Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Makes Benchmark Debut With Snapdragon 888

Microsoft is looking to right all those wrongs with the Surface Duo 2, which just appeared in the Geekbench database. As we reported back in late July, the Surface Duo 2 comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which is a considerable step up from the Snapdragon 855 in the original. In addition, this prototype is paired with 8GB of RAM, which is a slight bump from the Surface Duo's 6GB.

Not much else can be gleaned from the benchmark result other than the fact that the Surface Duo 2 is running Android 11. Given that the public release of Android 12 is just around the corner, we can only hope that the Surface Duo 2 will launch with Android 12 or will receive the update shortly after.

Our previous reporting on the Surface Duo 2 included images that show the same form-factor as its predecessor. The primary design change is that a triple camera setup now resides on the rear, which is a significant upgrade from the Surface Duo. The inclusion of the Snapdragon 888 also means that the Surface Duo 2 has native 5G support, although we don't know if mmWave bands are supported on the device. Another change comes with the fingerprint reader, which is now integrated into the power button.

We can only hope that Microsoft will go on a price-slashing spree with the Surface Duo 2. When the original debuted at $1,399, many customers rightfully complained about the price. However, in recent weeks, the unloved smartphone has been on sale for as low as $389, representing more than a $1,000 price cut.

With devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 coming in at the $999 price point, the pressure is on to make folding/dual display smartphones more palatable to consumers.