Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 spied with massive camera upgrade

[Shawn Knight]

Recap: Microsoft’s Surface Duo was one of the more compelling dual-screen / foldable smartphones of 2020, but it wasn’t without a couple of shortcomings. Notable among them was the camera system. It featured just a single camera module, an 11-megapixel shooter with f/2.0 aperture and an 84-degree field of view. Fortunately, it appears as though Microsoft’s successor will step this up a bit.

Windows Central has shared images of what appears to be Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Duo. The photos, originally from YouTube user Tech Rat, were first published more than a month ago but flew under the radar until Windows Central picked them up this week.

In the images, we see a device that largely resembles the first-gen Surface Duo, save for a large camera bump on the rear of the device that appears to house three modules. According to WC, the photos are indeed legitimate and show off an ultra-wide, a telephoto and a standard lens. A flash flanks the camera array along with a microphone.

The leak further reveals two color schemes for the phone, black and white. The integrated fingerprint reader has also been removed, and might now be embedded in the power button or maybe even built into the display.

Microsoft’s second-gen Surface Duo is expected to launch this fall, although pricing remains a mystery. Most believe it’ll be significantly more powerful and capable than the first-gen device which shipped with outdated hardware. Hopefully that won’t impact the price point too much, as the original started at $1,399.99 when it first launched (but is down to just $649.99 now).

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/90553-microsoft-surface-duo-2-spied-massive-camera-upgrade.html

 

[Dimitriid]

Just like with the recent lenovo device I am 99% sure this will have the same issue: Expecting laptop money without delivering laptop-like performance. It can't even compete with Microsoft own surface products which can somewhat deliver laptop performance on a tablet format.

As it stands it's a novelty tablet, once that sacrifices too much for it's novelty. But in all fairness, something very similar can be said about the M1 ipad pro: costs too much for a novelty tablet because it remains exactly that: just a tablet.

 

[VitalyT]

with massive camera upgrade

Not even sure how to read this - with massive upgrade for the camera, or upgrade with a massive camera...

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Not even sure how to read this - with massive upgrade for the camera, or upgrade with a massive camera...

The spy had a massive upgrade to his camera.

 

[netman]

Crap Hardware...!

 

[CrisisDog]

Damn, that's a pretty large camera bump...

 

[m3tavision]

Just like with the recent lenovo device I am 99% sure this will have the same issue: Expecting laptop money without delivering laptop-like performance. It can't even compete with Microsoft own surface products which can somewhat deliver laptop performance on a tablet format.

As it stands it's a novelty tablet, once that sacrifices too much for it's novelty. But in all fairness, something very similar can be said about the M1 ipad pro: costs too much for a novelty tablet because it remains exactly that: just a tablet.

Are you daft..?

This is no bigger than your phone. I have owned a Microsoft Duo Android phone, for about 9 months now. It is simple the best phone I have ever used. I am sick and tired of people coming over to me asking what it is, that I am holding. It is the most usable device on earth, can literally stream two different twitch players in each pain, etc..

Surface Duo2 will be even better, being even more efficient, more capable, 5g... and from the looks of it, will feature metal body (instead of G5 glass, like mine) and looks more robust. Not to mention, that (magnetic?) detachable camera looks nice.

 

[oldikes]

Not to mention, that (magnetic?) detachable camera looks nice.

Why on earth would you assume it has a detachable camera? Its a hideous bump for sure, but thats all the rage on premium phones right now.

Honestly, with this camera improvement, a tiny front screen just for showing notifications is the one thing stopping me from getting on board. Even if it was e-ink. A shame they couldnt fit that in.

 

[m3tavision]

Why on earth would you assume it has a detachable camera? Its a hideous bump for sure, but thats all the rage on premium phones right now.

Honestly, with this camera improvement, a tiny front screen just for showing notifications is the one thing stopping me from getting on board. Even if it was e-ink. A shame they couldnt fit that in.

Because it would defeat the whole point of the DUO, is that it is foldable in all directions.... it is a high-end elegant device. Earbud and pen in pocket is all you need, it's a mini-pc.

Having such a unnecessary bulky camera built in (vs a more elegant approach), would make the device awkward. And like other surface devices, attachable devices is a coming thing.

The first device was essentially a test bed for a more modern device, such as NFC, 5G and a better camera (maybe even a forward facing one!), as the Duo's Camera is as basic as it gets...

That render was a meme....

 

[Leuten]

Who or what did it spy on?

 

[Hardware Geek]

A camera upgrade is nice but what are the processor specs and how much ram does it have?

 

[BCage]

The biggest showstopper for me were those huge bezels around the screen. I really hope they fix those this for this version.

 

[captaincranky]

Damn, that's a pretty large camera bump...

Perhaps but, "look how far we've come"......