Microsoft debuts Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3
Just two days after Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Microsoft has unveiled the new Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3.
At base, the 13-inch model boasts a 10-point multi-touch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3000 by 2000 pixels -- working out to a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch. It comes with a Quad-core 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor -- upgradeable to an i7 for an additional fee.
The i5 model features Intel Iris Plus graphics, while the i7 models feature NVIDIA GeForce 1650 graphics. Memory starts at 8 gigabytes and is upgradable to 32 gigabytes during the customization process. Storage configurations include 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe solid-state drives.
Surface Book 3
The 15-inch model has a 10-point multi-touch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3240 by 2160 pixels -- working out to a pixel density of 260 pixels per inch. This model features a Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor, and buyers can choose between NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics or NVIDIA Quadra RTX 3000 graphics. Memory can be configured to either 16GB or 32GB, and storage configurations include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe solid-state drives.
Both models include two 3.1 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two Surface Connect ports, a full-sized SDXC card reader, and are compatible with the Surface Dial.
Both models also include a front-facing Windows Hello face authentication camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p HD video, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video.
The 13-inch model starts at $1,599, while the 15-inch model starts $2,299. Both models ship with Windows 10 Home edition.
Surface Go 2
The Surface Go line is Microsoft's low-cost competitor to Apple's entry-level iPads.
The Surface Go 2 features a 10.5-inch Gorilla Glass 3 PixelSense display with 10-point multi-touch and a resolution of 1920 pixels by 1280 pixels - working out to 220 pixels per inch.
The processor is an Intel Pentium Gold Processor at base but can be upgraded to an 8th Gen Intel Core m3 Processor for an additional cost. Buyers can choose between 4GB or 8GB memory options, and have the option to choose between 64GB or 128GB of storage.
Also included is a front-facing Windows Hello face authentication camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p HD video, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video.
The Surface Go 2 has one USB-C port, one Surface Connect port, a Surface Type Cover Port, a MicroSDXC card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Surface Go 2 starts at $399 for the base model and will be available on May 12.
AppleInsider will be comparing how the units stack up to Apple's product lineup in the weeks to come.
Microsoft's Surface Book 3
The Surface Book 3 is Microsoft's hybrid 2-in-one laptop that can be used as a tablet or expanded into a full-feature laptop. Surface buyers can select between an entry-level 13-inch or an upgraded 15-inch model, each with somewhat different configuration capabilities. Microsoft claims that the Surface Book 3 features 50% more performance in the 15-inch model than the Surface Book 2.At base, the 13-inch model boasts a 10-point multi-touch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3000 by 2000 pixels -- working out to a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch. It comes with a Quad-core 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor -- upgradeable to an i7 for an additional fee.
The i5 model features Intel Iris Plus graphics, while the i7 models feature NVIDIA GeForce 1650 graphics. Memory starts at 8 gigabytes and is upgradable to 32 gigabytes during the customization process. Storage configurations include 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe solid-state drives.
Surface Book 3
The 15-inch model has a 10-point multi-touch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3240 by 2160 pixels -- working out to a pixel density of 260 pixels per inch. This model features a Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor, and buyers can choose between NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics or NVIDIA Quadra RTX 3000 graphics. Memory can be configured to either 16GB or 32GB, and storage configurations include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe solid-state drives.
Both models include two 3.1 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two Surface Connect ports, a full-sized SDXC card reader, and are compatible with the Surface Dial.
Both models also include a front-facing Windows Hello face authentication camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p HD video, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video.
The 13-inch model starts at $1,599, while the 15-inch model starts $2,299. Both models ship with Windows 10 Home edition.
Surface Go 2
Surface Go 2
The Surface Go line is Microsoft's low-cost competitor to Apple's entry-level iPads.
The Surface Go 2 features a 10.5-inch Gorilla Glass 3 PixelSense display with 10-point multi-touch and a resolution of 1920 pixels by 1280 pixels - working out to 220 pixels per inch.
The processor is an Intel Pentium Gold Processor at base but can be upgraded to an 8th Gen Intel Core m3 Processor for an additional cost. Buyers can choose between 4GB or 8GB memory options, and have the option to choose between 64GB or 128GB of storage.
Also included is a front-facing Windows Hello face authentication camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p HD video, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video.
The Surface Go 2 has one USB-C port, one Surface Connect port, a Surface Type Cover Port, a MicroSDXC card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Surface Go 2 starts at $399 for the base model and will be available on May 12.
Surface Buds
After teasing the release in 2019, Microsoft is also going to ship the AirPods-competing Surface Buds in parallel with the Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3. While the company originally said that they would be priced at $250, they will sell for $200.AppleInsider will be comparing how the units stack up to Apple's product lineup in the weeks to come.
Comments
The Surface Book 3 with ice Lake is definitely disappointing, a Ryzen 4800U would have been a great choice here. The graphics options are quite good though, especially the Quadro option in the 15 inch. Price remains high, if you don't need the tablet function, it's not worth it over other workstation laptops.
Microsoft has been spotted with Tiger Lake and Renoir test hardware, although it's likely those are for the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop 13 / 15 coming later this year.
The Xbox team seems to be the only guys at microsoft who understand hardware, and have any real ambition. (even when they fail, they are going out of their way to fix things). if they were really ambitious, Microsoft could have asked AMD to make them a compelling custom apu for their "flagship" laptop, instead of using that underwhelming cpu from Intel. The marketing talk is selling the surface book 3 as a desktop replacement with isn't true at all seeing how 6/8/10/12 cores is now mainstream. 4 cores is so 2016.
I was glad to see them embracing AMD on their Surface Laptop 3 15" and if I recall, they did work with the Xbox team for their their "custom" Ryzen 3000 chips, but they just weren't very good compared to Ice Lake.
Does this update change anything for the Surface as a hybrid tablet/laptop device?
I don't even know if I care anymore since the Magic Keyboard has begun to change my opinion about iPad Pro being a laptop replacement (I was a solid "no and it doesn't matter because its such a great tablet" to "hey this might make it a laptop replacement for me".
The only new hardware today was the Surface Go 2 (budget and light use tablet with x86 processor) and the Surface Book 3 (performance laptop with detachable tablet display).
A new Surface Pro (continuing from the original) has not been launched today. That will only come later this year.
The price is clearly meant to influence perception as an aspirational device, but a joke is still a joke.
The next Surface Pro should launch later this year with Intel Tiger Lake (using Intel's new Xe graphics) or potentially AMD Renoir. It's also expected to be redesigned this year (potentially to look closer to the Surface Pro X).