For nearly a month, I've been using the Microsoft Surface Duo[1], the company's first Android-powered phone. We've already covered the Duo in great detail, including a non-reviewers review[2], from ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley and another review from ZDNet's Matthew Miller[3].
I've tried, many times, now to work the Duo into my daily workflow. I've used it as my main phone for a few days, I've used it as a secondary device for jotting notes with a Slim Surface Pen, and finally, I've used it to monitor Twitter or my inbox while watching Twitch or YouTube videos.
With the Duo, Microsoft took a novel approach to reimagine the smartphone. Instead of a black rectangular device, like nearly every phone released in the last five years, Microsoft took two displays, put a hinge between them, and covered the outside in glass. The Duo opens like a book, without an external display to let you know if you have waiting messages, alert you when you're getting a call or even offer a glanceable clock to check the time.
You either open the Duo and connect to the digital world, or you're completely cut off from the seemingly constant stream of information that pings normal phones throughout the day.
I realized almost immediately the Duo doesn't really work as a phone in the traditional sense. There are just too many concessions -- no front display, the camera is mediocre at best, and the overall form factor just feels awkward when using it as a single screen device.
But after a couple of weeks, I came to the realization that a bigger version of the Duo would make for a fantastic tablet.
I know, I know. Microsoft already announced the Neo[4]