Since then Microsoft threw in the towel with Surface DuoI have been what I call “homeless smartphone.” Well, technically that era of my life began with the death of Windows Phone in 2017, switching between different iPhones and Androids until I found my new forever home with the Surface Duo in 2020.
That new forever home didn’t last long. Between 2020 and 2023, I drove the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 daily for the lifespan of those devices. I was happy, content, and excited to see where this form factor could lead if Microsoft continued to develop it.
Of course, Microsoft didn’t feel the same way, and the Surface Duo was put to rest shortly after the Surface Duo 2 shipped. I loved the Surface Duo for countless reasons, but the main one was its shape and size. I loved how squat and wide the device was when used in single-screen and dual-screen mode.
It was unique and different that caught the attention of the public. To this day, I have never been approached by so many strangers in public to ask what model of phone I was using. The Surface Duo started a conversation, but it wasn’t just the novelty that I loved. It was really useful as it was easier to type in single screen mode compared to the brick phone, and better for dual screen multitasking.
So when Samsung presented the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Last week, I was instantly intrigued just by its shape and size. It’s the first short but wide smartphone available in the West since the Surface Duo, and while it’s not a dual-screen device with a 360-degree hinge, it’s the closest thing to a Duo surface 3 sometime we will get there.
When looking at their specifications, it is immediately evident that they both share similarities in their size. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is technically smaller, it’s only smaller because the Surface Duo’s bezels are so large. If you just compare the screen sizes, they are very similar. The Surface Duo’s screen is 5.6 inches and the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s is 5.5 inches.
Both are similar in width when in the folded position, meaning typing on both feels identical when used like a smartphone. It also means that apps have more space to spread out, with text and images displaying more content on a single line. When opened, the Surface Duo’s dual screens are generally larger, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s aspect ratio is preferred.
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|
Speculation |
Microsoft Surface Duo |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 |
|---|---|---|
|
Form factor |
Dual screens joined by a 360° physical hinge |
Flexible single inner screen with outer cover screen |
|
Unfolded dimensions |
145.2 × 186.9 × 4.8mm |
123.9 × 161.4 × 4.5mm |
|
Folded dimensions |
145.2 × 93.3 × 9.9mm |
123.9 × 81.9 × 9.7mm |
|
Weight |
250 grams |
201 grams |
|
Main/internal screen |
8.1″ dual screen (3:2 overall ratio, 2700 × 1800) divided by a physical hinge seam |
7.6″ Flexible, stutter-free display (4:3 aspect ratio, 1848 × 2448) |
|
Single screen/cover |
Two 5.6″ screens (4:3 aspect ratio each); no dedicated outer cover screen |
5.5″ Outer cover display (10:16 aspect ratio, 1248 × 1972) |
Although I could see the similarities on paper, I had to get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 just to be sure. Luckily for me, I have a Samsung store nearby, so I went in and checked it out. To say I didn’t fall in love immediately would be a lie. I felt at home. The short but wide aspect ratio, the almost wrinkle-free folding screen on the inside and the slim bezels all around all come together perfectly.
From side to side, it makes the Surface Duo look like a prototype with its thick bezels and space between the screens. I’ve always said that the Surface Duo is beautiful in its own special way, but I think the Galaxy Z Fold 8 finally dethrones it from a purely aesthetic perspective.
But I immediately realized that the aspect ratio and size of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 were right. It feels like a Surface Duo in both the folded and unfolded positions, and typing on both doesn’t make my thumbs cramp after a few minutes. Apps feel like they have more room to breathe on both, and the entire OS experience is better when the screens are this wide.
However, the one area where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 still fails to outperform the Surface Duo is multitasking. Yes, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 can multitask and when configured by the user, it is very powerful. However, the Surface Duo was special because it made multitasking automatic.
You never think about multitasking on the Surface Duo. It just happens. The device dynamically adjusts and places apps and pop-ups on any screen where it makes the most sense. I never multitask on regular foldable devices, but I was running two apps side by side all the time on the Surface Duo. because It was automatic.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 still requires you to manually initiate multitasking, which means I rarely do it. On Surface Duo, if you tap a link in a group chat in one app, your browser will open in the other half so you can still see the group chat in the app you were using. Galaxy Z Fold 8 doesn’t do that.
It would be great if Samsung could add an option in OneUI that forces the operating system to act more like the Surface Duo, where the device automates multitasking. Unfortunately, that doesn’t exist today, so multitasking is still something I probably won’t do much of on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Aside from that minor disappointment, I think the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a near-perfect replacement for my Surface Duo needs. It has better cameras and is MUCH lighter than the Duo. And while it doesn’t have pen support, I didn’t use the pen much on the Surface Duo either, so that’s not a problem for me.
I’ll miss the novelty of a 360-degree hinge, and being able to close the Duo so that neither screen is visible was a really nice unique capability that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 obviously doesn’t have. That said, I’m still very excited about the Fold 8 and hope it’s the start of a long-term trend of short but wide phones.
Thank you Microsoft for showing the world that short but wide aspect ratio works for smartphones. It may have taken everyone else a little longer to realize it, but the good news is that people are finally waking up.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a spiritual successor to the Surface Duo, with a short but wide aspect ratio cover and a foldable screen that makes typing and multitasking much easier than traditional smartphones.
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