Competition is one of the best things that has happened for us consumers. Where there’s competition, companies fiercely compete to offer better products or services at a lower cost, and the consumer emerges as the winner. Of course, there are companies that go against this and try to monopolize their market. It seems that Google is one of them.

The Department of Justice’s antitrust trial against Google started on September 12, 2023. The DOJ claims that Google has breached antitrust laws by misusing its stronghold in the search engine sector. Recently, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella testified against Google in this trial. During his statement, Nadella mentioned that Microsoft invested $100 billion into Bing to challenge Google’s dominance. Here are the details…

Microsoft Says it Spent $100 Billion in Bing to Challenge Google’s Dominance

Google is the world’s most popular search engine. In fact, it’s so integrated into our lives that, for example, when we get a new computer, one of the first things we do is install Google Chrome and set Google as the default browser instead of Bing. However, according to the Department of Justice, the company is trying to establish a monopoly by abusing its dominant position in the market, even in such situations. Recently, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was at this trial.

During his testimony, Nadella mentioned that Microsoft has invested $100 billion in Bing in an attempt to compete with Google and prevent the company from monopolizing the search market. Nadella argued that Google’s dominance in search is harmful to consumers and businesses.

He also said that Google uses its market power to stifle competition and innovation. For example, Nadella cited Google’s practice of paying wireless carriers and smartphone makers to keep Google as the default search engine on their devices. This practice makes it difficult for other search engines, such as Bing, to compete.

adella also argued that Google’s search results are biased in favor of its own products and services. He said that this bias gives Google an unfair advantage over its competitors. Nadella’s testimony is significant because it provides a rare glimpse into Microsoft’s strategy for competing with Google in the search market. It is also notable that Nadella is willing to publicly criticize Google, even though the two companies are major rivals.

It is still too early to say what impact Nadella’s testimony will have on the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google. However, his testimony could help to strengthen the DOJ’s case and increase the chances of Google being found guilty of violating antitrust laws. It is also worth noting that Nadella’s testimony comes at a time when Microsoft is reportedly considering making a major investment in Apple’s search engine. This investment would be seen as a major escalation in Microsoft’s efforts to compete with Google.

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(via)

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Microsoft launched the Surface Duo way back in 2020. It was followed by the Surface Duo 2 in 2021. The Redmond-based company’s first-ever foldable phone arrived with Android 10 OS out of the box. At the time of launch, Microsoft had revealed that the Surface Duo would be eligible for at least three years of updates which include Android versions and security patches. Now there is disappointing news for owners of Surface Duo as it has reached its reached its end of lifecycle on the software front. 

Microsoft Surface Duo won’t receive future software updates

The Microsoft Surface Duo was updated to Android 11 in January last year. It received Android 12L the same year in October. Since Microsoft confirmed at launch that the device will get three years of OS and security patches, it won’t be getting any future updates. The company is staying true to its word. Hence the Android 12L version is the last Android version for the foldable phone. This means that the original Surface Duo is no longer supported by Microsoft. 

The first-generation Surface Duo received only two Android version updates which is kind of disappointing for a foldable phone carrying a whopping price tag. However, Surface Duo users can keep using their devices with no issues as apps can be normally updated from the Store. But with no security patches, users will have to be cautious going ahead. Additionally, they can install a custom version of Android 13 / 14 on their devices. 

On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has one more year of software support left that is set to end in October next year. It launched with Android 11 in 2021 and has only received a major Android 12L update last October. The second-generation foldable phone is expected to receive two more Android versions. 

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Source

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Microsoft is apparently working on a successor to the Surface Duo 2. A patent has revealed the design of a new Surface product. This might be the Surface Duo 3, which interestingly enough, features a design reminiscent of a foldable Samsung foldable smartphone.

According to a WindowsLatest report, the American tech giant might be planning on launching this new Surface Duo 3 model sometime next year. As of right now, it is still unclear if the company is actually working on a Microsoft Surface branded phone, but previous rumors suggests that the new patent in question is the Surface Duo 3. The new patent application was spotted recently and the documentation showcasing the design of the new device.

As per the official description, the patent is for a ‘FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE,’ which is clearly depicted in the patent images. The application was filed back in 2021 and was published earlier this year. It shows a handheld foldable phone unlike the original Surface Duo that had two separate screen that was joined in the middle with a hinge. This time around, the company is working on making a device with one single display that has a flexible design.

Interestingly, the Microsoft patent also describes this display as being capable for rotating between zero to 360 degrees as well. Looking at the patent images, we can see a foldable phone that can be used as a tablet with the display unfolded or a regular smartphone when the display is folded. In other words, its design is quite similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from Samsung. Keep in mind that this is still just a patent application.

