Surface Duo Review

[@onlysublime]

It's already received a couple major updates. I own it and I'm not experiencing the problems in these reviewer videos. It was unfortunate that reviewers didn't get the good update until about 3-4 days before release date. As far as pen support, Android has minimal support. It's not like Windows which has pressure curves at the OS level. On Android, it depends on the app to provide pressure sensitivity. I love my Surface Duo and I'll never go back to a normal slab phone.

[@dudurcunha8877]

FINALLY! None of the reviewers I saw talked about the pen... If something like it come cheaper in the future it could be one of the best note taking devices ever made

[@WebToolkit]

Because unlike the Note it didn't come with a pen, so it isn't part of the overall package.

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

@@WebToolkit But is a Surface ecosystem accessory.

[@dudurcunha8877]

@@WebToolkit Yeah, but its big feature. Its like talking about recent ipads without mentioning the apple pen

[@dnghn.design]

Rubén GoMo Radioboy Apple Pencil and s pen is also part of respective ecosystem

[@Alpido.]

if this works out, then the 2nd generation would work wonders.

[@JesusReyes-kr3wt]

Don’t hold your breath brother, this is gonna flop

[@ashjcoronado]

It's going to flop big time.

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

Well 2nd gen is already in the works. Microsoft is big enough they'd basically try a new concept till it sticks. that includes this and Surface PRO X.

[@JeromeADavis]

@@JesusReyes-kr3wt I mean outside of the bugs, why would this flop? Surface has a huge following and Microsoft has been teasing a device like this since the kourier. That alone will carve out some type of Niche for this device. If the software was stellar and the device is rootable and you can put custom roms or even other OSs on it, there's no reason any Tech Enthusiast would not want this device. Outside of having to pay $1,400 for it. But I mean people are paying $1,000 for a candy bar slab iPhone that does nothing really unique.

[@JesusReyes-kr3wt]

Jerome Davis What most of you don’t understand is that the cellphone sector is different from computers, customers have three trains of thought when it comes to buying cellphones: Apple (brand recognition and reliability) Samsung (Wow factor (Galaxy fold), and brand recognition and reliability ) and finally Cost effective android phones (just focused on the price and affordability), Microsoft duo doesn’t have the “phone” brand recognition, Wow factor (we have seen folding phones like this with the zte and isn’t anything special like a folding screen), no reliability history and it isn’t cost effective

[@parthkalia5993]

2:17 hasn't he become younger 🤷🏻‍♂️?

[@sanjaynagala5510]

Good Job

[@thebradcolbow]

Bless your heart 🤣

[@DarrinLin]

At this rate, by 2025 he might be revert to living inside a womb again

[@parthkalia5993]

@@sanjaynagala5510 lol

[@FourPeaksFilms]

Been using mine since launch day. No bugs here. Froze once, then came around 5 seconds later. Every once in a while it takes about 20 seconds to launch Edge. Its obvious what the issue is there. I realize i have 4 instances of it and the software is likely trying to figure out which one works on the screen I am on. Nothing but amazing from here.

[@rmcfadde1]

how about the pictures? Are they bad? Are they at least decent? That is the only thing holding me back from buying this.

[@randomthing808]

Reviwers: look at that hinge man! Brad: PEN

[@fablewalls]

me: Meh!

[@Assato]

Someday, this is going to be great. I can totally see myself buying this after a few versions. Love the potential, as you said, and love the review!

[@RoktimBhattacharjya811]

Did he say "I'm 'N-Trig'ed"?

[@clovis_the_spook]

Microsoft and Samsung have been working together more and more recently, and honestly, with the tab s7 and the surface duo, I'm getting more and more excited about the creative possibilities!

[@Aliennumberb]

Brad I'm glad I found your channel, as someone who spent a lot of time looking for a channel that covers tech drawing stuff in the variety and skill I been looking for. Please continue doing your thing!

[@sloppynyuszi]

I saw a video of a dude comparing the Microsoft X pen to the older pens on this thing. The new flat pen seemed to jitter less than the regular pens. I would recommend checking that if you still have that stylus.

[@zycane]

Hey, Wacom! You see this? Make one! Please! Phone MS up, and tell them, "You got a nice phone there, how about we put wacom inside that thing too?". Wacom One inside that thing, might be, nice, or more than that. After the Early adopter phase is over. Although we already have Samsung with wacom tech inside, it would be great if MS finally gave up on their stylus tech, which is dog turds TBH, and either get wacom tech, or something similar in quality, it would change things, really change things!

