Microsoft Surface Duo Android 12L Update With New UI Design Revealed

Google’s foldable and tablet-targeted Android operating system is rolling out to more smartphones after Samsung adopted it for its Z Fold lineup and Galaxy Tabs. Android 12L is coming next to Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 that had flavours of Windows 11 alongside. 

Images and screenshots from Windows Central confirm the Surface Duo 2 is set to receive an update to Android 12L bringing more design cues from stock Android over to Microsoft’s latest take on smartphones. 

Android 12L Features For The Surface Duo 2 

According to the screengrabs in the report, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will see more native Android design cues in the Windows 11-inspired smartphone interface. For one, the notification system is certainly looking like that of Android 12L, with four quick settings tiles on the first pull. The notifications themselves have the Android 12L look, and Microsoft has applied an impressive frosted glass effect to the background of the notification panel. 

Thanks to Android 12L, the Surface Duo 2 will also receive Android’s new dynamic colour customisation feature. Furthermore, the Settings app has a variety of UI changes that mash the flavours of Android and Windows 11 together to create a unique design language. The report states the changes are “an effort to better represent the Surface Duo as an extension of Windows PCs, while still being a familiar Android experience.” 

Android 12L Availability On Microsoft Surface Duo 2 

While there’s no specific timeline on when the Surface Duo 2 will receive the update to Android 12L, Microsoft has confirmed that the update is coming to its foldable smartphone later this year, in line with Google’s announcement of the same. 

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 features two displays held together by a hinge, allowing users to multitask with apps, websites, photos, and Microsoft Office apps in a more immersive way. While it’s not a foldable phone in the traditional sense with a foldable display, it does emulate a lot of the features, making it worthy of the Android 12L update.