What you need to know
- Microsoft has issued the final update for Surface Duo 2 following the end of support for the product on October 21st.
- Surface Duo 2 will only receive one Android OS update, moving from Android 11 to 12L.
- The retirement of the Surface Duo product line is consistent with Microsoft’s strategy to streamline its Surface products, especially following the departure of Panos Panay last year.
As the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 approaches the end of its lifespan, the company has released the final update to the device.
Windows Central reports that Microsoft has released the final security patch for the Surface Duo 2 ahead of the device’s end of support on October 21, according to the company’s website.
The Surface Duo 2’s last hurray comes after its predecessor was discontinued last year. As noted by Windows Central, the Duo 2 received just one Android OS update, moving from Android 11 to the larger screen-friendly Android 12L.
In contrast to the Surface Duo 2, Surface Duo users enjoyed a better experience as their device was upgraded from Android 10 to Android 11 to Android 12L.
Compared to today’s leading Android smartphones, the Surface Duo 2 has a short lifespan. Some Android brands, such as Google and Samsung, currently offer up to seven years of platform updates.
After launching the Surface Duo 2 in October 2021, Microsoft promised three years of software updates for the device. The company kept its promise with the October 2022 Android 12 update, but hasn’t provided any significant updates to Duo 2 users since then.
Microsoft’s entry into the Android folding market began with the original Surface Duo in 2020 after years of development. Instead of the typical single flexible screen, the company opted for a dual-screen design with no external display.
The first-generation Surface Duo boasted great build quality and some innovative features, but struggled to achieve commercial success due to camera quality and software issues.
Launched for $1,500, the Surface Duo 2 faced many of the same hurdles as its predecessor, including poor battery life and hit-or-miss camera performance.
Microsoft’s choice to end support for the second-generation Surface Duo fits into its larger plan to slim down its Surface device lineup. The decision comes nearly a year after former Windows and Surface chief Panos Panay left the company. The Surface Duo product line has officially ended, but Microsoft doesn’t seem to have any plans to bring it back.
