Microsoft’s Surface Duo will get at least 3 years of Android updates
A lot of Android handset makers tend to offer anywhere between 1-2 years worth of major Android updates before support is dropped. In a way this makes sense as these companies are hoping that customers will upgrade to their newer products, but for those who hold onto their phones longer than 2 years, then this poses a problem.
Thankfully, if you were eyeing Microsoft’s upcoming Surface Duo, you might be happy to hear that the company has promised that they will be offering at least 3 years worth of Android and security updates for the handset. This means that the phone should at the very least be getting Android 11 (scheduled for release this year), Android 12 in 2021, and Android 13 in 2022.
We’re not sure if this is the minimum or maximum amount of Android updates the company is planning to support, but we’re hoping its the former, although we suppose this largely depends on the hardware and Microsoft’s dedication to its devices. Given that the phone costs $1,399, it would be disappointing if it were to be irrelevant so quickly.
In addition to the 3 years worth of Android updates and security updates, Microsoft has also confirmed to XDA Developers that the handset will come with an unlockable bootloader that should make it easier to root it, mod it, and load a custom ROM on it if that’s your kind of thing.
The Surface Duo is currently available for pre-order and is expected to be released on the 10th of September.
Source: XDA Developers