Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 starts shipping on October 22, 2021. The foldable looks to be a significant upgrade over the original Surface Duo, so there will be plenty of things to test out after its release.
Our senior Windows Editor Zac Bowden pre-ordered his Surface Duo 2 a few weeks ago, putting his money where his mouth is (he also bought Surface Duo 1 last year). He has just been charged by Microsoft, meaning it should be in his hands this Thursday, October 21, when it goes on sale. He's in for the black 128GB model and is already gearing up for an unboxing video when it arrives next week (assuming deliveries hit that Thursday).
When he gets the gadget, he'll run through its specs, design, performance, and other core aspects, but with a device as different as the Surface Duo 2, there are bound to be unique angles worth investigating. A niche piece of hardware calls for special attention, which is where you come in — please let us know in the comments anything specific you'd like to see regarding the Surface Duo 2.
Hardware
The Surface Duo 2 has much more powerful specs than its predecessor. Its Snapdragon 888 processor is the same CPU seen in many flagship phones, which should result in dramatically better performance. Are you ever held back by the hardware of the original Surface Duo? Are there combinations of apps you'd like us to try once we have the device in hand?
Moving to the back of the foldable, the triple-camera system of the Surface Duo 2 should be much better than the camera of the original Surface Duo, but judging a camera based solely on its specs is never a great idea. Which scenarios are you most concerned about when it comes to the Surface Duo 2's camera?
Software
Arguably the biggest downfall of the original Surface Duo was its software. Strange bugs plagued it at launch and several linger to this day. Some issues only affect certain devices. Other problems are bound to specific situations that most people won't stumble upon. Are there any bugs from the original Surface Duo you're concerned might crop up on the Duo 2?
Comparisons
Since the Surface Duo 2 is unique, it can be difficult to judge against popular hardware. Are there specific phones or tablets that you'd like to see the Surface Duo 2 stacked up against?
Many people won't be able to compare a Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 side by side. However, once we have the Duo 2 in hand, we'll be able to compare things down to the pixel. Do you want to know how the middle gaps between the devices compare? Perhaps you're curious about how different apps might look on the two devices. For example, some have complained that the bar in the middle of the original Surface Duo cuts content in certain apps. If you're affected by that issue, you may want to see if it sticks around with the Duo 2.
Great expectations
When Microsoft announced all its new Surface hardware, the Duo 2 drew the most interest from our readers. Compared to its predecessor, the spec sheet is better, and the design looks more refined. Now, it's time to see if the Duo 2 meets expectations.
The Surface Duo 2 looks to be a major upgrade over its predecessor. It has a Snapdragon 888 processor, supports 5G, and has NFC. It starts shipping on October 22, 2021.