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Microsoft may have its own operating system but continues to ship its mobile offerings with Android, just like any other manufacturer. That’s not to say, though, that Windows 10 Mobile did not have quite the fan following back in the day, mostly thanks to its unique interface. And a part of this base continues to prove their loyalty by booting Windows on ‘unsupported’ devices, with the latest now being the Microsoft Surface Duo which was launched back in 2020 with Android 10.

Still early days so aside from booting and showing stuff on screen that is about it but that’s always satisfying to watch pic.twitter.com/z0iTJFIbyY

— Gustave Monce (@gus33000) February 2, 2022

A developer by the name of Gustave Monce has given us the first glimpse of Windows 11 on the device through a tweet (via XDA). There’s still a long way to go to actually run the OS on the device, but you do get the Windows 11 boot animation which is “satisfying to watch,” as Monce puts it. A look at the embedded video will reveal that the current implementation only got the installer for Windows 11, and not Windows 11 itself, but the developer has made it clear that it’s a work in progress.

XDA Developers reached out to Monce who confirmed that the preliminary firmware implementation has been done and that he’ll be moving on to implementing the Windows drivers themselves, after some polishing. The build shown on the tweet is Windows 11 Insider Build 22523.

Monce had earlier booted Windows 10X on the Lumia 950XL and later followed that up by booting Windows 11.

Windows is most popular as an OS for regular PCs and laptops but has been gaining installations on more unconventional form factors lately, thanks to the 64-bit emulation capability of Windows 11. There are also community projects like ‘Renegade Project’ that aim to simplify booting Windows 10 and 11 on Android devices.

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Earlier this month, we had reported on Microsoft finally bringing the Android 11 OS update to its dual display smartphone, the Surface Duo. But while the official build seems to be behind the overall mobile market, it seems that an unofficial build is up to date with the PC market.

According to an ITHome report, developer Gustave Monce of the main LumiaWoA project shared images of a Surface Duo running on Windows 11 based on the ARM64 system. Previously, Gustave had also ported Windows 10 OS on the American tech giant’s Lumia 950XL as well. Similarly, he had also managed to port Windows 11 ARM on the dual display smartphone as well.

Now, it seems that the project has seen further progress as it is running on Windows 11 ARM64 system. For those unaware, Microsoft has officially ended the support for Windows 10 mobile, so the efforts of the WoA developers have helped older Lumia models receive updates and even refresh their entire OS as well. These developers are an independent group that has been working on the unofficial Windows on ARM project for the last year years.

The project initially focused on Windows 10, but with the launch of Windows 11, they are now also working on the newer operating system as well. Gustave even shared images of the Surface Duo running Windows 11. So it is safe to assume that the project will soon grow to include other devices soon.

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Microsoft has finally rolled out the Android 11 update for its first Android smartphone, the Surface Duo. This device featured a unique dual display design, but suffered from a number of issues.

For those unaware, the device was quite expensive at launch and faced a number of bugs and issues despite being marketed as a dual display based multitasking platform. A number of buyers were also left disappointment as the Surface Duo did not receive the Android 11 update last year. Now, despite Android 12 already being available in the market, the American tech giant has finally rolled out the Android 11 build for the device.

In other words, the Microsoft Surface Duo is a whole update cycle behind, but its better late than never. Talking about the update, the device now runs on version number 2021.1027.156, which is currently being rolled out to unlocked Surface Duo users in North America and Europe. On the other hand, carried variants will receive an update later on. The latest update brings Android 11 alongside the latest January 2022 security patch, improvements and customization as well for the multitasking, folding actions, and other built in apps.

Other certain notable updates include:

• Enabled in Surface Duo features, in Settings, to choose specific apps to automatically span across both screens when you open them.
• Xbox Game Pass: Discovery and play games from the cloud with an on-screen controller. Some devices, accessories, and software sold separately. Additional fees and/or subscriptions required for some apps and features.
• Photos by OneDrive: New dual-screen enhanced experience for viewing and editing photos in the OneDrive app.

You can check out the full list of features by clicking here.

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Microsoft launched the Surface Duo 2 phone back in September, with the device arriving with several improvements over the predecessor. However, the first-gen Surface Duo owners have been stranded on an Android 10 based operating system for a while. Now, reports have emerged that the Surface Duo is having some basic functionality issues on its software side. According to a report by MSPoweruser, after the December 2021 update, the Surface Duo has started to glitch when it comes to the copy and paste feature. Reddit user Chris St Aubyn took to the r/surfaceduo subreddit to post about his issue. Aubyn said the copy/paste feature is now broken on his Surface Duo device. But apparently, his device is not the only one that has developed this issue. 

