Aspect Ratio | Surface Duo's best advantage over Z Fold 4?

💻My Current Gear🖥️

[tayfuntuna]

Duo when in phone mode has a ridiculously large keyboard and I love it. Increase the haptic feedback from settings and you got yourself a blackberry without physical buttons 😁

[vetshaw]

As a surface user, I'm finding it challenging switching to the Fold 4 interface. I have the SD1, SD2, and now am using the Fold 4. Now, owning the Fold 4 is not as easy to multi-task. I might be able to transition to using the task bar and the edge bar. I really would like to see a 2 or 3 finger gesture to "cut" the screen in half from one app, which then opens up the home screen or app list, either or those 2. But instead I have to have a third and even forth scree, a set of apps independ of the home screen and app list. While more flexible than the Duos, it doesn't flow as quickly or intuitively.

There were surprises that the Fold doent do as well as my Duos. Flex mode is easily not as good as all the postures of the Duos. Also the speakers on the Duo 2 have stereo in any orientation and rotation. I can put a strap in the hinge of the Duo for extra one handed use, and security. It's been an interesting challenge to switch to the Fold4.

[planofattack]

I agree that the wide aspect ratio is a great advantage in the examples you showed. It's also great for apps like Google mail when spanned over two screens. Also, when held sideways it's great for spanned browsers. Another big advantage I'm using more and more is "laptop" mode. Right now I am watching your video on a very large screen on the top and typing this comment simultaneously in a large keyboard on the bottom screen. I haven't tried this with fold but it doesn't seem like it would be as good.

[KyoMasahiro]

I have been using LG VU2 4:3 ratio phone a decade ago, it made me feel more comfortable when reading articles. Surface duo has two 4:3 screens and that's awesome to me. Just got one at 320 bucks last week.

[mikecane]

Agree. Which is why the rumors of Duo 3 being one big foldable screen worry me. That kind of device is available from others. Duo is unique. So unique that even China's copy companies haven't cloned it. Stay unique.

[R.B.]

💯% The Fold devices are tall and narrow and just don't work as well for me. The dual 2:3 screens or the combined 4:3 is practically ideal. There are a few apps I use which expect a tall and narrow aspect, but I care more about the experience I have with the other apps which benefit from the Duo's aspect.

[ernestocontreras]

I'm a Samsung fan since note 3, BUT, after deciding to try the surface duo and be a bit patient to get all bugs fixed ..I wanted to give it a chance to both to be fair, I bought a fold 3 and end up returning it after a few days cause I found the surface more useful in my personal opinion based on my needs where some features like the camera are not a must-have, the ability to do 2 things at the same time and specifically like Shane mentioned in this episode ...the "aspect ratio", this is what I found more useful than anything else, it won't compare on my daily use with the fold 3, but is my opinion, I know that everyone has a different approach regarding features, in my case, I learned that you can't get all in a single device so you have to use what works better for your needs.

[quinnharrison]

We'll I have to say, it's because of your videos (I've watched several) I am getting a Duo 2. It should arrive today. I like the format of your presentations. I even went for the alternate to the pen (again, watched your video), but they were sold out. Anyway, I'm looking forward to setting it up. And you can be sure I'll be looking for videos on that as well.

[normandogiordano]

I don't usually comment. I am a user of the Apple environment, but I was interested in this device. My congratulations because you are the clearest of all those who make reviews.
Greetings from Buenos Aires!

[sandrahiltz]

The aspect ratio is why I love the Duo, I simply don't like the tall skinny displays, to me the idea aspect ratio is 16:10, which the Duo is far closer to than any modern phone.

[PhilKnall]

I feel the Duo aspect ratio is amazing for reading on the web or twitter. I enjoy it so much more than even my "regular shape" pixel 5.
YouTube does the weird skinniness behavior on the Duo too though. I get it every time i exit the full screen view (i usually swipe down to do it).

