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No.
That's the answer that Betteridge's law dictates be given
in the case of a headline that asks a question.
And I'm just gonna put it out there right upfront.
It's also true for me.
Personally speaking, a dual-screen smartphone
doesn't meet most of my needs most of the time.
But my needs are not everyone's needs.
And more to the point,
Microsoft is about to hit the dual-screen scene in a big way
with its Surface Due later this season.
So this isn't just a flash in the pan.
To try to get a better handle on it,
for the past few months, I've been using a few
LG dual-screen review devices.
I've compared notes with other LG users.
And I'm now convinced that there are benefits
to a twin display device.
As long as you're willing to put up with some
fairly large compromises in the process.
(gentle upbeat music)
As you can tell from the box,
the focus of this video is the Velvet on loan from LG.
For now, the only company really making an effort
in the dual-screen smartphone space.
LG seems intent to make a splash
ahead of the Surface Duo with the Velvet,
which in my case, came in a limited edition reviewers kit
packed with accessories like a Wacom stylus
and some genuinely pretty cases.
But the only case that matters to me is this one.
This is actually LG's fourth iteration
of the dual-screen concept, after earlier experiments
with the V50, G8X, and V60.
"Chunky," you say, too, which I nod my head.
Until you also say, "Clunky," at which I also nod.
Clumsily folding the flap underneath around back,
the biggest phone case of my life.
That's a reference to the 2000 single "Hey Pretty" by Poe.
Which is apt because,
in contrast to those earlier clunky designs,
the Velvet's dual-screen cases is pretty.
Pure white with a scalloped back for grip
and out front, an intentionally offset, external display,
looking like a Cylon visor.
And because the Velvet is thinner than its predecessors,
this case is too.
Using the second display is pretty much plug and play.
You drop the Velvet into place, you tap one soft key,
and bingo, you've got double the desktops.
So what can you do with them?
Well, when I touched on that question
in the first episode of "Into the Fold",
my series exploring life on a folding screen,
it was in the context of a comparison with true foldables.
And I found no usability advantages to the dual-screen.
In terms of software, the Samsung Galaxy Fold
can do everything dual-screen phones can, and more.
But folding phones are more fragile
due to the lack of water and dust resistance
and the softer plastic displays.
And then there's adaptability.
My Galaxy Fold will never not be a giant 270 gram mass.
It feels like a gold bar in my pocket
and it costs almost as much.
The Velvet is not only much cheaper,
but it can turn into a standard thin phone on demand.
- Yes, when relieved of its bulk,
the Enterprise becomes an exceptional weapon.
- Quick aside, massive props to LG
for the speaker performance,
even when the Velvet is in its case.
I'm reviewing a 17-inch laptop
alongside this phone at the moment.
And it's no exaggeration to say
that sometimes the phone has better audio.
(upbeat music)
Using the Velvet over the past few weeks has given me
an insight into why people really enjoy
this dual-screen life.
One night I had an outdoor drink at a bar
that has an online menu,
and I enjoyed being able to keep the menu up for reference
on one screen while scrolling Twitter on another.
I also juggle a few group chats on Telegram,
so it's nice to monitor those convos on the side-screen
while seeing how far away my Lyft
is on the primary or whatever.
And probably the most polished
dual-screen feature on this phone
is one I pretty much never use
'cause I don't really like mobile games,
but the gamepad is slick.
It's got several preset modes for different game types
and even the option to create your own custom configuration.
I knew that was only scratching the surface though.
So as I often do, I took to Twitter to talk to real owners.
Far and away the most popular response
to my question of what do you use this for?
Was multitasking while watching a video.
Even though you should be paying attention to me.
Just kidding.
But I got productivity suggestions too.
The second screen is great
when you need to take notes on one document
while consulting another.
As I do every time I build a shot list for a video
while consulting the script I wrote.
One gentlemen said it was useful for him
when trading stocks, keeping info on one screen,
and executing trades on the other.
Several folks said it makes password managers easier to use.
I see that.
A longhand fan even brought the stylist into the equation,
taking handwritten notes on one screen,
concerning video from the other.
And in the only example I can think of
where spreading an app across both screens makes sense,
several folks said editing video on the go
is made easier with dual-screens.
Recalling my experience,
cutting a video on the Galaxy Note 10 plus, yeah,
I'd have appreciated more screen real estate for sure.
So there are plenty of reasons
the dual-display concept makes sense,
but there's still a lot that needs fixing,
including my two very favorite use cases.
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(upbeat music)
- A mini-laptop.
You may not like it,
but this is what peak dual-screen performance looks like.
At least to me.
Spreading out with two hands typing on the full width
of a phone screen with another screen up top?
Unless you've got a Cosmo Communicator in your pocket,
it just doesn't get any better for on the go writing
that doesn't require you to pack a backpack.
So what a shame that this mode requires you to use
LG's subpar keyboard, with terrible auto-correct
and basically nonexistent auto punctuation.
Also, the keyboard takes a long time to deploy in this mode.
And as usually happens,
when you try to push Android to do something unusual,
it works, but it's funky.
Normally I'd switch over to Gboard or SwiftKey,
but spreading the keyboard that way doesn't really work well
because again, not all apps allow themselves
to be divided across that huge hinge gutter,
at least not without downloading another app
to force that behavior.
The other big compromise isn't LG's fault,
it falls squarely on Amazon.
Dual-screen devices were absolutely made for eBooks,
but Kindle, the industry leader,
doesn't offer two-column view in portrait mode.
Such a missed opportunity
and I really hope Amazon rectifies it soon.
There are a few things LG can fix like its software,
which still tells you you shouldn't remove the battery
to reset the phone, even though LG hasn't shipped a flagship
with a removable battery in five years.
A custom launcher could smooth over some of LG rough edges,
but the physical realities of a removable case,
they're tougher to negotiate.
Yeah, slim as it is by comparison with its forerunners,
the Velvet in the dual-screen case is still a beast.
Using it one-handed while folded back is awkward.
You need its proprietary cable to charge it
if you don't have Qi.
And when it's closed, you only get the barest glimpse
of usable data on the outer display.
Some of these are problems the Surface Duo
will likely share, others, not so much.
But at the end of the day,
this is one particular case where Betteridge was wrong.
Broadly speaking, the dual-screen smartphone
does make sense.
Just depends on how you use your phone.
They are for a very specific set of use cases,
most of them involving multitasking.
And for now, you have to also enjoy LG phones
to experience them.
Now they're still not for me.
You'll have to watch my "Into the Fold" episodes
to see why I still consider them an intermediate step
toward a fully foldable future.
But for a world as full of compromise and half measures
as the one we find ourselves in in 2020,
well, dual-screen phones seem like a perfect fit.
If you're interested in learning more about Microsoft's take
on the dual-screen life,
check out Zac Bowden's videos at Windows Central
for a detailed walkthrough of the Surface Duo emulator.
This video was made possible
by several reviews samples from LG,
but MrMobile works for you, not the manufacturers.
LG provided no compensation for this coverage,
nor was it offered copy approval
or an early preview of this video.
So they're seeing it for the first time,
right alongside you.
Please subscribe to the theMrMobile on YouTube
if that's the kind of video you'd like to see more of.
Until next time, thanks for watching.
And when you're not staying home,
remember to stay safe and mask-up,
while you stay mobile my friends.