Customers admire the Microsoft Surface Duo 128GB (Unlocked) for its dual screens, multitasking capabilities, and long battery life. They appreciate the beautiful design, thin and light form factor, and versatility of the device. However, some customers have concerns about the camera quality, software issues, high price, durability, and overheating issues.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 229 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens, Multitasking
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Im actually very impressed
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I received the device about a week after launch and after all the negative reviews on social media. I honestly didn't expect to love this device especially since I have had the original Galaxy fold and the Z Fold 2 at launch. I decided to take a chance and try this phone and im amazed that it forces you to love multi tasks and the entire layout of the duo. To be honest with the fold it was only a larger screen that I would use and never multi tasks bc they were inconvenient in some ways but the dual screens on the duo is perfect and quiet genius. I had an issue that the duo wouldn't recieve text messages through Verizon and the best buy service person called and they changed the CDMA-LESS in the Verizon network and it works great now...
The camera still isn't the best but it's not bad either. To be honest the reviews I see on social media aren't all together fair in my opinion and I prefer this device over the fold 2 which is why I have my SIM in it now and plan to use it as my main choice for a phone. The dual screen has definitely been a pleasure to use.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Shawn,
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with your new Surface Duo. We're glad that you're a fan of its dual-screen design and multitasking features. We hope you continue to enjoy using your Surface.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Design, Multitasking
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Device from Microsoft
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love this product. It's something completely different then we are all use to. At first glance you think the experience will be like other foldables, but because the device has two distinct screens, not one large folding one, it isn't.
This is a multitasking monster, and one you need to play around a lot with before you get use to. I'm still not there yet but I'm excited to go through the process. It is one of, if not the most, beautiful devices I've used. It feels ultra premium even among premium phones. And the thinness really sets it off.
Of course, the software still needs fine tuning, but it is definitely workable and will be updated. As far as hardware goes, a lot of reviewers are hammering the Duo vs the Galaxy Fold 2, which is $600 more. With $600 I'm sure we could have got the features of the Fold 2 (which is a phone not something new), but instead we get a beautifully thin (not thick) phone for a much lower, albeit still expensive price.
I'm excited to use this one and am even more excited for a next generation one with slimmer bezels (these should go away even if they can be seen as grips), nfc, water resistance, and a slightly better camera. Once Microsoft gets these aspects in place, everyone won't be able to deny such innovation.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Lance,
It's wonderful to hear that you love your new Surface Duo. We're glad that you're a fan of how its dual-screen design makes it a powerhouse for multitasking and productivity. Thank you for your feedback; we hope you enjoy using your new Surface.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Multitasking
Cons mentioned:
Software issues
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Love It But...
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I absolutely love this device. The hardware is awesome and the hinge is very impressive. The screens are a very good size and work well. Having 2 apps side by side is more productive than I thought. Battery life is impressive as well.
Unfortunately the software works well about 75% of the time. When it works well it’s awesome. When it doesn’t it is frustrating since I see and experience the benefit when it’s working. My main concern is paying such a hefty price for something that works only 75% of the time. I waited for the October update and it made a difference with many issues but not all. Regretfully I had to return it.
I see the future with this device and look forward to future releases.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens
Cons mentioned:
Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Give it a chance
|
|
Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I purchased this and returned it after the initial software glitches-well I was still very intrigued and after reading about software updates that Microsoft pushed out I purchased again directly from Microsoft-I absolutely love this device for productivity. It is so much smoother after the update. The screens are beautiful and the device is so well made. I will say that I do not use this for my primary phone as I already have two other primary phones. If you are a person who values productivity and the ability to run two different apps on different screens at once in the palm of your hand this thing is amazing! Especially this time of year when you are comparison shopping for products and trying to get the best price on Christmas gifts this can't be beat! Having chrome open on one side and edge on the other is a game changer! Early critics of the device may be somewhat justified because I initially balked as well at the performance for the price but if you returned your device early on I would really suggest giving it another shot-you will be surprised at the improvements. I have wanted this device since it was announced a year ago and now I can't be without it-I will definitely be back next year first in line for the second version!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Nicole - Thank you for sharing your experience with Surface Duo! It's great to hear that you're a fan of its dual-screen design and multitasking features. Best, Erica Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Dual screens
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic device for Productivity!!
