Surface Duo 2 Archives - Gizmochina

Surface Duo and Duo 2 Update Causes Device to Reboot Randomly, Microsoft Says It’s Investigating

Oğuz Çakır — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:56:44 +0000

Microsoft has been in the smartphone market for nearly two years with its dual-screen Android phone, the Surface Duo. The device was not a huge sales success, but it did attract a loyal customer base. In September 2022, Microsoft released the Surface Duo 2. Both devices offer the openness of Android with unique features from Microsoft. However, the latest software update for the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 is causing some major problems. Here are the details…

Microsoft Surface Duo Users Report Random Reboots After Installing May 2023 Update

If you’re developing a smartphone with two screens and aiming to create some advantages that dual-screen offers, your task is quite challenging. Even Microsoft, a company valued at $141.6 billion and employing 221,000 people worldwide, is struggling to achieve this. We all remember the software issues that were present at the launch of the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. Although this situation was not well-received by some users, we all acknowledged the problems that Android phones had when they first launched. Especially after the bug festival that Google Pixel models presented to their users and us.

However, bugs coming with updates long after their release, are simply unacceptable. Unfortunately, this is precisely what Surface Duo and Duo 2 users are experiencing. A recent May 2023 security update has introduced new and serious issues. Users from all over the world have reported that their devices are randomly rebooting after installing the update. The subsequent reboot screen apparently also asks users whether they’d like to try booting up again or factory resetting their device. Even though these issues are driving users insane, they won’t last long.

Microsoft, aware of the problem users are facing, made a statement about the issue to a competitor as respectable as Gizmochina, saying: “Microsoft is aware and is looking into it. For additional information please refer to our Microsoft’s Q&A community page: Surface Duo 2 – permanent reboots after Update May 30 2023 – Microsoft Community.” Unfortunately, the statement did not provide information on when the problem would be resolved.

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Microsoft won’t discontinue Surface Duo 2 any time soon despite stock issues

Sean — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 11:22:02 +0000

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has recently been out of stock almost everywhere in the US. This prompted many to assume that the company has finally discontinued this device. However, it appears that the product is still alive.

The American tech giant’s dual display handset was out of stock in many stores, with Best Buy locations having no inventory left. Meaning, there were rumors of new Surface Duo 2 not being produced by the brand. But now, the company has officially confirmed otherwise, stating that “We are aware supply is currently falling short of demand in several markets. While we do not have inventory information to share at present, Surface Duo remains an important part of the Surface portfolio.”

This basically means that it has no plans of discontinuing the product any time soon despite facing issues with inventory. For those unaware, new Surface Duo 2 models have been difficult to find for months now. Microsoft had initially claimed that the component shortages were the primary reason behind this. But despite stock issues, the company still seems dedicated towards its Android offerings, with Surface Duo 2 owners also receiving new software features and updates, with more planned to roll out later this year.

As per sources close to the matter, the company is also working on a third generation Surface Android phone at the moment. However, finer details regarding this device is still at large. So stick around for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this model.

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Microsoft Surface Duo & Duo 2 receive Android 12L, with Windows 11 inspired design

Sean — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:19:29 +0000

Microsoft has finally began rolling out the Android 12L update for its Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 models. The devices have started receiving the major software upgrade, which also brings a hint of design philosophy inspired by Windows 11.

For those unaware, the Android 12L variant of the Android operating system is special since it is built specifically for larger screened devices like the Surface Duo series or other foldable smartphones. The Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 both feature a dual display design, so unlike a foldable phone, they do not feature a crease or have flexible screens that bend from a hinge mechanism. Although, one can rotate the two displays at angles ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. This essentially makes the Duo models akin to an actual book.

Now, the American tech giant has announced the new update for the two Surface Duo models on its official blog. With the Android 12L update, the company also offers Surface Duo users the dynamic theming engine. This basically lets you change the color across the system based on the color of the main wallpaper that is chosen by the user. Furthermore, four new wallpapers will also be rolled out in the update, which will align with the new Windows 11 desktop backgrounds to “bring the vibrancy of Windows to Android.”

Microsoft also added that the Android 12L update will seek to improve the user experience through a more responsive and inclusive experience that also brings more cutomizability options as well. This includes a new refreshed UI that can dynamically adapt to users’ wallpaper, new fluid animations, and additional accessibility tools. The new update also offers updated conversations and Photo widgets as well as a privacy dashboard, which can track apps that use your camera, microphone, and location access over a 24 hour period. So for those interested, you can install the Android 12 update on your Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 by going to Settings > System > System update.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 smash JerryRig’s durability tests thanks to its solid build

Jed John Ikoba — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:33:58 +0000

Microsoft launched the Surface Duo 2 phone back in September with the device arriving with several improvements over the first-gen Surface Duo. YouTuber JerryRigEverything has published a durability test video that highlights the features of the device. The video shows the Surface Duo 2 being put through some rigorous tests in what has become Zack Nelson’s usual routine.

