Earlier this week, Microsoft has officially launched the Surface Duo foldable smartphone running on Android. According to Android Authority, the company has confirmed to provide three years of software support for its foldable device.
The new Surface Duo will receive both the Android OS updates and monthly security patches for the next three years. Microsoft joins the likes of Google and Samsung with this announcement.
Surface Duo to receive Android updates for 3 years
Google is the first Android smartphone brand to offer three years of software support. During its recent Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung has announced to deliver up to three generations of OS updates for its smartphones. It’s applicable to the latest Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
With the smartphones crossing $1000 barrier, it’s no brainer to expect extended software support. However, there are still many OEM’s that limit it to just two years. On the other hand, Apple iPhones generally receive around 5 major iOS updates. For Microsoft, the Surface Duo is its first-ever full-fledged Android device.
Earlier, the company used a forked version of Android for its Nokia smartphone. Speaking of the Surface Duo, the device comes with two separate display joined by the Dynamic 360-degree hinge. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X, the hinge on this clearly visible.
However, it also brings its own benefits like folding both inwards and outwards. The two 5.6-inch PixelSense AMOLED displays will turn in to a massive 8.1-inch display when unfolded. Microsoft is also working on the software front to improve the app compatibility on this unique device.
It is now available to pre-order for $1,399
All the popular Microsoft apps, including Outlook, Teams, Edge, OneNote, and OneDrive, are redesigned to work with dual screens. The Microsoft Surface Duo is priced at $1,399 and is currently available for pre-order.
The device will go on sale starting September 10 in the US. It runs on Android 10 out of the box with the custom Microsoft Surface Duo UI on the top. Under the hood, it includes the last-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform coupled with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB/256GB of UFS 3.0 flash storage.
Interestingly, the company has decided to include just a single camera sensor for all the needs. The 11MP sensor comes with f/2.0 aperture and can record videos up to 4K resolution at 60 fps. With all these specifications and dual displays, the device only sports a 3,577mAh battery. It also supports 18W fast charging through the USB Type-C port.