On 6 December 2021, the Surface Duo 2 received its biggest update so far.
Microsoft Office: Word,Excel, PowerPoint & More.The Surface Duo 2 also ships with the following Microsoft applications: Dual displays with 90Hz adaptive refresh rate.You’ll also hear some justification for the dual-screen form factor, with Microsoft findings suggesting using two screens side-by-side reduces the mental workload compared to single-screen devices or foldables. The five-minute clip covers design, software, multitasking and more, making it worth watching if you’re a current or prospective Duo 2 owner. With the company expected to focus on software rather than releasing the Duo 3 in 2022, this bodes well for existing and prospective owners of the current generation. The Duo 2 is the obvious candidate, but it may also be available for theīut a recent Windows Central video claims the Duo 2 is good right now, following several recent software updates from Microsoft. In aīlog post from March 2022, the company confirmed that a planned update to devices from Samsung, Lenovo and Microsoft will begin ‘later this year’.
Our full review, but that might not be the case for much longer.Īndroid 12L was first announced by Google in 2021, and is designed to make the OS feel more optimised for tablets and foldables. Reddit have been positive, with users reporting a faster, bug-free experience. Microsoft simply says the update “improves device stability”, with no mention on how this is achieved. However, with early reviews suggesting software is once again the major sticking point, Microsoft has released a substantial update for the Duo 2.
The Duo 2 runs on Android 11 and comes pre-loaded with the full range of Google apps (Assistant, Calendar, Maps, Photos etc.), while also offering core Microsoft apps too including Edge, OneDrive and Teams. The single panel spans 5.8in (1344×1892) and reaches 8.3in (2688×1892) when fully open, adds a fifth of an inch more to the original size. The Duo 2 preserves the AMOLED display quality of the original Duo, but the panels are larger. Of course, mobile productivity gets a boost with 5G – whether that’s for calls or collaborating on Microsoft 365 or accessing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and using the Duo as an on-screen controller. With two displays, Microsoft promises the Duo will allow running two apps simultaneously, dragging and dropping between screens (in supported apps), creating App Groups for the apps you use most often, note taking and sketching and optmized display experiences with recreational apps such as TikTok, Kindle and Spotify. The step up in performance specs isn’t a surprise given how much Microsoft touts the Duo 2’s productivity benefits. There’s also the welcome boost to 8GB RAM (from the original Duo’s 6GB), making the handset all the performance-driven whether that with gaming or multitasking across demanding apps.