Microsoft's Surface Duo is hitting the news after its recent launch. The dual-screen device is trying to make a name for itself as a productivity-focused smartphone.
As you know, Google's Android 10 operating system powers the Surface Duo. Like other Android devices, it also comes with a defined set of apps created by Google, as well as in-house apps and services from Microsoft.
Microsoft has revealed the specifications of the Surface Duo in detail and also provided a list of all Android apps preinstalled on the Surface Duo.
Preinstalled Microsoft Surface Duo apps
The dual-screen smartphone comes with over 40 apps from Microsoft, Google and other popular vendors. At this time, we cannot confirm how many of these apps can be removed from the device to achieve a bloatware-free experience.
List of Google apps on Surface Duo: List of Microsoft apps on Surface Duo:- Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office Lens, PDF reader, etc.
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft teams
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft to do
- Microsoft News
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Microsoft Bing Search
- Intune Company Portal
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection
- Surface audio
- Spotify (unlocked)
- HBO MAX (AT&T)
- AT&T TV (AT&T)
- My AT&T (AT&T)
- Protect Calls (AT&T)
- Shopping on Amazon (AT&T)
- NBA (AT&T)
In addition to the apps mentioned above, the Surface Duo also incorporates some apps as basic features which are otherwise stand-alone apps on other Android devices. For example, the Microsoft SwiftKey app and Your Phone Companion (Link To Windows).
It goes without saying that having different versions of the same thing would create a mess on the dual screen device, aka bloatware. For example, Surface Duo comes with Chrome and MS Edge as web browsers. Also, Google Drive and MS OneDrive serve the same purpose, although some users want to use both.
Either way, some of the more needed Google apps these days, like Google Maps and YouTube, to name a few. Let's wait and see how Android apps work on Surface Duo in the real world. The device is on in pre-order and will start shipping on September 10th.