The Android 11 update for the original Microsoft Surface Duo will be available soon.

What you’ll wish to know

Regardless of the promise of normal updates, the unique has acquired little in the best way of serious fixes or enhancements since its launch. The corporate’s final replace to even point out stability was again in June, and since then, they’ve solely launched month-to-month safety patches to maintain prospects secure.

Nonetheless, after a really lengthy wait, Android 11 is lastly obtainable for the . Android 11 was really launched again in September, which doesn’t sound too unhealthy till you notice that it was September 2020 on the time of the announcement. Android has now reached model 12, which is being steadily rolled out to gadgets by numerous OEMs.

The replace brings Floor Duo nearer to being on par with Floor Duo 2, which launched with Android 11 as its working system.

Many UI enhancements are included within the Android 11 replace, together with an expanded notification shade, up to date Launcher widgets, new quantity and brightness controls, improved app folders, and a revamped Settings structure. It additionally consists of new options similar to auto app spanning for user-selected apps, a brand new Images app (based mostly on OneDrive), and enhanced assist for the Floor Pen, which may now be utilized in in addition to to markup pictures.

Customers can now launch OneNote by urgent the highest button on the Floor Pen, simply as they will with the Floor Duo 2 following a latest December replace.

A brand new working system and firmware for the additionally convey extra stability, gesture, and contact enhancements that ought to assist to enhance the general efficiency and consumer expertise, in line with Microsoft.

Right here’s what Microsoft has to say about their official changelog:

Comply with these steps to acquire the most recent model for your self:

The replace is at the moment being rolled out to fashions that haven’t been unlocked. The replace for the AT&T handset is often obtainable a few weeks after the preliminary launch. As well as, as of 5 p.m. ET on February 1, 2022, the AT&T variant will now obtain Android 11.

For many who took the monetary danger to buy the , Android 11 is a welcome improve. Nonetheless, all eyes are actually on Android 12L, which is best optimized for the Duo’s dual-screen expertise. The official APIs for app builders to focus on foldables such because the Floor Duo 1 and Floor Duo 2 are the true worth of that working system, even when it brings improved options similar to a dual-screen notification shade.

It has been reported by sources acquainted with Microsoft’s plans that the corporate is at the moment tinkering with inner beta builds of Android 12L, however that no official launch date has been set presently. It’s additionally unclear whether or not that model shall be made obtainable for the Floor Duo 1, regardless of Microsoft’s promise to supply three years of OS updates for each .

Android 12L isn’t anticipated to be made obtainable to most of the people till someday through the first half of 2022.