The Surface Duo is frustrating for both Windows and Android users, and that’s a good thing

If you read this tech internet this week, you probably did not escape the bar of coverage and comments surrounding what can be described as Microsoft’s most anticipated “product” since Windows 95 – the Surface Duo.

For those who have lived under a rock, the Surface Duo is Microsoft’s “phone but no phone” device that uses the company’s successful Surface hardware line and brings it to a much more mobile-friendly form factor. It is much smaller than other Surface devices, it supports the Surface Pen and Bluetooth keyboard accessories, and what else? Oh right, the freaking runs Android!

Once the device was confirmed earlier this week, and prices and availability were announced, a whole new news cycle was created about the hefty starting price of $ 1400. Our colleagues at Windows Central conducted a quiz (which we shared with our readers) , and posed the following question.

Are you going to buy a Surface Duo for $ 1400?

I do not know about you, but the first answer after less than a day surprises me a little. Do not make me wrong; I’m not at all surprised that the majority of participants said they would not buy this device for that price. But I was surprised at the differences.

More than three-quarters of the participants in the interview were against picking up a Surface Duo for that steep asking price. Now, these results could be influenced by the participation of Android users (in other words, if it was a question and answer session from just Windows Central users and Surface states, maybe the numbers would be different.

Even there were still some interesting and informative comments from both camps about the price of the device, as well as other factors that would influence their purchase decision.

The readers of Windows Central had a range of feelings on the subject, but on the whole tendency to sound a little more open to the idea of ​​the Duo.

I think it’s worth it. I’m buying it for sure – Siegfried Greding

I understand why they priced it where they did. I just wish they would act in good faith and bundle in some earbuds and / or a pen. At $ 1400-1500, they should deliver the experience, and I imagine the experience is enhanced by those two accessories. “- Un distinctive

I just went a few days ago about the price of phones that get annoying after the Samsung presentation. Like 13/14/15 – 20 hundred is way too much for EVERY mobile device. These producers are driven !!! I’m getting 1 dizze this day – Mister Burns

Here at Android Central, our readers had some strong advice, as you might expect, and not many of them were favorable.

I desperately want this device, but $ 1400 is a bitter pill for 6GB of RAM and an 18 month old chip (based on when the Samsung Galaxy 10 came out with an 855 chip in 2019). I have a feeling I will be waiting for v2. – adamleonard

As a Galaxy Note fan who is disappointed by what Samsung is doing to the series, I looked this up. Any company that will seriously compete with the Note series has my wallet’s voice. Unfortunately, this is not that competition. Microsoft had a whole year to figure this out, and they’re releasing this crap. How will her hype-man Panos Panay spin this? I will not dive into the other notable omissions, but No NFC?!?!? That is the basis. I know 2020 has been a not so great year, but no NFC in 2020? Ok, so they do not want to patronize Google with GPay, how about adding MST tech lease from Samsung and Samsung Pay? Are they not buddies at Samsung? Then there’s the Price. What exactly is $ 1399? It hung? The Microsoft name? – JesseMacoco

Intriguing device, love the design and the specs are good but no. Not interested. It just gets set, too expensive. Speaking for myself, as just an average consumer, the entrance to mid-range devices is where I am. I have never missed any of the (supposedly) extra bells and whistles on premium or flagship phones. Too rich for my taste … PS Plus the Duo name is already used by the Google app … LOL … – adonesc76

As you can see from the poll numbers and comments posted, the majority of our Android Central and Windows Central readers seem to believe that $ 1,400 is actually too high a price to pay for the Surface Duo. But that was not the only interesting takeaway from this interview.

People in both camps and on both sides also lamented the lack of NFC support for payments, the seemingly loud “potato” camera, older SOC, a low amount of RAM, and the unpocketability of this hybrid foldable. Let us also not forget that the Surface Duo is only optimized at this point in the US. Several commentators mentioned that they thought the product in V2 would (should) be marketable, just as the Galaxy Fold seems to have done before they could consider it, regardless of price.

As a newly-declared mid-ranger champion, I was particularly intrigued by the number of comments from people who said they could not buy a phone at that price range, whether it be a Galaxy Note Ultra, Galaxy Fold 2, iPhone 11 Pro is Max, as Surface Duo.

So what about you, fellow Android user. Are you picking up a first generation Surface Duo? Why or why not? Let me know what you think about the value proposition in the comments below.