{"id":87280,"date":"2020-10-12T15:00:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2020-10-12T15:00:32","modified_gmt":"2020-10-12T12:00:32","slug":"a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#A Desktop in My Pocket \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a354ad4f31e3\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a354ad4f31e3\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#Its_a_Bad_Smartphone_but_You_Can_Fix_That\" >It\u2019s a Bad Smartphone, but You Can Fix That<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#Its_a_Dual-Screen_Desktop_in_My_Pocket\" >It\u2019s a Dual-Screen Desktop in My Pocket<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#The_Tablet_with_Too_Much_Gap\" >The Tablet with Too Much Gap<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#I_Love_It_but_You_Shouldnt_Buy_It\" >I Love It, but You Shouldn\u2019t Buy It<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-desktop-in-my-pocket-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#A Desktop in My Pocket \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\">\n<div class=\"rating\">Rating:<br \/>\n<span>7\/10<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <span>$1,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56570\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56570 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/eef72bc0b81f31f22a28fb46e78e546c\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xc8bbb98b.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.bzNPblUdaM.jpg\" alt=\"A Surface Duo on a wood bench.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When I ordered my Surface Duo, I knew I was in for some dis<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ointment. After all, it doesn\u2019t have near-field communication (NFC), or wireless charging, or even a decent camera. When I finally got it, it gave a bad first impression. But weeks later, I\u2019ve come to one inescapable conclusion. The Surface Duo just isn\u2019t a phone. It\u2019s a desktop in my pocket, and that\u2019s why I love it.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Dual Display system is great<\/li>\n<li>So incredibly thin<\/li>\n<li>Fold to any position<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Subpar camera<\/li>\n<li>No NFC or wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>Requires a smartwatch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you saw my first look at the device, you already know that things didn\u2019t start well with the Surface Duo. For the few hours or so, apps wouldn\u2019t load correctly, and some of the biggest Surface Duo features just didn\u2019t work right. Thankfully, everything settled down and the phone became more stable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Not perfectly stable, mind you, but I don\u2019t want to get ahead of myself. Besides the software making a bad first impression, the hardware itself makes a great first impression, at least, on the outside. That\u2019s because despite slapping two displays to a hinge, the Surface Duo is super thin, even when closed. It feels great in the hand and looks gorgeous on the outside. Unfortunately, the innards aren\u2019t as appealing. Let\u2019s cover those real quick:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Displays when open:<\/strong> 8.1\u201d AMOLED, 2700\u00d71800 (3:2), 401 PPI<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Each individual display:<\/strong> 5.6\u201d AMOLED, 1800\u00d71350 (4:3), 401 PPI<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>RAM:<\/strong> 6 GB<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 128 GB or 256 GB\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Camera:<\/strong> Singular 11 MP camera<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Ports:<\/strong> Type-C USB port (no headphone jack)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Fingerprint Sensor:<\/strong> Side, beneath power button<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Connectivity:<\/strong> Wi-Fi a\/b\/g\/b\/ac, 2.4GHz\/5GHz; MIMO; Bluetooth 5.1; NFC; AT&amp;T, Verizon, T-Mobile support<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>IP Rating:<\/strong> None<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Color:<\/strong> Glacier<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Dimensions when open:<\/strong> 145.2 mm (H) x 186.9 mm (W) x 4.8 mm (T)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Dimensions when closed:<\/strong> 145.2 mm (H) x 93.3 mm (W) x 9.9 mm (T at hinge)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 250 grams<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Price:<\/strong> $1,399, or $1,499, respectively<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you follow smartphones at all, there\u2019s a few standout specs of the back. The processor is from last year, though that <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/gadgets\/2019\/12\/qualcomms-new-snapdragon-865-is-a-step-backwards-for-smartphone-design\/\">might be a good thing<\/a>. But the RAM is on the light side for multitasking device, there\u2019s no IP rating at all, no NFC, no wireless charging, and the camera is a far cry from what you usually see on $1,400 phones. So long as you think of this device as a phone, it\u2019s going to be disappointing. However, you can mitigate some of that.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_a_Bad_Smartphone_but_You_Can_Fix_That\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s a Bad Smartphone, but You Can Fix That<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ok, let\u2019s start with the elephant in the room. The Surface Duo is, by all means, an Android smartphone. After all, it makes phone calls, handles text messages, and even video calls. But it\u2019s not a very good smartphone.