The new Microsoft smartphone has a foldable screen setup although its design is seemingly different from the foldable devices we have come to see like the Galaxy Fold 2. The Surface Duo 2 has two screens separated by a hinge and bezels, but neither of the screens can fold. The hinges remain a delicate underbelly of foldables and the Surface Duo 2 has been put through some strong tests in this regard. The two screens are capable of taking a direct flame from a lighter without any visible damage.

The phone is also well-kitted in surviving bend testing, although the part opposite the hinge is prone to flexing which is a drawback. The sides of the Surface Duo 2 are plastic leaving the device prone to scratches. However, its screens are covered with Gorilla Glass Victus, with a level 6 rating on the Mohs hardness scale.

Microsoft will hope that the Surface Duo 2 will get a better run and reception than its predecessor. It however remains to be seen how it will fare with the foldable flagships already having a ball like the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Potential users are at least assured of some levels of ruggedness for the Surface Duo 2.

Microsoft promises Android 11 update for Surface Duo before year’s end

Habeeb Onawole — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 18:49:02 +0000

Microsoft announced the Surface Duo 2 yesterday with impressive new specs and a refreshed design. However, those who purchased the first model are currently displeased with Microsoft, and rightly so.

The Surface Duo launched last year with Android 10 out of the box. More than a year since it was unveiled and since Android 11 was announced, the Surface Duo is still running Android 10, and with Android 12 almost here, owners of the Surface Duo sure have a genuine reason to be disappointed in Microsoft.

Back in February, it was reported that the dual-screen phone will receive the Android 11 OS upgrade this summer. Summer is officially over and the update is yet to arrive. A new report says the update is still planned for this year.

According to The Verge, they were informed by a Microsoft spokesperson that they are working on bringing the Android 11 update to the Surface Duo before the end of the year. That is not a specific date which means it isn’t set in stone and there is a likelihood of it arriving later than stated.

The Surface Duo 2 will ship with Android 11, but unlike other manufacturers that have announced how many OS upgrades their devices will receive or the number of years they will be supported for, Microsoft only promised regular updates without being specific. This means there is no saying when the new device will receive Android 12 talk less of the first-gen model.

Next Week in Tech: Realme GT Neo2, Meizu 18s series, Surface event, Narzo 50A, iQOO Z5, and more

Habeeb Onawole — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 19:37:39 +0000

There are lots of new product announcements scheduled for the third week of September. While a fair share of them are new products, others are regional launches of already announced products. Here is a roundup of what’s coming next week:

Moto G60 and Moto G60S – September 20

Motorola will announce its Moto G60 and Moto G60S smartphones in Europe on Monday, September 20. The phones are already sold in Brazil and India, and will now be heading to Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Serbia. The two mid-range phones have 6.8-inch 120Hz displays, 4G processors, and big batteries.

Meizu Event – September 22

Meizu has a big event scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, and it plans to launch several new products. The main highlights of the event are the Meizu 18s, Meizu 18s Pro, and the Meizu 18X, three new smartphones to expand Meizu’s product offering for this year.

In addition to the new phones, Meizu will also have an announcement related to its Android fork, Flyme OS, as well as new products under its Lipro brand.

Realme GT Neo2 – September 22

Realme will announce its new smartphone, the Realme GT Neo2, on Wednesday, September 22. It has been reported that there will be two versions of the phone – one will be powered by the Snapdragon 870 while the other will have a Dimensity 1200-AI processor. Both will pack AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate but the MediaTek-powered version is reported to have a smaller screen size.

Vivo X70 series Global Launch

After making its debut in China, the Vivo X70 series is now headed to other countries. On September 22, Vivo will announce the phones in Malaysia. While there are three phones in the series, there is a possibility all three will not make it out of China.

Microsoft Surface Event – September 22

Microsoft has a Surface event on September 22 during which it is expected to announce new products under its Surface line. Some of the products expected to launch on that day include the Surface Duo 2, Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, and a flagship 2-in-1.

Redmi India TV launch – September 22

Redmi India has scheduled September 22 for the launch of new smart TVs. The new smart TVs will be available in 32 inches and 43 inches sizes and will run Android TV out of the box.

iQOO Z5 – September 23

Vivo’s iQOO sub-brand will announce a new smartphone under its Z series. The new iQOO Z5 will be unveiled in China on September 23 and it will be powered by the Snapdragon 778G chipset. The phone is also expected to make its way to India later this month.

Realme Event – Narzo 50A, Realme Band 2 India launch – September 24

After making its global debut in Malaysia last week, the Realme Band 2 is now heading to India. The new fitness tracker will be announced in the South Eastern Asian country on September 24. Realme is also expected to announce the Narzo 50A smartphone, the Smart TV Neo, and the Realme 4K Google TV Stick on that day too.