|
|
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this phone 2 weeks ago and I had very high expectations after reading the reviews after all the updates. I bought it for work and productivity. I was not disappointed! The two screens has exceeded my productivity experience. Not buggy at all. Battery all day with heavy use. Android & Microsoft experience together has been flawless. If you are a Microsoft 365 user you will not be disappointed. It has handled everything I've thrown at it with ease and speed. It's like having my office computer in my hands and it's very lightweight. Besides work reading books on this device is a real pleasure. Not what i bought it for but a real unexpected plus. Have not had any problems with calls or volume issues. I expect this device will be in it for the long hall as all my Microsoft devices have never disappointed me. The Android experience on this phone brings the best of both worlds. If you have an android device and or a microsoft device there's no learning curve or set up time.
Extremely happy with this purchase. It will not disappoint after all the updates Microsoft has done for this device. The collaboration with Microsoft & Android has far exceeded my expectations! I use this device for 9 to 10 hrs a day for work but watching videos and reading books using facebook etc is an unexpected pleasure. I have found no cons with this phone and highly recommend to people who want to be fully productive during the day and also for people who don't!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hi – We appreciate you taking the time to tell us your thoughts. It's great to hear that you're a fan of its dual-screen design and multitasking features. We hope you continue to enjoy it. Cheers, Erica Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Multitasking
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great Phone for Productivity
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
One of the best made phones I have ever purchased.
The Surface Duo is a solid build. I have had it for only ten days, but it is still as precise as when I purchased it.
Being able to work on two apps at the same time is amazing. Not every app works correctly, but the ones I need do so this does not bother me.
The camera is a bit of let down, I had a Lumia 1020, so I was hoping for a better one.
I would recommend this phone to anyone wanting to be more productive and now that it's on sale, it is even better.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Camera, Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Works Great!
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I got mine in the mail yesterday. I was unhappy though with how BestBuy packed it, sent in a bubble envelope. The setup was pretty simple like any phone. However, as a Verizon customer, I had one issue and that was SMS messaging. It did not work. I called Verizon and was told they had to activate "CDMA-less" on my account and add the "IMEI" manually. After that headache was over it all worked great.
It's a really interesting design that I am enjoying using so far. The functionality is a little quirky though but that will be fixed with software updates hopefully. I find it far faster to get things done with the multi-screen. I use MS Suite a lot for work and it works great except one issue with MS Teams and that isn't the phone it's the app itself and it's a simple design issue that can be fixed.
The camera is just that. This camera isn't made for taking amazing photos and since I don't use the phone camera all the time it won't be an issue for me. Price should come down but with the engineering, I can see why the high price tag but a little drop would be nice. I do like that it comes with a bumper.
I would say if you have a solid use for a true multi-screen phone then buy it but if not and you want an amazing camera then this isn't the phone for you. Also, it's a 1st gen with quirks. If you want the device to be perfect right out of the box then good luck cause that won't happen.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Camera, Software issues
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
More than a phone
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I'm fully entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem and was an avid user of Windows Phone. I purchased this to get a Microsoft phone in my hands again. And this is a terrific phone to have in hand. The build quality is amazing, and the size of the screens allows you to use it as more than a phone. It really operates like a small tablet (and I have not felt awkward holding it up to my ear to use it as a phone.)
The biggest downsides at this point are all software-related, which means they can be fixed with updates. I'm using the pre-loaded Microsoft Launcher (which I had been using on my prior Android phone). There are sometimes glitches as you shift from one page to another or from using one screen to two. It's annoying, but I expect it to be fixed.
I haven't used the camera, because I came in knowing it was of limited quality. And this unlocked version cannot use Wi-Fi calling on Verizon, though hopefully Microsoft and Verizon will enable that in the future.
