Will you buy Surface Duo for $1,400? (poll)

The video is impressive though. Panos is convincing.

True its mediocre device with mediocre specs from cpu, ram,battery to camera module plus no NFC (im using it for payments at stores) ? Come on !.

Every other device is less functionally different outside of the fold but we all know the compromises being made there... So if this is mediocre, what is everything else that's only had iterations since 2007?

I think it's worth it. I'm definitely buying it .

Yes. Just deciding between 256 vs 125 gb. Too bad they didn't include more accessories at that price.

If you do go for it, I would say definitely 256 gb considering it is only $100 bucks pricier and the Duo has no SD card. I think you will at the least get that difference back when you sell it some day.

Pre-ordered the 256GB, plus surface slim pen and complete care. Been waiting years for this device. Only stopped using WP just over 1.5 yr ago and transitioned to Huawei Mate 20 Pro which is a fantastic phone with an excellent camera, and battery life. Got used to using Android with MS launcher. I find the Kirin 980 chip fast enough and the Qualcomm 855 in Duo is actually faster. Won't match the Huawei in camera or battery life, but the new form factor will be useful for work and play.

I have the mate 30 pro with the cpu comparable to the 855. There is no phone, that's day to day faster. The spec chasers are missing the point to devices which is a hindrance in mobile device growth of modern devices. The duos 855 will be plenty fine with speed. There is no android device that is pushing the max capabilities of these chips. I would dual use with duo.

Cool I wonder how good the slim pen will combo with the duo. I read somewhere else that considering you have to use the charging cradle to charge the slim pen the regular Surface Pen or Surface Hub 2 pen might be handier (/longer battery life, especially the bigger Hub 2 pen which bodies an aaa battery). The 855 is indeed a fine chip and I do not think battery life will be even that low as some other people are rumoring, just average/ok. Camera might be similar to iPhone 8 I think.

I'm going with the older regular pen since I already have it. Would it be cool to have a flat one? Yes but I also think I'll be just peachy with the one I have

Yeah the flat pen can be magnetically attached to one of the screens I believe but that is only useful if you keep the duo in a bag or such (so for most women I guess it is still useful since they have a purse). But considering the Duo also misses a charger for the pen it is not worth it yet I think. Probably next iteration.

I wouldn't want my duo charging the pen just when it's attached... Maybe if they did it where the pen could last 24 hours (I don't know how long it lasts off the top of my head) and only charged by the duo when the duo is charging, that would be fine. For the record, bags and purse aren't relogated to use only by women

"For the record, bags and purse aren't relogated to use only by women", yeah agree ^^ , I meant more that women generally use them more often.

I just went off a few days ago about the price of phones getting ridiculous after the Samsung presentation. Like 13/14/15 - 20 hundred is way to much for ANY mobile device. THESE MANUFACTURERS ARE TRIPPING!!! Im getting this day 1 😏

I completely concur with the current price of smartphones; the prices are breathtaking. Well, at least until the tech equivalent of cupid's arrow pierces our wallets. At that point it is time to get the camping gear out and head out to the nearest Microsoft store to wait for it to show up. Oh, yeah, they don't have stores anymore. Sigh. I always wanted to make a spectacle of myself by getting my mug on the TV while laying around like a rabid Apple fan. Just once. Just once. We got gypped as Microsoft fans. And no, laying around outside of a Best Buy is so absurd except Thanksgiving evening. I just found out I can get $250 for my year old Pixel 3a XL. I am like, oh, pierce my heart and wallet please.

Dang! I forgot about the store closing! I just bought a lot of camping gear for Sept 10 that I can't return because of the suspended return policy due to the global situation

I was able to be in line for the Surface RT, that was fun!

My thoughts exaclty.

After some deliberation, Im confident I'm getting this. But I've decided to wait two months. Not because of reviews (Ill make my own opinions) but because black Friday. Although I'm sure this won't be discounted (fingers crossed it will), I can imagine some bundles will be offered like with earbuds and/or pen (hoping buds bc I have old pen already. Wouldn't mind the new flat one though if that's what's offered instead of the buds). Knowing Microsoft, they'll bundle in some software instead of hardware though lol like 1 month of office 😂 My prayer to the windows central gods : please give me the strength to not walk into a bestbuy on Sept 10 and purchase the duo + earbuds + pen.

Way too much for a device with such lacklustre specs. I don't know what I'm more disappointed about - the specs or the price! I was really interested in this, but with such a small battery powering 2 screens, low RAM compared to other devices that are similar, no NFC (really??), wireless charging or even 5G, plus those thicc-ass bezels... it's like they are releasing a 4 year old device!

I said no, I wouldn't even if it was $200. So what does this poll question and answers say about our thoughts on the price as the article title suggests?

Uhh...what? IDK what you're trying to say.

He's saying the poll doesn't make sense for a lot of people...

75% of the peeps here wont buy it. (Thats the point). - And MS should know that after burning us with their consumer cuts.

I think almost all of us would buy it if it was cheaper.

Nah... There are cheaper devices that do the work most people need...

Doesn't stop Apple from selling heaps of their overpriced products. I think this is what MS wants to hopefully achieve, create a good device that does what it can do very well.

Apple phones have the best cameras and the best CPUs and they pair with, by far, the best wearable. It is hard, therefore, to argue whether they are or are not are overpriced.

Nonsense about the camera.

And the wearable...

Best camera? What year are you stuck in?

Apple at least has a foothold on a market. They own iOS and their "App Store" and don't have competition. If you want iOS, you pay the premium, even if I refuse to buy from them and don't like their OS or hardware. The Duo isn't quite that lucky. It's Android, which has a massive market. They're not the first foldable to market, or the first dual-screen to market. They're behind on a lot of basic features like NFC, wireless charging, and 5G. They're priced way above a dual-screen V60 and slightly above the Z Flip. Microsoft doesn't have enough of a unique product or a foothold in the mobile market to play the games that Apple does.

