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New York (CNN Business)Microsoft's first Android phone, the Surface Duo, is coming on September 10, the company announced Wednesday.
The Surface Duo costs $1,399. OK, let's just stop there for a second. What? That's about the same price as a tricked out iPhone 11 Max.
Yes, it's expensive. No, people probably aren't going to rush out to buy it. But the price and phone make sense for a few reasons.
First, it's a dual-screen device. Microsoft described the phone as "a major new form factor," in a blog post. It is essentially a folding tablet, which is also a phone. Each of the Surface Duo's two screens are 5.6-inch displays that combine into a tablet-like 8.1-inch display when unfolded. It has a single camera that supports recording 4K video.
So if the phone is really an iPad mini that folds ... and is also a phone ... now we're getting into $1,400 territory. The hinge works both ways, so you can close the phone like a book or open it fully so it's a double-sided phone. It's also super thin, has what could be one of the best screens on any phone. (Here's an excellent synopsis of all the ins and outs of the Duo from our colleagues at CNN Underscored.)
Second, Microsoft is promoting the Duo as a productivity device. It's a Surface, after all -- the same brand it uses for its high-end computers that are all about showcasing Microsoft's software, including Office and Windows. Microsoft said it optimized the entire Office Suite for the Duo, helping people make video calls (super important now), and get their work done on the go.
The Surface Duo costs $1,399. OK, let's just stop there for a second. What? That's about the same price as a tricked out iPhone 11 Max.
Yes, it's expensive. No, people probably aren't going to rush out to buy it. But the price and phone make sense for a few reasons.
First, it's a dual-screen device. Microsoft described the phone as "a major new form factor," in a blog post. It is essentially a folding tablet, which is also a phone. Each of the Surface Duo's two screens are 5.6-inch displays that combine into a tablet-like 8.1-inch display when unfolded. It has a single camera that supports recording 4K video.
So if the phone is really an iPad mini that folds ... and is also a phone ... now we're getting into $1,400 territory. The hinge works both ways, so you can close the phone like a book or open it fully so it's a double-sided phone. It's also super thin, has what could be one of the best screens on any phone. (Here's an excellent synopsis of all the ins and outs of the Duo from our colleagues at CNN Underscored.)
Second, Microsoft is promoting the Duo as a productivity device. It's a Surface, after all -- the same brand it uses for its high-end computers that are all about showcasing Microsoft's software, including Office and Windows. Microsoft said it optimized the entire Office Suite for the Duo, helping people make video calls (super important now), and get their work done on the go.
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