When the Microsoft Surface Duo dual-screen smartphone first launched the streets in September 2020, the phone shipped with Google Android 10 and some custom Microsoft software designed to make the operating system more dual-screen friendly. When Microsoft unveiled the Surface Duo 2 a year later, it was running Android 11.

At the time, Microsoft said it would also make an Android 11 update available for the first-gen Surface Duo by the end of 2021. That didn’t quite happen, but Microsoft is only a few weeks late: the company released the update today. Along with a major OS update, it brings some new features and behavior changes to the Surface Duo.

Of course, Android 11 isn’t exactly state-of-the-art anymore, with other phone makers already rolling out Android 12 updates.

Here’s a roundup of recent tech news from around the web.

Surface Duo software update brings Android 11 (and more) a little later than expected [Microsoft]

While Microsoft didn’t roll out an Android 11 update for the Surface Duo in 2021 as originally promised, it’s here now, bringing a major Android update plus device-specific features including UI tweaks, app launching preferences and more. Here’s a hands-on video from the folks at Windows Central: 

Lenovo Halo [@evleaks]

It looks like Lenovo has more than one gaming smartphone on the way. According to Evan Blass, the one code-named Halo will have a design that doesn’t scream “gamer,” but premium specs including an FHD+ pOLED 144 Hz display, up to 16GBRAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a 5K battery, triple cameras (50MP, 13MP, and 2MP), and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It’s expected to ship in the third quarter of the year. Lenovo also has a Legion Duel follow-up code-named “Diablo in the works. That’s likely the model known in China as the Legion Y70. 

How E Ink Developer Full-Color E-Paper [IEEE Spectrum]

Here’s a brief history of why it took so long to develop a viable color E Ink display for consumer devices, how it finally happened, why it still has some limitations, and what’s next.

IEEE Spectrum

Dualboot Windows & Android on OnePlus 6T [edi194 / YouTube]

Walkthrough for installing and configuring Windows on a OnePlus 6T smartphone, allowing you to dual boot Android and Windows on the 2018 phone with a Snapdragon 845 processor.

Keep up on the latest headlines by following Liliputing on Twitter and Facebook and follow @LinuxSmartphone on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news on open source mobile phones.

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6 replies on “Lilbits: Surface Duo’s Android 11 update is finally here, Google’s next Chromecast is coming… eventually, and dual booting Android & Windows on a OnePlus 6T”

  1. Wow! So is Microsoft bringing Windows 11 to their Duo line starting with the first one?

    1. Android 11(now a microsoft product), officially released Sept 8th, 2020, and will soon be an upgrade for the Surface Duo. Android 12 has been out since May 18th, 2021. So if you’re missing the “read between the lines here”, it’s still behind in both specs, and operating system. Makes one wonder why a company with that kind of money, can’t just ask people what they want.

    2. Title: “Surface Duo software update brings Windows 11 (and more) a little later than expected [Microsoft]”

      I was trying to subtly clue Brad in to this typo. 😉

      1. Oh no! Sorry about that. That’d sure be something though, to see a desktop OS running on these little devices. Win11 ARM, is fine…just not a great experience.

      2. Sadly I did something that broke comment notification emails a few days ago, so I saw this a few days late! Still appreciate the heads up 🙂

Comments are closed.