No. The price is way too high given the specs. Also given it's size, it's really meant to be a second device that dies not replace a phone, so you still have to expend big bucks on a nice phone. I could get by the lack of NFC or even 5G, but using last year's hardware for the CPU and even older hardware for the camera, I can't get by at anywhere near this price point. I also have reservations about the battery life. I love gadgets and would love to play around with one, but the price would have to be around $750-800 before I would consider purchasing one. MS got so much right, I just don't know what they were thinking using the hardware and price they choose.

I understand why they priced it where they did. I just wish they would have acted in good faith and bundled in some Earbuds and/or a pen. At $1400-1500, they do need to deliver on the experience, and I imagine that the experience is improved by those two accessories.

I'd argue that the experience borders on pointless without the pen, personally. You still have the dual-screen potential, but you can get that from LG as well. The pen experience is the differentiator. In that sense, they really should have bundled it with the device. It's similar to the Surface Pro, where the tablet is more expensive than any laptop it competes with, but then you have to pay another $100-150 for a keyboard and $100-150 for a pen, even though a lot of laptop OEMs will include a pen with your purchase.

The comparisons to that LG with an add-on screen are ridiculous.

I don't use wireless charging or NFC, so the lack of those don't bother me. My S9 has 64 GB of storage with a 64 GB sd card, so the existing storage is good enough for me. The SD855 is enough processor for my needs. 5G doesn't exist where I live. What is going to keep me from buying one is the $1400 price tag. Sadly, that more than I am looking to spend on a phone, especially already owning a Surface Pro 7. I guess I'll go check out the Pixel 4a while I wait to see what happens with a version 2 or 3.

Totally agreed. Sad, because I keep my phones for 3+years. My S8+ is 3.5 yrs old and I held out with hopes of the Duo, but I just can't/won't at that price and specs. I can't hold out for V2, so looks like I'm out until V3, V4, etc if it makes it that far.

I'm the opposite. My phone has 128 GB, but I added a 256 GB microSD card (for $40, vs. the $100 MS charges to add 128 GB of storage) because 128 wasn't going to be enough. The price tag bothers me less than the missing features. I'd pay a premium if it weren't such a compromised device. The upgrade paths are so apparent that it's highly likely the first-gen buyers will see a successor device out in a year that makes them feel like they got a really bad deal for $1,400.

I won't purchase it at that price. Now, besides that, what is the right price and what isn't is a difficult thing to establish. This is a premium, aspirational device, which brings a unique experience. There's nothing else like it.

Right price would have been 1400 if it had packed NFC and wireless charging both. If it lacks both of them then $1000-1100 would be the price most people would be fine to pay. Besides it doesn't even provide any software exclusive features or any kind of software level advantage when used in conjunction with other surface products. So even for surface users it doesn't make sense at $1400 price tag especially when that is the starting price 🤦🏻‍♂️. I mean why not have only one variant of 6+256 especially when they are cost cutting on other aspects.

It might not tie with Surface specifically, but they DO offer a unique software experience...if you pay the extra $150 for the Surface Pen. The pen experience is the differentiator between LG's dual-screen devices, and even the foldables from Samsung and others. However, MS put that selling point behind an accessory paywall.

But LG does have pen support on their dual screen devices. It's Wacom tech and has tilt support, which the Duo left out. Still confused that they made a big to do about tilt support when they brought it to the Surface and left it out on this new device.

This is priced way to high... The dual screen thing is a gimmick right now. I am not saying it does not have massive potential, just right now it is new, unproven, and gimmicky. Most of all it is new. No iPhone user is going to move to this. Now your regular android user, well they can a far more proven design with Samsung, a better camera with the Pixel, etc... Plus it is 2020 and no NFC!?!?!? For a productivity device, no one at MS thought, you know, people do use their phones to pay for things. I can almost forgive no wireless charging, but no NFC at this price point, on a productivity device!?!?! This thing needed to be a lot less expensive to entice people to try the concept. I predict this will not sell well for MS. Finally, I was expecting the Surface Neo to come in at that price. I dare to think what they are going to price that at... $2K or more? Geez...

What is the difference between a gimmick and an innovation? In my mind, a gimmick is something that is only a marginal change, like it being available in Rose Gold. Sometimes the line gets blurred... For instance, lap seat belts in cars don't really protect passengers and the car companies knew it, they were mostly a gimmick to make you think the car was safe. 3-point seat belts make a difference, maybe not an innovation, but defintely a feature. IMO, you are right to say that the two screen feature is unproven and that the lack of other competitive mobile device features are problematic when considering their asking price. I believe that this price point is a test for v2.

It's only offered on AT&T, right? That's a deal breaker for me.

It's sold unlocked through Microsoft and Best Buy. Works with all major carriers in the US and supports loads of bands.

Nope. Should've gone with WiFi-6, bezels too big and no wireless charging making it show stoppers for me. Maybe Duo2...

Of all of the missing things, WiFi 6 is the least meaningful thing to complain about. The overwhelming majority of users don't have WiFi 6 routers. Even of those who do, the vast majority of those don't even have networks that saturate the 802.11ac connection to necessitate upgrading to the ax bandwidth potential of WiFi 6. On top of that, many WiFi 6 router owners probably bought the starter-level routers (meaning you get quickly throttled on bandwidth as you move away from the router) or mesh kits (often without a dedicated backhaul and good multi-device connectivity support to stay near peak speeds) to matter. Very few people actually put up the $400-800 needed to put together a legitimately good WiFi 6 setup, let alone have the $200/month Internet plans needed to make good use of the potential speeds anyway. WiFi 6 is even more niche than 5G, in terms of real-world usability. The vast majority of the time, you're going to have the same performance as WiFi 5, maybe a little better, when doing Internet work. Besides, it's not like many people on a phone are doing data-intensive tasks to justify the high-bandwidth needs associated with WiFi 6 anyway.

