Microsoft Surface Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: Which foldable wins?

(Image credit: Samsung/Microsoft)

The Microsoft Surface Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 are both technically foldable phones, though that'south about all they share in common.

Whereas Samsung's 2nd-generation Galaxy Fold offers a massive, flexible OLED panel, Microsoft has gone a more than traditional route with the Surface Duo, offering 2 carve up 5.6-inch screens protected by glass that form an 8.1-inch canvas when folded out.

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But that's not the only way in which these two devices differ. Under the hood, they're powered by different processors, sport differently-sized batteries and tout completely unique camera hardware. And the Milky way Z Fold two packs a few conveniences yous won't find on the Surface Duo, which Microsoft is withal reluctant to even allocate equally a telephone.

At present that we've reviewed both phones, this Microsoft Surface Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 comparison looks at all the meaning ways in which last yr's nearly radical flagship Android phones differ.

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Cost and release date

The Microsoft Surface Duo started aircraft in September 2020 with a price of $ane,399 for a device with 128GB of storage. You tin upgrade that to 256GB past spending another $100, which you'll have to exercise if you e'er want more storage in your Surface Duo, every bit information technology has no microSD slot for expandability. You tin can either buy the phone unlocked, where it will support all major networks in the U.S., or go direct through AT&T.

The Samsung Milky way Z Fold ii started $one,999, before Samsung cut the price to $1,799. These days the Milky way Z Fold 2 is out of stock at most of the carriers and retailers that used to sell it; AT&T is nearly the only carrier to however characteristic the foldable. That'south a sign that the phone volition soon be replaced with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, set to come out afterward this summertime.

Surface Duo vs. Milky way Z Fold 2: Specs

	Microsoft Surface Duo	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold two (rumored)
Cost	$1,399	$i,799
Brandish	Two 5.vi-inch AMOLED (1800x1350); 8.1 inches combined	7.6-inch interior OLED (120Hz); 6.2 exterior OLED
Processor	Snapdragon 855	Snapdragon 865 Plus
RAM	6GB	12GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB; non-expandable	256GB; non-expandable
Primary cameras	11MP (ƒ/2.0)	12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x optical telephoto
Boosted cameras	Northward/A	10MP cover, 10MP main display
Bombardment size	three,577 mAh	4,500 mAh
Size	Closed: 5.71 x 3.67 x 0.39 inches; Open up: 5.71 10 7.35 10 0.xviii inches	Closed: 6.2 x 2.vi x 0.66 inches; Open: 6.ii x v ten 0.27 inches
Weight	eight.8 ounces	9.nine ounces

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Design and display

Are 2 displays ameliorate than i? Microsoft hopes y'all'll recall so, as the Surface Duo packs dual 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED displays shrouded in strengthened glass, with big bezels to a higher place and beneath the panels. The entire device is uncommonly thin — the Surface Duo just measures 4.viii millimeters thick when outstretched — making it the thinnest folding telephone or Surface ever built.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 actually has ii displays as well, though y'all can't really await at them at the same time. The one on the inside of the device measures 7.half-dozen inches from corner to corner, and sports the same dynamic 120Hz refresh charge per unit as the new Galaxy Note xx Ultra.

That console is protected by Samsung's Ultra-Thin Glass, which offers more reliability compared to the fragile plastic substrate used on the original Galaxy Fold, though not anywhere almost the same sort of rigidity and protection as what the Surface Duo offers. On the outside of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is another six.2-inch screen which substantially functions similar that of a normal phone.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 measures 6mm thick, which volition make it quite a scrap heftier than the Surface Duo when folded up. Both phones sport nifty hinges: the Surface Duo's hinge rotates a total 360 degrees and can end at any point. The Milky way Z Fold 2's tin besides stop anywhere along its path, though it'southward restricted between folding shut and opening so the interior screen lays flat.

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Cameras

Avid mobile photographers will likely flock to the Milky way Z Fold 2 earlier giving the Surface Duo whatever consideration. That's because Samsung'south foldable sports three lenses, while the Surface Duo has simply i higher up its correct display. For Samsung's device, that's a trio of 12-MP sensors on the back, tied to primary, ultrawide and telephoto optics. The telephoto has a 2x optical zoom advantage.

Equally for the Surface Duo, don't expect anything globe shattering. Microsoft has made it clear this phone is non meant primarily for shutterbugs, with a single xi-MP, ƒ/2.0 shooter to a higher place 1 of the screens. That means you'll accept to fold the phone back if you want to take a picture of something in front end of you.

Microsoft stresses the Surface Duo's single-lens system withal leverages artificial intelligence and computational photography to achieve tricks like a shallow depth-of-field portraits and a dedicated depression-light mode. That said, we'd be lying if we expected the Surface Duo's camera quality or versatility to strike anywhere near the Galaxy Z Fold two's, permit lonely one of the best photographic camera phones. It just doesn't appear to be a focus of the Surface Duo, and the specs sheet suggests every bit much.

