The Microsoft Surface Duo, a foldable phone manufactured by Microsoft and freshly equipped with Android software, has many attractive features, but price is not one of them. is on the cheaper side, but $500 more than the leading flagships.

Microsoft may have mitigated some of its sticker shock by confirming to Android Authority that the Surface Duo will receive three years of OS and security updates. This should extend the life of Microsoft's phone and make its high initial price easier to swallow.

For some buyers, ongoing support for the operating system is an important consideration when purchasing a new smartphone. For Android users, support is usually dependent on the device manufacturer and can vary widely from device to device. In contrast, Apple iPhones are supported for at least four years, and even devices released in late 2015 can run the iOS 14 update this fall.

Microsoft's promise to provide OS updates for the Surface Duo puts the company's new phone on par with Google's devices, which also keep their Pixel phones up to date for a long time. Samsung recently announced at the time of the Galaxy Note 20 launch that it would also provide three generations of Android OS updates to Galaxy S and Z series phones, and TizenHelp reports that some Galaxy A series phones will also be included in the supported models potentially supported models.

Since the Surface Duo is Microsoft's first foray into a true Android device, the reassurance that this $1,399 phone will continue to be supported for years after its debut is a good thing for those trying to make a firm decision about which foldable phone to put in their pocket this fall. When the Surface Duo ships on September 10, it will face stiff competition from Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2

. Microsoft's phone features two 5.6-inch AMOLED PixelSense displays connected by a 360-degree hinge, rather than a panel that folds in two. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 CPU, 6GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, and an 11MP camera. It is an attractive device intended to help multitasking by establishing the concept of "flow" when moving from task to task. Otherwise, it has little in common with other folding phones on the market, both in size and form factor.

The Microsoft Surface Duo can be pre-ordered now at Microsoft Store and Best Buy. There is also an AT&T carrier-only model available, but unlocked versions are available on Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T if you choose.