A Microsoft company spokesperson’s comment on the report about HoloLens 3, for what it’s worth: “Microsoft HoloLens remains a critical part of our plans for emerging categories like mixed reality and the metaverse. We remain committed to HoloLens and future HoloLens development.” Meanwhile, in Surface Duo land, Microsoft is scrambling to fix another product that hasn’t lived up to expectations. Yes, there are some who believe, as Microsoft officials seem to, that two phone screens connected with a hinge are better than one. I bought a Surface Duo 2 last fall with the intention of reviewing it. I sent it back because I found the software experience to still be too confusing and unstable to even try. The Duo hardware feels premium and Android is the right choice for Microsoft for a mobile device, but the Duo is definitely not worth $1,500 (or even $500, in my opinion). Will switching to Android 12L fix anything on the Duo front? I’m not sure. I still feel like Microsoft needs to try to define a new category with this kind of product instead of try to shoehorn it into the phone space, especially as the camera experience remains unwieldy and the hinge just gets in the way. If Microsoft really is slowing down instead of hurtling forward with the HoloLens and the Duo, I say bravo. Neither device is where it should be, in terms of user experience and both need work before their next iterations go on sale.
