We’ve now seen the entire foldable lineup we expected in the United States this year, with releases from Motorola, Samsung, and Google.
It’s no secret that I love my Motorola Razr Ultra, and Samsung has made significant strides with both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
Google has done well with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold from what I’ve seen so far, and I appreciate the upgrades to durability the company made.
Still, no one has matched the user experience of the Microsoft Surface Duo. I keep waiting for a manufacturer who will recapture the magic of the Surface Duo, but I’m disappointed every year.
Companies have improved their use of internal screen real estate, but here’s why the Microsoft Surface Duo remains my preferred book-style foldable after all these years.
Its form factor holds up well
Microsoft was doing thin foldables five years ago
It’s easy to forget, but the Microsoft Surface Duo wasn’t a thick phone. We were impressed by the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s 4.2mm thickness when unfolded, but the Surface Duo is 4.8mm thick and was released in 2020.
I understand it’s not the same comparison, and it is impressive that Samsung fit all that technology and a folding display into such a thin chassis. However, thin is thin, and the Surface Duo is a joy to hold in your hand.
It’s also a book-style foldable that I’m not as careful with as the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The Galaxy Z Fold series has undoubtedly become more robust over the years, but I love that I can fold the Surface Duo and protect all the displays.
Due to its split-screen design, both screens are protected by Gorilla Glass, making them less susceptible to damage compared to the displays on more traditional folding phones.
I enjoy the hinge. It feels premium, and it’s fantastic to have the versatility of putting the device in tent mode.
Instead of a cramped outer display, I get a full 5.6-inch panel when the Surface Duo is folded completely, providing ample space for my apps.
Multitasking done right
I’ve been waiting five years for someone to copy this
Every year, when foldables are released and software updates are introduced, I think someone will copy the multitasking experience from the Surface Duo.
It’s a wonderful experience to pull up app pairs smoothly and simply swipe away an app when I’m finished, pulling up another in its place.
The dual 5.6-inch displays are wide enough to provide each app with sufficient room for a proper experience.
It was a rough start for the Surface Duo on Android 10, but software updates smoothed out the bumps.
It’s a more traditional glass slab phone when I need it, but a multitasking powerhouse when I want to run two apps simultaneously.
Microsoft did a wonderful job with its Android 12 skin, and I would’ve loved to see what the company could do if the Surface Duo were still supported.
Even Microsoft was going to abandon the format
The Surface Duo 3 wouldn’t have been the same
The rumored Microsoft Surface Duo 3 was expected to feature a folding display, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
I was disappointed when I heard the news, but Microsoft didn’t gain enough traction with either the original Surface or the Surface Duo 2 to make a third generation worthwhile.
Much like the LG Wing, I don’t think we’ll see innovative form factors like the Surface Duo again.
I loved LG’s two-screen solution, adding an attachment to phones with a secondary display. I always hoped Motorola would try something similar, but the company found success with its revived Razr lineup.
Still, there’s room for different types of folding phones, and while trifolding devices are on the horizon, they will likely be prohibitively expensive for many.
A Surface Duo-esque folding device would be much more cost-efficient to produce in 2025, although I doubt manufacturers have the motivation to do so.
I’ll always remember the Surface Duo fondly
Although I doubt we’ll see a folding phone like the Surface Duo again, it’s not out of the question to replicate its software experience.
Folding phone screens are getting larger, making it the perfect opportunity to have two independent apps open at the same time, allowing me to swipe away one without closing the pair.
It hasn’t happened yet, but a guy can dream.
