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Microsoft Surface Duo 3 not on the cards for 2022, Surface Duo and Duo 2 in line for Android 12L later this year

The Surface Duo 3 is likely to be introduced only in 2023. (Image: Surface Duo 2 via Microsoft)
The Surface Duo 3 is likely to be introduced only in 2023. (Image: Surface Duo 2 via Microsoft)
Microsoft may not launch a Surface Duo 3 this year, but the device is expected to arrive in 2023 with flagship features. The original Surface Duo and the Surface Duo 2 are expected to skip Android 12 and directly get updated to Android 12L in the coming months.
Android Smartphone Foldable

Microsoft launched the dual-screen foldable Surface Duo 2 late last year. The Surface Duo 2 received a lukewarm patronage despite sporting fairly capable hardware including the Snapdragon 888 SoC. We now get to hear that Microsoft is indeed looking at a third iteration of the Surface Duo, but that device won't be happening in 2022.

This information comes via Zac Bowden replying to a question on the Ask Windows Central series on YouTube. According to Zac, Microsoft has internally decided on three generations for the Surface Duo. Now that we have seen two iterations, the third is definitely on the way. Zac indicates that Microsoft will be focusing more on improving the software experience with the original Surface Duo and the Surface Duo 2 in 2022. 2023 will see a renewed focus on the hardware side hopefully with flagship-class specifications.

Responding to another question on whether the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 will get upgraded to Android 12L, Zac seemed pretty confident that both devices will get Google's upcoming Android feature update targeted at tablets and foldables. It is likely that Microsoft will skip Android 12 and start working directly on Android 12L once Google finishes development. However, neither the features slated to arrive for Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 nor the update timelines are clear at this point. It also remains to be seen how well apps get optimized for Android 12L to take better advantage of the dual-screen layout.

In related news, known Windows enthusiast Gustave Monace (@gus33000 on Twitter) recently showed that it is possible to load Windows 11 setup onto a Surface Duo, though he hasn't fully gotten the OS to work on Microsoft's foldable just yet. Gustave was also behind several other interesting projects including getting Windows 10 Mobile to run on the Lumia 920 and running Windows 10X and later Windows 11 on the Lumia 950 XL.

Buy the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 on Amazon

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 02 > Microsoft Surface Duo 3 not on the cards for 2022, Surface Duo and Duo 2 in line for Android 12L later this year
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2022-02- 5 (Update: 2024-08-15)