To be honest, if the price could reach 300, I might buy one. The hardware and software of this mobile phone are very imperfect. It looks and works so much like a test prototype.
I have had this phone since launch and can validate much of what is on this thread.
If you are buying this as a phone and expect to use the camera to take photos frequently - dont buy this phone.
If you want a device as a "home tablet" (no SIM), it will absolutely function for that
For some reason the speakerphone has issues when using Teams, which would be a primary purpose for the item above in my world, which has been verified with the Teams product - group. That is unfortunate as it is a great device for a quick video conference like that in Teams. Zoom does not experience the same issue. Not sure about GoToMeeting (I have not used it on that platform)
The lack of external notifications tends to be a large issue - no light, no screen, nothing - means you can not glance at the phone to see who is calling, texting, etc. (smart watch solves this problem)
For some reason there is glass on the outside - although no wireless charging or NFC as mentioned - and that glass is strong but not indestructible. I bought a skin to put over the glass after I cracked the top
The "bumper" works great, until it wears out (by pulling it out of your pocket a couple thousand times over the course of a year) - then it is $50 to replace and that price is ridiculous
There is a known issue where the plastic around the USB-C port will crack if you basically nudge it when charging - that happened within two weeks of me owning it
The dimensions are weird when the bump is attached, so doing something simple like charging it in a car with USB-C male connectors provided (think Tesla) is impossible. In fact there is no way to use the Telsa Model 3 ports successfully with this device as it is either too wide (open), or too thick (closed) or sticks out and hits the offset in the car.
When you use "full screen" and you are showing people pictures (ideally taken with a different camera) on your device, it is super annoying to have a fairly wide black line through each picture where the hinge is located.
Just like anything with a giant screen, the key to battery life is tweaking the brightness and making sure you are on WiFi as much as possible. I can easily make it through a day even with it being a year old (almost)
So those are the key cons. The benefits are obvious. I never have to wonder which is cheaper between a Lyft and Uber ride. I can pull up email and a browser at the same time. The hinge, which make no mistake is 100% what Microsoft is really testing with this device, is rock solid and ready to hold the device at any angle or orientation needed. The key use case is using the phone as a light source for video conference when using another device for a meeting.
And lastly, anytime you pull it out in public, someone is going to ask you about it and wish they had it.
I hope this helps someone make a decision on whether this is the device for you or not. For me, it works fine, but I am waiting for Onward Mobility to get their device out the door.
I have had this phone since launch and can validate much of what is on this thread.
If you are buying this as a phone and expect to use the camera to take photos frequently - dont buy this phone.
If you want a device as a "home tablet" (no SIM), it will absolutely function for that
For some reason the speakerphone has issues when using Teams, which would be a primary purpose for the item above in my world, which has been verified with the Teams product - group. That is unfortunate as it is a great device for a quick video conference like that in Teams. Zoom does not experience the same issue. Not sure about GoToMeeting (I have not used it on that platform)
The lack of external notifications tends to be a large issue - no light, no screen, nothing - means you can not glance at the phone to see who is calling, texting, etc. (smart watch solves this problem)
For some reason there is glass on the outside - although no wireless charging or NFC as mentioned - and that glass is strong but not indestructible. I bought a skin to put over the glass after I cracked the top
The "bumper" works great, until it wears out (by pulling it out of your pocket a couple thousand times over the course of a year) - then it is $50 to replace and that price is ridiculous
There is a known issue where the plastic around the USB-C port will crack if you basically nudge it when charging - that happened within two weeks of me owning it
The dimensions are weird when the bump is attached, so doing something simple like charging it in a car with USB-C male connectors provided (think Tesla) is impossible. In fact there is no way to use the Telsa Model 3 ports successfully with this device as it is either too wide (open), or too thick (closed) or sticks out and hits the offset in the car.
When you use "full screen" and you are showing people pictures (ideally taken with a different camera) on your device, it is super annoying to have a fairly wide black line through each picture where the hinge is located.
Just like anything with a giant screen, the key to battery life is tweaking the brightness and making sure you are on WiFi as much as possible. I can easily make it through a day even with it being a year old (almost)
So those are the key cons. The benefits are obvious. I never have to wonder which is cheaper between a Lyft and Uber ride. I can pull up email and a browser at the same time. The hinge, which make no mistake is 100% what Microsoft is really testing with this device, is rock solid and ready to hold the device at any angle or orientation needed. The key use case is using the phone as a light source for video conference when using another device for a meeting.
And lastly, anytime you pull it out in public, someone is going to ask you about it and wish they had it.
I hope this helps someone make a decision on whether this is the device for you or not. For me, it works fine, but I am waiting for Onward Mobility to get their device out the door.
I already have a Fold2, but I need a spare phone for my work SIM, and for some reason I've been obsessing over this phone for a while. There are some cheaper ones in swappa sometimes, do you think this would be a good idea?
I got one from MS at $649, I love it that I can run apps side by side and output to a monitor with a mouse and keyboard, just like a computer. A computer that can fit in my pocket. I notice when you run two apps that run GPS, THE DEVICE get so hot and drain the batteries. And when open two app with keyboard, the device get confused which apps will be use. Other than that, I can't imagine to go back single screen.
