Microsoft is done supporting the original Surface Duo, three years after it first launched on September 10. The company has stated from the very start that the Surface Duo would receive just three years of OS updates, meaning today is the last day that Microsoft has to stay true to its word.
Going forward, Microsoft will no longer ship new OS updates or security patches for the original Surface Duo, meaning Android 12L is the last version of the OS it will ever officially receive. Surface Duo only ever got two major OS updates, one shy of the average three that most high-end flagship Android devices get these days.
They’re doing pretty good, they just aren’t a huge market like they used to be. It is a niche market nowadays.
Typically you only see people buying one for one of three reasons:
They cannot have a phone/do not want a phone
They want to separate music listening from their source of contact (getting a phone call forces you from the music)
They chase higher fidelity audio (only the case with quality DAPs)
4 (bonus). Phone has no headphone jack, but that’s usually only the case in conjunction with 3
I still use my 2016 SE despite having a never phone. But I need pockets to carry that around, custom fit pockets if I want to be able to run with it without it being obstructive, because of how big even that old phone is.
3 and 4 can be fixed with a portable USB DAC/AMP. Lots of options there.
Try going on a run with one of those. I have them too but they both have their places.
Plus in my experience, DAPs tend to be able to fit bigger amps in them than USB DACs which is good for driving less efficient headphones.