Microsoft is done supporting the original Surface Duo, three years after it first launched on September 10. The company has stated from the very start that the Surface Duo would receive just three years of OS updates, meaning today is the last day that Microsoft has to stay true to its word.

Going forward, Microsoft will no longer ship new OS updates or security patches for the original Surface Duo, meaning Android 12L is the last version of the OS it will ever officially receive. Surface Duo only ever got two major OS updates, one shy of the average three that most high-end flagship Android devices get these days.

  • ares35
    link
    fedilink
    7410 months ago

    $1200 at launch, three years of updates. no wonder we’re burying the planet in e-waste and plastic.

    • verysoft
      link
      fedilink
      710 months ago

      Yup. All these devices that release, like do we need 6 different iphones every year, 20 different samsung phones, etc.
      It’s a fucking joke.

      • gregorum
        link
        fedilink
        English
        -810 months ago

        Then stop buying six different iPhones every year and 20 different Samsung phones every year.

  • @ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    53
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    This is why I got a Nokia Lumia 1020 and used some duct tape to stick it to a Motorola Droid. I get it all: multitasking. 2 screens that fold up. Great camera. 2 SIM card slots. 2 operating systems for max compatibility. Plus, a slide-out keyboard and multiple batteries.

    People ask me “Is it secure?” Shiiiiit. Come try me and we’ll see who is secure when you get knocked upside the head with it. “Is it up to date?” It’s two phones, my man. I’m up to date your girl and her friend.

  • HidingCat
    link
    fedilink
    31
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    No OS updates is one thing, but no security patches is not great. The base Surface Duo can easily do another 2-3 years.

      • HidingCat
        link
        fedilink
        210 months ago

        Yea, especially if this is a second machine for productivity. The Duo is hard to beat and Lineage will help it lots.

    • Mindlight
      link
      fedilink
      210 months ago

      Yup. Just like my Nexus 10. Even though no one loves it I still do…

    • @Blackmist@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      210 months ago

      I don’t think you get a lot more support than that on most Android devices. They’re generally pretty shit for continued updates, as they’d quite like you to throw away a perfectly good device the instant you’ve finished paying for it and get a shiny new one.

      • @Desistance@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        110 months ago

        Samsung is the largest Android OEM in the West and they give 4 years of updates. Google does 3 major upgrades and 5 years of security patches. There’s no reason why a multibillion dollar legacy software giant can’t do the same.

        • @Blackmist@feddit.uk
          link
          fedilink
          English
          110 months ago

          Google only used to do 3 years until the Pixel 6 in 2021.

          The whole Android ecosystem is a complete mess. The fact that you need to rely on the device manufacturer for your updates is a nonsense idea.

  • Account_93
    link
    fedilink
    English
    14
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    They used a Chip from 2018, So It was already “old” when they released the phone in 2020.

    Not making excuses for them and Qualcomm are equally as shit because they just drop support so quickly.

    I am aware of other chips that are supported longer than it.

  • @systemguy_64@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    6
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    Pretty standard for Android phones. I don’t know of many that go to 3 versions besides the Pixel.

    As much as I dislike Apple, I do have to give it to them for software support. The oldest phone that has the current iOS is the iPhone 8, a phone from 2017. 6 years of updates. That makes it as old as a Pixel 2, and that only goes to Android 11, from 2020.

  • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏
    link
    fedilink
    English
    410 months ago

    That’s going to hurt any kind of confidence users have for Microsoft-designed mobile devices going forward IMO.

    A bit of a shame since the Duo was a pretty nice looking device

  • AutoTL;DRB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    110 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Microsoft is done supporting the original Surface Duo, three years after it first launched on September 10.

    The company has stated from the very start that the Surface Duo would receive just three years of OS updates, meaning today is the last day that Microsoft has to stay true to its word.

    Going forward, Microsoft will no longer ship new OS updates or security patches for the original Surface Duo, meaning Android 12L is the last version of the OS it will ever officially receive.

    Surface Duo only ever got two major OS updates, one shy of the average three that most high-end flagship Android devices get these days.

    Microsoft hasn’t been working on new features or bug fixes for Surface Duo in months anyway, so it’s not like current Surface Duo users are going to be missing out on much outside of security patches.

    Plus, with support for third-party ROMs, enthusiasts can install a custom version of Android 13/14 on their devices.


    The original article contains 254 words, the summary contains 163 words. Saved 36%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • Sagrotan
    link
    fedilink
    English
    110 months ago

    By the way: I’m running Arch on my surface 3 and I’m loving it .

  • Zima
    link
    fedilink
    -110 months ago

    they had a chance but decided to self sabotage . they have no chance now that they are using android. who would pick them over the real version?