Microsoft’soriginal Surface Duoshowed the potential for dual-screened phones, but ultimately didn’t deliver on expectations.

The biggest question, however, is whether Microsoft can truly make the case for a dual-screened phone.

But subpar technical specifications were never really the Duo’s biggest problem.

Yes, anyone paying for a $1,400 smartphone would expect top-notch cameras, fast performance and5Gat a minimum.

The first Surface Duo’s shortcomings and challenges

Theoriginal Surface Duoseemed compelling in concept.

The problem was that the execution wasn’t as polished as it should have been.

The software on the prerelease version that went out to reviewers was sluggish and laggy.

Many apps weren’t optimized to work the way you would want them to across two screens.

The keyboard also sounded great on paper until I actually used it.

In other words, it’s not enough to just give people a phone with two screens.

Competition from Samsung could also present another challenge for Microsoft.

The Surface Duo is decidedly different; it’s not one large screen that folds in half.

Rather, it’s two screens joined by a hinge that open and close like a book.

The reading experience on the first Duo, for example, was excellent.

But Microsoft is teasing some improvements that make me hopeful it will.