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56667\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56667 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/2f6ecf60a7d955963928aa38ea57d7b3\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xe2554269.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.rRK-w-fRTW.jpg\" alt=\"A Surface Duo, smartwatch, handheld camera, and true wireless earbuds on a checkered blanket.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Everything you need for a full flagship experience. Watch, camera, and earbuds not included. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These days we expect our smartphones to do more than make phone calls and send text messages, like take amazing pictures or replace our credit cards with digital payments. But the Surface Duo doesn\u2019t do any of that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It has a camera that serves as both the front-facing and rear shooter, but it\u2019s not a great camera. At best, it\u2019s competent under optimal conditions. Are you in a well-lit room? You\u2019ll get some decent shots that could use more details, good enough for <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> and Twitter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But if you are in anything less than perfect conditions, the camera will struggle. Forget Night Sight and similar features found in Pixels and iPhones. Forget taking any photos at night. Night shots you get out of the Surface Duo are practically unusable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Likewise, you can\u2019t make contactless payments, and you can\u2019t even tell the time or see your notifications without at least partially opening the thing to get to Peek Mode. And that\u2019s after I found a buried setting to turn on notification badges for Peek Mode. And, as for actual phone calls? Well, it works, but the quality isn\u2019t great. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On a couple of occasions, I\u2019ve been told I sound like I\u2019m underwater when talking on my Surface Duo. That\u2019s down to using just one speaker and microphone on one display, so you have to get it positioned just right and make sure you have the correct display towards your face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But honestly, none of that is a big deal. If I know I\u2019m going somewhere I\u2019m want to take great photos, I can bring my camera. Thanks to a smartwatch, I have access to time, notifications, and contactless payments. And, I use true wireless earbuds when making phone calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Do I love that I need all that extra stuff to make my smartphone work like a decent smartphone? No, no, I don\u2019t. But think about this for a moment: Do you judge an LTE tablet or smartwatch for their smartphone capabilities? No, they just happen to have the chops to make phone calls. But that\u2019s not the point of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And the same goes for the Surface Duo; the moment I stopped thinking about it as a phone, I fell in love with what it actually is.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_a_Dual-Screen_Desktop_in_My_Pocket\"><\/span>It\u2019s a Dual-Screen Desktop in My Pocket<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pick up the Surface Duo, and it feels unlike any phone you\u2019ve ever held. When it\u2019s closed, it feels wide in my hand yet super thin. One side is incredibly straight and ends in sharp corners, but the other has curved corners.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56571\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56571 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/07dea4a2f23c7074271ce73b463dcda4\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xd28f2d17.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.wQdcbInKOI.jpg\" alt=\"A Surface Duo with the Feedly app open on one display, and Slack on the other.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Picture a thin UltraBook, like the Dell XPS 13. Now, shrink it down to palm-size. That\u2019s what the Surface Duo feels like when you hold it. And, I\u2019m starting to think that\u2019s not an accident. The hinge is just perfect, the Duo moves to any position with ease but sticks where I want without budging. I don\u2019t use my Surface Duo like a phone anymore. I use it like a Windows desktop with two monitors.<\/p>\n<p>On the Surface Duo, you can create app groups and place them on your desktop. They look a bit like folders, but instead of a grouping of several apps, it\u2019s just two. When you tap on an app group, both of the apps open, one on each screen. That sounds minor, but it\u2019s incredibly powerful and useful. You see, the problem with most phones and tablets is, you\u2019re limited to one thing at a time.<\/p>\n<p>Think about when you need to copy a sentence from a text to another chat app, like Messenger. You\u2019ll need to minimize Messenger, open your Text messages, find the message, copy it, minimize the text message app, find Messenger in your multitask list, then paste.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s so much easier on the Surface Duo; just open both at the same time. Copy from one and paste to the other. In some apps, like Edge and To Do, you don\u2019t need to use the copy command. Just highlight the text and drag it straight to the second app.