[DareBlink]

Shane you hit the nail on the head. The actual shape of the fold, and I would add its thickness, are it's undoing. I would not swap my duo 2 for it for these two reasons alone. In your YouTube comparison video you should have span it across both screens on the Duo 2 and turn it virtically. Its a great experience with the video on basically full screen on the top screen with comenta or the keyboard on the bottom screen. I wonder how the fold 4 looks in that configuration

[natewing]

You did a good job at the end to describe your preference for usability. I currently use a fold 4 and considered the duo. I have never used a folding phone before so I had to do some considerable watch time on each to decide which would be better for me.
It really came down to refinement and everyday usability. I use my camera everyday. Not having to unfold my phone to take a picture is something that I need. I text a lot and being able to do that on the fly without opening my phone is also a must. I don't use much social media but media consumption in high quality is also important. Device protection is a must for my lifestyle. Fast processing and longer battery are also high in importance. Having a case and screen protector to help protect my investment are things I need. Duo cannot help me with these things. So fold 4 it is

[paulcampbell]

Changing the keyboard back to the Google one made the narrow front screen of the z fold 4 a lot easier for me to use. For some reason with Samsung's keyboard, my hand was hitting all sorts of things on the edges. Also, I some how managed to keep hitting the period key while pressing space bar.

I actually find myself using the smaller screen a lot more than I thought I would. When I'm outside the house, I'm mostly using it in the folded mode. When I get home and I'm doing more browsing while sitting back on the couch or bed is when I tend to open it up.

I hope in the future, Samsung can et the front screen to be closer to the size of the pixel 2 you showed.

[felixp]

The duo 2 looks great but there are NO parts to fix it available, the only way to get it repaired is by paying Microsoft $699 (might be $599) or buy a broken one off ebay for a few hundred at best and then have a repair shop fix it if they are willing to try. Love the device just cant deal with the lack of repair options. If you could address this in a video that would be great, if you have any knowledge of where to find parts please share this as well. Not a knock on the fold 4 as I'm sure its equally as difficult to fix but would be sold on the duo 2 if only there was the security of being able to fix it. Great videos btw tons of good info in them from someone who sees the potential of this device and the direction Microsoft is going. Keep up the quality work, thank you!

[kraftwels]

i find myself quite rarely using both screens on my Duo atm, but one thing i always really appreciate is being able to use it like a tiny handheld laptop when i have to type something.
I really dislike the keyboard in single screen mode, but stretched over the second screen is an awsome experience.
Btw, Do you have a link to that wallpaper you're using on the Duo2?

[shrimp_prm]

I'm sure this is scattered throughout the channel but any chance we'll see a dedicated 2022 surface duo starter guide?

[localblackman]

I've had both phones and I think the fold better suits my needs more than the duo does simply because both fold screens are good at what their purpose is. I use the front screen for chats, changing music on spotify, checking bank balance, Google assistant commands notifications, and occasionally reddit etc. These things were frustrating on the duo bc the screen was just so large and even with giant hands it was too much for such small quick things. On the inner display I think the size is better and easier to handle. I have long commutes everyday and when i had the duo i would end up just putting it in phone mode bc it was easier to hold and watch content than unfolded. At the same rate balancing the checkbook, paying bills is just a far better experience for me on the fold than the duo simply because you can have 3 apps open at once and a floating window (bank app, google sheets, chrome, and floating calculator). Duo's limitation to two apps at once really hindered my workflow but for doing just two things at once it was perfect. Also I play a lot of cod mobile...and well... 90% of the time i'm playing it on my tab s8u but when i do play on my phone I'd always take the fold 4 over the duo. I think like you said at the end its very subjective to what people need into what makes it the better device

[WRdnsTreT]

Making the Duo a touch more one-handable would be nice, going from dual 4:3 screens to dual 3:2 screens would still be wide while making folded mode nicer to use

[farishanafiah]

If I'm going to create my own Surface Duo, it'll have an 18:9 90Hz screen on the outside and two 18:9 90Hz screen on the inside. Two 18:9 screen equates to a single 9:9 screen, which also means a perfect square. Oppo got the idea right with their Find N foldable screen phone.