[@tahnae99]

A couple of LG phones support the Wacom Bamboo Ink styluses that you can use on windows laptops as they support ntrig and wacom's pen protocol

[@gormauslander]

I'm honestly on pins and needles waiting for you to review the surface duo 2. It sounds like the pen and digitizer got way better

[@fayzulomar]

Duo looks great as a note taking device 🤔 very very expensive note taking device 😅 I’m currently using iPad Mini in taking notes and very interested in comparison between the two...

[@Soldiershak]

Yeah looks like something that would've be handy when I was in college

[@jimpark1589]

Your reviews are true and very insightful. I love them!

[@RobertoMagnoV]

Of all, yours was the analysis I wanted the most to see!

[@TedBorel]

Been hoping you’d review this! I’m that weirdo who is like “gee I see a way I can use this!” Mine should be here later today. I’ve been wanting something like this since I saw that Courier concept. I’m NOT a fan of Android though (snobby, I know), but willing to try this out. This will be my “other” phone - or more like my digital Moleskine/Field Notes pad and since I’ve strived to be more paperless this might actually work for quick sketches and notes.

[@puschelhornchen9484]

Gosh, this Courier was ~11 years ago...

[@weAllCin]

🤨🤨but....majority of the bugs he showed are fixed after you’ve updated the apps in the Playstore 😒🤦🏻‍♂️

[@GoodMorningButch]

for me I just don’t find myself having the room for this but not for an ipad (or any tablet). this wouldn’t fit in my pocket anyways so if I have to store this in my bag, might as well get another tablet that just works better. this isn’t something I’d use at all.

[@bigh9320]

Love that brad listens to Hamilton

[@giagostinelli]

I've been loving all your videos, even about products I wouldn't really buy. I am hoping you will review the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel soon, as always from your creative and funny point of view 😁 keep it up!

[@Karthik-jz4nr]

Wow didn't expect that!

[@cabbagemermaid1549]

I remember that hinge-related clip! lol. Love your videos! Also sounded like you said automatically and magically at the same time. Automagically.

[@dnghn.design]

Microsoft releasing a first gen and first attempt at android phone at fricking $1400 is a mistake

[@KatouMiwa]

you look and remind me (personality and voice) of my english teatcher , he was awesome

[@antonioguacci7165]

Ok, I see: much better waiting the Surface Duo 2, hoping Microsoft will solve all the limits that this first Duo has. 🤔

[@EMTinVA]

I have one and love it. I've been an iPhone guy for years now and have tried switching to Android twice before and have always gone back. This is the device that keeps me. Joining the /r/surfaceduo subreddit has really helped me with getting things working well. There is a ton of great info there (including your bubble head issue).

[@Tigerex966]

Please test against the LG VELVET AND V60 DUAL CASE PHONES. They also use the pen.

[@Agenthoneydew33]

I've always said the same thing about microsoft and their hinges 😆. They're called the Unhinged department of the mad hingers

[@rjohndraws]

I was really excited for this when they announced it last year. i even held off on upgrading my phone to be sure i could get it . and yeah i can see where this can go and how great it could be . its not there yet for me . I need the camera to be better, and its disappointing considering how great the cameras were on the Windows 10 phones, which i miss alot.

[@Soldiershak]

Give it 3 - 5 years to mature

[@rjohndraws]

@@Soldiershak i could see that benig a good idea

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

Disgusting.

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

This is not a phone. Smartphones are dead.

[@skubeeraw]

Bought the 256gb for under 400. After a year the software updates fixed most of the bugs. It makes a great second screen

[@ThomasHoffDE]

Looks awesome to me and I want one. I have a surface book and LOVE it btw (also have iPad Pro and MacBook Pro) but SBook is my go-to. I think this will also be a huge win when Software is beefed up.

[@alvinlukas02]

Great review! you're the only reviewer I know who talks about the surface pen support on the Surface Duo. Always love your tech reviews from a creative professional perspective 👍

[@olegkulinich]

Brad, have you tried heavypaint? Great app for pleinair and studies

[@sadev101]

ive tried but not my cup of tea for painting. way to trippy

[@smackiesfunkies]

Who else remembers bald Brad.

[@benaultowski1226]

Focus! Focus! (No really, put your camera into manual focus mode for those b-roll shots.)

[@TonxArt]

hey brad im waiting for ipad 8th gen and ipad air 4th gen review on this channel. my favourite youtube channel.

