"Surface Duo 2" actual machine review--How has it changed from the previous model?

Microsoft's "Surface Duo 2" was announced on September 22nd at an online "Surface" related event. It seems that many of the problems seen in the previous model "Surface Duo", such as the sometimes sluggish performance, the only one camera, and the lack of 5G support, have been resolved. Whether it can compete with Samsung's "Galaxy Z Fold3" remains to be seen, but it finally supports 5G, has more cameras, a faster processor, and even added a side display. The price starts at $1,499.99 (approximately 167,000 yen), and pre-orders have started in the United States before the October 21st release. We'll give you all the details about this new Android-powered Microsoft smartphone, including a hands-on review. How does it compare to the competition, and will the performance ultimately be satisfactory?

Design: Newly added "Glance Bar" to the hinge

At first glance, it seems that the design of Surface Duo 2 will not change. It resembles a black leather notebook that is foldable and entirely made of glass. The two separate screens are hinged, in contrast to single-sided foldable displays like the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. It has a structure that becomes tent mode when folded back, and when opened, both screens can be seen at the same time, and only one side can be used by folding back. The fact that both the front and rear panels are covered with glass has not changed from the previous model.

The dual displays are each 5.8-inch AMOLED, slightly larger than the previous model's 5.6-inch. When opened, it has a screen of about 8.3 inches, and each display has a resolution of 1892 x 1344 pixels. The glass that protects the display is Gorilla Glass Victus, which Microsoft says is even more durable. Also, the display is slightly curved at the hinge. The aim is to reduce the gap between the two displays and strengthen the impression that they are connected. The refresh rate is again 90Hz.

There is one big new feature. Added to the side of the Surface Duo 2's hinge is a long, thin display called the "Glance Bar." The battery level and various notifications are displayed, and the function is similar to the edge display of other smartphones. Since the Surface Duo 2 in the folded state does not have an outer display, it seems to be convenient when receiving an incoming call.

The Glance Bar lights up when there's an incoming call, and you can also press the side button to see if there's a notification. If you want to see more information, you'll have to open it up, but the Glance Bar seems to do exactly what it says it does. You can "peek" at information you might have missed with the screen closed.