Surface Duo's unlockable bootloader could make it a modder's dream

Prepare to see some pretty inventive Surface Duo mods.

What you need to know


Microsoft has confirmed Surface Duo ships with an unlockable bootloader.
This allows developers to easily root and unlock the device to develop mods.
Surface Duo launches on September 10 and preorders are open now starting at $1,400.


Surface Duo is already set to be a pretty unique addition to the Android world, but it looks like developers will get a chance to make it even moreso. Microsoft recently confirmed to XDA Developers that Surface Duo will ship with an unlockable bootloader. That opens the door to a modding scene that could spawn some pretty interesting customizations.

An unlockable bootloader means that it's easier for developers to unlock and root a device, allowing them to make customizations to the core software experience. It also allows for whole custom ROMs to be flashed to the device, though that will require a ton of work on the developer side.

Already, XDA has highlighted one area ...