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.
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
Buying into Microsoft’s word is like buying into Google’s: if it’s not in the product, it won’t be coming. I got burnt by wp7->wp8 and then again when they closed wp8 without reason. I’m not counting on them staying on the smartphone market long enough to establish themselves.
Same, but I also imported a Zune all the way over Europe because of course I liked it
They stuck to their word, technically. 3 years, with monthly patches for security, on a device that sold abysmally. There are rumors they sold (most of) the first run of SD2 in the first 4 months, and didn’t bother to produce any more. I know they’ve been out of the consumer SD2 since July/August of 2022- as of January this year, not even my Fortune 50 Corpo clients can get MSFT to pony up a SD2 replacement under warranty or otherwise. They just write a cheque to your account if you request as much.
Microsoft’s mobile team Icarus flew too close to the poorly advertised sun, in this case. Expensive ass phone to build, expensive ass phone to buy, but damn it’s a great device.
Microsoft has a long history of this. They release a lot of stuff, but if it isn’t Windows, Office, or Xbox, don’t bet on it sticking around. They kill things based on the performance of each individual product, without really thinking about their reputation. Even if I like something they release, I simply don’t trust it will stick around.
Apple seems a lot more thoughtful with releases and really goes all-in, supporting their products and giving continued releases. There are a few exceptions to that, but not many. Microsoft on the other hand, the trail of dead products is endless. I think the worst was the Kin.