Its running Android. Shudder. In 6GB. Double shudder. Not just no, but Hell No. Not even if it came with the earbuds, because I don't need more headphones.

Have you used an Android, my Note 9 has an SD845 with 6GB and that is more than enough for Android.

6 gb on a phone is more than enough I think, my current phone has 4 gb and it never lags/freezes (granted it does have Android One and most apps on the background are disabled).

No, it is not for a 2020 phone with a price tag of over $1400.
YOu must think of keeping that expensive phone for a few years to come.
It is outdated before even got released. What would it be after three years from now?

I don't think they are saying it's more than enough for the price. Just that 6GB is functional on android these days, unlike what Naddy6969 was impling.. Obviously, at $1400, this should be offering 12 or more.

For $1,400 it would have to be perfect. The lack of NFC is a deal breaker

Wanted to, but without NFC and the US only sale made it a no go for me. :(

For this price I will buy two note 9 and then I will have two screens at half the cost. Or I could buy a note 9 and a surface GO, then use phone companion.

I'm excited it came out, I'm excited for the innovation of this device and I'm excited that MS is back in the phone space! I'm disappointed in the initial pricing for no NFC, no wireless charging, no fast charging, no 5G ready, not really future-proofed for the price. Oh and it's not available in Matte Black either. Overall, I'm excited to watch the reviews and box openings and etc but I'll realistically have to wait until it comes down in price. Maybe V2 will come down in price and offer everything the V1 is missing. Time will tell.

no. Will wait for version 2.0

Nah, they're about $200 too high. I was hoping to be at $1,200 with the 256 GB model. I would have been unhappy at $1,300, but probably would have still bought it. At $1,500 for it, it's left "way too expensive, but I'll deal with it" and reached a level that I can't defend. If they have a sale at Black Friday or through a launch sale from AT&T or maybe a bundle with the Pen like the do with the Surface Pro every holiday season, I might change my tune. As-is, the device is too limited in daily functionality to justify the "productivity focus" they're talking up.

Feel exactly the same way. Hopefully, Duo 2 isn't too far behind

Exactly my feelings too concerning the price point.

Let’s not forget this is a Surface device. It will be on near continuous sale $100-200 off.

Do not trust Microsoft with consumer products anymore, especially new category, especially phone!

What makes you think this is a consumer product?

Not having a watch companion is a bummer but not having tap to pay is a deal breaker.

Can you say "no" more than once? Asking for a friend.

I really had been looking forward to buying this since last year's announcement. I can live with wide bezels, but there are too many missing premium phone features for me to justify the premium price point. Plus, looking over all my dead MS tech (Lumias, Invokes, etc.) I have to recommit to not being an MS early adopter. Maybe Duo v3 or v4?

I don't think it is really risky buying this considering it runs a mature OS and if you go in with the expectation that the bulk or 3rd party software will not support the 'spanning' feature (but most MS launcher apps will). The real problem here is indeed that it is overpriced even very noticeably compared to other Surface devices.

While I think that $1400 is too much for what you get, remember, the entire Surface line is pretty pricey for what you get in the internals too.
You are paying for the form-factor and the conveniences that brings more than for the internals of the device.
The same is true here.
This is a "Halo" device (no, not the video-game) that is specifically designed by Microsoft to prod the big OEMs (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer) to begin building their own interpretations of it into their product mix.
Intel has done the same thing with their "Project Athena" line (most people are not aware that Intel directly manufactures and sells laptops) but they don't do it as a revenue stream, more as a engineering prototype service so they can sell the parts to other manufacturers.
Microsoft feels that dual-screen foldables is the "next big thing" so they have put out a device to pave the way for the rest of the industry.
Seen in that light, the price makes sense (but, they should have included the Pen in the price.)

Other Surface devices are arguably better deals I think and all other Surface devices at least have very good form factors for pen usage, or completely unique form factors+specs (Book, Studio) or exceptional input (keyboard/touchpad/touchscreen, Surface Laptop). Duo does not really have that, it misses a build in pen or something like that imo. I am sure there is some use for it, but it is clearly the most overpriced Surface device. I do like your idea of "Halo" device, but I think the problem here is that MS does not deliver the hardware (like with Intel Athena) or software (like with Windows) here. They do deliver an Android skin with some cool dual screen features, but not sure if that is enough to lure any oems.
Especially considering that MS cannot currently hurt any oems with the Duo, I think they should have just released it cheaper to draw more people in their ecosystem too (considering it comes preinstalled with MS launcher / MS apps).

Point taken, but this is I believe ultimately just a "Place Holder" device that they are putting out to fill a market niche until they can get the W10x-powered Duo out the door (late 2021 at the earliest.)
It really does seem to be a half-hearted attempt at a significant new design style after all.
They did nothing to minimize the hinge area, nothing to shrink the massive bezels on the top and bottom, and nothing to the camera, no NFC, barely any "Phone" features to speak of, and very little to add in any "wow" factor. I think they are holding all that back for the Duo late next year.
They also may just be rethinking the entire "foldable" idea what with the debacle that was the Samsung Fold, and all the other "foldables" last year, none of which sold well at all.

That W10X powered Duo 2 you're talking about is exactly what I'm holding out for...!

Not gonna happen

I thought the rumor about 64 gb Duo for $1000 would have been a fair price, but this is overpriced I think compared to other foldables. If it would have come with a pen (either smaller build in or bigger firmly attached by magnets) it would have been tolerable I think. (It would have made a strong case for using software like OneNote on it or art software for final touches on a project)

I have enough burn scars MS already.

I probably wouldn't even pay this much if it was running an adapted version of Windows 10X, and that's the device I really want...

I really wanted to like this device and have more than enough spare cash to pick one up .... BUT .... knowing how MS will turn around and kill a device before properly supporting it and the fact that this misses the boat in obvious ways (no Qi, no NFC, last years specs, sub par camera) I will not buy one. It's early, it could succeed but only time will tell. Good luck MS, your timing was good but you took a swing and missed on too many pitches. Maybe time to look at a fruit phone. Yea, that's not going to happen. An s10 for $749 is a deal in comparison. The same cpu, NFC, Qi charging, a good camera and no gimmicks. Thanks MS, you convinced me.

