Surface Duo 2 vs Galaxy Z Fold4: The Ultimate Foldable Showdown

Foldable phones are no longer a futuristic fantasy; they're a reality. But with options like the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, choosing the right one can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison breaks down everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 emerges as the overall winner, boasting a superior chipset, brighter display, faster charging, and a more refined foldable experience. However, the Surface Duo 2's unique dual-screen design and focus on productivity offer a distinct appeal for specific users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Microsoft Surface Duo 2	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
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, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 6 Gbps DL	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 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	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, September 22. Released 2021, October 21	2022, August 10
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, August 25

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass)	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), 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	Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mmFolded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight	284 g (10.02 oz)	263 g (9.28 oz)
	Stylus support	IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus support

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	-
Resolution	1892 x 2688 pixels (~401 ppi density)	1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density)
Size	8.3 inches, 204.0 cm2 (~152.6% screen-to-body ratio)	7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR, 800 nits (peak)	Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
	Folded position display: 5.8 inches, AMOLED, 1344 x 1892 pixels (4:3)	Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratio

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 730
OS	Android 11	Android 12L, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
	UFS	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 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)	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR	8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm	4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort	USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, dual proximity, dual compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support

Battery
Charging	23W wired	25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4449 mAh	Li-Po 4400 mAh

Misc
Colors	Glacier, Obsidian	Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy
Models	-	SM-F936B, SM-F936B/DS, SM-F936U, SM-F936U1, SM-F936N, SM-F936W, SM-F9360
Price	About 1480 EUR	$ 457.00 / € 511.80 / £ 485.00 / ₹ 73,899
SAR	-	0.96 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 101h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 964530 (v9) GeekBench: 3981 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Microsoft Surface Duo 2

Unique dual-screen design
Compact and pocketable
Excellent for note-taking and productivity
Good software optimization for dual screens

Underpowered chipset
Dim display
Slow charging
Less impressive camera

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
Bright and vibrant display
Versatile and high-quality camera system
Fast charging (wired & wireless)
Durable hinge design

Expensive
Bulky when folded
Crease visible on the display

Display Comparison

The Galaxy Z Fold4’s 1000-nit display offers significantly better outdoor visibility than the Duo 2. While the Duo 2’s dual screens provide a unique multitasking layout, the Z Fold4’s larger unfolded display and higher brightness provide a more immersive experience. The Z Fold4's contrast ratio is also notably superior.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy Z Fold4’s camera system is considerably more advanced, offering better image quality, more versatile shooting modes, and improved video recording capabilities. The Duo 2’s camera setup is adequate but lacks the features and performance of the Z Fold4.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Galaxy Z Fold4 provides a substantial performance advantage over the Snapdragon 888 in the Surface Duo 2. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Z Fold4.

Battery Life

Both devices offer decent battery life, but the Galaxy Z Fold4’s endurance rating of 101h suggests a slight edge in longevity. The Z Fold4 also supports faster wired and wireless charging, including reverse wireless charging, which the Duo 2 lacks.

Buying Guide

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 is ideal for users prioritizing a unique dual-screen productivity experience, note-taking, and a more compact form factor. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is best suited for those seeking a flagship foldable with top-tier performance, a versatile camera system, and a larger unfolded display for media consumption and multitasking.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Surface Duo 2 worth it if I love taking notes?

Yes, the Surface Duo 2's dual-screen design is excellent for note-taking with a stylus. However, consider the Z Fold4's larger screen for more writing space.

❓ Which phone is more durable?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 generally has a more robust hinge design and is considered more durable overall, although both devices are susceptible to damage.