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Microsoft Surface Duo vs. its foldable rivals: Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Razr specs compared

Microsoft's years-in-the-making foldable, the Surface Duo, has arrived. Here's how it stacks up against some of its bendy competitors.

Sareena Dayaram Senior Editor
Sareena is a senior editor for CNET covering the mobile beat including device reviews. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with more than a decade's worth of experience producing stories for television and digital publications across Asia's financial capitals including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Prior to CNET, Sareena worked at CNN as a news writer and Reuters as a producer.
Expertise Huawei, Oppo, smartphones, smartwatches Credentials
  • More than a decade of journalism experience
Sareena Dayaram
2 min read
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It's been a long time coming, but Microsoft is officially back in the smartphone business with the launch of its foldable Surface Duo. Announced last October, the company's new foldable phone takes the form of a two-screened Android device (yes, Android) joined together with a hinge that allows it to open up like a book. Microsoft says the two screens are designed for productivity.

With its launch, the Surface Duo joins a small but growing group of foldable offerings, including Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Motorola's Razr, all of which offer a window into the future of phones. But even though all three are squarely in the foldable category, they still differ in shape and build.  

Read more: The Surface Duo's design is winning me over, even without turning it on

Inside the Microsoft Surface Duo

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The Surface Duo has dual screens, for example, while the Fold 2 and Razr both feature a bendable display with a hinged seam. But one of the most conspicuous differences between the three foldables is how they do exactly that: Fold. The Motorola Razr rocks a clamshell design that opens vertically, lengthening the device. The Surface Duo and Fold 2, meanwhile, broaden when unfurled. In fact, the Surface Duo's two 5.6-inch displays open up to form an expansive 8.1-inch screen that is closer in size to a tablet than a phone. For its part, Microsoft has emphasised that it doesn't want its latest device to be called a phone (even though it can make calls and has a modem), insisting that it's a device in a new category. 

Watch this: Inside the Microsoft Surface Duo: We didn't use it, but we did fold it

Other key differentiators include 5G connectivity and the camera setup. The Surface Duo features only a single 11-megapixel shooter on the inside, which can become an external camera if the Duo displays are flipped around. It's increasingly rare for a premium phone, especially in 2020 to come with just one camera. Motorola's Razr gets multiple lenses as part of its camera set-up -- something that will likely appear in the next-gen Fold. It's also worth mentioning that the Surface Duo doesn't have support for 5G wireless technology unlike the Fold 2. Microsoft said it chose to skip out on the feature to help preserve battery life and allow the phone to maintain a slim design. Motorola's Razr doesn't have support for the next generation wireless tech either, but it's reportedly launching a 5G Razr in September.

The Surface Duo is now available for preorder starting at $1,399 (around £1,070 or AU$1,960) for the 128GB version. It will ship on Sept. 10. For more information, take a look at our specs chart below. We'll be updating it as we get more details on the Surface Duo, so make sure to check back here for more.

Read more: Microsoft's two-screen Surface Duo isn't an iPhone or a Galaxy Fold. That's the point

Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Razr


Microsoft Surface DuoSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 2Motorola Razr
Display size Dual 5.6-inch AMOLED; Combined: 8.1-inch AMOLED; 2,700x1,800 pixelsInternal: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED; External 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLEDInternal: 6.2-inch, foldable OLED;  External: 2.7-inch glass OLED
Resolution 1,800x1,350 pixels; 2,700x1,800 pixelsTBD2,142x876p pixels; 800x600 pixels
Dimensions (Inches) Folded: 5.72x3.67x0.399 inches / Unfolded: 5.72x7.36x0.19 inchesTBDUnfolded: 6.8x2.8x0.28 inches / Folded: 3.7x2.8x0.55 inches
Dimensions (Millimeters) Folded: 145.2x93.3x9.9mm / Unfolded: 145.2x186.9x4.8mmTBDUnfolded: 172x72x6.9mm / Folded: 94x72x14mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams) 8.8 oz; 250gTBD7.2 oz; 205g
Mobile software (at launch) TBDTBDAndroid 9
Camera 11-megapixelTBD16-megapixel external, 5-megapixel internal
Front-facing camera TBDTBD16-megapixel external
Video capture 4KTBD4K
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 855TBDQualcomm Snapdragon 710
Storage 128GB, 256GBTBD128GB
RAM 6GBTBD6GB
Expandable storage TBDTBDNo
Battery 3,577 mAh4,500 mAh2,510 mAh
Fingerprint sensor TBDTBDBelow screen
Connector TBDTBDUSB-C
Headphone jack TBDTBDNone
Special features Dual-screen display; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)5G, Foldable display, 120Hz refresh rateFoldable display, eSIM, Motorola gestures, splashproof
Price at launch (USD) $1,399 (128GB)TBD$1,499
Price (GBP) Converts to about £1,070TBDConverts to about £1,160
Price (AUD) Converts to about AU$1,960TBDConverts to about $2,090