[@AcidDotDrop]

The software is more on Googles side, since Android isn't meant to be used that way. So it will naturally take time until android will be able to adapt to unusual designs.

[@smackiesfunkies]

Been waiting for this review!

[@fernando_rosa]

First video I found that shows the use of the pen with this device.

[@babixillo]

i bought first surface pro with wacom tech emr pen (loved it) and followed the evolution of surface line because at that time its one of the best gadget to draw on (no apple pencil at that time), at some point microsoft made an advertising for surface pro 2 that lean to artist and designer market and i was pretty excited about it. unfortunately the ads means nothing as they moved to ntrig pen since surface pro 3 which is a huge let down because the pen is much worse with jitter and the pressure went from 1024 to 256 and until now their pen is still really bad. idk why they didn't pursue the artist market like ipad pro do which lead them to a huge success, i would pick windows os anytime rather than ipad's apple os for drawing needs.

[@GrantSR]

I've seen pictures of the hinge guy's lab. He really is something else.

[@Supain]

I think I'm the one like you describe ^^ I already see how I can use it, I have not problem drawing on Surface devices, and I think it can be a cool mobile sketchbook. I had a One Mix 2S Yoga that was cool to use but the pen was so disappointed, and I think the Surface Duo could be the device I'm wait for. I know it's buggy and so, but I ordered it anyway. I can't wait to receive it. Hope updates will correct the bugs you're showing at the beginning though xD Too bad that Artflow if bugging :( You are not the only one reporting this. And thanks for your review ! I didn't expect you doing one, so I'm happy you did.

[@IV.Fourth]

I think two screens can be used pretty nicely while drawing,good luck lad :]

[@Supain]

@@IV.Fourth Thanks, I know the device is expensive for what it is "right now" but I think I will have a lot of fun using it :) Long time a phone device didn't make me so excited to get :)

[@Supain]

Oh btw @Brad Colbow, does it have tlt support ?

[@IV.Fourth]

@@Supain im not him but i know newer versions of surface pro have tilt,not sure for this but i think it does have it

[@Supain]

@@IV.Fourth I suppose it does but as it's android and not windows I don't know if the pen behave the same way. Anyway I'll be sure soon, I should receive my unit tomorrow or the day after ^^

[@Paleosaurus95UK]

The Phone is like Marmite... Just got mine today, Paid £350 New. Android 11 Update makes it run pretty damm well! Pros outweighs the Cons for sure. It feels amazingly premium and that hinge is pure beauty. Definitely the right step forward. I'll keep this until its no longer supported and hopefully they'll make a Surface Duo 3. Also I like Marmite!! aha and I highly recommend this product to people who are looking for a premium foldable phone.

[@CrookedLittleFlower]

people like my husband. This would be a great business productivity. waiting for next version though. the first surface tablets were buggy too. peace. I think this has a real business/office on the go. He is a remodeling contractor and does not like tablets and laptops. He uses a Note and love it but having the ability to have a true double screen, he has is eye on the Duo. just waiting though.

[@BrooklynRose386]

"It is probably one of the buggiest pieces of....*long pause* technology." Nice way to put it 😁🤣

[@Lwbop]

You should review the LG V60 with the wacom stylus

[@BRNOOB_]

Surface duo looks so cute!!

[@Aegiey]

Lbr, the Surface line picked up speed after Surface Pro 3 and then even more with Pro 4 and so on. This is just the beginning of a great device

[@rugalthreesixteen6812]

Damn it would be awesome if this could utilize Both Citra and Drastic's Dual Screen Layout exclusively on each screen

[@delgadoeliud]

brad, this device is not designed to draw although it can be done, it is designed for another type of productivity. By the way, I think that in no operating system you can close a drawing application by gesturing with the pencil.

[@LandonWilsonArtist]

I just did it on my Note phone with the s-pen.

[@delgadoeliud]

@@LandonWilsonArtist Good to know. I can't do it on the iPad. The gesture should be made with the finger.

[@LandonWilsonArtist]

@@delgadoeliud somehow I am not surprised that the iPad is limited in that way. Occasionally it is a nuisance on Android with accidental swipes but there is an option to turn it off.

[@keepitfashion]

New Brad content 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@aleahlrb]

Random but does anyone else see how much Brad looks like the actor who played the Rob Zombie Captain Spaulding character from House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects?