Microsoft Surface event scheduled for September 22, Surface Duo 2 expected to launch

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:09:18 +0000

Microsoft had a launch earlier this year, specifically on April 14, during which it announced the Surface Laptop 4. The tech giant has begun sending out invites for another major launch scheduled for September 22, and among the new hardware expected is the Surface Duo 2.

The teaser image for the event on Microsoft’s website shows a silhouette of a computer that looks like the Surface Pro 7. The device has a kickstand and a keyboard that appears to be detachable. Microsoft already launched a Surface Pro computer earlier this year, however, the Surface Pro 7 Plus was specifically made for businesses and schools. So there is a chance this new Surface Pro may be the true successor to the Surface Pro 7 which is expected to launch as the Surface Pro 8.

Microsoft is also expected to announce a high-end laptop that may arrive as the Surface Book 4 or Surface Laptop Pro or even Surface Laptop Studio according to Windows Central. Unlike previous models of the Surface Book, this one may not have a detachable display that allows it to double as a tablet. All of the new computers should run the new Windows 11 out of the box.

Another major announcement is the Surface Duo 2, Microsoft’s second-gen dual-display device. A Geekbench listing revealed last week that the new dual-screen phone will have a Snapdragon 888 processor powering it. This should bring a significant upgrade in performance compared to the Snapdragon 855 chip inside the first-gen model. It has also been reported that it will get an improved launcher.

Other details revealed by the benchmark site are the operating system and the RAM. Microsoft will ship it with Android 11 and it will have 8GB of RAM. We don’t know if there will be other configurations available but it is nice to know that there is more RAM this year.

The Surface launch event is slated to begin at 11 AM ET.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has Snapdragon 888, reveals Geekbench listing

Anvinraj Valiyathara — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:46:13 +0000

Microsoft is expected to announce the Microsoft Duo 2 in October this year. It will be arriving as the successor to debuted in August 2020. The last year’s model came with the older Snapdragon 855 chip when other Android phones sported the Snapdragon 865. It is being speculated that Surface Duo 2 will sport the latest Snapdragon 888 chip. A Geekbench listing of the Surface Duo 2 has been spotted by MySmartPrice today. The listing reveals that it is indeed powered by the SD888.

The Surface Duo 2 Geekbench listing reveals that it is powered by a Qualcomm chip that features four CPU cores running at 1.80GHz, three CPU cores clocking at 2.42GHz, and a prime core working at 2.84GHz. The source code of the listing reveals that the Qualcomm chip is equipped with Adreno 660 GPU.

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These specs reveal that the Surface Duo 2 smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 888v SoC. The inclusion of the chip suggests that it will be a 5G-ready device.

The listing further mentions that it has 8 GB of RAM, and it runs on Android 11 OS. It scored 1071 in the single-core test, and 3166 in the multi-core test. According to a recent report, the Android OS on the device will be overlaid with an improved version of the Microsoft Launcher.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 leaked shot

Last month, a leaked video had appeared on YouTube to reveal the design of the alleged Duo 2. It revealed that the device is equipped with two separate displays held together by a 360-degree rotating hinge. It was seen sporting a triple camera unit. It also revealed that the device will be arriving in black and white colors.

It is speculated that the Surface Duo 2 will also feature an upgraded front camera. There will be an improved camera app to offer a better photography experience. The other specs of the Surface Duo 2 are under wraps.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 with improved Microsoft launcher to launch in October

Pranav — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 04:34:22 +0000

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Duo last year and it still runs on the older Android 10 OS with Microsoft launcher on top of it. Now, the company is expected to launch Microsoft Surface Duo 2 this year with an upgraded specs sheet and an improved UI. New leaks suggest that the company will bring major improvements to the Microsoft launcher and also sheds light on the phone’s specs.

According to WindowsLatest, Microsoft is planning to optimize the Microsoft launcher especially for the upcoming Surface Duo 2. Additionally, Microsoft’s Program manager Vishnu Nath revealed on Twitter that new updates to the launcher are coming. He also inexplicitly agreed to the ongoing October launch rumors of the next Duo.

Speaking of the Microsoft launcher, it is expected to bring some new features and some of those could be inspired by Android 11 OS. As said earlier, the current Microsoft Surface Duo runs on Android 10 OS, but it will also get the upgraded Microsoft launcher(Android 11) later after the launch.

Apart from this, the Microsoft Surface Duo is expected to come with major camera upgrades. It will come with triple rear cameras featuring a main lens, a telephoto sensor, and an ultra-wide lens. As per recent leaks, it will have the same folding design as the original Duo but will be upgraded in performance.

Rumors are rife that it will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and will have NFC and 5G support.