Microsoft’s Surface Duo has remained exclusive to the US since its launch in September 2020, but the company is now living up to its promise to launch the device internationally. In a wave of press releases released this morning, Microsoft has confirmed that its ambitious dual-screen smartphone will go on sale in the UK, France, Germany and Canada on February 18.
Fans in the UK can buy their Duos direct from Currys PC World and Microsoft, with prices starting from £ 1,349. The company has also entered into similar distribution agreements with FNAC and Darty in France, along with Saturn and MediaMarkt in Germany, where the Duo will be sold for € 1,549. (At the time of publication, Microsoft has not yet announced its Canadian pricing.)
The company also had good news for potential Surface Duo owners a little closer to home: for now, the device is now selling for just $ 999, down from the original $ 1,399. While we can’t say yet whether this is a permanent price cut, it’s a sure sign that Microsoft is looking to give the Duo a fighting chance in a year when rivals like Samsung are prioritizing ‘more accessible’ – or in other words, cheaper – foldable.
While Microsoft doesn’t usually like to call it one, the Surface Duo is the company’s first new smartphone since 2015’s Lumia 950 and 950 XL – a few devices that flopped more or less straight out of the port. In the years since, we’ve seen the quality of Microsoft’s hardware shoot through the roof, and the Surface Duo is arguably one of the best expressions of the company’s engineering talent. Unfortunately, the first wave of review units seemed to be plagued with inconsistent, inelegant software, resulting in reviews killing much of the early hype that Microsoft hoped to capitalize on. By most accounts, the Surface Duo’s software situation has improved noticeably thanks to a series of semi-regular updates – between that extra shine and this new price cut, the Duo may have a chance to shine now as it couldn’t almost six months ago.