What you need to know
- Microsoft is "committed to providing three years of OS and security updates" for the Surface Duo 2.
- Microsoft also committed to three years of updates for the original Surface Duo.
- Many have been frustrated with the slow update cycle of the Surface Duo, including the fact that it still hasn't received Android 11.
The Surface Duo 2 appears to be a major step forward over the original Surface Duo in terms of both internal specs and design. The Duo 2 runs on a Snapdragon 888 processor, supports 5G, and has NFC. It also has a triple-camera setup that should be much better than that of its predecessor. Microsoft's new foldable will likely need to show a step up in terms of software support to convince people to buy it.
The original Surface Duo earned mixed reviews due to its hardware and software. After one year with the device, our senior editor Zac Bowden said:
This device should have received multiple bug fix updates a month, but Microsoft has only shipped one update every month, and it's even had the cheek to stop shipping bug fixes for the last four months as it waits to ship Android 11. It's just unacceptable, and it's not helped by the fact that Microsoft refuses to talk to its customers about this.
Microsoft still hasn't shipped Android 11 to the original Surface Duo. That update is set to arrive before the end of 2021, just in time for Android 12 to roll out to other devices.
The Surface Duo is available for preorder now, starting at $1,500. You can also order it from several countries outside of the U.S. through Big Apple Buddy.
The Surface Duo 2 is a major improvement over its predecessor in terms of design and specs. It runs on a Snapdragon 888 processor, supports 5G, and has NFC. It also has a triple-camera setup.
