Microsoft’s dual-screen Android phone was announced back in October of 2019, yet very little is still known about the device. While we’ve learned a little about the software, specifications of the Surface Duo have been scarce. Finally, we’re learning more about the specifications and some of the information is surprising.
Previously, we knew the Surface Duo had two 5.6-inch displays at a resolution of 1800×1350 each and 4.8mm thick (opened?). That’s about it. Windows Central is reporting that the specifications have been final for a while now and people are testing prototypes in the wild. So what exactly are those specs?
First and foremost, the Surface Duo is packing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and 6GB of RAM. The inclusion of the Snapdragon 855 instead of the 865 is not super surprising, Microsoft finalized the internal design well before Qualcomm’s requirement of a separate 5G chip with the 865 was known. There simply isn’t room for the extra chip and it’s too late to make such significant changes.
The Surface Duo’s storage options will be 64GB and 256GB (no 128GB). The lone camera sensor will be 11MP f/2.0 1.12um, the displays are AMOLED panels with 401 PPI, it will have USB-C fast charging, and a 3,460mAh battery. That last number may raise a few red flags as it’s relatively small for a device wielding two displays. We’ll have to see how it performs with Microsoft’s software optimizations.
Speaking of software, the Surface Duo will ship with Android 10, but should be updated to Android 11 “relatively quickly.” Microsoft is aiming to finalize the preinstalled apps by early June. All of the first-party Microsoft apps will support spanning both displays and drag and drop capabilities at launch.
A bigger story than the specs the Surface Duo will have is perhaps what it won’t have. Current test units apparently don’t have wireless charging or NFC. Wireless charging is a borderline omission, but the lack of NFC would be a real bummer. That would mean the Surface Duo couldn’t be used for mobile payments. At this point, the biggest unknowns left are the price and release date.
Rumored Surface Duo Specifications
| Microsoft Surface Duo | |
| Operating System | Android 10 |
| Display | 2x 5.6 inch, 4:3 aspect ratio, 1800×1350 (401 ppi) resolution, AMOLED |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Memory | 6GB RAM |
| Storage | 64GB 256GB |
| Expandable Storage | None |
| Camera | 11MP, ƒ/2.0 1.12um |
| Security | Fingerprint |
| Ports | 1x USB-C nanoSIM slot |
| Battery | 3460mAh |
| Pen | Surface Pen |
Source: Windows Central