Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device
![](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-728x314/gsmarena_000.jpg)
The Microsoft Surface Duo is now available for pre-order and it costs a whopping $1,400 – that is not cheap, but the phone has a rare dual screen design with a hinge that allows it to fold in half. CNET got an exclusive in-depth look at the hardware, including a teardown. Let’s see where all that money goes.
The hinge is pretty standard, you can find similar designs on many laptops. The Duo is not a foldable phone and it avoids all the complexities associated with those, instead it’s built on tried and true technology.
![Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-727/gsmarena_001.jpg)
Like the Snapdragon 855 chipset. It’s a year old now, but Microsoft added a few bespoke chips to handle some of the extra features on the device – things like Surface Pen stylus and the split battery.
![Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-727/gsmarena_002.jpg)
You can see the battery here. There’s a big cell on the left and a smaller one on the right. A custom chip ensures they are drained and charge at the same pace to keep things balanced. In total, the two cells have 3,577 mAh capacity.
![Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-727/gsmarena_004.jpg)
Of course, the unique proposition of the Surface Duo is not only the hardware but the software as well. With two 5.6” OLED displays (4:3) side by side, set to work Microsoft on perfecting the multitasking experience.
You will be able to easily move information between in house apps like – Word, OneNote, Outlook, etc - just as easily as you do on Windows (the Duo, however is an Android device). Google is working on enabling the Duo’s flavor of side-by-side multitasking for its own apps and Microsoft will allow third party devs to use its APIs to add support to their own apps.
![Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-727/gsmarena_003.jpg)
The old S855 chipset means that the device only supports 4G. Microsoft thought it was more important to get the hinge and battery right – with each “half” measuring only 4.8 mm thick, fitting a battery is tricky business.
Enabling 5G is tricky too, though Microsoft is confident that it’s doable, thinner bezels should be achievable with more work as well.
![Microsoft Surface Duo teardown shows what it takes to make a thin dual screen device](https://fdn.gsmarena.com/imgroot/news/20/08/microsoft-surface-teardown/-727/gsmarena_005.jpg)
Follow the Source link for more details on how Microsoft designed the Surface Duo.
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Reader comments
- Anonymous
- 21 Aug 2020
- rJX
"the phone has a rare dual screen design with a hinge that allows it to fold in half" Oh great! "The hinge is pretty standard, you can find similar designs on many laptops. The Duo is not a foldable phone" What?!!! ...
- vrvly
- 21 Aug 2020
- g5f
There is nothing better, how, when they for example halve the thickness and downgrade the cameras compared to flagships. Of course I will be their fanboy if others bring just placebo devices.
- Anonymous
- 21 Aug 2020
- m%V
Until it hits 1/3 of it own crown model sell or more favorable review compare to Samsung and Moto alternatives, your stance is barely an attempt of nothing more but a Huawei fanboy/50cents by blabbering out Huawei's name in an situation where th...