Microsoft introduces new Surface line-up and new Windows 11 features

At an event in New York on Thursday, Microsoft presented new Surface devices and unveiled the next major update for Windows 11. Besides the Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the Surface Laptop Go 3, Microsoft will also launch the Surface Go 4 tablet and the Surface Hub 3 touchscreen.

The new Windows 11 update will start rolling out on September 26th and will feature many new things. The Bing search engine and the Edge web browser will both get the new Copilot (AI companion) as part of the new update, making AI tools approachable to more users. Other new features coming with the update include logging in directly to the cloud on cloud-based Windows OS at boot, improved sniping, app back-ups, updated Paint and Notepad apps, and more taskbar customisation options.

As for the Surface devices, we'll start with the Surface Laptop Studio 2. Like the original Surface Laptop Studio, customers can lay the new model flat and use it like a tablet, or use it like a conventional laptop with a mouse and keyboard. For the GPU, users can opt for integrated graphics or a model with an RTX 4050, 4060, or RTX 2000 Ada Generation GPU. For the CPUs, there's a selection of Intel 13th Gen Core processors. Nvidia GPU-equipped models will have a 120W PSU. Microsoft also introduced a MicroSD card reader and a single USB-A connector.

As opposed to the first version's maximum of 32GB, customers can now choose to pack up to 64GB of RAM in one of these laptops. Moreover, it comes with a 14.4-inch screen and an improved haptic touchpad. According to Microsoft, computers with Nvidia graphics and 2TB of storage may run for up to 16 hours on a single charge. Those with less storage can last up to 18 hours. Devices with only an Intel iGPU can run for up to 19 hours. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at £2,069.

Microsoft's entry-level laptop series has received an update with the Surface Laptop Go 3. It uses an Intel 12th Gen Core i5-1235U and has a 12.4-inch touch-screen display. At 1.13kg, it is Microsoft's lightest and most portable laptop. According to Microsoft, the new laptop's battery life will be 15 hours, up from 13.5 hours for its predecessor. In contrast to the Surface Laptop Go 2's 8GB memory cap and maximum solid-state storage capacity of 256GB, users can choose to add up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The laptop's starting price is £799.

Microsoft also unveiled the Surface Go 4, a new, smaller version of their Surface Pro 9 tablet exclusive to businesses. The manufacturer claimed in a press statement that the new model might be particularly helpful for companies and front-line employees. With a connected keyboard, the Surface Go 4 can be used as a laptop, a tablet, or docked to a display. It has an Intel N200 processor inside and a 10.5-inch touchscreen display with a battery life of 12.5 hours, which is an improvement over the Surface Go 3's battery life of 11 hours. Pricing for the new Surface Go 4 starts at £529.

Lastly, there's the Surface Hub 3, a large touchscreen device for use in the office. The Surface Hub 3 will come in two models: an 85-inch model (3840×2160) and a 50-inch variant (3840×2560). The device is capable of removing the background from various participants and adjusting their sizes during Teams calls. The smaller model can alternate between portrait and landscape orientations. With Surface Hub Pens or Surface Slim Pens, two users can use the devices to simultaneously draw or write. Inside, there's an i5 CPU, 32GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. The 50-inch variant goes for £9,299 and the 85-inch for £24,649.

KitGuru says: The new Surface line-up is here, although with Microsoft's head of Surface development leaving the company earlier this month, it is uncertain what the future will hold for the Surface team. 

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