoing today. The Xbox squad is generally forthcoming with updates to its products via the Xbox Insider Program, with the vast majority of its executive leadership team engaging consistently and directly with Xbox customers on Twitter and Reddit. I am past no ways suggesting the Surface applied science team needs to get on socials in their personal fourth dimension, but it couldn't aid to accept some form of community managers or community engagement that goes beyond the very basic marketing presence the brand has on Twitter and Instagram. Taking the easily-off Apple-style approach is admittedly the wrong position.

We know virtually nothing almost update timing plans to the Duo i or 2, save for the odd leak nosotros occasionally become via my colleague Zac Bowden. We know nada virtually the roadmap of products or services Microsoft intends to build to enhance its Android presence. SwiftKey, OneNote, the Microsoft Launcher, and various other Microsoft Android apps have barely had a meaningful update in what feels like forever. Instead, we got a Microsoft "Start" app, with Microsoft hoping that nobody would notice that it'south literally but the Bing app with a new name. How can Microsoft expect to exist able to sell these devices for north of £ane,300 while putting in what appears to exist the bare minimum attempt?

I'll accept it seriously when Microsoft does

Beloved Surface,

If you desire to develop the Surface Duo line iteratively, do it with u.s., the community. Y'all haven't earned the right to ignore the people essentially acting as unpaid testers for your one-half-baked vanity projects yet.

I wanted to dear the Duo ii, and certain, the Surface Duo 2 went all in on addressing some of the nigh obvious complaints like the lack of a real photographic camera. The Duo 2 inking experience, I felt, was also superior to the Galaxy Fold 3. Notwithstanding, the fact some of the smaller day-to-day usability complaints accept been completely ignored absolutely blows my mind.

In an Android world dominated past mature Samsung experiences, why is Surface failing at the very bare nuts like touch and Bluetooth, things that even very dead Android OEMs like BlackBerry TCL and HTC could smash? How is it the Surface squad can way the about elegant hinge in the history of technology, but spiral upward basics white characterization phones sold on Wish.com for 100 bucks seem to land with ease? I call up I've fabricated my point.

I volition accept the Surface Duo line seriously when Microsoft does.

An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

UH OH

An internet connection will presently be required when setting up Windows eleven Pro

Microsoft has announced that afterwards this year, users will be required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup experience on Windows eleven Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Dwelling since launch last October, and Windows 11 Pro is now expected to follow suit soon.

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Looking for a case to protection your shiny, new, and very expensive Surface Duo 2? We've got you lot covered with a circular upwardly of the best Surface Duo 2 cases y'all can find. Unfortunately, there aren't many (however) simply we'll keep updating this post with new products every bit we find them!