The fall Surface Pro 9 event by Microsoft is confirmed. It’ll happen on Wednesday, October 12. This annual event targets new Surface PCs and this time, it’s going to be significant. Until now in 2023, there has been less noise around the Surface lineup, save for a few budget product upgrades. But October 12 will break this silence. That’s when Chief Product Officer Panos Panay and crew will share their findings on the Surface Pro 9. Visit the official Findwyse website for similar reads.
Key Announcements
Here is a list of key announcements that Microsoft unveiled during the Microsoft Event 2023:
Surface Laptop 5
Like the Surface Pro 9, we don’t know much about the Surface Laptop 5’s design modifications just now. Microsoft frequently maintains these designs relatively static yearly, so it’s not surprising that the Surface Laptop 5 looks just like the Surface Laptop 4. It is the same design we saw when the Surface Laptop range debuted in 2017.
It shall be available in both a 13.5-inch and a 15-inch model, but there’s a rumor that the Surface Laptop 5 will be available in the same sage green color option as the Surface Laptop Go 2. According to Bowden, this could be the first Surface Laptop to incorporate a Thunderbolt connector. Aside from that, there are a few changes I’d want to see on the Surface Laptop 5. It needs an updated 1080p webcam, a larger, haptic feedback touchpad, and a better variable refresh rate screen. Also, some thinner bezels could look nice.
Apart from the Surface Pro 9, the Surface Laptop 5’s processor is the main point of contention. The previous two iterations of the line included an AMD Ryzen variant, which considerably improved both battery life and multi-core performance in the Surface Laptop 4. We’ll have to wait and see if this collaboration extends to the Surface Laptop 5.
Surface Pro 9
Microsoft has had two Surface Pro 9 models in its lineup since 2019: the normal Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Pro X. The Surface Pro X was the sleeker, more advanced model at launch, while the primary Surface Pro 9 retained an older look. The other big difference was in hardware, as the Surface Pro X used a unique Qualcomm chip named the SQ1 (or SQ2 the following year), while the Surface Pro 9 used a standard Intel chip.
However, the upcoming Surface Pro might combine these two devices. Microsoft observer Zac Bowden of Windows Central will incorporate the Surface Pro X into the Surface Pro 9, which means that both Intel and Qualcomm processors will be available. The two chip possibilities would be Intel’s 12th-generation CPUs and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3-based 5G-enabled SQ3.
The Surface Pro 9 can also be available in two new colors: forest green and sapphire blue. Of course, these would be in addition to the standard silver and black selections. Aside from that, we don’t have much information on improvements to the device’s overall design.
Surface Studio 3
It’s almost certain that a new Surface Studio 3 will be released. That’s a comfort, given that the Surface Studio 2 has been on the market for over four years. In terms of technology, that feels like an eternity. The “zero gravity” hinge remains unique in the all-in-one PCs, so it’s encouraging to see that Microsoft hasn’t given up on the concept. The only issue? The Surface Studio 3 will, from what we can gather, seem remarkably identical to its predecessor. A snapshot from a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report shows a PC with no evident differences from the previous generation.
We can hope for a considerable increase in power, as the previous model struggled with poor performance due to its mobile chip. On the other hand, the Surface Studio 3 accessories appear to be getting a minor facelift this time. The image below depicts a modified keyboard, mouse, and Surface Pen. Hopefully, this signifies that the Surface Studio 3 will have more features than we can see now.
Things Microsoft Might Not Announce
Rumors of an improved Surface Studio Laptop 2 have been scarce. That’s a shame because the first Surface Laptop Studio was a product I liked greatly because of its distinctive form size, outstanding build quality, and adequate performance. It would be a shame if Microsoft let this one slip, especially considering it is the only Surface PC with a discrete GPU. It may profit greatly from an update to Intel’s 12th-generation processors if nothing else. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be a product that Microsoft will update yearly.
The Surface Earbuds are another device that Microsoft appears to have overlooked. We haven’t heard much about a prospective follow-up to Microsoft’s contentious wireless buds since they debuted in 2019. In this competitive market, Microsoft cannot hope to succeed with this product unless it continues to support it in the future. Microsoft doesn’t have a version of its wireless buds with ANC to compete with Apple’s AirPods Pro (or the myriad other options), and making that happen could be a way to reintroduce Microsoft’s earphones.
You might say the same about the Surface Duo, Microsoft’s dual-screen Android smartphone. While intriguing, the novelty of a phone with two screens vanished fast with the introduction of foldable smartphones. According to recent patents, the Surface Duo 3 may be reincarnated with a foldable screen, although this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Conclusion
That is all for Microsoft’s October Event. The Key highlights and things that Microsoft might not announce are all listed above. You can head over to the official Findwyse website for more such articles.
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