Name the last surface device they killed. I'll wait

I am sure MS thinks "We will start with a high price, and maximize profit" The truth is they will blow their "initial excitement", and sell only 10% of the devices, compared to an aggressively priced device. They are not the market leader, they should have sold this phone for cost, or even a loss to get some sort of market for future devices..... I predict a dismal failure...no one buys it. I can hear the bad press coming already.. I will wait untill it is two years old, buy it off ebay for $200, and by then someone will have ported Windows 10 for ARM over to it.

So you are anticipating the tech press will pan the Surface Duo because a keyboard isn't included? :)

I am certainly going to wait until a later generation. While the CPU choice and lack of 5G are not problems for me, the omission of such features as NFC, wireless charging, and general lack of dual-screen supporting apps certainly are. With a $1400-$1500 price tag, this is not a device I would be upgrading from anytime soon. I do not have that kind of money to spend on a whim. I treat all my personal devices like business equipment. It is an investment that I want to justify with at least five years of use, if not longer. At such, the features that Microsoft omitted with Gen1 that I do not use much now may become much more important in my activities in the years to come. I do not want to find myself challenged just a year or two in because of a key feature, like NFC, missing. And I do not want to supplement any of those deficiencies by carrying a second phone. If it ever came to that, I might as well leave the Duo at home and carry the second device as my regular thus devaluing purchasing the Duo in the first place. Most importantly is dual-screen app support. Right now, with Gen1, it is just really the Microsoft apps. But I do not just use Microsoft apps. Software and services are king. It may take a couple of generations, but if developers are not at least stirred to experiment this form factor, then Microsoft apps alone will not be incentive enough for me to buy. I am not saying I am not interest in the Duo at all. Just that considering what will be lacking with Gen1, I cannot justify purchasing at that price.

No next generation...!

For the form factor? Of course. You can’t expect single screen smart phone pricing for dual screens. For the specs? Heck no.

At $1,400 i would rather buy another PC, but I'll have to see it in person before deciding. As far as 5G that doesn't even factor in my decision, I switched back to LTE on my current phone.

It's a beautiful looking device and I can't wait to see it it but even with the trade in value of my Samsung Galaxy I wouldn't do it. It needs nfc, wireless charging and a pen included. I also want to know what accessories are available. I'm really looking forward to improvements in version 2 without an increase in price.

Though I find the price just a tad higher than what I hope for (1000 - 1200). I can't buy it either since currently it's US only. 🤷 I think I'll just wait for Surface Duo 2. Hopefully the first gen reached its sales target and they will address the missing things in Duo like lack of NFC, ultra-wide camera (more useful than telephoto Imo), larger screen reaching almost bezelless, IP certification, and Qi Wireless charging. Maybe MicroSD support but that seems hard on how thin currently is. If they use latest SoC in the future, expect 5G with it so I won't really list it as missing since it's inevitable.

Waiting as well getting Note 20 Ultra wife getting my Note10+. Just for price I would rather try the LG Dual screen honestly

It's too much. But I'll still get it. We'll see what the public decides

It's priced as a flagship despite having decidedly unflagship-like specs (camera, battery, even chipset) and features (no nfc, no 5g, no wireless charging, no included pen), which means the 'experience' of having two screens has to justify the markup. Good luck, MS. What a disappointment this price was for me.

What I found that Surface series is meant to expansive if we look closer to the specs. This poll means nothing to me.

I get why it's so expensive, I really do, but Microsoft are taking what is arguably going to be a very niche device and turning into something super niche. I can't see them shifting the Duo by the pallet load, but at the same time, I don't think Microsoft see this as a mainstream device. Maybe they'll be happy with a few hundred thousand sales, and will gather up enough telemetry and user feedback to improve on a second, more for-the-masses device

Sadly there won't even be that much traction at that price, it doesn't look good for a next version with better camera and no freakin bezels.

It's gonna be super sweet

Just some top-of-mind thoughts on the Surface Duo regarding specs, target audience, etc...
> The target audience is not the "oh I gotta have the best specs and best camera". Look at the other products in the Surface line; MS isn't selling top specs, they are selling a cohesive experience. There will be those Day One adopters who have to have-to-have the newest gadget but the real target audience is the mobile workforce: salespeople, C-level execs, real estate pros. The target is *not* the person who needs to take the absolute best insta/twit/fakebook photos. On a smaller scale, they could also be targeting the gaming audience -> a Surface Duo + Ultimate Game Pass with xCloud is a very interesting proposition. Not cheap but interesting... > Specs: MS isn't trying to reach the over-spec'ed gadget g33k - and they don't need the top of the line specs for this device. Will I miss wireless charging? Probably, but I'll make due. NFC? Eh, not really. 100MP 10 lens camera? Looking at the photos I take on a regular basis, likely not. Remember how long it took the Surface Pro to hit its stride, most believe it happened around Gen 3 - but I still enjoyed using (and was quite productive with) the Gen 1 and Gen 2. If you need some of the missing features, you can always wait for a future release (fingers-crossed/hopefully). MS is offering some really generous trade-in allowances for the Surface Duo - heck, they're offering me $250 for my Samsung 8+ - I can't get that *anywhere*, so yeah, I'm taking it! I've also got $400 from Xbox and Microsoft/Bing Rewards points to use. When it comes time for a newer Surface Duo, they'll probably be offering a decent trade-in for the Duo, so I can use that towards a future lifecycle upgrade. This device, its features, its price - it isn't for everyone, and it's not meant to be. But like the original Surface line, it offers ideas and options that will get people's attention...