Anyone having this issue? The December update has completely ruined my ability to copy and paste in Edge. As soon as the menu comes up everything glitches. This is pretty much every single time. The copy and paste bar also glitches in other apps too. from surfaceduo

One Duo owner wrote that the new patch is “ruining my whole multitasking experience.” While another one complained: “I’m having a problem where text that is copied from one screen doesn’t paste on the other. Which for me destroys almost the whole point of dual screens.”

One Duo owner wrote that the new patch is “ruining my whole multitasking experience.” While another one complained: “I’m having a problem where text that is copied from one screen doesn’t paste on the other. Which for me destroys almost the whole point of dual screens.”

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Last year, Microsoft launched its Surface Duo as the brand’s first dual-screen device. The Redmond-based technology giant has been working on its successor, dubbed Surface Duo 2, and details about the upcoming device have now surfaced online.

The design of the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has leaked online, which reveals that the device will be featuring a triple-camera setup on the back. The sensors are placed vertically in the top-left corner on a rectangular module.

As for the overall look of the device, it remains the same as the current-generation model, having two displays connected by a hinge in the middle, a glass back panel, and a Surface logo on the back.

The camera is expected to deliver better results as reports indicate that Microsoft is planning to use Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The company is also said to be focusing on improving the software experience.

One of the major drawbacks for the Surface Duo was its internals, being powered by a couple of years old Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. However, in the upcoming version, the company is said to be using the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC. Further, the device is expected to have support for 5G connectivity as well as NFC.

Earlier, it was reported that the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has the codename “Zeta.” As of now, there’s no information about when the company is planning to launch this new model but it’s unlikely to happen this year. We expect to know more details about the Surface Duo 2 in the coming weeks and months.

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Back in May 2021, we had reported on the Microsoft Surface Duo seeing a major price slash, with the new sale offering a 50 percent discount on the dual display device. Now, the price has been lowered again, with Surface Duo being available for a nearly 1000 US Dollars discount.

According to an ArsTechnica report, the American tech giant’s first self branded Android smartphone is now available for 71 percent off. While the device was touted to be the company’s innovative entry to the Android market, the dual display smartphone was unfortunately not a hit in the market. The handset faced plenty of criticism and lackluster sales, making it a flop, which caused the company to lower its price tag multiple times.

Now, Amazon’s Woot is selling the Surface Duo for just 409 US Dollars. This marks a whopping 990.99 US Dollars discount of the original price tag of 1399.99 US Dollars. Although, this listing is only for the AT&T locked model of the device. The Surface Duo had initially launched in September 2020, but saw a sharp 200 US Dollar price slash in just a month after its launch. Moving seven months forward, the price had fallen even lower by 50 percent.

The smartphone failed in the market for various reasons, which includes its awkward form factor, along with a buggy software, exorbitant pricing, and other issues. It was powered by an aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC with two 5.6 inch displays that has a 4:3 aspect ratio. For 400 US Dollars, the device might be an interesting pick for smartphone enthusiasts, although, it would likely see no success even with this relatively affordable pricing.

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The Microsoft Surface Duo is available on sale again, and this time, the dual screened has received a price slash of about half. The device is the company’s first self branded Android handset and is now available for a price of 699 US Dollars.

For those unaware, the device was first launched around seven months ago and was priced at 1,400 US Dollars. But just within a month of its launch, the tech giant started offering the device on a 200 US Dollar discount. Now, the dual display smartphone is available for the lowest ever pricing on BuyDig (Via ArsTechnica). Talking about the Surface Duo, the  device is an ultra thin Android handset with dual displays that are joined by a 360 degree hinge, which also allows for a single screen mode of operation.

The device was not well received in the market and did not bring in great reviews either. It was stated to have an awkward form factor, along with a buggy software, exorbitant pricing, and other issues. But despite this, the device was still one of the thinnest Android device with just  4.8mm thickness once its open that adds to its whole minimalistic look.

Under the hood, the Surface Duo is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC and two 5.6 inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Even with a 50 percent off price tag, the device is still not highly recommendable, but this might be for smartphone enthusiasts that are looking for a newer experience.

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Last year, Microsoft finally launched its first dual-screen device, dubbed Microsoft Surface Duo and is now available for purchase in the United States and Europe. The device received mix reviews but the company is on its way to launch its successor.

As per the latest report, Microsoft is working on the Surface Duo 2 and it is revealed that it will come with support for 5G connectivity as well as improved camera performance. It appears that the product is codenamed “Zeta.”

The report also suggests that the upcoming Surface Duo 2’s camera will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to offer new camera experience that will significantly improve image processing.

