Surface Duo and Duo 2 get April 2023 firmware update in the middle of May

A photo of several Surface Duo 2 smartphones in various positions

Microsoft is not having a good time updating its Android smartphone duo. After releasing Android 12L in 2022, the company has only shipped small and security-only updates for its dual-screen phones, leaving them without device-specific fixes and improvements. And to add insult to injury, last month’s update has arrived with a significant delay.

The April 2023 firmware update for the original and second-generation Surface Duo is now available for download with a puny size of just 25MB (via Windows Central). Although Microsoft has yet to update the official documentation, it is safe to assume that the only change in the release is monthly Android security patches.

The lackluster software support and reports about Microsoft scrapping its plans to release a Surface Duo “3” picture a grim future for the company’s post-Windows Phone mobile ambitions. Still, there are rumors about Microsoft considering moving from a dual-screen to the traditional foldable form factor, so perhaps the hope is not lost. However, you should not expect such a device to appear earlier than the second half of 2024.

With more manufacturers jumping into the sea of foldable, Microsoft might be as late to the game as it was in 2011. Meanwhile, the original Surface Duo and its successor now look more like abandonware.


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Pixel April 2023 update is late, marking next delay in a row

Traditionally, Pixel security patches are launched on the to start with Monday of the month at 10 a.m. PT. Adhering to past month’s situation, Google has however to launch the April 2023 update for the Pixel 4a to 7 Pro.

As Monday winds down, the firm has however to publish a “Google Pixel Update – April 2023” changelog, detail the “Pixel Update Bulletin—April 2023,” or release whole Manufacturing facility/OTA Pictures.

The “Android Protection Bulletin—April 2023” was introduced at the typical time, but carriers (Verizon) have yet to element.

We’re not anticipating the April security patch to be a big update because Android 13 QPR2 rolled out very last month. At most effective, there really should be a handful of useful updates and other fixes. (The subsequent Attribute Fall/QPR3 is anticipated in June, with screening currently underway.)

It will come as 1 consumer last week been given an April 5, 2023 security update on their Pixel 5 forward of plan. That was a one particular-off incident with no other experiences (potentially interior tests), but it did reveal a make selection that advised nothing important is probably to modify.

There is no obvious motive for the update to not be produced right now (i.e., Monday isn’t a community getaway in the US). The final noteworthy hold off was in August 2022, when Google did not roll out an update on schedule due to the fact it was waiting for Android 13, which received a mid-month launch. Just before that, the Pixel 6 sequence was not updated at the exact time as older phones, with Tensor probably at fault.

Google never ever discussed why the updates were delayed final thirty day period, and the enterprise didn’t present any direction when we questioned today about April.

In the meantime, the

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