Microsoft set out to create something more than a phone with the Surface Duo. I believe they've succeeded. This feels more like a compact computing device than any kind of phone. I look forward to using it more.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello – Thank you for sharing your experience with your new Surface Duo! It’s great to hear that it’s working well for you. We hope you continue to enjoy using it. Cheers, Erica Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good secondary device
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is a hard device to review.
I use it as a companion device to my Pixel 2 XL, so it is more of a tablet than a phone. In that regard, the unique two-screen build is a fun novelty. The build is excellent, even if it feels fragile. The less-than-flagship stats don't hurt its performance.
The camera experience is poor for a price in its price range, even when heavily discounted like when I bought it. I couldn't imagine using it as an actual phone. Being stuck on Android 10 isn't helping, having been using Android 11 on the Pixel for a year now.
I do like the Surface Duo a great deal, but I can't in good conscience suggest someone buy this as their primary device when other excellent phones in its price range exist.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hi Will – Thanks for sharing your experience with Surface Duo. We appreciate your feedback. Erica, Microsoft Outreach Team
Cons mentioned:
Price, Software issues
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Great concept! Fails in several ways!
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Concept is amazing but with over a year to get a software compatible system that works smoothly it fails big time. Constant glitches in the operating system, using google operating system just isnt great.. If they could only pair this with apple it would be amazing. Hardware wise the screens have huge bezels the speakers and cameras are complete trash.
This is something I hope Microsoft builds on and works to improve and I would be a buyer.. PS 1500 for an unfinished product is an embarrassment.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens, Multitasking
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amazing Phone, Recommended for Techies!
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Yes, the Duo has some software hiccups and may not be "smooth" as of present but once I started using it, for me, it was a game changer.
Having 2 screens it is like using dual monitors. You can accomplish so much more and being able to grade papers and enter in grades (I teach high school) simultaneously is a dream.
As well, the screen is excellent and the 360 hinge makes watching shows while eating perfect because you can fold the phone so it sits upright!
If you love tech you will really enjoy this ~~
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello,
We're glad that you're enjoying the dual-screen design of your new Surface Duo. It's great to hear that it helps you be productive as a school teacher, too. Thank you for sharing your experience; we hope you continue to enjoy using your Surface.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Almost, but not quite.
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I ended up returning this thing and part of me regrets it. But it wasn't very practical as THE phone you carry around every day, and it was too expensive to just sit at home as a media consumption device. Everything the YouTubers (The Verge, MKBHD, etc) said is true - the cameras are crap and Android isn't really ready for the split screens. But I was willing to look past all that. What really killed me is that the bluetooth was garbage. It's not a very practical phone, but if I could have used a nice bluetooth headset with it, I could have lived with that. But even between my ear and my pocket, the connection would crappy. I'd have to hold the device right at my chest level to maintain a decent connection. So anyway, it's a pretty cool device and I look forward to future iterations. For now, I'll stick with my Galaxy Z Fold 2.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Dual screens
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Don't listen to the YouTube reviewers
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
By far the most productive phone I've used in years. Normally use the Samsung note series but I decided to try something new to see if I can be more productive while on the go. The dual screens and the ease of use makes this device awesome. Took me a little while to get comfortable using a gestures but outside of that I haven't had any issues at all. Battery life is great even when using both screens I got a full day of usage. Even the Google apps work flawlessly with this product.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Curtis,
Thank you for sharing your experience using Surface Duo. It's wonderful to hear that it's been a productivity powerhouse for you and that you're a fan of its dual-screen design. We hope you continue to enjoy using it.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great first effort
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First, I get so many looks from this device. Everybody wants to know what it is and they are generally very impressed with the extra real estate and the build quality. I am still discovering how useful having 2 screens can be and which apps actually take advantage of dual screens. The Kindle app is a great example of a dual screen app and it's a beautiful example of what the Duo can do.
It can be a challenge to open the device with one hand (sadly, I discovered this the hard way and I now have a cracked screen after freak landing), so I've found that it's most usable when I leave it open in my pocket. Though some people are turned off by the width, I like the bigger screen. In fact, when I hold my old phone, it seems a little like a toy--way too narrow.