The Microsoft Surface Duo, even though launched in 2020, comes powered by the older Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. So, for the upcoming device, we expect the company to adopt the latest chipset and offer top-of-the-line features.

While information about the next-generation Surface Duo is surfacing online, it remains to be seen when the company is planning to launch the device. Given that the current model is rolling out to more regions now, it seems unlikely that Microsoft is planning to launch the second-generation device this year.

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Microsoft’s Android Experiment with Microsoft Surface Duo meant the device launched with Android 10 out of the box. Now, a report by Dr. Windows says that the device will finally get Android 11 this year.

As per the report, Microsoft will roll out the Android 11 update by this Summer. It claims to have got the info from a briefing with Microsoft USA members of the Surface Duo Product Group. Although there isn’t an exact date available, you can expect it anytime after the H2 2021 starts.

This is quite a big delay for the update as Android 12‘s Developer Preview 3 could come out by considering Google’s previous track record. Google launched the Android 11 back in September 2020 and Microsoft made the Surface Duo available for sale around the same time.

While people were suspicious that Microsoft might give up on the Android device, this report says otherwise. It seems Microsoft and Google have come to terms with more than before. Specifically, the changes regarding Dual-Display will reportedly make its way into the Android’s original code.

Let’s just hope that the update will be earlier and sometime in June or July 2021. Microsoft had recently cut the price of the Surface Duo in the US by $400. The device is available for $999 instead of $1,399 for the base model(128GB) and $1,099 instead of $1,499 for the 256GB version.

The company is also said to bring the Dual-Display device to more markets like Canada, Germany, UK, and France. According to The Verge, the Surface Duo will launch in the mentioned regions on February 18. Users can get it for around €1,549 in Germany and £1,349 in the UK.

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(via)

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A couple of months ago, in August this year, Microsoft officially launched its much-anticipated Surface Duo smartphone in the market. Soon after the launch of this device in the United States, the company decided to push back from rolling it out to other regions.

Now, it seems that Microsoft is on track to launch the Surface Duo in other regions, starting with the European market early next year. It’s noteworthy that the device has already been certified in Japan, UK, and Canada.

As per the reports, the Redmond-giant is in talks with mobile carriers in the United Kingdom to launch the Surface Duo in early 2021. However, it is not clear if the company is sticking to a similar launch timeline for other markets.

It seems that Microsoft is holding off on the expansion plan till it gets satisfactory customer feedback and meets the expectations as set by the company internally.

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung reportedly confirms Galaxy Z Fold 3 launch in June 2021 and Galaxy Note line discontinuation

The Microsoft Surface Duo comes with a pair of 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED screen that combines to offer a screen space of 8.1-inch. The front and rear sides of the device are protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

It packs 6GB of RAM and comes in two internal storage options — 128GB and 256GB. However, there’s no option for the users to expand the storage capacity. There’s also a single camera of 11-megapixel that supports EIS and 60fps 4K video recording.

The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform, an older chipset, which is a bit disappointing for such a high-priced product. It is running the Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 3,577mAh battery along with support for 18W fast charging technology.

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A DIY project on the latest Microsoft Surface Duo has turned it into a device with a metal(Al) on one side of the rear panel. A Reddit user has posted the images, along with information on how he did it.

As reported by Windows Central, he had to replace it after shattering the rear glass of one of the sides. Accordingly, a user going by the name WALLY_MAMM0TH on Reddit shared the images of the rear Aluminium Panel. However, he thought of throwing in a Carbon Fibre sheet but reportedly didn’t have it lying around. This post also comes at a time when few users are facing cracked frame issues near charging ports.

How did he do it?

Starting off, he took the measurements of the broken rear-side. Then, after drawing it in Fusion 360 which is a cloud-based CAD/CAM tool for product development. And exporting it to Silhouette studio, he used it to carve a new Aluminum rear-panel.

He adds that even after fitting it, features like folding mechanism, signal reception work fine. Thank god he didn’t face any network issues that some users had a while ago. Also, the Aluminum panel has reportedly helped in dissipating the heat of the device better. However, that’s something that could be due to the placebo effect. Moving on, the user has also replied to one of the users about the adhesive used to fuse the panel.

1 of 5

EDITOR’S PICK: Microsoft Surface Duo passes JerryRigEverything’s Durability test

He says that a “double-sided extra-strength permanent adhesive tape” from Hobby Lobby(US- Art & Craft Store) worked fine. In fact, it was about the same thickness as an old adhesive and reportedly sealed well without air gaps. That said, the process looks very tedious and doesn’t recommend others to try it out. Also, in one of the instances, he “painstakingly took the damaged back glass off piece by piece using a razor blade and tons of patience”.

