After a series of software updates, Microsoft’s first-generation Surface tablet became one of my favorites. I use it every day for fun and productivity.

Starting with the most glaring issue, the Surface Duo has a mediocre camera that leaves you with a lot of blurry photos throughout the day. Calling is also awkward, as the phone does not have a speakerphone so you need either use the built-in mic or set up something else for call-attending purposes.

There are a few things that the Duo falls short on, however. For example, it has no built-in GPS or touchscreen resolution. If you’re looking for something more like a small tablet for functions such as web browsing, emails and light gaming, the Duo does better.

What role the Surface Duo will play in 2022

Microsoft’s Duo is a device with two screens, although it is often referred to as a “folding screen.” Double-screen devices are all the rage with more modern gadgets like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but I’m convinced that Microsoft is onto something. For one thing, the Duo allows for multitasking like no other gadget I own.

The Duo lets you easily switch between two apps simultaneously. The best part is that you can use it while you work to jump back and forth. You might want to watch a YouTube video on one screen while working on another, or browsing eBay auctions on one screen and next-door neighbor’s last wiener dog photos on the other.

One huge advantage of the first-generation Duo model is the price. I recently purchased a brand new first-generation model on Amazon for about $300. That’s a significant savings over the approximately $1,500 price when the Duo was first introduced.

Mama Joy and her children are enjoying a day out together on their Microsoft Surface Duo.

Sascha Brodsky for Digital Trends

I’m a big fan of the Kindle app, but especially during long reading sessions on planes or at work. Thanks to the small size and dual display support that make it feel more like reading a physical book than any other electronic device I’ve tried, it quickly replaced my dedicated Kindle device.

A design that still shins

When it comes to design and ergonomics, the Duo is hard to beat. It’s a slim and light device with a glass front and back, making it an attractive piece of technology to look at.

The Duo, with two separate 5.6-inch AMOLED displays, has a very distinctive design that looks beautiful and computer-like in an attractive way. The exterior is made of glass with a distinctive white paint job and stainless steel framing that adds an interesting touch to the overall design.

Jeremy Kaplan/Digital Trends

The glass on the Duo definitely looks sleek, but I shouldn’t have dropped it on the floor. Within hours of unboxing the device and connecting it to a laptop, I had dropped it and cracked the glass casing. The device still works fine and continues to be a unique performer (when used with the included bumpers).

This laptop seems small, but it’s super lightweight, even with a battery that doesn’t last long. And ironically, the battery life is on the short side. I can get about four to six hours of light web browsing and email before I hear a low battery indication.

Superstylus

I’ve found the best use for Duo is taking notes. It works out of the box with Microsoft’s Surface stylus, which happens to be one that I had around for this purpose on my full-sized Surface Pro 7. In practice, it turned out that taking notes on Duo was a far better experience than it would have been on a full sized tablet or laptop and practically allows me to take my thoughts down wherever I might be located.

With a dual screen set-up, you can watch videos, browse your favorite websites or read articles while taking notes on what you want. Includes note-taking while browsing email and viewing webpages.

The Microsoft DuoS can accept Slim Pen input

Microsoft is a popular software company created by Bill Gates.

The Duo is a great digital notepad that’s perfect for everyday use. It’s about the size of a classic Moleskine notebook and its easy to carry around in your hand or pocket. Microsoft OneNote is another option if you’re looking for something more like a regular notepad with structured paper, organized pages, and OneNote’s optimized pen input.

Remember, not all Android apps are optimized for the Duo’s screens. Fortunately, Microsoft has perfected its own Android apps such as Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. For example, if you flick your finger to extend Outlook across both of the Duo’s displays, it will show you your inbox on the left while allowing you to read a selected email on the right. This feature is genius-level multitasking that I wish other device makers would adopt.

For big screens, the performance is really good. With 2 GB on board and an Adreno 640 GPU, the system is capable of multi-tasking with ease. I never ran into any lag when playing games or using two apps at once.

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We’ve rebadged our phone with a new name and improved features. We’re still the same low-quality device, but now we’re a great companion gadget.

The Duo doesn’t really like to play by the rules and it has unique quirks you might find annoying. It’s not really a suitable upgrade for your phone because of its tiny screen. It’s also not a great tablet replacement because of its small screens.

Instead of a laptop-compatible device, the Surface Pro is an awesome third device for those overflowing with creative tasks and need a way to stay on top of notes while browsing the web. If your multitasking tendencies pose a challenge, consider this product. At its current low price, it offers incredible value. Plus, keep it connected to Wi-Fi throughout your use.