Microsoft is breaking new ground with two-screen smartphone "Surface Duo 2" for business use

"Surface Duo 2" that Microsoft has started selling in Japan

On January 11, 2022, Microsoft Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Microsoft in the United States, started domestic shipment of its own Android smartphone "Surface Duo 2". It is a model that has been on sale since October 2009 in the United States and other countries, and as the name implies, it is one of the hardware "Surface" series developed in-house by Microsoft, but there is a decisive difference from other Surface series. It means that it is a smartphone with Android installed in the OS (basic software). [Click here for photos] Explaining the two-screen smartphone "Surface Duo 2" introduced by Microsoft with photos

■ Smartphone instead of PC

Until now, the Surface series sold in Japan had several types, such as a "2 in 1" style model that can be used like a tablet by removing the keyboard, and a laptop-type model. However, they were all common in that they were PCs equipped with Microsoft's Windows. Not only does the Surface Duo series use Android as the OS, it's more compact than other Surface series, and it can also be used for mobile communication and voice calls. It is certain that it is a device that is classified as a smartphone, not a personal computer. Microsoft used to develop Windows for smartphones, but now it's focused on PCs. At the same time, we are focusing on cloud services, and the company's representative application "Microsoft Office" has recently focused on providing it as a subscription (fixed charge) type cloud service "Microsoft 365". There is. As a result, Microsoft is believed to have developed the Surface Duo series in order to create an environment where people can work efficiently on mobile by utilizing cloud services. The first model "Surface Duo" was not sold in Japan, but it is finally available in Japan with Surface Duo 2.

■ Emphasis on using different apps on two screens

The Surface Duo 2 has become a very distinctive device for Android smartphones, partly because it is positioned as a "tool for doing business using Microsoft apps." The biggest point is that it uses a dual screen with a two-screen display. Several smartphones equipped with two screens have appeared so far. However, they emphasized that they could be used as smartphones even when folded, and they had an outward opening structure that was folded so that the display was on the outside. Surface Duo 2, on the other hand, allows you to open the screen 360 degrees. You can use it in an outward-opening style, but you can also fold it so that the screen is on the inside when storing it in a bag to protect the display. Considering that the screen can be folded inside, the Surface Duo 2 gives the impression that it is similar to Samsung Electronics' "Galaxy Z Fold 3" that can directly fold the large screen display. However, when it is opened and used, the two displays are connected to each other, so a seam is inevitably created in the center. In the case of enjoying videos on a big screen, it is disadvantageous compared to Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, Surface Duo 2 emphasizes doing various tasks efficiently, and you can run different apps on two screens. With Surface Duo 2, you can easily check materials and take notes on one screen while having a video conference on the other screen. The display of Surface Duo 2 is 5.8 type. The aspect ratio of each screen is 13: 9, which is wider than that of a normal smartphone. For this reason, it is easy to see business documents that are difficult to see on a vertically long screen even if they are displayed on one screen, and it can be said that the size is such that the capabilities of the two screens can be effectively demonstrated. Surface Duo 2 has a special pen "Surface Slim Pen 2" sold separately, and you can also take notes by operating the pen.