The Duo isn't for everybody, and neither was it intended to be. But it is a great new form factor in a stale cell phone market and it's a breath of fresh air for me. Just wish I could MS to help me with the cracked screen. :)
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is the most amazing device i've owned in years. The experts will compare to the standard high end phones and pout about the processer and camera. This processor handles anything this device can do. The device is meant for prodcutivity. So stop comparing it to the other phones based on it's trouble taking selfies.
If you want to get things done, clear your email, communicate quickly, and not have to be tied to a laptop, this is the phone for you. A few software glitches, but not anywhere near what others are reporting. And, the glitches are quite minor compared to the overall output.
Thank you microsoft for daring greatly!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Karl,
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with your new Surface Duo. It's wonderful to hear that it meets you expectations for productivity and working on the go. We hope you continue to enjoy using it.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Multitasking
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Incredible, beautiful device to get things done!!
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've owned my Surface Duo for a week now and I couldn't be happier with it. Visually, the two displays are beautiful and crystal clear. The Surface Duo has made it easy to multitask seamlessly between the two screens.
The device is fast and I haven't experienced any sort of lag in performance. The phone works great with no problems.
I love how I can connect the device to my PC through a bluetooth connection so that I can send/receive text messages on my PC through the 'your phone' app while I'm working.
Yes, the camera could be better and I wish the battery life was longer. But, these are small concessions for everything else it provides. The Surface Duo is seriously like having a laptop in your pocket.
I would highly recommend it to anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Jason,
Thank you for recommending Surface Duo! We're delighted that you're a fan of its dual-screen design and seamless multitasking. It's great to hear that you like the ability to connect to your Windows 10 PC, too. We hope you continue to enjoy using your new Surface.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Form factor
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I love it
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I'm a huge Apple fan, only buy Apple products in this category for many many years. But the form factor of the Duo was so intriguing I'm back to Microsoft and Android. I just love the ability to fold it say in laptop mode, in movie mode, read Kindle books properly on a device, etc. Pretty much every night I sit back in my lounge chair with this on my lap and watch tv shows or movies. I don’t have to worry about propping it up or having an extra stand. The hardware is so sleek and high quality. The screen quality is terrific and in my opinion the perfect shape. It is slightly wider than a typical phone and that is a plus. Width wise it is almost edge to edge. When using in laptop mode you have a lot more detail on screen.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Darrin,
Welcome to the Surface family! Thank you for sharing your experience with your new Surface Duo! It’s great to hear that it’s working well for you. We hope you continue to enjoy using it.
Cheers, Chuck Surface Customer Care
Pros mentioned:
Multitasking
Cons mentioned:
Camera
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good Tablet/Phone
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love it but as a companion device to my Note 20 Ultra. The multitasking is great and definitely a eye catcher. I paid $750 for the phone after a trade in of my iphone xs. I would not recommend at over $1000 because it has last year specs and one camera. Overall though it's solething different and is way better than the youtube reviews. I woukd say it's a tablet first and phone second, so if ypur looking for this to take the place of say a Note 20 or iphone and this is yoir main device yoau not like it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Durability
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Premium device,
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I got this as a secondary device since I am pretty heavily tied to the apple eco system. Really well built, cool (but expensive) gadget. the heavily discounted price from original msrp is what made it somewhat accessible. I found a lot of info, tip/tricks on online forums. I really liked the form factor, but found the it to be a bit too heavy, a bit too fragile and a bit too premium for my intended uses - so ended up returning and cutting my losses on the restocking fee. Like anything with moving parts, I questioned the long term durability of the hinge more electrically than physically.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Dual screens, Multitasking
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Game changing device
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The dual screen phone by Microsoft. There is nothing else in the market like this phone, but after using the DUO for about a month now, I can confidently say that this form factor will be adopted by other phone manufacturers soon. The ability to have two different apps at the same time has changed the way I use my phone, and I hope other consumers still on their one screen devices realize what they are missing one day.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from MicrosoftOutreachTeam
Posted .
Hello Raffy,
We're glad that you're enjoying the dual-screen design of your new Surface Duo. Thank you for sharing your personal experience using it; we hope it continues to serve you well.