Microsoft has officially ended support for the original Surface Duo, which was launched three years ago on September 10. The company had previously announced that the Surface Duo would receive just three years of operating system (OS) updates, and that time has now come to an end.
Microsoft Ends Support for Original Surface Duo: What Users Need to Know
As of today, Microsoft will no longer provide new OS updates or security patches for the original Surface Duo. This means that the device’s last official OS version is Android 12L. Unfortunately, the Surface Duo fell short of the average three major OS updates that most high end flagship Android devices receive these days, as it only received two.
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While Surface Duo users can continue to use their devices without any immediate issues, it’s important to note that there will be no further security updates planned. This means that users should exercise caution going forward to ensure the security and privacy of their devices and data.
In recent months, Microsoft hasn’t been actively working on new features or bug fixes for the Surface Duo anyway. Therefore, current Duo users won’t be missing out on much beyond the absence of security patches. Additionally, for those who are tech savvy enthusiasts, there is the option to install custom versions of Android 13 or 14 on their devices using third party ROMs.
It’s worth mentioning that Microsoft will continue supporting the second generation Duo for an additional year. With support currently scheduled to end on October 21, 2024. However, the Duo 2 has only received one major Android OS update so far. To keep up with other Android original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), it will need at least two more updates.
In conclusion, the original Surface Duo has reached the end of its official support from Microsoft. While users can still use their devices, they should be mindful of the lack of security updates. Microsoft will continue supporting the Duo 2 for another year, but it has yet to receive the necessary updates to match its Android counterparts.