Interesting thoughts and indeed the rewards etc makes it potentially a decent deal.
Regarding the original surface pro, it certainty did have its charms though for at the time. I still use one as a tablet, but at the time you got an incredible powerful tablet even for the price (using u Intel cpu in a tablet was impressive, others tablets use m/y like CPU's). It also came with a Wacom pen (another big plus) and the kickstand was new.
Now fast forward to the Duo, I really feel it misses something in comparison. The highlight is 2 excellent screens and thinness for a foldable. Spec wise it is slightly outdated but I think potential buyers here have could live with that if it would A) some extra unique feature (like build in pen) or B) lower price so it is on par with price/spec of other Surface products. Or perhaps a lower priced/spec'd entry model so at least the firm factor is somewhat accessible.
At $1400-1500, even products like the Go 2 m3 and ProX make the Duo look really overpriced.
Still am looking forward to possible further iterations of the Duo, I like the concept and potential.

"The target is *not* the person who needs to take the absolute best insta/twit/fakebook photos." Hahahah. If you go the iPhone's 11 Pro's website, pretty much all that is advertised are the camera's. https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=https2F2Fc%2F2... And sure, while the CPU and GPU are a "bazillion times faster" than the previous versions of iPhone, one will hardly notice it being any faster than a "non-intentionally throttled" iPhone 8. Here's a video of a 2020 iPhone SE vs an iPhone 7; in which Geekbench shows the SE having Double the performance, but real world show you it really isn't Double the performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqHHnA-sLOo PS: This post is spot on.

The trade in deals are no joke. According to the website, MS would give me $650 for my Note10. That's the smaller one that no one liked (except me).

They're offering $250 for my S8+ or $650 for my S20+. I like to have a backup device just in case but tempted to trade-in the S8+ since I wouldn't be able to get $250 for it *anywhere* but $650 is a whole lot more dinero lol

Indeed. I have to say working for a carrier in this, I always cringe when I get some little old lady buying a $1500 note just to browse facebook. (Especially when they can't afford it, and then they go off and crash it.) The thing's got a heat pipe in it for crying out loud. Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and make this leap. As much as I used to tout NFC and wireless charging myself my wireless charger has been gathering dust and my NFC payments are handled by my Versa 2. (Which I got because it'll sync with just about anything.) I haven't seen someone use NFC to share a link or file in years, and most manufacturers now ignore that capability anyway. Most headphones and earbuds don't bother having a password beyond 0000. Most watches just tell you to check the phone and watch screens at the same time. NFC, as much as I think it should stick around, is not a deal breaker and hardly anyone uses it. In terms of processing power and whatnot, I'm sorry, but there is *NOTHING* you can do in android that wants those absolute top of the line specs. You're not playing Overwatch at 90FPS, you're playing candy crush and *possibly* some streamed games that depend more on your internet connection than your processor. If your device of even 3 years ago is struggling that much, then something is wrong. (That said, I do so wish it included the pen...But there's a best buy nearby that typically has them.)

Thank you for that nice dose of reality check Polychrome :) Too many people get hung-up on the specs that they don't actually look at what they use the phone for and what it actually needs to be able to do what they need it for. A higher/faster/newer processor would have drained the battery faster. As it is, the SD comes with a better-than-all-day battery (though it will be interesting to see that real-world-tested). Like I said above, this phone wasn't made for everyone - the price alone should tell you that. If you use and need NFC, oh well. Can't live without Qi? Then gen 1 SD isn't for you. No phone is all things to all people. Simply stated, this is a category re-defining piece of tech. I'll be really interested to see reviews and how-tos for it, because I'm positive that I won't have all of its features figured out that first weekend. Windows Central and Android Central can count on a heavy traffic load for the first 60-90 days after release, so they better get-ta-typin'...

I pre-ordered mine last night through ATT.

I would have. But AT&T is the only carrier subsidizing the cost.
And to everyone so eager to tell me that I can buy it unlocked, I'm clearly not as rich as you are. $1400 might as well be $14,000.

What about doing a trade-in through Microsoft? It's too bad they're not offering financing for it through the Microsoft store like they were doing for Xbox.

You can do 24 month no interest financing with the unlocked version as well FYI

I rather spend my coronavirus funds to buy PPE to survive this pandemic...!

I would eagerly pay $1,400 for this form factor with this CPU and w/o 5g, if it had a decent camera, Qi, NFC, and at least basic waterproofing - features I use with my Samsung Galaxy S10. Absent those, I might still pay for it, but no preorder. I'll need to wait for the reviews. I want to want to buy the phone, but I highly value Qi, waterproofing, and at least a decent camera (good enough that I don't need a separate camera for most basic photography). I ascribe some value to NFC, SD Card, headphone jack, and stereo speakers, but those are easier to live without.

Yes, I will / have purchased a Surface Duo. I have been waiting for a device of this type since the Courier. For the last several years the Samsung Galaxy Note has been my "in-pocket" device and I have had several - am connected to the pen. I also have multiple Surface devices and find the pen very useful, and at times, required. If it matters to anyone, I have written code for the last 40 years... and have seen a few things come and go... For my next device, there were 3 choices: Samsung Note 20 Ultra, Samsung Fold 2 and the Surface Duo. The decision factors for me were price, pen and 5G. Price : Note Ultra - $1300, w/pen, w/5G ; Fold2 - $2400, no pen, w/5G ; Surface Duo - $1400, pen available, no 5G. My home base is not 5G ready and it could be 12 - 24 month before it is available. The "city" does provide 5G, in some places. I can wait a while for a 5G ready phone. The price is surely a consideration, but the Surface Duo is at the least expensive end. The pen is a requirement. Do I trust Microsoft to support and update the Surface Duo? Yes. (Today - 8.13.20, Microsoft announced a 3 year support plan for the Duo) I am excited about this device and look forward to what comes next...

Sure, it does not have the most impressive specs for a device at this price level. But it is a new form factor. Remember the price of the fist Surface devices which were expensive too for their specs. That said, I will definitely buy one and try out this form factor. However I will use it mostly for business purposes since this makes the most sense for me right now.