Microsoft launched the Surface Duo in October 2019. However, made it available only a year later. It currently retails for $1,399 as per Microsoft’s Official Store listing. The device has a pair of 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 3,577mAh battery with 18W fast charging, 11MP rear-sensor, and runs Android 10 OS.

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Microsoft unveiled its much-awaited Surface Duo smartphone which comes with dual displays and is powered by the Android operating system recently. Despite the device scoring a pass in JerryRigEverything’s Durability test, there have been a few reports of a cracked frame around the charging port apparently due to the thin frame. Looks like the Surface Duo’s woes are not over as there are also users who now report that their units have signal problems.

According to a user’s feedback thread on Microsoft’s official support community, the current problems include weak signal and high latency, and problems will occur regardless of incoming or outgoing calls.

At present, the problem is mainly caused by software, because the conditions for signal problems are often related to location, default location and frequency band settings. Reconfiguring the network settings may improve the signal strength, but there are also users who have responded that the disconnection problem cannot be solved anyway despite tweaking those settings

As of now, Microsoft has not officially responded to this issue. Users can only manually reset the local network settings to temporarily fix the signal problem. The good news is that compared to hardware problems such as broken plastic middle frames and damaged hinges, signal problems seem to be easier to solve. Microsoft officials should be able to fix the vulnerabilities in the software through later updates to prevent this problem from recurring.

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Microsoft recently launched its much-awaited Surface Duo smartphone which comes with dual displays and is powered by the Android operating system. The device has already passed JerryRigEverything’s Durability test and today we will be taking a look inside the device, thanks to the teardown video.

The first thing you notice about the phone is the dual displays and holding them together is the hinge. JerryRigsEveryhting says that the hinge on the device is pretty awesome and offers 360-degree functionality.

Removing the display panels showcases the phone’s internals. You will notice that the device packs two batteries — one larger that covers the majority of the space and another smaller one, which cannot be easily replaced by the user.

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Once the batteries are removed, the area is covered by a layer of graphite tape, removing which shows copper foil underneath for heat dissipation. The frame for the hinge is made of up metal and connecting both the displays is a metal wire stip that runs through hinges, ensuring durability when the folded.

Internally, the Surface Duo seems pretty good in terms of make and build but has room for improvement when it comes to repairability. JerryRigEverthing has given a thumbs up for the device in his teardown video.

The Microsoft Surface Duo has also proved its durability. It emerged as one of the best foldable smartphones available in the market right now as it could be bent to the back and front without damage to the screen.

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Microscope Surface Duo phone is a good come back for Microsoft after 4years since their last release of a mobile phone. This beautiful and expensive device was not spare by Zack Nelson a popular YouTuber with the handle JerryRigEverything who has put the device through his popular durability routine.

The result is actually surprising as the Microsoft Surface Duo seems to be one of the best foldable smartphone money can buy though expensive but could be bent to the back and front without damage to the screen.

The amount of effort put in by Zack Nelson is a little alarming as the phone was bent to both side and eventually heated with a flame and yet it was not damaged, though the screen was a bit expanded. Although the scratch test is nothing new, it still is impressive. The phone packs a Gorilla Glass 5 protection so deeper grooves appeared at a level 7.

Unlike other foldable devices, the Surface Duo is equipped with two screens and a well-crafted metal hinge on both sides to keep it whole. The plastic frame is able to hold the screens together. The device is not really fragile despite the choice of plastic as it passed the durability test. It is one of the most flexible phone money can buy and the price looks quite justifiable. However, the device can be permanently curved so maybe not too right to be placed in the back pocket and sat on.

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After the arrival of foldable phones to the market, a lot of innovative devices started coming to the shelves. In 2020, among the best smartphones, you do not only get those silly rectangles since a lot of new form factors started to emerge. An example is the LG Wing, with its dual rotating display and its Swivel Mode. This year Motorola even launched the Razr 5G: the evolution of its first foldable phone which is reminiscent of the iconic Razr series. Even Microsoft is back to the smartphone market and with a new form factor: the Microsoft Surface Duo is a foldable phone which is able to rotate by 360 degrees and supports the Surface Pen! Here is a comparison between three of the most innovative phones of the year.

LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo

Design

If we only consider the look, Motorola Razr 5G is definitely the best one. It is a clamshell phone with a foldable display built with premium material which reminds you of the iconic feature phones from the Motorola Razr lineup. But if you want to find the most useful form factor for multimedia and productivity, then LG Wing and Microsoft Surface Duo are more interesting options. With the Swivel Mode, the former can be used as a gimbal for better stabilization, it can split apps into two screens or even open two apps at the same time in two displays for a better multi-tasking experience. On the other hand, Microsoft Surface Duo has a dual display with a folding hinge that can turn it into a tablet. It can open two apps side-by-side for an even more amazing multi-tasking experience, it can be rotated by up to 360 degrees to reach the “phone mode” and it even supports the Surface Pen stylus!

