Microsoft Surface Duo 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Key differences and more

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 belongs to the foldable smartphone category but with a couple of differences from the Samsung foldables. We look at them all in depth.

The Surface Duo 2 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 have different concepts of folding form factors.

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 is out and there are a couple of notable upgrades this year over the first generation. Microsoft has given it proper cameras, a makeshift outer display, and updated internals. The upgrades warrant it to be a proper Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 rival, and that begins right from its price. Hence, it is obvious to pit these foldable devices against each other.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Surface Duo 2 are foldables by definition but the implementation varies. The Samsung Z Fold 3 has a modern flexible OLED display that makes for an uninterrupted viewing experience. The Surface Duo 2 still has a split display with a traditional hinge.

Hence, if you are into folding phones, head down for our comparison of these foldables from Microsoft and Samsung.

Surface Duo 2 vs Galaxy Z Fold 3

Design

The Surface Duo 2 retains the basic form factor of its predecessor while upgrading some aspects. It still has two 5.8-inch displays held together closely by a hinge system. When closed, there's no outer display to check details but the inner display curve in a way to show glimpses of notifications. There's a large camera hump on the back and you have a USB-C port to charge it up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3  (Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3  (Samsung)

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a similar form factor but the hinge system is different and the inner display in one continuous display unit. There's a large 6.3-inch 120Hz display on the outside to do regular phone stuff. The rear has a similar triple camera setup and Samsung has baked waterproofing this year.

Display

With the Surface Duo 2, you are getting two 5.8-inch AMOLED displays with 1892 x 1344 pixel resolution, which combine to give a total canvas area of 8.3-inches. These Gorilla Glass Victus protected displays can reach brightness levels of up to 800 nits and they have a refresh rate of 90Hz. The displays curve on the inside and when closed, it shows time and notifications between the hinges, just like a mini outer display.

The Samsung Z Fold 3 has a 7.6-inch flexible AMOLED display with peak brightness of 1200 nits, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2K resolution. With slim bezels, there's an in-display camera arrangement to hide the sensor when not in use. The Cover Display measures 6.2 inches and uses an AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and is Gorilla Glass Victus protected. This display lets the user use it like a normal phone.

Performance

Both Microsoft and Samsung rely on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset as the processor of choice. The Surface Duo 2 comes with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM as standard but offers storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes with 12GB RAM as standard and offers storage options between 256GB and 512GB.

Surface Duo 2

Surface Duo 2

Both of them run on Android 11, with Microsoft trying to replicate an experience closer to Windows 11, with Microsoft 365 and Team integration. Apps can make full use of the two displays to make the most out of the large canvas. Samsung, meanwhile, offers a customized version of its One UI experience with adjustable windows, apps, and a dozen other ways to let apps make the most out of the large display. With the variable hinge angles, it even allows for laptop-style productivity arrangements.

Cameras

Compared to its previous generation, the Surface Duo 2 has cameras more akin to a conventional smartphone. The rear cameras get a 12-megapixel main shooter, a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 12-megapixel 2X telephoto camera. The main camera can record 4K videos at 60 fps. The inner camera stays unchanged.

Surface Duo 2

Surface Duo 2

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 also has a triple camera set at the back, with the main camera having a 12-megapixel sensor. This is accompanied by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 12-megapixel 2X telephoto camera. There's a 10-megapixel camera on the Cover Display and an under-display 4-megapixel camera on the main display.

Stylus support

The Surface Duo 2 supports the Surface Slim Pen 2 that can attach magnetically on the outside and charge its battery. The Pen comes with a haptic feedback system. Samsung, on the other hand, offers a S Pen Fold Edition that is compatible with flexible Main Display. It does not attach magnetically but you can buy a separate case that holds it together with the phone.

Battery

The Surface Duo has a 4449mAh battery that supports up to 23W charging speeds via USB-C port. However, the charger has to be bought separately. Also, there's no wireless charging.

Surface Duo 2

Surface Duo 2

Samsung uses a 4400mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and it supports up to 25W wired fast charging. The phone also supports 11W fast wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. There's no charger in the box in this one too.

Price and Availability

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 is currently available in the US only, starting at a price of $1,599. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 sells globally, including the Indian market. It starts at ₹1,49,999 for the 256GB version and goes up to ₹1,57,999 for the 512GB variant.