That wasn’t necessarily apparent from the underwhelming original, but 2021’s second generation was a big step forward. Upgrades included a move to the then-flagship Snapdragon 888 chip, 5G connectivity, more RAM, bigger displays and a triple rear cameras. However, it’s retained that unique dual-screen design. Well over a year after it launched, this remains the most recent Surface Duo that Microsoft has made. Here’s everything you need to know.

When was the Surface Duo 2 released?

Announced on 22 September 2021On sale from 21 October 2021

The Surface Duo 2 has been on sale for over a year, following its release on 21 October 2021 in the US and UK. That was less than a month after it was announced, a big improvement on the lengthy delays with the original. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can still buy one. Availability has been scarce for several months, with no retailer selling the device new in the US and just one option in the UK. It was hoped that stock would return in the run-up to Christmas, but that didn’t materialise. Microsoft confirmed its commitment to the Surface Duo line in a statement to Windows Central, describing it as “an important part of the Surface portfolio”. However, there’s no mention of the Surface Duo 2, so it may be that Microsoft is now focusing on the Surface Duo 3 – that’s expected at some point in 2023. If you are still keen to buy one, our best Surface Duo 2 deals tracks availability in the US and UK.

How much does the Surface Duo 2 cost?

At launch, the Duo 2 started at as the same price as it’s predecessor in the UK, but $100 more in the US. Here are all three configurations:

128GB storage – £1,349/$1,499256GB storage – £1,429/$1,599.99512GB storage – £1,589/$1,799.99 (in black only)

But just a few months later, we saw some steep discounts in the US and UK, and it’s unlikely that prices will ever return to the RRPs above. If you can find stock, this is how much you should expect to pay:

128GB storage – £860/$999.99256GB storage – £940/$1,099.99512GB storage – £1,034/$1,299.99 (in black only)

Surface Duo 2 design & features

There Duo 2 improves on the original Duo in a few significant ways. Here’s what you can expect…

Snapdragon 888

The biggest jump is under the hood for the Duo 2, which moves up from the Snapdragon 855 to the new Snapdragon 888. It boosts performance and graphical capabilities, improves battery efficiency and adds 5G support. There’s also the welcome boost to 8GB RAM (from the original Duo’s 6GB), making the handset more performance-driven, whether that’s for gaming or multitasking across demanding apps. The step up in performance specs isn’t a surprise given how much Microsoft touts the Duo 2’s productivity benefits. 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.  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. 

Bigger display

The Duo 2 preserves the AMOLED display quality of the original Duo, but the panels are larger. 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. Refresh rates get a boost too – while not quite the flagship-level 120Hz, the Duo 2 moves up from 60Hz to an adaptive 90Hz. A “glance bar” along the spine of the phone also shows you all the essential notifications and details, including battery life. This was significantly improved in a June 2022 update, with the likes of WhatsApp and Telegram also now supported. As Windows Central reported, it also brings improvements to how the Slim Pen 2 stylus works and makes the camera experience better.

Bigger battery

The original Duo had a 3,577mAh battery, which it said could get you up to 15.5 hours of local video playback, 27 hours of talk and up to 10 days of battery life on standby. The Duo 2 gains a 4,449mAh battery, with All-Day Battery Life, according to Microsoft. The upper limits of video playback remains at 15.5 hours but talk time gets a minor bump up to 28 hours, maximum. Microsoft is also introducing 23W Fast Charging (to be sold separately), up from the original Duo’s 18W.

Triple rear cameras

One of the biggest upgrades in the Duo 2 is the triple camera set up with a 16Mp ultra-wide (f/2.2 aperture, 110-degrees), 12Mp telephoto (f/2.4 aperture with 2x optical zoom and OIS), and 12Mp wide lens (f/1.7 aperture with OIS). The front-facing camera offers a 12Mp sensor (f/2.0 aperture).  It’s a significant jump up from the original Duo’s 11Mp camera which served both as the front and rear camera.  Video recording features include HDR video in 4K (at 30fps and 60fps). 

Android software

At launch, the Surface Duo 2 ran Microsoft’s custom launcher over Android 11, although this has since been updated to Android 12. It means you get the full range of Google apps (Assistant, Calendar, Maps, Photos etc.), plus core Microsoft software such as Edge, OneDrive and Teams. Alongside several software updates, the Duo 2 is a far better device now than at launch, as our August 2022 re-review shows. The device has since received an update to Android 12L, which improves the experience further. The Android 12 spin-off is specifically designed for larger devices and foldables, featuring a redesigned notification shade, Settings app and activity feed. As a Windows blog post confirmed, you can also expect more fluid animations and extra accessibility features. However, there’s no news on when – or if – Android 13 might arrive. Microsoft highlights some of the Surface Duo 2’s key features in a video on its ‘Microsoft Mechanics’ YouTube channel: The five-minute clip covers design, software, multitasking and more, making it worth watching if you’re a current or prospective Duo 2 owner. 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.

Surface Duo 2 full specs

Snapdragon 888 5GDual PixelSense Fusion Displaysopen: 8.3in AMOLED (2688×1892)Single PixelSense Screen:5.8in AMOLED (1344×1892)HDR, 100% SRGB, DCIP3Dual displays with 90Hz adaptive refresh rate800 nits max brightnessCameras:Rear: 12Mp wide f/1.7, 12Mp telephoto f/2.4, 16Mp ultra-wide f/2.2 Front: 12Mp f/2.0Android 11Wi-Fi-6 802.11ax (2.4/5GHz)Bluetooth 5.1NFCCorning Gorilla Glass VictusStereo speakers4449mAh (typical) dual battery23W USB-C Fast Charge

The Surface Duo 2 also ships with the following Microsoft applications:

Intune Company PortalLinkedInMicrosoft AuthenticatorMicrosoft Bing SearchMicrosoft EdgeMicrosoft Lens – PDFScannerMicrosoft Office: Word,Excel, PowerPoint & MoreMicrosoft OneDriveMicrosoft OneNoteMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft StartMicrosoft TeamsMicrosoft To DoSurfaceTipsXbox Game Pass

On 6 December 2021, the Surface Duo 2 received its biggest update so far. As Microsoft’s support page explains, it fixes the following issues:

Addresses scenarios outlined in the December 2021 Android Security BulletinImproves system reliability and stabilityImproves app navigations with added support animationsImproves camera usabilityImproves touch responsivenessImproves support for LDAC enabled Bluetooth devicesImproves reliability in the Android Auto experience

Another

Ability to open OneNote by clicking top button of Surface Slim Pen 2 (once paired with Duo 2)Ability to choose which of the two displays acts as the default when foldedAbility to customise how the Duo 2 behaves when answering phone calls

Want more Surface Duo 2 goodness? It featured as the lead talking point in  episode 84 of our weekly podcast Fast Charge, where we also discussed the affordable new 5G-capable Nokia G50 and our impressions on the first public release of iOS 15.

Here’s everything you need to know about the original Surface Duo.

Best phone deals Best phone network All smartphone reviews Best smartphones Best new phones coming soon

As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.