The event Surface showed all the hardware news of Microsoft, which focuses even more on its devices in the year it launches the new Windows 11 operating system. The star of the event should have been the Surface Pro 8, the new 2-in-1 from Redmond with lots of new features. But the most surprising news comes at the end: Surface Laptop Studio. And then there is no shortage of alternatives: the company also announced Surface Go 3, Surface Duo 2 and products for sustainability and accessibility
Microsoft: all the news announced at the Surface event
Panos Panay welcomed all technology lovers by thanking the developers and fans for the feedback received after the announcement of Windows 11. The new operating system is intended to be the new “home” of productivity and entertainment. But you need some great hardware to enjoy it. Like those announced by Asus, HP e Lenovo but also those that will come from Acer, Dell e Samsung.
But Surface products combine hardware and software to the best of their ability to connect people around the world. Whether it’s for smart working, distance learning or simply to talk and create together. Technology must disappear under the user’s ideas – this is why all the Surface details are important and why Microsoft introduces many different products, to adapt to everyone’s needs. And this year there are many: eight between laptops, 2-in-1s and accessories. But all that focus on attention to detail, sustainability and accessibility.
The new Surface Pro 8 arrives at the Microsoft event
After nine years of continuous development, a new Surface Pro designed for Windows 11 arrives. With 11th generation Intel Evo processors, which allow you to give 40% better performance and 75% faster graphics, battery that lasts up to 16 hours and new ports Thunderbolt 4 to run to the max.
The camera is now at the center, to aid in video calling, as are the Dolby Atmos speakers, which are also great for entertainment. The screen from 13 inches adjusts colors automatically based on the light in the room you are in. And thanks to the processor and powerful graphics you can play with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at its best, even with touch controls.
Surface Slim Pen 2 Charges wirelessly and magnetically attaches to the 2-in-1. And as soon as you pick it up, a dedicated menu shows you the best Windows 11 has to offer. A dedicated engine simulates the vibrations you would receive when writing on paper, or painting with a brush. Creatives will be able to use the Adobe package to the max without fear of slowdowns.
Surface Go 3, the 2-in-1 for everyone
Surface Go 3 becomes 60% faster and with Windows 11 it becomes even more useful. By using the child account, you can have a different set of apps that children can access through Windows Hello, playing with the Xbox app.
With a single tap, you can activate Teams and video calling thanks to the dedicated camera. The audio Dolby and the bright screen make it easy to enjoy a movie or TV series as well. A product that aims to be essential and economical. But with so many possibilities.
Sustainability and accessibility
The Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse has a fully recyclable packaging and plastic made by removing waste from the ocean. A device meant to be for sustainability, which has a nice and simple design. A product designed for the environment and for utility, which is added to the many initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of Microsoft (which Satya Nadella talks about at the end of the event).
Microsoft is working hard too accessibility: “When we do not actively include, we exclude by mistake”. For this reason, it has decided to launch products that also help people with disabilities to make the most of technology.
The Surface Adaptive Kit it is designed for inclusiveness right out of the box, easy to open and use. There are several physical cards that you can connect to your Surface to make the most of it. There are cards for blind people, for those with reduced mobility and for many types of disabilities. Microsoft has asked the collaboration of some of its employees with disabilities to create this kit, trying to be inclusive in finding solutions.
Surface Duo 2, the two-screen Android smartphone
The new Surface Duo 2 it offers a similar design to its predecessor, but with the big difference of the screen that curves at the sides. Thanks to which Microsoft has worked a lot especially on some features. For example the curved screen allows you to read the notifications without even opening your smartphone.
The two screens allow you to be productive even with your smartphone, as if you were working with your laptop. The processor Qualcomm gives a lot of power in a very thin body, with two screens that together exceed eight inches. Almost half a billion pixels for unique viewing quality. The curved screens on the sides allow the screens to be brought even closer together, with the Microsoft-designed hinge looking more solid than ever.
Even on cameras Microsoft seems to have worked a lot, with Autofocus and sensor Time-of-Flight which help the three cameras best: wide angle, ultra-wide and telephoto. Also you can edit the photograph on one screen while on the other you have the tools to edit it.
The integration with Microsoft Office is also excellent: find recent documents and Teams in the Windows feed to continue being productive even with your smartphone. Also with Xbox Game Pass you can play to the fullest, with three optimized games especially for the smartphone and others on the way. And with the new My Phone app on Windows 11, your smartphone becomes a two-screen extension of your PC.
An absolute novelty at the Microsoft event: Surface Laptop Studio
Finally, the most powerful Surface ever has arrived: Surface Laptop Studio. With NVIDIA RTX 3050i, processor Intel Evo of eleventh generation and doors Thunderbolt 4. And then with the screen from 14.4 inch Pixelsense (which looks really nice), a keyboard that looks well built and a haptico touchpad. But above all a new design to switch from laptop to tablet format for creatives or for those who want to enjoy multimedia. There dedicated pen it has haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of writing on paper and can be easily magnetically placed.
Microsoft has merged Surface Book and the all-in-one Surface Studio, a PC designed for those who work, for those who play. For everyone. That can be a laptop, an all-in-one and a tablet. A really interesting product, which will be interesting to test to the limit. Although with the specifications presented, it seems difficult to get to the limit. This product has the potential to be truly a revolution in the PC world and we can’t wait to try it out.
With all these new devices, the arrival of Windows 11 becomes even more interesting: trying the new operating system on the new Surface is a tempting prospect. We just have to wait to have them in our hands. You can order them today and will arrive alongside Windows 11 on October 5th.