According to WindowsCentral's sources, a second-generation Surface Duo could be coming in the fall. However, if this rumor is legitimate, Microsoft will have a lot to do to address the shortcomings we found in our review of the Microsoft Surface Duo.

What we are calling the Surface Duo 2 could be an important reboot for Microsoft if it is to compete with other foldable phones like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. If it can fix the shortcomings of the previous model, the Surface Duo 2 could compete with the best folding phones.

There are not many rumors about the Surface Duo 2 at this time, but what we have heard so far sounds positive, including software improvements, faster performance, and improved cameras. We also hope that Microsoft doesn't throw away all of the Surface Duo's unique features, such as the hinge and multitasking options.

So here are six things we hope the Surface Duo 2 will be better than the original.

Microsoft promised a different Android phone with the Surface Duo, but has consistently failed to deliver on that goal. Pairing and opening apps together, swapping between two displays, and getting the most out of a single app on dual screens all offered excellent productivity possibilities, but numerous glitches made these features difficult to master.

Almost a year later, Microsoft has had enough time to iron out all the remaining wrinkles and, hopefully, add some unique features that will make it stand out from many other Android-powered phones. This is perhaps the most important aspect of the Surface Duo 2 that needs to be improved upon. No matter how good the design and specs of a phone are, it is useless if it is frustrating to use.

Microsoft decided that the Surface Duo only needed one 11MP camera, but perhaps not surprisingly, the phone was not good at photography. Not only was the quality of the sensor inconsistent, but it was also a victim of software shenanigans, such as struggling to figure out where it wanted the viewfinder window to appear.

According to WindowsCentral's sources, the Surface Duo 2 may feature an external camera system housed in a raised bump. This would be a great first step toward better photography, even if it would mean losing the original Duo's strikingly symmetrical exterior design. Microsoft would also need to work on photo processing software to compete with the best camera phones from Samsung and Google.

Aside from the fact that it was launched with a year-old chipset, the Surface Duo only had 6GB RAM and was underpowered compared to its competitors. It also did not support 5G, which was not what one would expect from a phone of similar price.

WindowsCentral reported that the Surface Duo 2 could be powered by "the latest flagship SoC of 2021."

With a modern chip like the Snapdragon 888, the Surface Duo 2 could offer flagship-level performance and 5G connectivity by default. And with a little more RAM, ideally up to the premium phone standard of 12GB, the Surface Duo 2 should have no problems when it comes to computing and graphics power.

There is no denying that foldable phones are expensive today. However, starting at $1,399, the Surface Duo was very expensive for a phone without great specs, the same price as the excellent Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. [Microsoft could keep the price the same if it were to significantly upgrade its foldable phone over the previous model. But rumors that Samsung's next-generation foldable phone will be priced lower could cause problems for Microsoft. If it can afford to drop the price of the Surface Duo 2 unit by a few hundred dollars, it would be a wise choice.

Even the cheapest Android phones you can buy these days usually have NFC chips for wireless payments. Many high-end phones also offer wireless charging; the Surface Duo had neither.

One might say that these features were not necessary since Microsoft's goal with the Duo was not to create a purely smart phone, but a different kind of foldable device. However, this would only make the Surface Duo awkward to use as a primary device.

According to WindowsCentral's sources, the Surface Duo 2 is supposed to include NFC. The lack of wireless charging is not the end of the world, but Samsung's foldable can charge with or without a cable, and the Surface Duo 2 could look outdated in comparison.

Most foldable phones have a secondary display on the outside, ranging from a small one like the notification window on the Galaxy Z Flip to a full-fledged screen like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2, which can be operated like a regular non-foldable phone The Surface Duo had only a built-in twin screen, but a 360-degree hinge allowed the phone to be opened and used one side at a time (assuming the software works).

There are no rumors of more displays, but it is unlikely that Microsoft will add another screen outside the Surface Duo 2. However, a small notification display on the outside of the Duo 2 would greatly improve the quality of life if it could be quickly checked instead of having to unfold the phone every time an alert goes off.

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