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_53554\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53554 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/5b1f2ff17dff384f2bff0d4ac924e222\/p\/uploads\/2020\/09\/x6ab08339.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.URXzwgMd6l.jpg\" alt=\"A Surface Duo next to a phone in a case, each about the same width.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">I still can\u2019t believe how thin this thing is. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That\u2019s the kind of stuff I do in Windows all the time. As Review Geek\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> Lead, I help determine what news we cover every day. Now, in the morning, I cook breakfast and keep my phone open. On the left screen, I have Feedly and on the right Slack. When I see interesting news, I can drag it straight to the appropriate Slack channel. That process was a pain with my single-display smartphone.<\/p>\n<p>I have an app group for Facebook and Twitter, for the Bible and OneNote, for Slack and my work email. All these groups let me get more done from my phone with fewer steps. And, you don\u2019t have to create groups to benefit from the dual-screen functionality. I open 1Password and any other app or browser on each display all the time. Or I open remote desktop to control my PC when I\u2019m away from it on my left display and touch-friendly apps, like my email on the right.<\/p>\n<p>On Sundays, I direct my church\u2019s online worship service. We broadcast to YouTube and Facebook, and that means paying attention to two feeds. Now, I open both on Surface Duo at the same time. I can\u2019t play two videos at once, but I can monitor the comment feeds of both, which is what I need most.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just like connecting two monitors to a PC or Mac. The extra space means more real estate for more programs, so you can see what\u2019s going on in more places and even more from one to the other. Two apps on the Surface Duo simultaneous is the multitasker\u2019s dream. Or, at least mine.<\/p>\n<p>The more I\u2019ve used my Surface Duo, the less I\u2019ve used one of the other devices in my life\u2014my iPad. Even my wife noticed and asked if we can just give it to our son, because I \u201cdon\u2019t need it anymore.\u201d The fact that I can get more done has me reaching for my iPad less, but I\u2019m not ready to give my tablet up yet.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Tablet_with_Too_Much_Gap\"><\/span>The Tablet with Too Much Gap<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Surface Duo has several \u201cpostures,\u201d and the main four you\u2019re likely to use are \u201cBook Mode,\u201d \u201cCompose Mode,\u201d \u201cSingle Screen Mode,\u201d and \u201cDual Landscape Mode.\u201d I use Book Mode about 90% of the time, and it\u2019s just what you\u2019d imagine. The Surface Duo is most of the way open, almost like you\u2019re holding a book, and you have an app open on each display.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_53558\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53558 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/524b7f85596a3cbff4197ae0825be4f0\/p\/uploads\/2020\/09\/xe3753e6d.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.lK3ZPl7Xm4.jpg\" alt=\"A kindle app, showing a page of a book on each display.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Kindle app is one of the best examples of spanning across the screen. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Compose mode puts a messaging app on one screen and a keyboard on the other, which is handy when you have a surface to \u2026 well, hold your Surface. It feels a lot like using a laptop. In Single Screen Mode, you flip the displays all the way around and use just a single screen at a time. Mostly, I use that for taking pictures or playing <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>s.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56659\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56659 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/c5b761ec543267ace7a73d6847e93692\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/x8e8a0fb3.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.PT5JW9fYG7.jpg\" alt=\"An episode of 'The Good Place' spanned across two displays of a Surface Duo, an unsightly gap breaking the image in the middle.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you like to watch a show like this, you\u2019re probably going to The Bad Place. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you want to take pictures easily, just move to Single Screen Mode, face your camera towards your subject (you or elsewhere), and make sure the screen you want to be the viewfinder is activated. Then double-tap the \u201cPower\u201d button, that\u2019ll open the camera and put the viewfinder on the active display.<\/p>\n<p>But the last mode is probably the least useful of the top four. In Dual Landscape mode, you move an app to the middle of the two screens and it spans across both displays. Together the Surface Duo\u2019s displays measure 8.1 inches diagonally, which is about a small tablet\u2019s size.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not a small tablet, thanks in part to the gap in between the two displays. Open up a media app like Netflix or a game in this mode, the gap becomes painfully obvious and ruins the experience. Microsoft adjusted its apps to work around the gap, and a few other apps followed suit. But the vast majority don\u2019t work well in Dual Landscape mode.