The update should launch in the next few weeks

Jan 5, 2022 07:41 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft originally promised to launch the Android 11 update for the Surface Duo back in 2021, but obviously, this didn’t happen.

The Surface Duo, which was sold with a high-end price tag, is still on Android 10 at a time when more and more Android devices out there are getting the update to Android 12.

Microsoft’s original promise was as simple as it could be:

“We remain committed to providing updates to Surface Duo, and we’re working to bring Android 11 to existing customers before the end of this year.”

Not a long time ago, however, people familiar with the matter explained the delay was caused by the validation procedure that Android updates must pass before the rollout begins.

More specifically, the update didn’t arrive on time because it took more than expected to pass the validation, as Microsoft completed the work on its side in December. Google, on the other hand, pushed back the certification because of the holiday season, so in theory, the Android 11 update for the Surface Duo should go live in January.

The beginning of rollout is imminent

This is a schedule that Microsoft itself has acknowledged recently, with the company explaining in a statement for WindowsCentral that the release of Android 11 for the original Duo is just around the corner.

“We’re finalizing the validation and certification for Android 11. We originally planned to deploy Android 11 as an update for Surface Duo in December, but we needed a few more weeks to ensure a great experience for Surface Duo customers. We expect to begin Android 11 rollout in the next few weeks, beginning with unlocked devices,” the company said.

As for the Android 12 update for the Surface Duo 2, nothing has been said on this front, so nobody knows when the rollout is supposed to start.