Microsoft’s first Android device, the Surface Duo, was unveiled back in 2019 and went on sale later in 2020. While the device debuted an interesting form factor, the specifications were underwhelming for its price, thanks to the dated internal and lackluster camera performance. Now, images of what is believed to be the successor to the Surface Duo have surfaced on the web.
The leak was featured on a YouTube video from ‘Tech Rat’ showing off the device and providing an interesting look at the camera array. The images suggest that the Duo 2 houses a triple-camera system, in line with what is now becoming a bare minimum in smartphones. The first-gen device shipped with just a single underwhelming 12MP unit.
Zac Bowden from Windows Central also confirmed the legitimacy of these images, providing further credence to the leak. Bowden adds that the array might include an ultra-wide-angle shooter, a telephoto lens, and a standard main camera. This makes the device more potent in the photography department, possibly justifying being priced like a flagship.
In addition to the images, the leaker claims that the device will be largely similar in dimension to that of its predecessor. However, there might be a larger display thanks to smaller bezels, housed in a device that sports a more rounded frame. The leaker also claims that the Redmond firm will add an NFC chip to the dual-screened phone, something that was absent on the original device. The folks over at Windows Central also seem to believe that the Duo 2 will feature flagship specs, such as a Snapdragon 888 SoC, which will also bring support for 5G. As for colors, the firm might be readying a black color option along with the Duo’s white color, with both the devices sporting a frosted back glass.
The addition of the camera array also seems to introduce a camera bump that might hinder the ability of the device to fold flat. It will be interesting to see if the device features a workaround for this, or if the company chooses function over form. It is also not clear whether the phone in the leaked images is an earlier prototype, and if the design has been tweaked since.
Microsoft is expected to launch the Surface Duo 2 sometime in September or October. With the first-gen Duo still running Android 10, it is anybody’s guess what the Duo 2 will ship with, in terms of software. There is also no word on what the price of the Duo 2 will be.
Update: The video seems to have been taken down by the YouTube user.