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Functioning

Here's another area where the Surface Duo and Milky way Z Fold 2 differ massively. Microsoft's $1,399 handset utilizes 2019'south Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB of RAM, whereas Samsung incorporates the same Snapdragon 865 Plus silicon as the Galaxy Note xx and 12GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 will too back up 5G networks on all major networks — something you certainly won't notice in the Surface Duo, which is only built to connect to 4G LTE towers.

That disparity in processing ability is reflected in the phones' corresponding benchmark scores. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 posted a 3,193 issue on Geekbench v. That topped the Surface Duo'south 2,862 score on that aforementioned test. Samsung'south foldable phone besides bested the Surface Duo in the graphics tests we ran.

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold ii: Battery

With two screens to power, y'all'd imagine the Surface Duo would pack an absolutely gigantic battery. Withal Microsoft has only built a 3,577-mAh power pack into its first Android handset, which is quite small-scale compared to the 4,500-mAh ane within the Milky way Note 20 Ultra.

The first Galaxy Fold had a four,380-mAh battery, and that device didn't even tout a 120Hz refresh rate or 5G connectivity. With the increased power demands of its modern flagships, we expected Samsung would increase the second-generation Fold's battery capacity to accommodate, and it has — to 4,500 mAh.

The Surface Duo only lasted 9 hours and 27 minutes when we ran its single brandish through our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over a cellular connectedness. In dual-screen testing, that outcome fell by two hours. The Milky way Z Fold two, in contrast turned in a corresponding time of x hours and ten minutes.

Amazingly, Samsung baked wireless charging back up into the original Galaxy Fold, and it makes a return in the sequel as well. The Surface Duo unfortunately makes no provisions for wireless charging nor NFC, which is pretty disappointing given the high toll.

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Software and special features

Microsoft hopes that Surface Duo owners volition observe that what the dual-screen phone lacks in hardware, it'll make up for in clever, intuitive software. The Surface Duo is congenital to seamlessly motility you lot betwixt its two displays in a logical way that keeps you on job and helps you work smarter.

For example, if you open an email in the Surface Duo's Outlook app, it'll populate the unused screen with the contents of the message yous've just tapped, leaving your inbox open up on the starting time panel. And if you want to reply, information technology'll slide the correspondence over to supervene upon your inbox and make room for a compose menu.

Microsoft says the APIs it'south congenital atop Android on the Surface Duo are smart enough to know what apps and links to put where and when, meaning third-political party developers don't have to purposefully lawmaking their apps to accept advantage of the Surface Duo'southward multiple panels.

As for the Milky way Z Fold 2, Samsung has expanded upon the offset Fold'south nifty App Continuity feature, whereupon an app open on the outside display would motility to the interior screen for a closer expect when you opened the device. Now, that feature works for YouTube video equally well.

Additionally, Samsung has brought the Galaxy Z Flip's Flex Way to the Z Fold 2, so that the console reacts dynamically depending on what yous're doing. For example, if you're video chatting with a friend over Google Duo, you can fold the telephone slightly and so that the feed plays in the superlative portion, while menus and controls are displayed on the bottom half of the device.

At that place's no S Pen support similar you now get on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. For that, y'all'll need to wait until the Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes out — at least, according to the rumors.

Both Microsoft and Samsung take committed to iii years of Android platform updates for their phones, which give anyone who spends tiptop dollar on one of these devices peace of heed.

Surface Duo vs. Milky way Z Fold 2: Outlook

Obviously, the Surface Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 2 are very different sorts of foldables — then unlike, in fact, that they may attract entirely different users.

The Surface Duo is for the productivity-minded crowd that could really benefit from the phone'due south windowed motif and multitasking-focused interface. It's besides a skillful companion for those who actively use many Microsoft services.

The Milky way Z Fold 2 is more of a media powerhouse, with its far more sophisticated photographic camera engineering science and unencumbered flexible display. It's besides for the user excited about the future of foldable panels and mobile technology as a whole. Using a device like the Galaxy Fold or Milky way Z flip is a magical experience the very first time you do it, and it's certainly flashier than the seemingly well-built just ultimately more than traditional Surface Duo.

The amend processor, superior cameras and longer battery life make this a walk-over for the Galaxy Z Fold ii. And with a new foldable coming in a few months, Samsung figures to extend its lead over Microsoft.

Adam Ismail is a staff author at Jalopnik and previously worked on Tom'southward Guide covering smartphones, machine tech and gaming. His love for all things mobile began with the original Motorola Droid; since and then he's owned a diverseness of Android and iOS-powered handsets, refusing to stay loyal to one platform. His piece of work has also appeared on Digital Trends and GTPlanet. When he'south not piffling with the latest devices, he's at an indie pop bear witness, recording a podcast or playing Sega Dreamcast.