All the key announcements from Microsoft’s Surface event
22 September 2021, 20:04
New foldables, laptops and 2-in-1s were all revealed.
One of the most popular lines in mobile computing has been given a substantial upgrade after Microsoft’s latest round of Surface announcements.
Here is a closer look at the new phone, laptop and 2-in-1 hybrid devices the company has unveiled.
– Surface Laptop Studio
Microsoft’s new flagship laptop has a dramatic new look and form-factor, with a unique hinge system that enables users to pull the screen forward over the keyboard, as well as then pushing it down flat into a tablet-like mode for writing and drawing.
Called the Surface Laptop Studio because it takes its functionality from the adjustable Surface Studio desktop, the tech firm said the aim was to ‘reimagine versatility’.
It ticks a lot of boxes specs-wise, with a full keyboard and haptic feedback-enabled touchpad, a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen that is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2 and 11th Gen Intel Core H35 processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs.
But there is a while to wait for it yet, with the Laptop Studio set to arrive in 2022.
– Surface Pro 8
The new headline 2-in-1 device, the Surface Pro 8 has been given a substantial power boost – Microsoft says it is twice as fast as the Pro 7 thanks to new 11th gen Intel Core processors.
On the outside it has 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen, while the trademark detachable keyboard has a charging slot for the new Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus.
That display also has a 120hz refresh rate and there’s a 10-megapixel 4K rear-facing camera.
In the UK, it will start at £999 and will be on sale from October 28.
– Surface Go 3
A lighter and more portable Surface, the new Go 3 is also significantly faster than previous versions – up to 60% thanks to new, faster processors.
There’s all-day battery life, a 10.5-inch touchscreen and solid cameras and microphones too.
It will be the first of the new devices to go on sale in the UK, on October 5, with prices starting at £369.
– Surface Duo 2
Microsoft’s take on foldable phone technology by using two screens linked on a hinge, the Duo 2 has made those displays larger and curved at the edges.
That latter update means a new notification bar has also been added, offering users quick updates on calls and messages without needing to open the device.
Meanwhile, multitasking appears to have been given some more thought too, with greater ability to drag and drop items between screens, and more compatibility across the two screens for gaming.
Crucially, there is now also a new triple-camera system for higher-quality photos, as well as 5G support for the first time.
It is out on October 21, starting at £1,349.
– Accessories
Away from the hardware, Microsoft also unveiled a couple of interesting new accessories.
The first was a nod to better sustainability, the Ocean Plastic Mouse, which as the name suggests is made using 20% recycled ocean plastics.
It will go on sale alongside the Go 3 on October 5, priced at £24.99.
The launch event also saw the company reveal the Surface Adaptive Kit, a new collection of stickers, labels and other tools to help people with a disability such as reduced vision, blindness or strength issues more easily interact with the devices.
It will be priced at £14.99, but does not yet have a confirmed UK release date.
