Surface Duo 2 vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Clash of Form and Function
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality, charging speed, and a more conventional smartphone experience, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. However, the Surface Duo 2’s unique dual-screen form factor offers unparalleled multitasking capabilities for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Microsoft Surface Duo 2 | OnePlus 9 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) / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 6 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / 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, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 22. Released 2021, October 21 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 184.5 x 145.2 x 5.5 mm Folded: 145.2 x 92.1 x 11 mm | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 284 g (10.02 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Stylus support | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1892 x 2688 pixels (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 204.0 cm2 (~152.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR, 800 nits (peak) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| 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 (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, dual proximity, dual compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 23W wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4449 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Glacier, Obsidian | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | - | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 1480 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Microsoft Surface Duo 2
- Unique dual-screen foldable design for multitasking
- Enhanced productivity with side-by-side app viewing
- Potentially more immersive media consumption
- Slower charging speed (23W)
- Camera specifications are unknown and likely inferior
- Potential thermal throttling due to design constraints
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Blazing-fast 65W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Superior camera system (based on brand reputation)
- Excellent battery endurance (86h)
- Conventional smartphone form factor
- May lack the multitasking capabilities of a foldable
- Potentially less innovative design
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, but their displays diverge significantly. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a single, high-brightness panel reaching 859 nits (measured), offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility outdoors. The Surface Duo 2, conversely, features two 5.8-inch displays, totaling a larger combined screen area. While the Duo 2’s displays lack the peak brightness of the OnePlus, the unique foldable form factor enables novel use cases like side-by-side app viewing. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display is likely to have a higher refresh rate, though this is not specified in the provided data, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro is clearly positioned as a photography powerhouse, though specific sensor details are missing. The context data simply states 'Photo / Video' capability. Given OnePlus’s history, it likely features a multi-camera system with a large primary sensor, ultra-wide lens, and telephoto lens, offering versatility in various shooting scenarios. The Surface Duo 2’s camera capabilities are less emphasized, and details are absent from the provided data. It’s reasonable to assume it offers a competent camera experience, but it likely won’t match the OnePlus 9 Pro’s image quality or feature set. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Duo 2 suggests it’s not a primary selling point.
Performance
Both the Surface Duo 2 and OnePlus 9 Pro are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means raw processing power will be comparable for most tasks. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro benefits from potentially superior thermal management due to its more conventional design, potentially leading to sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. The Surface Duo 2’s larger surface area and thinner profile may present greater challenges for heat dissipation. RAM specifications are not provided, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
Both devices exhibit an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing charging capabilities. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging prowess is a significant advantage. Its 65W wired charging can replenish the battery to 100% in just 29 minutes, while 50W wireless charging takes 43 minutes. The Surface Duo 2’s 23W wired charging is considerably slower. The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers 5W reverse wireless charging, allowing it to top up other devices. While both have similar endurance, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging speed dramatically reduces downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 if you absolutely need a portable dual-screen setup for enhanced productivity, document editing, and immersive multitasking. Its foldable design is ideal for those who frequently switch between apps and value screen real estate. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize a top-tier camera system, incredibly fast charging (65W wired, 50W wireless), and a smooth, responsive user experience within a more familiar smartphone form factor.