Honestly I came THIIIIIIS close!! At the last second, I realized that as much as I really want this device, it isn't what I REALLY want. I have a Note 10+ which I absolutely love, and will go ahead and use ATT Next to upgrade to the Note 20 Ultra. That will do me for the next few years. With my hand on the 'Go' button to get the Duo, I realized that what I still ultimately want is the Surface Neo. The Duo is basically a miniature version of it, but also one that is missing a few key features (no NFC to use for Boarding Passes, really??). I was always planning to get the Neo when it releases, therefore after thinking about this, it wouldn't make sense to own the Duo and the Neo. Now, a Note 20 Ultra and a Neo makes perfect sense! I get a fully capable smartphone, paired with a device with the coveted dual-screen form factor that runs Windows, on larger screens, that I can actually get some work, play, and reading done much better especially on on the go. Like the Surface Go, it will probably have LTE (or 5G if we're really lucky) and could stand in as a phone as needed. Being able to install windows programs on it is also a big plus to me. Anyway, for me to stop myself from buying a gadget that I was so set on getting is quite significant. It pains me not to get the Duo, but this scenario is better. It really is.
Yet this is all making me want that Neo more than ever now, lol!

N Wouldn't buy it all out. If networks pick it up and offer it on contract there's a slim possibility.

I pre-ordered mine already 😁😁

So maybe I'm missing something but I don't see the poll? Anyways, disappointed in the specs to price ratio. You have a phone that has twice the room inside of a typical slab phone and a price in the top range of all phones and you can't squeeze in every available option even the most basic ones that phones 6+ years ago had? $200 phones today have NFC. Hopefully enough people buy this to ensure a version 2 and 3 but I won't be buying gen 1.

Um.... You don't have twice the room. You have a device that has 2 of everything inside it other then the soc in a chassis that's thinner than traditional slabs actually. Find a pen enabled, dual screen, with this thinness, fit, and finish right now and I'll buy this for you.

It is because of the metal casing I think and possibly the thinness (which is a requirement for this device to offer a good UX) that it lacks NFC. Maybe gen 2 will have it but it seems only a dealbreaker for some people (not everyone uses it).

In my area of the US, I've never seen anyone use it in person. Not 1 time. But we are on a tech enthusiast site so the vocalist are unsurprisingly saying they use it. I don't think they realize they are the ones that are geeks though. Don't get me wrong, I know some place are like NYC transit but it's just being implemented in Philadelphia for example

Yeah there was an article somewhere here which points out that 1% uses it as primary way to pay (at least in the US). Now granted I think relatively (/not absolutely) more of those 1% are going to buy it than those 99%, but still yeah absolutely is quite low number.

That price scares me. I can personally live without NFC and 5G but wireless charging omitted? I think they should have employed a dual battery system like the Surface Book does. Furthermore I am running hard with a Note 9 (punch out camera is not my bag) and I don't think I can justify buying another device that will do the same job (I use OneNote a lot) that potentially will have me reaching for a portable charger well before the day is over...I'll wait for some reviews beforevI make a final decision but for the time being it is no which is sad as I was anticipating this device... Hmmm, maybe I can win one from a Windows Central drawing...

Well, at least MS will sell 500 devices. Lol

Ms is going to sell a lot more. Outside of the ridiculous 'fan' base being ridiculous, they're being met with anticipation. This may be the first niche android thats openly admitted it's about the experience coming together as a whole, something other oems have been marketing (but not actually purposely building for rather than being a jack of all trades) for years since we reached smartphone maturity a while ago. Like flagship chips have been fast enough for years. There is nothing that pushes full utilization of the 855. You would have to set out to build a bad device for it to be a bad device running Android. Oems know this and is why they started marketing for differentiation. We actually get a device that is different by design and purposely focusing on the totality of the experience and its so called fan base is karening. Lol 😂. I don't get it. Is the price high? I would say yes, it's expensive. But to complain about the build and spec list when on a Gen 1 new product... If it doesn't fit the bill for you (indefinite) , don't get it.

Is it so hard for you to understand the difference between be able to afford it and be worth the price?
I could afford it; I like the concept, including the use of two screens instead of one; what make it not an option is the execution of the concept, simple as that.

@MarineDawg - The Surface Duo actually does have a dual-battery system, FYI.

Where's the poll?

Currency conversion from USD to NZD makes this a no-go for me. Maybe if it was $1400 NZD, but not if it’s... $2150 pre-tax 0_o For context, the median NZ salary is around $53,000 NZD

At this price with three years of updates (clock is ticking), no nfc, no external screen... Why buy this over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2? This is dead in the water like the Surface X...

Why mention the support of 3 years and then mention the fold too when it's going to get the same length of time? What's an android device that gets longer? If you believe that device is worth the 6/500 more for those features and some less, it's a great option for you.

Mentioned the fold because it is so much better in everyway... Mentioned the three years of support because people ought to consider this when spending so much money on an Android device... My 5+ year old Surface Pro 4 is still secure and supported... After three years the Surface Duo will be a paper weight... I have a Nokia 9 which I paid £214 for brand new... Wouldn't pay any more for a device which is supported for three years only... Quite a number of Samsung devices have received four years of security updates...

The fold has better implementation for pen use? Interesting. I, neither did the inventors of the fold, know that. The sp4 isn't running Android. It's support has nothing to do with the duo. As a matter of fact, Ms is paying Qualcomm for longer support of the 855 chipset. Your Nokia 9 only gets 2 years of os support and 3 years of security. This gets 3 years of both so the duo is better. Samsung JUST moved UP to 3 years of support for select devices (their most recent ones) last week.

Sorry, the Fold is useless for productivity. It's also way less durable than the Duo.

Most likely this will bomb and MS will drop the price in a few months..

Yes, I will be buying one. I wish it had nfc and wireless charging but I will jump on it any way.

