Hi there tech enthusiast! My name‘s Alex and as a long-time data analyst within the consumer tech industry, Microsoft launches are always marked with excitement on my calendar. With the annual Microsoft Surface Event coming up on October 12th, 2022, I have some juicy exclusive details to share around the new Surface devices we expect to see announced.
Overview: Each fall we see Microsoft host a special event to unveil updated models within their popular Surface laptop, tablet, and desktop computer lineups. This preview dives into the specification and hardware rumors surrounding the Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9, and Surface Studio 3 specifically.
Surface Laptop 5: Poised as a True MacBook Air Competitor
The Surface Laptop series has earned Editor‘s Choice awards from laptop experts like those at Windows Central and CNET. Hitting the market in May 2017, Microsoft has since iterated on the premium laptop lineup every couple of years.
In 2021, we got the Surface Laptop 4 touting either 11th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 5000 series chips. Reviewers praised its comfortable keyboard, vivid display and class-leading 15-hour battery life.
For 2022, leaks point to a Surface Laptop 5 going all in on 12th Gen Intel processing power. This would provide significant gains over the Surface Laptop 4 based on CPU benchmark comparisons:
| Specs | Surface Laptop 4 | Surface Laptop 5 (Rumored) | Performance Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 11th Gen Intel | 12th Gen Intel | 31% Faster |
| Cores/Threads | 4/8 | 10/12 | +150% |
| Max Turbo Speed | 4.8 GHz | 4.8 GHz | On Par |
With a rumored 32GB RAM ceiling and 1TB solid-state drives now available, the Surface Laptop 5 looks ready to dominate its category. Premium touches like a 1080p IR webcam, 120 Hz touch display, Wi-Fi 6 support, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity make it quite a compelling upgrade too.
The Surface Laptop 5 seems primed take on Apple‘s ubiquitous MacBook Air this holiday season. The 12th Gen Intel muscle, touch capabilities, and 2-in-1 design flexibility give it some standout strengths.
Surface Pro 9: Stay Productive Anywhere with Faster Performance and 5G
The Surface Pro series pioneered the "tablet that can replace your laptop" category. Popular with students and professionals alike, the Surface Pro design packs the power of a premium ultrabook into a compact, detachable keyboard form factor.
Since its debut in 2013, Microsoft has upgraded the Surface Pro annually or bi-annually. Next in line is the eagerly anticipated Surface Pro 9, expected on October 12th.
Early leaks indicate two variants are coming. One model will leverage new Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM-based chipsets to enable lightning-fast 5G connectivity. The other variant sticks with latest-generation Intel processing for raw multi-threaded speed:
| Specs | Surface Pro 8 | Surface Pro 9 | Reason for Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 11th Gen Intel | 12th Gen Intel or Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G | 20%+ Faster Processing |
| Cores/Threads | 4/8 | 10/12 | 150% More Threads |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR4x (Soldered) | 16GB LPDDR5 | Faster Memory Architecture |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe SSD | 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | 2x Storage, 2x Speed |
| Display | 13" 120Hz Touch w/ Dolby Vision, Slimmer Bezels | Brighter, More Vivid & Immersive Display |
With support for 5G data speeds up to 10 Gbps, the next-gen Surface Pro has the connectivity to stay productive from virtually anywhere. Paired with the improved detachable keyboard and Surface Slim Pen 2, it‘s a compelling upgrade.
Surface Studio 3: Long Overdue for a Major Refresh
The Surface Studio 2 launched all the way back in 2018. After a 4+ year wait, designers, architects, and creators are desperate for a sequel.
In its current form, the Surface Studio is an impressive desktop computer integrated behind the screen of a gorgeous 28” PixelSense touch display. You can tilt the screen down and use an included Surface Pen to intuitively draw and annotate.
While the Surface Studio 2 still has high-end Intel processing and dedicated NVIDIA graphics, it‘s definitely lacking compared to premium 2022 iMac offerings:
| Specs | Surface Studio 2 | Expectations for Surface Studio 3 | What it Needs to Compete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 4500 x 3000px (192 PPI) | ~5000 x 4000px (+30% Density) | Multi-Touch 5K or 8K |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120Hz Variable | Smooth Scrolling & Drawing |
| CPU | 9th Gen Intel | 13th Gen Intel i9 | >60% Performance Gain |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1070 | NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti | 2-4x Graphics Power |
| Memory | 32 GB DDR4 | 64 GB DDR5 | Double the Headroom |
To go toe-to-toe with Apple‘s high-performance iMac line, the Surface Studio 3 needs a major display, CPU and GPU overhaul. Here‘s hoping Microsoft delivers the spec boost designers have been dreaming of!
Based on the rumors outlined above, October 12th is shaping up to be a blockbuster Microsoft Surface reveal. We could meet powerful next generation versions of the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro tablet and Surface Studio desktop.
What announcement are you most excited for? registration links to attend the digital event live should be available soon. I‘ll be reporting back on all the official updates announced, so stay tuned!
Alex
Industry Analyst