Display

The AMOLED displays of the Microsoft Surface Duo are the most interesting panels because they come with a higher resolution and they can be positioned side-by-side in order to provide a tablet-like experience. Further, as mentioned above, you get the support to Surface Pen for handwriting and drawing, just like the Samsung Galaxy Note series! With the LG Wing, you get a rotating display with still high resolutions, while the Motorola Razr 5G offers an internal smartphone-sized foldable display and a mini external display to check notifications, shoot selfies, and a few more actions.

Hardware/Software

The most powerful hardware department belongs to the Microsoft Surface Duo which is fueled by the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform providing better CPU and GPU performance than the Snapdragon 765G. But unlike the Motorola Razr 5G and the LG Wing, Microsoft Surface Duo lacks 5G connectivity. With the LG Wing, you get 5G, up to 8 GB RAM, up to 256 GB of native storage, and even a micro SD slot to expand the internal storage. Android 10 is out of the box on each of these handsets.

Camera

LG Wing, Motorola Razr 5G, and Microsoft Surface Duo can be considered mid-range camera phones. The best one is undoubtedly the LG Wing which sports the most complete camera setup. It includes a main 64 MP sensor with OIS and two ultrawide sensors, as well as the best microphones with ASMR mode. Even the front camera is better with its 32 MP resolution. Right after, we got the Motorola Razr 5G with its 48 MP main camera and a 20 MP snapper for selfies.

Battery

The LG Wing has the biggest battery, it lasts more on a single charge and it is the only one to support wireless charging. Right after, we got the Microsoft Surface Duo with a 3577 mAh unit. The Motorola Razr 5G has a small and below-average 2800 mAh battery because it is a compact foldable phone.

Price

We still do not know the price of the LG Wing, while Motorola Razr 5G and Microsoft Surface Duo retail about €1500/$1400 and €1200/$1400 respectively. If you want the best design, the Motorola Razr 5G is definitely the best alternative, especially for nostalgic users. But if you prefer having a better user experience, then you should discard it. If we look at the specifications, the LG Wing is the most convincing one due to its better cameras, bigger battery, best audio experience, and protection against water and drops. But the Microsoft Surface Duo is the king of productivity with its dual display reaching a 8.1-inch diagonal, its advanced software offering the chance to use apps side-by-side, and the Surface Pen. Which form factor would you pick?

• Read More: Moto Razr 5G officially launched in China priced at 12,499 yuan (~$1830)

LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo: PRO and CONS

LG Wing

PROS

• Dual rotating display
• Great cameras and stabilization
• IP54 certification
• Military certification
• Bigger battery
• Wireless charging

CONS

• It does not fold

Motorola Razr 5G

PROS

• Best design
• Becomes extremely compact
• Optional eSIM
• Premium build quality

CONS

• Small battery

Microsoft Surface Duo

PROS

• Surface Pen
• Very wide display
• Best hardware
• eSIM
• Folding by 360°

CONS

• No 5G

The post LG Wing vs Motorola Razr 5G vs Microsoft Surface Duo: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft Surface Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 brought two different concepts of foldable phones to the market. The latter is better on the paper, but the former looks much more interesting for productivity and business users. Both are foldable phones but in different ways. That is exactly the reason why we decided to put them in a specs comparison. Here, we hope to let you understand which one is better for your actual needs and which is the most advanced device in terms of specifications and user experience. This will be a comparison between innovative phones, so we would like to hear your opinion about these foldable phones: if you have one, you can tell us by using the comment box below the post.

Microsoft Surface Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 5G

Design

Here it is all about tastes. With its thinner bezels around the displays, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 offers more impressive panel designs. But the Microsoft Surface Duo does not leave any space between its two display while it is folded, it can be rotated by 360 degrees and it is a lot thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. On the other hand, it has very thick bezels around the displays, due to their 4:3 aspect ratio. This makes it look like an outdated phone. It is a very hard choice, but overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has the most innovative and futuristic design.

Display

Microsoft Surface Duo comes with two displays close to each other which can be used together and rotated by 360 degrees, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a unique foldable display, as well as a secondary external display for those who want to use it as a phone. The foldable display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 actually provides a better display quality thanks to its very high resolution, the HDR10+ certification, its 120 Hz refresh rate, and more. The Microsoft Surface Duo has an AMOLED display just like the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but it has no chances to compete against Samsung’s flagship in terms of display quality. So Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 wins.