I still pull out my 950XL, once in awhile. This looks like two 950XLs, side by side. Love it! However. After weeks of hand-wringing, and 3+years of waiting, using a Note8, the specs, and features were so underwhelming, that I pulled the trigger, yesterday, on a Note20 Ultra. It's 2020. With NFC/Samsung Pay, I haven't had to touch possibly contaminated cash. The S-Pen, is even more glorious, than before, and I have wireless chargers at home, and work, all over. I owned 3 Windows Phones, and a Windows 10 Mobile Phone. Even after MS burned us, with abandoned hardware, I was willing to give this my hopes, and a chance. But this device can't compare, to the Note20 Ultra, on any level, that matters, right now. It really can't even compare to the 950XL, without NFC, and Wireless Qi charging. I'm sad about it, too... 😢

Well at least you paid almost or the same amount of money lol! I get it. The Duo would be great for work for me personally, but not sure about the utility otherwise. Would be great if you could use it as an ARM PC with a dock similar to Dex.

No need for dock and dex with link to windows and extended app feature.

No. I'm not looking for a new phone. My OnePlus still is perfect. I don't ever see myself getting into dual screen phones.

Absolutely not at that price. I don't mind specs except the camera would have to be really good for the money. And mostly because of those monstrous bezels, I mean seriously at 1400 i expect the screen to meet the frame( or very close) it looks like two ancient mobiles hinged together. Wanted to like it and the dual screen method is the best option imo but those bezels urgh no thanks.
Half the price and i would be onboard , yes even with the ugly bezels lol.

By the end of the year, these will be going for $999. End of 2021 they will be dumped on eBay for $500, along with the Surface Pro X.

True... Only 3 years of support... Price should drop daily IMO...

For God's sake, those crying about the price, do give it a rest! If you can't afford it, don't buy it! We'd all like to drive a Bentley GT or a Porsche but can we afford it? No, and we don't go crying about it. At the end of the day, the important thing is, does the Duo meet your needs case, enough for you to buy it? If so, do, by all means. Certainly, there are a number of Samsung Note users, such as myself, who see a perfect needs case for this device, and will most definitely buy one. With Android, the app gap is gone so what's the problem? A faster CPU? More RAM? A better camera? Think about it, if the device was "inferior", does one really imagine such a big fuss would be made about it by MSFT? Who remembers the speed at which Panos introduced the Lumia 950? Compare that to this. Lastly, those screaming about NFC and Qi, think about the weight and thinness of the device and ask yourself if this could've been achieved today and still maintained the form factor. The Fold has these things, including an outward facing screen.....compare the weight and size of the thing!

"We'd all like to drive a Bentley GT or a Porsche but can we afford it?" Invalid comparison. If I could afford a Bentley I would buy one. I would not buy a Toyota Camry with a Bentley price tag. This thing is grossly overpriced. Just like a $250,000 Toyota Camry.

I'm impressed with the device and pre-ordered it. But Panos Panay's presentation of the device is giving me reasons to reconsider... I'll still get it though...

No NFC
No Front screen
No embeded stylus No thanks.

Have the 256GB version preordered! Excited! :D

"a unique form factor that makes it difficult to compare directly to other devices."
https://m.gsmarena.com/sony_tablet_p_3g-4139.php
There is a more recent example: ZTE Axon M...
No one with great sales...

And lets not forget the LG V60 - Dual screen, 5G, supports a pen and is a lot cheaper.

Price has nothing to do with it, the Lumia 950XL was similar in price here ( Canada) so I get why they're charging a bit more for the novel folding hinge. That said, I won't buy another "phone" from Microsoft after being burned on Windows Mobile. It's an Android, aside from the dual screen its going to have the same apps and experiance as my note9. I value, and use, Dex more than I would a second screen.

Couldn't agree more regarding being burned by MS in the past... Once bitten twice shy...

Typical Microsoft..
Exclusive offers, availabilities limited to only few countries...
1400$? I paid 1400€ for surface pro 7 256/16/i7! Are you really mad? I do real work in my SP7! fonesmore than 700€ are too expensive. People should stop supporting such products by not buying them.

Think of it as a portable productivity device with phone capabilities, not the other way around, just like if your surface pro 7 could make calls. But dang, that price though...

Not a snowball's chance in hell

I'll buy it.
I'll do the same as I did with the rest of the Surface line: buy version 1 for the experience, skip V2 and buy the established V3 again.

Bought first surface rt, bought first surface book.
But will wait for v2 of this

I really want this phone but's not priced properly for the market...for that price, it should've had 5G, and 865, NFC and wireless charging and included the Surface Pen...I was expecting it to be $1000 on the high end, $900 for a more reasonable price based on what it has, form factor and what is expected from it...the 128gb version more expensive than the current price of a 256gb i7 Surface Pro...it makes no sense, they didn't think it through

I agree totally! I have a Note 8 ever since switching from Windows Phone and have Multiple Surface devices. It's a downfall that this doesn't have NFC and Wireless charging. I will be opting for the new Note 20 Ultra.