[@Diana-bi7cn]

I really wanna see that surface with my own eyes, but they only sell it in overseas and i don't have the kind of money just to buy it for a quick look

[@ZS.Bonsai]

It has a lot of potential. But still feels like a prototype. If they improve it in the second generation, this might be the next big thing.

[@udaykiranpanjala2710]

Would you recommend a laptop or PC for digital art and animation?

[@meghaagarwal6182]

Laptop for animation definitely

[@PCgamer238]

For real production and all that, get a PC. Bigger monitor for UI and workflow, more power, silent, upgradeable, less temperature issues. Good luck rendering decently sized projects on a laptop without spending over a grand on one. And even then your temperatures are gonna skyrocket and the fan will sound like a vacuum cleaner. "But muh portability." Just get an iPad or a Tab. And then finish the work on your PC. Laptops are garbage for production when compared to complete portability of a tablet, and the complete power of a pc.

[@jeffriart]

Brad, do you have the slim pen? I saw in other video that the wobble is much better with the slim pen. Maybe it's worth a try on the Duo.

[@milosantos28]

Alright. That thing is all over my KZbin feed, but I never thought of this device a drawing device. Nice one, Brad. Hopefully the 2nd gen is much better.

[@moej6014]

As a non-illustrator, if it dropped $400 by say... the Holidays, and the bugs are fixed with software, would it be worth it?

[@HKBlo]

Good review but please please please do a review on the new ipad air when it comes out!

[@fcf8269]

To be honest I am surprised to hear that the phone adapted to your life, and not the other way around. I can't remember a device that did that, because there is a learning curve. The biggest drawback I find in 99% of the devices today is that they are not multi-use. Sure, a candybar design can be used as camera/videocamera, multimedia player and to an extent, reader and drawing board; but then you need a larger surface like a tablet, which you can't carry around so easily. The foldable device fill that gap; you do not need 2 devices but one. And while companies are learning what works best, as they did with the candybar form factor and its variants, the same will happen with foldable devices. As far as the duo; put on it a better camera, give time to MS to clean up the bugs and to Google to make a better OS aimed at that, and wait for developers to make apps that use the 2 screen setup and your life will adapt to it, like you did with the other devices before this, without even think about it. After all, take the original iphone, remove the software and what is left is a tiny touch screen phone; Apple played that smart by getting the software and the 3rd party apps right at launch, while MS is testing the water to see if they should go 2 screens or foldable probably, so the software out there is poor at the moment, and that is the reason why people are not going crazy and line up to get a duo.

[@tobesbui1061]

I am one of these people this phone just fits me

[@James-lw3gi]

Last years processor was fast at the time, no? I’m using last years iPhone pro, it’s processor is still fast. I get it doesn’t have the latest, but it’s not as though it’s slow. Year in year out, all we get are COU/GPU/Camera incremental updates. I’m so bored of it. I know version 2 will be better, but I’m not waiting. I’m jumping ship and going the Duo now!

[@Soldiershak]

I really want to see GaN in phones

[@gregorynewman5876]

funny thing is Microsoft's first generation Surface Products need work & they get it right by 3rd model. i think Microsoft's desire to make to make the duo super thin caused it not to have enough room to have the tech inside it to be more useful.. They should make a "Duo Pro" which should !/4 inch less wider & 3/4 longer & thick enough to have more tech parts inside it to make it more useful. Perhaps Microsoft can install the Lumia 1020 smart phone's 41 Mega pixel Camera inside the new "Duo Pro" case. that would be Awesome

[@blueeye2281]

5:07 loved that u also like that game

[@frankie2945]

Hey, I found out that the ipad air 4th generation is coming out and that it can be the pro competition and it's compatible with the Apple pencil 2.

[@eosauriart]

this thing is strange in concept, but man it had so much potential. such a shame about the buggy software. :(

[@Doctor_SKM]

Does this support image drag and drop from one app to another, especially from browsers like opera or mozilla to note taking apps like OneNote or Noteshelf? Thanks.

[@andyH_England]

No, not at the moment apart from a few MS apps. Whether MS improves this is mute in the here and now. Android 11 my help in a year or so...

[@Doctor_SKM]

@@andyH_England thank you.

[@kanekirm]

Great work, I love your videos 👍

[@LamStock]

Did Brad say "Espellishally"? Also has the name change to Cowboy been explained and I just missed it? Great review, I still want one.

[@Kogami]

I miss when Brad gives out different examples of creative professionals in his intro

[@kinglutherian]

I have it also and the bugs are driving me nuts

[@peevee5588]

Honestly. This is the device i hope apple will do at some point with the speed and finish you expect of apple. Props to microsoft for showing this direction in foldables.