Specs & Software

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has much better hardware than Microsoft Surface Duo. It is fueled by the new Snapdragon 865+ mobile platform that is the best Qualcomm’s chipset of 2020, while Microsoft Surface Duo is powered by the Snapdragon 855 which was Qualcomm’s flagship chipset in the first half of 2019. Further, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 packs 12 gigs of RAM, while Microsoft Surface Duo has just 6 GB. But when it comes to the software, the Microsoft Surface Duo makes a lot more sense. It has software and apps optimized to take full advantage of its form factor for productivity users. You can open apps side by side and a lot of them are optimized for that, as Microsoft showed in its briefing video. Further, the Microsoft Surface Duo supports the Surface Pen, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 does not support a pen, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note lineup. Both Samsung and Microsoft promised three years of major upgrades for their flagships.

Camera

Microsoft Surface Duo is all but a camera phone. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 takes the crown with its 12 MP triple camera: not the best camera department out there, but way better than the single 11 MP sensor found on the Surface Duo. With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, you get an additional telephoto sensor, an ultrawide sensor, and even OIS, as well as two 10 MP front cameras (including a cover camera for the external display.

• Read More: Microsoft confirms three years of Android and security updates for Surface Duo

Battery

The 4500 mAh battery found on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 will provide a longer battery life than the Microsoft Surface Duo simply because it has a bigger capacity. Especially if you only use the external display which comes with a lower resolution and a standard refresh rate. With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, you also get faster wired charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

Price

Microsoft Surface Duo will be priced at €1181/$1399, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 will likely cost more than €2000. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a much better phone if we only consider the specifications. But if you need the best device for productivity, I believe that Surface Duo is a better choice for you due to its advanced software features and the Surface Pen.

Microsoft Surface Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 5G: PRO and CONS

Microsoft Surface Duo

PRO

• Pen support
• The display rotates 360°
• eSIM
• Slimmer design
• Better software for the form factor

CONS

• Inferior hardware and camera

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

PRO

• More and better cameras
• Better hardware
• Real foldable display + external display
• Bigger battery
• 5G
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Price

The post Microsoft Surface Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Fold 2: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Duo back in October 2019. Since then, the company’s executives have been teasing it for months. Additionally, the specifications and features of the device have leaked multiple times via certification bureaus and official emulator before its launch sometime later this year. Now, official renders of the variant heading to AT&T leaks as well.

The new renders of Microsoft Surface Duo for AT&T come from none other than well-known leaker Evan Blass aka @eveleaks. He posted them on his Patreon. Anyway, we could not find any difference in design from previous leaks.

These renders do not reveal anything new except for pre-installed applications. We can clearly see almost all the Microsoft apps, a bunch of Google apps as part of GMS (Google Mobile Services), and Spotify, which is interesting.

Having said that, according to previous leaks, the Surface Duo will be powered by last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 paired with 6GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. The dual AMOLED display on the device will measure 5.6-inch in size with a resolution of 1800×1350 pixels, 401 ppi, and 4:3 aspect ratio.

Microsoft Surface Duo for AT&T

1 of 5

Further, it will come with a single front-facing 11MP camera, support for Surface Pen stylus, nao-SIM card slot, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port, 3,460mAh battery, and Android 10.

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The Mircosoft Surface Duo is one of the most anticipated devices of 2020. The Redmond-based company showcased it first in October of 2019. It is expected to release sometime in Holiday season of this year. Since its initial unveiling, the product has been officially teased multiple times, in addition to being spotted on certification bureaus. Now, the dual-screen device makes its appearance on FCC as well, which is usually considered as the last hurdle before launch.

The upcoming Microsoft Surface Duo listing on FCC was first spotted by Droid Life According to the publication, the Federal Communications Commission tested both the screens of the device along with its hinge. As usual, the bureau also tested the device’s network capability.

Although one of the tests mentions NFC, Windows Central reports that retail units will not have support for tap and pay. Also, it notes that it could be made available for purchase before the Holiday season as the confidentiality agreement is until October 29. That’s because, after this date, FCC will publicly release the pictures of the Surface Duo along with its manual and Microsoft surely don’t want its product to get leaked ahead of the official release.

According to previous leaks, the first Android device in the Surface lineup will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC paired with 6GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. It will spot dual 5.6-inch 1800×1350 resolution AMOLED displays with 401 ppi and 4:3 aspect ratio.

Other features include single 11MP camera, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port, nano-SIM card slot, support for Surface Pen, Android 10, and a 3,460 mAh battery.

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The post Microsoft Surface Duo hits FCC, May launch earlier than expected appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last year, Microsoft had unveiled its two upcoming devices featuring dual displays — Surface Neo and Surface Duo. While the Surface Neo has been postponed by the company, the Surface Duo is expected to official pretty soon.

