Let’s talk about this Surface Duo 2 leak

Yesterday, footage of a near-final Surface Duo 2 handset leaked, revealing that Microsoft’s next dual-screen phone will finally include a competent triple-lens camera system housed in a very typical camera bump, just like the others. smartphones from the market. So far, however, the response to these images has been somewhat negative, with comments criticizing how the camera looks out of place and now hinders the ability to lay the Duo flat on itself in single screen mode.

Right off the bat, I want to quickly address some people’s assumptions that the leak is fake or an older prototype with an unfinished design. According to my sources, the prototype in these photos is the real deal and features the design that Microsoft intends to deliver. We can see minor adjustments to things like materials and colors, but the bump, shape, and size of the camera are all set in stone.

It’s really hard to judge how good or bad a device will be based on the leaked grainy photos. It’s pretty much a fact that the leaked photos always look worse than the real thing. When the iPhone 11 Pro first leaked, the camera design was polarized, but the device was later announced and started shipping, and people got over it. I expect the same to happen with Surface Duo 2.

Source: YouTube: Tech Rat

However, this does not solve the usability issue when it comes to using the device in single screen mode. Yes, the camera bump will prevent the device from lying completely flat on itself which on paper seems like a nightmare of use. But I bet it’s not as bad as it sounds. You can sort of simulate what it will look and feel on a Surface Duo 1 by placing a Surface Slim Pen between the two halves.

I tried it myself last night, and honestly it’s not a problem for things like typing or navigating the operating system. I actually think it makes holding the Surface Duo a bit easier, as you now have a thicker area to grab hold of. Of course, the aesthetics of this won’t be to everyone’s liking, but it’s another thing most people will “get over” over time, and might even come to love.

Would I prefer it lay flat? Sure. But is it the end of the world that he doesn’t? I really don’t think so.

There are also structural concerns as to whether the camera bump could bend or break when closed on both sides. Again, a legitimate concern, but I feel like Microsoft has already tested this extensively. I would bet if that was a problem Microsoft wouldn’t ship the device with this design. Yet it’s one of those “we’ll have to wait and see” things.

Just like the Surface book

It all reminds me of when Microsoft announced the first Surface Book. When it was first announced, the design around the hinge and the fact that the cover didn’t close flush with the keyboard was a real concern for people. Some people found it ugly, others worried if the space would let in dirt or allow the lid to bend over time.

None of these concerns turned out to be a problem. We’ve been on the third-gen Surface Book for five years now, and no longer is one questioning the structural design of the hinge or cover. It’s just like that, and I think a lot of people have come to love it. I think we’re going to see the exact same thing happen with Surface Duo 2.

Sure, it’s annoying that the first-gen Surface Duo can lie flat and the second can’t, but it’s also annoying that the first-gen Surface Duo can’t take good photos. As someone who doesn’t even like smartphone photography, I always want better cameras on my Surface Duo. I want an ultra-wide lens and I want to be able to take pictures quickly without having to first fold the camera into a specific mode.

I think a lot of people are complaining about the Surface Duo 2 camera never actually used a Surface Duo 1. As someone who has been driving a Surface Duo daily since September 2020, I can tell you that a camera system on the outside of the device is going to be so much better. The only camera inside is a nightmare to use, and I missed out on a lot of photo opportunities because of it.

It’s pretty clear to me that Microsoft is trying to make Surface Duo 2 a good phone. Surface Duo 1 nailed the basics of being a Surface, but it wasn’t a good phone. The bad camera, lack of NFC, 5G, high refresh displays, and an outdated processor were all reasons the device wasn’t a good phone. That, and the fact that the operating system was (and is) insanely buggy.

For Microsoft to make the Surface Duo 2 a good phone, it needs to address these concerns. And luckily, he seems to be doing it. It will have a better camera, but the only way to do that is to add a camera bump, as the Duo itself is too thin to house a competent camera system inside the body. So that’s literally the only thing they can do without sacrificing something else like battery life or the overall thickness of the device.

The original Surface Duo was intended to be a device that excels in productivity, multitasking and inking. That doesn’t change with the Surface Duo 2 and its camera bump. It’s still a dual-screen device, and it’s still the only good one on the market. Of course, you won’t be able to fold it completely flat on itself in single screen mode anymore, but if that’s a challenge for you then maybe you’re not the target demographic for a device like the Duo. anyway.

As a Surface Duo 1 customer, I am very excited about Surface Duo 2. I think that if Microsoft gets to grips with the software, it will be the first Surface Duo that I can comfortably recommend to “normal people” who may be fascinated by the software. mine when they see me using it in a public place. We expect Surface Duo 2 to start shipping in September or October, although we don’t yet know how much that will cost.