A whole new breed of smartphones is on the rise. While foldable smartphones are on the market at astronomical prices, you may not have to spend as much to get the same features. In this article, we're going to take a look at the best dual screen phones available now!
What Is A Dual Screen Phone?
Simply put, a dual screen phone is a smartphone that has two displays, but beyond this, there are generally two categories. There are phones with a display on the front as well as a screen on the back, and then there are phones with two screens connected with an adjustable hinge. This hinge allows the device to be used in more than one orientation.
For example, you could position the screens back to back and use only one screen, or you could have them side by side. Alternatively, you could rest them on a surface in an A shape where one screen acts as a kickstand for the other. You could also have one screen flat against the table and the other screen stands vertical like a laptop.
Benefits Of A Dual Screen Phone
The concept is remarkably similar to the function of foldable smartphones — unfold a smaller device so that you can see and do more in one space. You can use one display to do normal tasks and then unfold the device to use the second display for another app. Imagine watching a YouTube video while texting a friend at the same time.
Dual screen phones can make you more productive. You can have a video call on one screen and a notepad on the other, or you can check your email and your calendar at the same time.
You can also use these devices in multiple orientations so that you can type on one screen while seeing the app on the other. You can even use one screen as a controller for video games.
Dual Screen Phones As Foldable Competitors
The best dual screen phones can do everything that a foldable smartphone can do and they are much more affordable, coming in at less than $1000. The latest foldable devices can range from $1,300 to $2,500. This makes dual screen phones a worthy competitor to these expensive devices.
Dual screen phones also are more durable than foldable phones because of the materials used for the screen. Foldable devices are limited by flexible and scratch-prone plastic. Dual screen phones don't have to use flexible materials, so they can use the latest durable glass and will last much longer than expensive foldable phones.
ZTE Axon M
Although phones with dual screens had appeared in the past, the ZTE Axon M is one of the first Android smartphones to incorporate the design effectively. However, the phone is not able to take full advantage of the screens due to its hinge design and lack of proper software implementation.
The ZTE Axon M is certainly not the best dual screen phone out there, but it definitely is one of the cheapest. It has a few useful form factors such as using the second display as a kickstand. However, its hinge can only rotate 180 degrees, which means that typing suffers a bit.
If you're looking to get a taste of the dual screen future at a bargain, the ZTE Axon M may be right for you. However, its probably better if you choose something more functional in this list, as the Axon M is very behind on Android software updates.
LG G8X ThinQ
This phone takes a different route to make it onto this list: the Dual Screen attachment. The LG G8X ThinQ is one of the best dual screen phones out there because it isn't hindered by software limitations and the hinge design is much more functional. The dual screen case is also optional, meaning that you only have to attach it if you're interested in using it.
The phone has much better software features for using the dual screen, including screen mirroring and running two apps at once. You can also turn the second screen completely off if you'd like. The phone also has a ton of other great features such as a great camera and powerful battery.
LG V60 ThinQ
The successor to the G8X, the LG V60 ThinQ continues the trend of the dual screen case and expands on its capabilities. Just like its predecessor, you can use the second screen for typing and as a gamepad. Although not well advertised, the V60 also has stylus support for any pen that works with Windows like the Surface Pen and Wacom pens.
Combined with a long-lasting battery and a rich array of other features like 5G connectivity, the V60 is the best dual screen device currently available. Best of all, it's about $400 cheaper than the most affordable folding phones on the market.
Vivo NEX
Although folding, twin screens are the common choice for dual screen phones, the Vivo NEX instead places a second screen on the back of the device. This allows for a few interesting features like showing someone what they look like while you take their picture. It's also useful as a rear touch pad for playing games.
Although this is a unique approach to twin screen phones, the Vivo NEX doesn't have the same productivity and multitasking capabilities of other dual screen phones with hinge designs.
LG Wing
LG is developing the LG Wing, a dual screen device under development that takes a different approach than the other phones listed here. The main screen has an attached dual screen that swivels out.
The secondary display is half the size of the main display, so it's not going to be a great productivity engine. It does sound like it will be useful for supplementary information, controls, and gaming once it does see the light of day.
However, this may just be a prototype. It's possible this phone never hits the market.
What About The Microsoft Surface Duo?
The Surface Duo is a powerful productivity machine. With pen support, the Surface Duo's twin screens have wider aspect ratios for better multitasking. The device comfortably fits in your pocket while both screens are closed.
However, although its specially made Android software takes advantage of its unique form factor, the Surface Duo is a bit too expensive for what it has under the hood. With a mediocre battery, an older processor, and lacking NFC connectivity, the Surface Duo's $1400 price tag just doesn't seem justified.
You can read more about how we feel about the Surface Duo in this article. Long story short, you're better off getting one of the other phones mentioned above.
The Future of Dual Screen Phones
Now you know the best dual screen phones currently available. This technology is still fairly new, so there's a whole lot more to come in the future. Thank you for reading this article, and if you enjoyed it please share it with a friend and leave a comment!