In fact, details about the Surface Duo keeps surfacing online as the launch of the device nears. Now, in the latest development, Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, showcased the Surface Duo.

I'm pretty pumped too, John. pic.twitter.com/j0TmKtj6DG

— Panos Panay (@panos_panay) July 1, 2020

From the image shared by him, the device seems to be a bit different from what the company showcased as a prototype last year. It also seems that the device Panos Panay is using has a bumper case installed.

This is a major indication that the device is indeed nearing launch. There has been speculation about the Surface Duo getting launched in the coming weeks or months and go on sale during the holiday season this year. But the company has not yet confirmed the launch date for the same.

A recent report has revealed that the device will come with two equal-sized 5.6-inch AMOLED display panels — each screen offering a 4:3 aspect ratio, 1800 x 1350 pixels resolution, and 401ppi pixel density.

EDITOR’S PICK: Check out AnTuTu’s top 10 best performing flagship and mid-range phones for June 2020

In the software department, the device will be running Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own Microsoft Launcher on top. As per the reports, the company is working on apps that will come pre-installed. Microsoft also seems to have worked on a way to make the user experience better with dual screens for apps.

While we were expecting Surface Duo to come with the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset, it has been revealed that the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, thus there will be no 5G connectivity support.

The device will come packed with 6GB of RAM and 64/256GB of internal storage. It will feature an 11-megapixel camera sensor and the phone also has a fingerprint sensor for added security. Powering the device will be a 3,460mAh battery.

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Microsoft put paid to speculations about its rumoured foldable phone when it announced the Surface Neo and Surface Duo in October 2019 with the Surface Duo adopting a folding phone design. The two models which happened to be Microsoft’s first attempt at the dual-screen phones was billed to be released in 2020. However, seems Microsoft has got another concept foldable phones in the works.

A recent patent application stumbled upon by MSPoweruser suggests the US company may be planning to launch a redesigned foldable phone that may have borrowed some design inspiration from the Galaxy Fold. The patent titled “FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE WITH INTERACTABLE USER INTERFACE SURFACE ON THE EXTERNAL SHELL” was filed with the European Patent Office in 2018 and was published in December of 2019.

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The patent description details including a third screen at the back of a foldable smartphone so the user can interact with the phone without unfolding it into a tablet. Notably, this is the same concept used by Samsung on the Galaxy Fold which had an in-folding design with a small screen at the back that can be used when the phone is folded.

Interaction on the user interface surface during the closed state of the foldable display device may allow the user to select content to be shown on at least one display screen of the foldable display device on the interior section during a subsequent open state of the foldable display device.

Additionally, the user interface surface may be configured to allow an object produced (e.g., drawn or written) on the user interface surface to be stored for display on at least one of the first display screen, the second display screen, or the user interface surface. The interface will also allow users to transfer content to the bigger screen if they unfold the display. This could, in theory, allow seamless switching between displays and could improve the overall user experience.

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(source, via)

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Microsoft recently unveiled some of the unique and interesting devices which are expected to get launched during Holiday 2020. However, now it seems that few of the devices could go official sooner than expected.

The company’s much-anticipated device — Microsoft Surface Duo was recently spotted in the wild as the device has apparently entered the testing phase. However, this has not been confirmed by the company yet.

A photo has surfaced online which shows a man using the upcoming Surface Duo out in Vancouver’s public transit system. Interestingly, the tweet reveals that the Surface Duo in question is different from the prototypes Microsoft showcased at its hardware event in October 2019.

The device in the leaked image has a front-facing flash, which seems to confirm rumors that the Microsoft Surface Duo will only have a front-facing camera module, and not a world-facing camera.

It is also being reported that Microsoft has seeded more Surface Duo units to its employees internally, possibly to test the usage of the smartphone in the public and day-to-day activities. Some of the company’s employees were also seen using Surface Duo device during Ignite 2019 sessions.

EDITOR’S PICK: Data shows Chinese now spend more time watching TV due to the Coronavirus outbreak

The prototype showcased in October 2019 shows that the Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch displays connected by 360-degree hinges allowing it to transform into an 8.3-inch tablet when opened.

It runs Android which makes sense given that Google already developed Android to work with dual-screen devices. You can run two apps on each of the screens for true multi-tasking. You can also have one display act as a virtual controller for games or a virtual keyboard for typing.

There’s Snapdragon 855 processor inside but we doubt this will be the SoC powering it when it launches by the end of 2020. There are no cameras on the back just like the Duo and there is no mention of a camera(s) above the displays.

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(Source)

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