Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2
On Wednesday, Microsoft showed off its new lineup of Surface computers -- the Surface Laptop Studio starting at $1,599, the updated Surface Pro 8 starting at $1,099, and the Surface Duo 2 starting at $1,499.
The new Surface Pro 8
These tablet computers have been redesigned with thinner bezels, new connectivity, and improved display technology. In addition, the Surface Laptop Studio is a new hybrid foldable, the Surface Pro 8 has a 120Hz display, and the Surface Duo 2 has a redesigned hinge.
The Microsoft Surface line lies somewhere between Apple's iPad Pro and MacBook Pro lineup.
Surface Pro 8 has a new Surface Slim Pen
The Surface Pro 8 is a 13-inch tablet-laptop hybrid with slightly narrower bezels and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. It can be configured with an 11th-generation Intel processor and has a user-upgradable SSD.
Microsoft calls the Surface Pro 8 the most powerful 2-in-1 on the market. It features 16-hours of battery life, Dolby-Atmos, Dolby-Vision, 120Hz refresh, and up to 32GB of RAM.
The new Surface Slim Pen 2 can be stored within a slot in the keyboard, which acts as a charging system. It has a vibration motor that simulates the feel of writing with a real pencil when drawing.
Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,099.99 and is available for pre-order in platinum and graphite colors. Surface Slim Pen 2 is also available for pre-order at $129.99.
Configurations include the Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD at $1,099, up to the Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD at $2,599. The Surface Pro Signature Keyboard must be purchased separately at $279.99.
The Surface Pro 8 releases on October 5, 2021.
The kid-friendly Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 has a 10.5-inch display, Dolby audio, and a 60% faster processor than the previous model. Microsoft positions this device as the perfect tablet for a family.
Customers can configure the Surface Go 3 with 10th-generation Intel processors. It comes with Windows 11 already installed, with built-in family safety limits and more.
The Surface Go 3 starts at $399.99 and is available for pre-order. The Type Cover is sold separately at $99.
Configurations include an Intel Pentium 6500Y with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD for $399, up to an Intel Core i3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD at $629.
The Surface Go 3 releases October 5, 2021.
The Surface Duo 2 has a new hinge
The Surface Duo 2 is a refinement of Microsoft's first attempt at a dual-screen foldable. It has 5G antennas, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6.
The hinge has been redesigned, and the display is slightly exposed when closed which shows notifications at a glance. The two 5.8-inch AMOLED screens combine into a single 8.3-inch display with a variable 90Hz refresh rate.
Alongside a redesigned hinge, the Surface Duo 2 has a triple-lens rear camera system with an ultra-wide 16MP camera, a wide 12MP camera with OIS, and a telephoto 12MP camera with OIS. In addition, new algorithms ensure great photos are taken with natural color and light.
Available in Glacier or a new Obsidian, the Surface Duo 2 can be pre-ordered starting at $1,499.99.
The Surface Duo 2 releases October 21, 2021.
A new hybrid device, the Surface Laptop Studio
The Surface Laptop Studio has a hinge that pulls the 14.4-inch display forward into a "stage mode" that looks similar to the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard hinge. Keep pulling the display forward, and it will lay completely flat over the keyboard in "studio mode."
This laptop has 11th-generation Intel Core H35 processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs, and can be configured for more performance when ordered.
The Surface Book 3 struggled with performance due to its removable display, but now, Microsoft has moved to an all-in-one design with no removable parts. The Surface Laptop Studio can transform between a laptop and tablet with this new hinge.
The Surface Laptop Studio starts at $1,599.99 and is also available for pre-order.
Configurations include an Intel Core i5 processor with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $1,599, up to an Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $3,099.
The Surface Laptop Studio releases October 5, 2021.
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The new Surface Pro 8
These tablet computers have been redesigned with thinner bezels, new connectivity, and improved display technology. In addition, the Surface Laptop Studio is a new hybrid foldable, the Surface Pro 8 has a 120Hz display, and the Surface Duo 2 has a redesigned hinge.
The Microsoft Surface line lies somewhere between Apple's iPad Pro and MacBook Pro lineup.