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_Love_It_but_You_Shouldnt_Buy_It\"><\/span>I Love It, but You Shouldn\u2019t Buy It<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In some ways, the Surface Duo\u2019s strength is that Microsoft treats each display almost like a separate phone. Most apps just work, whether you\u2019re in Book Mode, Compose Mode, or Single Screen mode.<\/p>\n<p>But right now, there are still too many problems for the average person to consider buying this $1,400 \u201cportable desktop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>First, there\u2019s that price, which is enough to buy a good phone and a decent laptop. Then there\u2019s the fact that if you want to replace your smartphone with a Surface Duo, you also need some true wireless earbuds, a smartwatch, and a decent camera to get the full experience any other flagship offers. Now, we\u2019re talking something closer to $2,000. You could buy a Galaxy Z Fold 2 for that price.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56572\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56572 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/c0411a6b0ddde2be02a8d00571616b81\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xfe9ea491.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.CQHzz2xBw0.jpg\" alt=\"The Surface Duo with a gaming system on it, game on one screen and controls on the other.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">RetroArch is pretty sweet for playing games you legally own. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dual Landscape mode is another disappointment. At this point, I only use it for two apps: Kindle and RetroArch. With Kindle, each display shows a page, making it a literal \u201cBook Mode,\u201d and the experience is fantastic. When you turn a page, the animation actually looks like turning a page.<\/p>\n<p>In RetroArch, if you turn the Surface Duo sideways, the game goes on one screen, and the controls go on the other. It looks like an old-school Nintendo DS, and I love it. Beyond that, and a couple of web games designed for dual-screen displays, Dual Landscape Mode won\u2019t do much until app developers embrace the Surface Duo. Yeah, don\u2019t hold your breath.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56670\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56670 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/7b648e6913230de87a9490df30db6387\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/x7cfada34.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.ZN5YCbumyb.jpg\" alt=\"A Surface Duo with just a single screen showing, and Alto's Oddessey playing.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Josh Hendrickson\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When you need, it works in Single Screen Mode, and every app behaves normally. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Josh Hendrickson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And after spending all that money, it should be a perfect experience, but it isn\u2019t. The Surface Duo felt very buggy out of the box, and while it that toned down after an hour, it remained somewhat laggy at times. For the first week or two, I found myself restarting the device every so often because apps wouldn\u2019t open. That choice to go with just 6 GBs of RAM hurt things, I think. The good news is a recent update to the Surface Duo really helped on that front.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m a Microsoft Fan, willing to look past issues like those found on the Surface Duo. I don\u2019t use my smartphone for calls all that often. It does the thing I\u2019ve always wanted\u2014make me more productive and more capable.<\/p>\n<p>The camera is still disappointing. I guess I\u2019ll carry something else. But the truth is, you shouldn\u2019t have to settle for less when you spend $1,500. Microsoft is onto a great idea here, and someday the Surface Duo 2 or 3 will likely be a fantastic smartphone that anyone should buy. But for now, unless you\u2019re a hardcore Microsoft fan or you absolutely need all the multitasking capabilities possible, you should probably pass.<\/p>\n<p>But for me? I have no regrets but the Surface Duo. Well, none I can\u2019t live with, anyway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\">\nRating: <span>7\/10<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Price: <span>$1,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Dual Display system is great<\/li>\n<li>So incredibly thin<\/li>\n<li>Fold to any position<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Subpar camera<\/li>\n<li>No NFC or wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>Requires a smartwatch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','1137093656460433');fbq('track','PageView');},3000);<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/56416\/surface-duo-review-a-desktop-in-my-pocket\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#A Desktop in My Pocket \u2013 Review Geek&#8221; Rating: 7\/10 ? 1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage 2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage 3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design 4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons 5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect 6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale 7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class 8 &#8211; Fantastic, with&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":87281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2020\/10\/c8bbb98b.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}