[@Leloreth]

it's one of those products where the second generation is probs way more interesting than the first. the phone looks amazing tho. I applaud microsoft for trying something new. I can't wat for the Neo though. I'm really looking forward to that one since I guess that one will be even more interesting fot artists.

[@dnghn.design]

Now I’m wondering why he’s name isn’t colbow

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

why the frik I don't get any recommendation to this video is a mystery. it only come up when I searhh for surface Neo for all thing.

[@iQueeneth]

Brad is so inspiring, so much that he inspired my channel ❤

[@mikegmcg]

Any plans to review the Remarkable 2?

[@TiagoMorbusSa]

I think that while phones can't reliably not annoy me when I leave auto-rotation on, no phone like this will ever be pleasing to use on a day to day basis.

[@The-Heart-Will-Testify]

The problem is the low ram, they should of had 12gb ram....androids os struggles with low ram on skins...

[@Tigerex966]

Apple and Microsoft are skimpy on ram. I am surprised there is no SD card like other surface devices

[@no_8879]

Would you recommend the ipad pro for for teen digital artists?

[@ethanbeharry9478]

No. He always says that the tech doesn't really matter. Look at his ipad pro video and then make a decision

[@no_8879]

The Debetharmenot ok, thank you

[@angel-it9dj]

Microsoft : launches a new phone with two screens.......... Me : Dangggg, I can finally watch youtube videos and memes on seperate full screens at the same time ( Mind Blown)

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

It is a Surface, not a phone.

[@NN-qj4sk]

Rubén GoMo Radioboy It can be both

[@canocron]

Can you do an artist review of the Samsung Z Fold 2?

[@itszaza]

Duo looks like a 2ds XL lmao

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

Wow, the first joke about this... no.

[@itszaza]

@@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus ok sorry I thought of the joke then I realised after that everyone would say it

[@TheDudster369]

@scaryifliteral on KZbin shows you how to set the swipe mode gestures we're used to (the bottom bar with three commands).

[@LandonWilsonArtist]

A few years ago this phone would have been amazing but now there's better options. If I had a surface product, maybe?? But Galaxy (Note and Book Flex) is too good right now.

[@jugapugz]

have you actually tried the slim pen? Ive seen videos that compare the it(slim pen) with the regular pen, it seems it have less wobble...

[@masamieiri4669]

"WAIT FOR THE UPDATES, GUYS! THEN MAYBE IT'LL WORK PROPERLY!"

[@dharkundercity1796]

It will work much better if it were a 3rd of the price.

[@adamlabby]

6:50 Surface Pen from Surface Pro 1+2 won't work. Those will work, poorly, with your Note 20 though.

[@cookedart]

I've seen some evidence that the newest surface slim pen reduces or eliminates the jitter. Any chance you can try?

[@cookedart]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2rZnIZpqJuIetk check out this video at this time stamp comparing the surface pens

[@tahnae99]

Hey Brad, love the videos. You should definitely take a look at the LG V60 or Velvet. They both support the Wacom Bamboo Ink pens with pressure sensitivity and can come with a second screen. It'd be interesting to see if that gives the phone any functionality for art. I've got the Velvet and had the pen lying around and surprisingly it works really well but they dont sell the dual screen cases in Australia so can't live up to its full potential!

[@midollafun]

I wanted to see how an artist would use this.

[@kartikproduction13]

Then see

[@fablewalls]

Middola Fun - for taking notes.... certainly not for drawing!

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

@@fablewalls Certainly for drawing.

[@fablewalls]

@@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus - hahaha, you would honestly buy a $1200+ gadget like this for drawing when the Galaxy Tab S7+ and iPad Pro 12.9 exist? Hokay.....

[@gsdhillon4893]

Yeaaaaa let’s goooo

[@blueeye2281]

2:19 Me: who is that guy? Brad: who is that guy?

[@beboops]

Just gonna put this out there, you absolutely have aged well ;)

[@llouu1313]

Can you do a review of the parblo coast10?

[@huma___n]

What do you do with tablets you review (those you dont use anymore?)

[@heidelyncastillo8246]

Already like mr colbow, really like the way you judge this gadgets

[@maqthoomkp]

Please do ipad air 4

[@geoffreyadams1317]

My opinio is that things maxed-out remain still The Duo is all about tomorrow,. There's no standing still with this little beaut. Geoffrey Adams.- .