Microsoft (MSFT) on Wednesday unveiled its Floor Duo 2 dual-screen smartphone. The second technology of the corporate’s foldable cellphone, the Floor Duo 2 seems to be to enhance on its predecessor, by including a trio of recent cameras, a quicker processor, and 5G connectivity.
The gist of the Floor Duo 2 is that two screens are higher than one. To that finish, Microsoft has mixed two panels with a hinge to make an Android-powered (GOOG, GOOGL) system that permits you to not solely use each shows on the identical time, but in addition seamlessly transfer apps and content material between them.
That functionality will price you an expensive $1,499 when the Duo 2 hits retailer cabinets. It’s out there for pre-order immediately.
The primary-generation of the Duo made a splash because of its distinctive design. Whereas the unique Duo had no exterior display screen in any respect, the Duo 2 now has a sliver of display screen referred to as the Look Bar that peeks out from the place its shows come collectively and offers you with the time and notifications when the Duo is closed.
Three cameras and higher efficiency
Microsoft has seemingly addressed a variety of the unique Duo’s shortcomings with its Duo 2. One of many greatest points with the first-generation model was its lack of any really succesful digicam. To maintain the outside of the system flat on either side, Microsoft had the Duo’s inside selfie digicam pull double obligation as its predominant digicam. That, nonetheless, made for some subpar images when in comparison with its contemporaries.
This time round, Microsoft has outfitted the Floor Duo 2 with a trio of exterior cameras. Like Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones, the Duo 2 will get a wide-angle digicam, an ultra-wide angle digicam, and a telephoto digicam. There’s additionally a devoted night time pictures mode, 2x optical zoom with the telephoto lens, and the power to report 4K video at 60 frames per second.
As for the often sluggish efficiency, the Duo 2 ought to have that sorted out. This time round, Microsoft has dropped Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 888 processor into the Duo 2, which implies the cellphone ought to run as easily and rapidly as any of the main smartphones in the marketplace. What’s extra, the Duo 2 will get 8GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage.
On high of that, the Floor Duo 2 will get 5G connectivity, one thing that was conspicuously absent from the first-generation Duo.
Bigger screens and Microsoft apps galore
The Duo 2 additionally will get two bigger shows this time round. Reasonably than two 5.1-inch panels, the Duo 2 will get two 5.3-inch screens that confide in an 8.3-inch show that you should use to maneuver your apps throughout or as a single canvas for extra expansive apps.
In fact, whereas the Duo 2 runs on Google’s Android, the cellphone runs a complete slew of Microsoft apps, a very powerful of which is Microsoft 365, which incorporates Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and Outlook.
Microsoft’s first stab on the Floor Duo was a flawed, however still-impressive smartphone that challenged what the supercomputer in your pocket ought to appear to be and be able to. With the enhancements the corporate has made to the Duo 2, the corporate may have the makings of a success on its palms.
We’ll simply have to attend to see what it’s like to make use of the Duo 2 in the actual world to see.
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