During its AI and Surface event, Microsoft unveiled updates to Windows 11 with AI enhancements, particularly Windows Copilot. The event also showcased the refreshed line of Surface devices, including the premium Surface Laptop Studio, the budget-friendly Surface Laptop Go, and the two-in-one Surface Go. These new devices feature upgraded internals and come with updates specifically designed for Windows 11, which introduces Copilot as “your daily AI companion.” The focus of the hardware changes was primarily on improving driver performance.
Surface Laptop Studio 2
The second-generation Surface Laptop Studio retains the same external design as its predecessor, which was released two years ago.
However, Microsoft has made some improvements to the internal components. Notably, the Precision touchpad has been replaced with a more versatile haptic version that can detect more than just fingerprint input. This flexible touchpad can be used as a mouse and can also adjust to provide a more comfortable experience on different parts of the body, not just the fingers. Additionally, the Studio 2 now features a small SD card slot and a USB-A port, reducing the need for additional equipment like hubs and card readers. The device still retains two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, as seen in the previous model. The 14.4-inch PixelSense display remains unchanged, with its 3:2 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,400×1,600-pixel resolution. However, the new controller (TCON) enables 10-bit color processing, allowing for improved HDR performance. The display is now DisplayHDR 400 certified and offers a peak brightness of 500 nits in SDR mode and 650 nits in HDR mode. It’s worth noting that the color gamut remains limited to sRGB, rather than P3 or Adobe RGB.
The addition of a USB-A port may not be the most thrilling, but it provides more convenience.
Inside, Microsoft has integrated Intel’s Movidius 3700VC VPU processor, which is a dedicated neural processing unit capable of accelerating AI-related tasks within the Windows interface. This includes improvements in video processing for features introduced in Windows 11, such as eye focus, background blur, and automatic framing. The device also offers new Intel and Nvidia chips, along with increased RAM and storage options. The base model comes with a Core i7-13700H CPU, and users have the option to upgrade to a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, an 8GB RTX 4060 GPU, or the high-performance version of the RTX 4060, RTX 2000. The device can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, which were both available in the previous model. The 13th-generation Intel chips also bring Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 upgrades.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at $1,999, which may seem pricey for an entry-level machine with integrated Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD storage, and an i7 processor. However, the unique design of the display, which can be detached and used as a tablet, likely contributes to the higher price point.
Surface Laptop Go 3
The latest Surface lineup consists of four models, the Laptop Go 3 in the middle, sandwiched between the Surface Go 4 and the Surface Studio 2.
The Surface Laptop Go 3 has received a slight upgrade compared to its predecessor, with the inclusion of a Core i5-1235U CPU. While this may not be groundbreaking, the previous Surface Laptop Go 2 was powered by a Core i5-113G7 chip, which belonged to the previous generation before Intel switched to its current P-core/E-core architecture, similar to Apple’s M series. The new iteration retains the same starting price of $799 and features a 12.4-inch, 3:2 touch display with a resolution of 1,536×1,024 pixels.
One might wonder why Microsoft opted for a previous 12th-gen Intel Core chip instead of the latest 13th generation for a 2023 release. The Surface Laptop Go primarily targets the K-12 education market, where it is important to minimize replacement and upgrade costs by allowing schools to easily keep up with incremental updates from year to year.
Surface Go 4 for Business
The smallest member of the Surface family, the two-in-one Surface Go, has also received internal upgrades. While the external design remains unchanged, the Surface Go 4 now houses a quad-core Intel N200 processor instead of the previous dual-core Core i3-10100Y chip. The base model now comes with 8GB of RAM, compared to the limited 4GB in the entry-level Go 3. Storage options start at 64GB but can be expanded to 256GB, twice the previous maximum capacity.
Despite its lack of visual changes, the Surface Go 4 for Business has been internally redesigned to facilitate easy maintenance. This is crucial for business or educational environments that require devices capable of withstanding daily wear and tear from field workers or students. The new model features replaceable parts, including the display, back cover, battery, kickstand, hinge, cameras, and motherboard.
The new Surface devices will be available starting from October 3rd.