Yep - as of right now I intend to buy it, and unless I find something in upcoming reviews that is terribly off-putting I won't be canceling the pre-order I placed last night. I spend 90% of my day either in Zoom/Teams meetings, Office 365 apps or reviewing PDFs. There are clearly some corporate systems that I need access to from time to time, but not frequently each day. The value to me, in my role, for many of my days, will be having a truly mobile (pocketable) device that *I* can be effective on (given my personal preferences and limitations when on a phone). As it relates to my current phone (XS Max), my texting/typing skills on standard phone keyboards is dog$hit and will likely remain dog$hit. Writing a long email on my phone is something that I can't stand and I don't see that changing. I can't remember a conference bridge code for the life of me when I'm trying to input it (those times the links don't work in the invite), and I hate toggling between a PDF I have open and an email I'm trying to write (again - on my phone). To me this device seems to be a nearly perfect bridge between my PC & Phone. PC is great for "real" work, but even my Surface Pro isn't truly mobile (as in carry in my pocket during an outing with the family). My phone is passable in a pinch, but not something I enjoy using for long-form emails, reviewing docs, multi-tasking, etc. The Duo appears to me that it should be highly effective for those times that I want to be mobile but may need to get some "real" work done. During the current Covid environment mobility may not be quite as pressing of an issue, but even now there are plenty of times that I want to go somewhere and feel like I need to bring my LTE Surface just in case something important comes in. Assuming this gets the basics done well (Office 365 / Zoom / etc), $1,400 would be WELL worth 3 years of peace of mind/added mobility (I say three years because they are stating it will get updates for at least 3 years). I'd likely keep my iPhone, carry both when potentially needed, and use the hotspot for connectivity (don't think I'd need a dedicated plan for the Duo). Why would I carry two phones and not just get rid of the XS Max? Largely because I've been sucked into the iMessage world ever since going to Apple about 2 years ago. Nearly every friend is on Apple (not to mention wife & kids now) and I'd grenade a ton of group chats if I went back to Android. That...and the camera on the XS Max is great IMO.) I can appreciate this phone isn't for everyone, and I may end up being totally wrong, but for me I'm optimistic that it will be a great device.

This sounds like it will be a great fit for you.

I'll wait until the price drops some. But, at least MS is promising at least three years of updates. Then again, so is Samsung, which I may stay for now. I'm kind of digging the Note 20 Ultra.

"But, at least MS is promising at least three years of updates. " Windows 10 mobile had 4 years of updates. Where is it now?

I would not for several reasons. The number one reason is the cost vs longevity and use cases of the device. I would have to buy the 256 version, thus $1,500. If this was a small inexpensive smartphone maybe the year old specs, storage and memory limitations would be OK. For a device this expensive I would plan on keeping it for at least 3 years. I just don't like changing devices. I doubt I would be satisfied with the Duo for 1 year let alone 3. On a Surface Duo I would expect to use this a lot like my Note devices. Extensive use of MS Products. For travel a lot of off line documents storage. I would actually find 256 GB challenging. I travel extensively and keep my media, photos, videos etc.. on my SD Card. Easy to keep my personal material separated from my work. I also like having a good solid camera on my phone. I don't want to go back to carrying a second device like a camera. I also see little personal need for 5G in the next 12 months, I do see new services coming in the next 12 -18 months for 5G. I would not spend $1,500 today on a device that does not support 5G. Hopefully the Duo will sell well enough to those who have large disposable incomes. I do not see large or even moderate corporate purchases anytime soon. Most companies have greatly reigned in their spending during Covid-19. For me the Surface Duo looks like a good 2019 device.

Initially I thought hell no, but seeing how thin it is and the 360 degree hinge really makes me think twice about it. The reason I won't buy it is value versus price. MS cheaped out on too many things, huge bezels, crappy camera, battery are the main ones which turn me off. And to charge $1400 starting with such glaring cheapness just doesn't sit well with me. It will, however, be a very cool phone to get off of Swappa for $800 or so in 6 months.

It took me just under 3 days to go from 'hell no' to... well...

It's an Android device, and so the price isn't even a factor. Ixnay to Android.

I have a 1 1/2 year old (?) Samsung Note 10, and it is too early to replace it -- it is perfectly good. First impressions: (i) slightly high price for the base model, and (ii) slightly low specs. On the other hand, I'm happy with the performance of the Note 10, so I wouldn't have any problems with the hardware on the Duo. I do need the 1 TB micro SD card on the Note 10 (for my music), though. I hardly use the Note 10 for photos -- I have better cameras, so the camera of the Duo would not be a showstopper. I'm curious about reviews, though:
* How well do the two screens work with apps?
* What is the battery life? (I fear it is somewhat short...)
* How is the video quality? Microphones? (E.g., for Teams meetings...)
* What about the Duo size? I put my Note 10 in my shirt pocket. I'd never put it in my back pocket both for fear of bending it. Would the Duo fit in a standard shirt pocket? (Probably too wide?)

I'm planning to buy it. I'm Canadian, so I have to go out of my way to do so and I'm still doing it! I've literally been waiting for this device in some form of another for years. I will not be denied! Lol

I was thinking the same, that I would import a Duo, but the bands that the Duo supports are only the 3G bands in Australia, that was my finding out with chats with my network provider Optus. FDD LTE is 3G technology, TD LTE is 4G technology. As per the bands of your requirement WCDMA-3G will be supported Optus also DCS 1800 will be supported by Optus. those bands are ancient and sloooooooooooow! lol so forget it, i was almost ready to bite the Duo bullet!

I just want to know 100% if the Duo is going to be coming to other regions, or not so i can just move on lol like a old girlfriend lmao!

The Duo is nice piece of kit, not perfect but like Windows 10 on other Surface devices Android isn't fully ready to take advantage of the hardware its on yet so can't wait for the Neo running 10X.

This is like, Microsoft's 20th phone reboot lol. No. Update: LOL! I don't have "enough reputation" to post a comment?! WTF is this place.

It is a real bummer that this will not have Windows Hello face scanning. Also, no headphone jack, no dual speakers, and no SD slot all these things are expected at a 1300 price point and a Surface device. The things that Microsoft did with Android and the form factor are impressive. Although, at this price point the Surface Go LTE spec'd out with the type cover and pen is a better value... and it comes with all hardware listed above. If this thing is 1300 I shudder to think of how the Microsoft Neo will be priced.😨

I would love to, but it costs too much for me. If I'm going to spend $1,400 on a phone, it better be repairable and I need to use it for several years. I'll wait for v2 or v3.

I will never buy a phone without wireless charging now. Too many issues with USB ports on phones in our family. I don't care about 5G or NFC. If it had wireless charging I would really be regretting my Galaxy S20+ purchase.

It really doesn't matter as long as they stay committed to making it better. They will learn a lot from this device and hopefully they stay committed to more iterations that have better specs for the price. Right now there is a lot of R and D that is being paid for on the first iteration.