Surface Duo 2 vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Android Experiences
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Google Pixel 6 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its superior processing power from the Google Tensor chip, coupled with a more refined software experience and exceptional camera capabilities, outweighs the Surface Duo 2’s niche appeal. However, the Duo 2 remains a compelling option for those prioritizing multitasking and a truly unique mobile experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Microsoft Surface Duo 2 | Google Pixel 6 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 6 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 257, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 22. Released 2021, October 21 | 2021, October 19 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, October 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 184.5 x 145.2 x 5.5 mm Folded: 145.2 x 92.1 x 11 mm | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 284 g (10.02 oz) | 210 g (7.41 oz) |
| Stylus support | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1892 x 2688 pixels (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 204.0 cm2 (~152.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR, 800 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Folded position display: 5.8 inches, AMOLED, 1344 x 1892 pixels (4:3) | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 51mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm TOF 3D, (depth) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, dual proximity, dual compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 23W wired | 23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4449 mAh | Li-Ion 5003 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Glacier, Obsidian | Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black |
| Models | - | GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ |
| Price | About 1480 EUR | € 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 84h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Microsoft Surface Duo 2
- Unique dual-screen form factor for enhanced multitasking
- Excellent portability and slim design
- Innovative software features optimized for dual-screen use
- Higher price point for a Snapdragon 888-powered device
- Potential durability concerns with the hinge mechanism
- Camera performance lags behind flagship competitors
Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Powerful Google Tensor chip with AI-focused features
- Exceptional camera system with advanced image processing
- Fast charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Larger and heavier than the Surface Duo 2
- Software updates may be less frequent than some competitors
- Design may not appeal to those seeking a unique form factor
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a 6.71-inch display achieving a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Surface Duo 2’s dual 5.8-inch displays offer flexibility, they lack the sheer brightness and contrast of the Pixel 6 Pro’s single panel. The Pixel 6 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Duo 2’s hinge mechanism, while innovative, introduces a potential point of failure and a visible crease where the screens meet, impacting immersion. The Pixel 6 Pro’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts refresh rates for improved efficiency, a feature absent on the Duo 2.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6 Pro excels in computational photography, leveraging the Tensor chip’s processing power. While specific sensor details are missing for the Duo 2, the Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is renowned for its dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing algorithms deliver consistently excellent results in various lighting conditions. The Duo 2’s camera setup, while functional, likely cannot match the Pixel 6 Pro’s image quality, particularly in low-light scenarios. The Pixel 6 Pro’s advanced features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode further enhance its photographic capabilities.
Performance
Both devices utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with a Cortex-X1 prime core, but diverge significantly in their chipsets. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor (5nm) is designed for machine learning tasks, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. The Surface Duo 2 relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). While the Snapdragon 888 is a capable performer, the Tensor chip’s focus on AI and on-device processing gives the Pixel 6 Pro an edge in tasks like real-time translation and computational photography. Both utilize Cortex-A76 and A55 cores, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor architecture is optimized for Google’s software ecosystem. The Duo 2’s thermal management may struggle under sustained load due to its slim profile.
Battery Life
Both devices share a 23W wired charging capability, with the Pixel 6 Pro adding the benefit of 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Both have an endurance rating of 84h. The Pixel 6 Pro’s wireless charging and reverse wireless capabilities offer added convenience. While the Surface Duo 2’s dual-screen design increases battery drain, the Pixel 6 Pro’s more efficient Tensor chip and optimized software contribute to comparable real-world battery life despite the Duo 2’s larger overall battery capacity due to powering two screens.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 if you absolutely need a portable dual-screen setup for enhanced multitasking, document editing on the go, and a different form factor that prioritizes productivity over raw power. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prioritize camera quality, a smooth and responsive user experience powered by Google’s Tensor chip, and a more traditional, yet premium, smartphone experience with guaranteed software updates.