The Surface Duo is now readily available for US customers to buy and use, and with the release comes the flood of reviews around the web. Unfortunately, while the reception hasn't been terrible, it hasn't been particularly good either.

What Surface Duo Reviewers are Saying

So, what is everyone saying about the Surface Duo? Reviewers are weighing in on the device, but things don't look rosy for Microsoft.

Tom's Guide

First up is Tom's Guide, a highly-respected website for mobile reviews. Unfortunately, the Surface Duo didn't impress reviewer Adam Ismail, who gave the device three out of five.

Ismail states that, while the design looks great and the gestures work well, there's a lot to dislike about the device. The camera isn't great, there are no 5G capabilities, and it has a price tag that's more than it's worth:

The result is a very charming device that is nonetheless difficult to recommend. While too rough around the edges to finish as one of 2020’s best phones, our Microsoft Surface Duo review reveals what makes one of the year’s most curious handsets so exciting and maddening all at once.

Android Central

Android Central is not coy to make its opinion known, calling the Surface Duo a "hot mess" from the get-go and giving it three stars out of five.

The reviewer, Daniel Bader, states how he likes how the device looks and calls the hardware "truly gorgeous."  However, he states that the Surface Duo is confused as to what it wants to be.

The design makes it looks like a dual-screen tablet, but its operating system restricts it to be more of a phone. He finishes by stating that purchasers of the Surface Duo are essentially beta testers for a new form factor.

The Verge

Dieter Bohn from The Verge writes a review that agrees with the above two, giving it a six out of 10. Bohn also notes how the Duo looks and feels great, and says that he "feels more productive with the Duo."

However, he notes that "it is absolutely not worth [the] price," and notes that he's unsure if he actually is more productive with the Surface Duo than with a standalone phone or tablet. He also weighs in with his opinion on the Surface Duo's camera, calling it "terrible."

Android Police

Android Police is a little more lenient, calling it "enthusiastically an enthusiast's phone." They refuse to score it out of 10, given that there are no devices to compare it with.

However, when asked if someone should buy it, reviewer Corbin Davenport gives us a "maybe." He says it's only worth buying if you're fully within the Microsoft ecosystem, and that people looking for an all-rounder phone or tablet should give it a miss.

Engadget

Finally, we have the Engadget review written by Cherlynn Low. She gives the Surface Duo a 71 out of 100, and expresses her optimism about the device's future.

Despite Microsoft wanting people to regard the Surface Duo as a tablet, Low says that it doesn't perform well as one. She prefers when she uses it as two phones stuck together, using the dual-screen functionality to do more.

Low says the Surface Duo has a lot of potential, but it's too buggy to recommend at this time:

Still, despite the Duo’s flaws, it's a titillating tech marvel that — once all the kinks are ironed out — would be great for on-the-go bookworms and Netflix enthusiasts who enjoy hands-free, portable entertainment.

The Surface Duo May Need a Du-Over

Despite Microsoft's attempt to revamp our mobile devices, the initial response hasn't been fantastic. Whether Microsoft can save the device with updates, or if the company needs to address the issues in a potential "Duo 2" is yet to be seen.

If you want to consider if the Surface Duo is right for you, Microsoft did publish a demonstration online that goes through all of its key features.