Can it output 4k resolution ? And it is legit 'dex' like mode or just screen mirroring?
I already have a Fold2, but I need a spare phone for my work SIM, and for some reason I've been obsessing over this phone for a while. There are some cheaper ones in swappa sometimes, do you think this would be a good idea?
Only if it drops in price with the release of the Duo 2.
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Online reviewers have said it was super buggy at first, but it's gotten much better with the latest software
Squarehome FTW!!!
- If you are buying this as a phone and expect to use the camera to take photos frequently - dont buy this phone.
- If you want a device as a "home tablet" (no SIM), it will absolutely function for that
- For some reason the speakerphone has issues when using Teams, which would be a primary purpose for the item above in my world, which has been verified with the Teams product - group. That is unfortunate as it is a great device for a quick video conference like that in Teams. Zoom does not experience the same issue. Not sure about GoToMeeting (I have not used it on that platform)
- The lack of external notifications tends to be a large issue - no light, no screen, nothing - means you can not glance at the phone to see who is calling, texting, etc. (smart watch solves this problem)
- For some reason there is glass on the outside - although no wireless charging or NFC as mentioned - and that glass is strong but not indestructible. I bought a skin to put over the glass after I cracked the top
- The "bumper" works great, until it wears out (by pulling it out of your pocket a couple thousand times over the course of a year) - then it is $50 to replace and that price is ridiculous
- There is a known issue where the plastic around the USB-C port will crack if you basically nudge it when charging - that happened within two weeks of me owning it
- The dimensions are weird when the bump is attached, so doing something simple like charging it in a car with USB-C male connectors provided (think Tesla) is impossible. In fact there is no way to use the Telsa Model 3 ports successfully with this device as it is either too wide (open), or too thick (closed) or sticks out and hits the offset in the car.
- When you use "full screen" and you are showing people pictures (ideally taken with a different camera) on your device, it is super annoying to have a fairly wide black line through each picture where the hinge is located.
- Just like anything with a giant screen, the key to battery life is tweaking the brightness and making sure you are on WiFi as much as possible. I can easily make it through a day even with it being a year old (almost)
So those are the key cons. The benefits are obvious. I never have to wonder which is cheaper between a Lyft and Uber ride. I can pull up email and a browser at the same time. The hinge, which make no mistake is 100% what Microsoft is really testing with this device, is rock solid and ready to hold the device at any angle or orientation needed. The key use case is using the phone as a light source for video conference when using another device for a meeting.And lastly, anytime you pull it out in public, someone is going to ask you about it and wish they had it.
I hope this helps someone make a decision on whether this is the device for you or not. For me, it works fine, but I am waiting for Onward Mobility to get their device out the door.
- If you are buying this as a phone and expect to use the camera to take photos frequently - dont buy this phone.
- If you want a device as a "home tablet" (no SIM), it will absolutely function for that
- For some reason the speakerphone has issues when using Teams, which would be a primary purpose for the item above in my world, which has been verified with the Teams product - group. That is unfortunate as it is a great device for a quick video conference like that in Teams. Zoom does not experience the same issue. Not sure about GoToMeeting (I have not used it on that platform)
- The lack of external notifications tends to be a large issue - no light, no screen, nothing - means you can not glance at the phone to see who is calling, texting, etc. (smart watch solves this problem)
- For some reason there is glass on the outside - although no wireless charging or NFC as mentioned - and that glass is strong but not indestructible. I bought a skin to put over the glass after I cracked the top
- The "bumper" works great, until it wears out (by pulling it out of your pocket a couple thousand times over the course of a year) - then it is $50 to replace and that price is ridiculous
- There is a known issue where the plastic around the USB-C port will crack if you basically nudge it when charging - that happened within two weeks of me owning it
- The dimensions are weird when the bump is attached, so doing something simple like charging it in a car with USB-C male connectors provided (think Tesla) is impossible. In fact there is no way to use the Telsa Model 3 ports successfully with this device as it is either too wide (open), or too thick (closed) or sticks out and hits the offset in the car.
- When you use "full screen" and you are showing people pictures (ideally taken with a different camera) on your device, it is super annoying to have a fairly wide black line through each picture where the hinge is located.
- Just like anything with a giant screen, the key to battery life is tweaking the brightness and making sure you are on WiFi as much as possible. I can easily make it through a day even with it being a year old (almost)
So those are the key cons. The benefits are obvious. I never have to wonder which is cheaper between a Lyft and Uber ride. I can pull up email and a browser at the same time. The hinge, which make no mistake is 100% what Microsoft is really testing with this device, is rock solid and ready to hold the device at any angle or orientation needed. The key use case is using the phone as a light source for video conference when using another device for a meeting.And lastly, anytime you pull it out in public, someone is going to ask you about it and wish they had it.
I hope this helps someone make a decision on whether this is the device for you or not. For me, it works fine, but I am waiting for Onward Mobility to get their device out the door.
Thanks
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