Surface Pro 8
Surface Pro 8 has a new Surface Slim Pen
The Surface Pro 8 is a 13-inch tablet-laptop hybrid with slightly narrower bezels and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. It can be configured with an 11th-generation Intel processor and has a user-upgradable SSD.
Microsoft calls the Surface Pro 8 the most powerful 2-in-1 on the market. It features 16-hours of battery life, Dolby-Atmos, Dolby-Vision, 120Hz refresh, and up to 32GB of RAM.
The new Surface Slim Pen 2 can be stored within a slot in the keyboard, which acts as a charging system. It has a vibration motor that simulates the feel of writing with a real pencil when drawing.
Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,099.99 and is available for pre-order in platinum and graphite colors. Surface Slim Pen 2 is also available for pre-order at $129.99.
Configurations include the Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD at $1,099, up to the Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD at $2,599. The Surface Pro Signature Keyboard must be purchased separately at $279.99.
The Surface Pro 8 releases on October 5, 2021.
Surface Go 3
The kid-friendly Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 has a 10.5-inch display, Dolby audio, and a 60% faster processor than the previous model. Microsoft positions this device as the perfect tablet for a family.
Customers can configure the Surface Go 3 with 10th-generation Intel processors. It comes with Windows 11 already installed, with built-in family safety limits and more.
The Surface Go 3 starts at $399.99 and is available for pre-order. The Type Cover is sold separately at $99.
Configurations include an Intel Pentium 6500Y with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD for $399, up to an Intel Core i3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD at $629.
The Surface Go 3 releases October 5, 2021.
Surface Duo 2
The Surface Duo 2 has a new hinge
The Surface Duo 2 is a refinement of Microsoft's first attempt at a dual-screen foldable. It has 5G antennas, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6.
The hinge has been redesigned, and the display is slightly exposed when closed which shows notifications at a glance. The two 5.8-inch AMOLED screens combine into a single 8.3-inch display with a variable 90Hz refresh rate.
Alongside a redesigned hinge, the Surface Duo 2 has a triple-lens rear camera system with an ultra-wide 16MP camera, a wide 12MP camera with OIS, and a telephoto 12MP camera with OIS. In addition, new algorithms ensure great photos are taken with natural color and light.
Available in Glacier or a new Obsidian, the Surface Duo 2 can be pre-ordered starting at $1,499.99.
The Surface Duo 2 releases October 21, 2021.
Surface Laptop Studio
A new hybrid device, the Surface Laptop Studio
The Surface Laptop Studio has a hinge that pulls the 14.4-inch display forward into a "stage mode" that looks similar to the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard hinge. Keep pulling the display forward, and it will lay completely flat over the keyboard in "studio mode."
This laptop has 11th-generation Intel Core H35 processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs, and can be configured for more performance when ordered.
The Surface Book 3 struggled with performance due to its removable display, but now, Microsoft has moved to an all-in-one design with no removable parts. The Surface Laptop Studio can transform between a laptop and tablet with this new hinge.
The Surface Laptop Studio starts at $1,599.99 and is also available for pre-order.
Configurations include an Intel Core i5 processor with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $1,599, up to an Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $3,099.
The Surface Laptop Studio releases October 5, 2021.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
You should be the new CEO, copying Microsoft is obviously the path to take, right into oblivion.
Windows is a bloatware OS designed to run everything from a tablet to a power workstation, and on every possible configuration of third-party hardware out there. It does all that, but at a real cost to agility, security, and reliability.
For Apple to be present "in this arena," they would either have to make iOS/iPadOS able to run a $30,000 rack-mount Mac Pro, or they would have to alter MacOS to include an additional, entirely different touch UI that will run both on that workstation and on an iPad mini. I can assure you, doing that for the sole purpose of capturing a small market segment that just has to have a tablet/notebook hybrid would not be a wise or beneficial move.
I think Apple is, to a some degree, present in the 2-in-1 devices arena, when you consider the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard works very similar to a touchscreen notebook, but with the benefits and limitations of iPadOS.
Microsoft can't create anymore.