Microsoft Debuts Magic Keyboard-Like Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Duo 2 Foldable Smartphone

[MacRumors]

Microsoft today announced several new additions to its Surface lineup, introducing an updated high-end Surface Laptop and a revised version of its Surface Duo foldable smartphone.

The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft's "most powerful Surface" to date, and it replaces the Surface Book line of laptops. Rather than a removable display like prior models, Microsoft has adopted a design that looks rather similar to Apple's Magic Keyboard. The 14.4-inch display lifts up and can be pulled forward into a tablet mode.

There are actually a total of three modes: laptop, stage, and studio. Laptop looks like a standard laptop computer, while stage is a middle tier mode that allows the display to be pulled forward at an angle for gaming and watching movies, and studio, which is a full tablet mode with the display folded all the way down.

Inside, there's an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor and either Intel Iris Xe graphics or an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. It supports 16 to 32GB RAM and up to 2TB of storage, plus 120Hz refresh rates, and it works with the new Surface Slim Pen 2. Pricing starts at $1,600.

Microsoft's other big announcement was the Surface Duo 2, an updated version of the Surface Duo foldable smartphone. The new model, which is slightly larger at 8.3 inches unfolded, adds 5G connectivity to bring it in line with competing smartphones, and it now includes a rear camera system with wide, ultra wide, and telephoto lenses.

The Surface Duo 2 is equipped with Qualcomm's fastest Snapdragon 888 chip, and it continues to feature the same design as the prior model with a prominent hinge that's not hidden under the display. Pricing on the Surface Duo 2 starts at $1,499.

Microsoft also refreshed the Surface Pro lineup with the Surface Pro 8, which gains a 2x faster chip, Surface Slim Pen 2 support, a larger 13-inch display, 120Hz refresh rates, Thunderbolt 4, and improved camera technology. Pricing starts at $1,100. There were also minor updates to the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Pro X, Microsoft's more affordable options.

More on Microsoft's announcements can be found on the Microsoft website, and many of the devices can be ordered starting today.

Article Link: Microsoft Debuts Magic Keyboard-Like Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Duo 2 Foldable Smartphone

 

[Serban55]

First, they admitted after years the surface book was a bad design, ok
Now they have a laptop with a pad underneath it to cool the cpu and gpu? looking at those vents im thinking Microsoft would love the M1 or upcoming next M chip

 

[macsplusmacs]

But that hump on the bottom.............

 

[DHagan4755]

If you get a Surface Studio laptop, just don't even remotely spill anything onto the work surface or allow a drink to condensate in its glass next to it - why? Because it'll go right into the vents at the bottom. I don't know this was a good design decision?

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[brandonnnnnnn]

I am not sure why, but I have always been interested in the Surface Duo. Should I get the Surface Duo 2 and return my 13 Pro Max?

 

[macsplusmacs]

I stayed in a hotel room in Montana in the dead of winter. Very cold.

That vent was at the baseboard providing heat for the room.

I simply can not unsee that fugliness.

Just wait till the fans really start to blow too.

 

[DHagan4755]

It's almost as if Microsoft wondered, "How can we make this look like a combination of a MacBook Pro & iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard?" And then another engineer walked in & asked, "Can we make it kinda retro chunky, like a 90s Dell?" And the lead Microsoft designer said, "Hold my beer."

 

[Oohara]

Dying to see the Duo reviews. Love the concept, hope they’ve done away with most of the infancy issues.

 

[fenderbass146]

If you get a Surface Studio laptop, just don't even remotely spill anything onto the work surface or allow a drink to condensate in its glass next to it - why? Because it'll go right into the vents at the bottom. I don't know this was a good design decision?
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how is that any different then the vents on a macbook along the bottom

 

[macsplusmacs]

At this point, a new ipad mini is what the duo hoped to be. Only you don't have to fold it, its faster, it does not have the eye sore that is the hinge, has more precise pencil, and has a brilliant eco system of apps and OS that will never be matched by microsoft.

Oh yeah and is way cheaper.

 

[PilotWoo]

I love my Surface Pro and Surface Laptops at work, by my oh my, the Surface Studio looks awful with that bucket on the bottom.

I suppose if they made it the same size of the top part we'd have to call it the Surface Chunky Boi.

 

[bigboy29]

I am not sure why, but I have always been interested in the Surface Duo. Should I get the Surface Duo 2 and return my 13 Pro Max?

Most apps do not support two screen operation, FWIW. I mean this device might be right for some but... I don't think it's all that.

 

[Unity451]

It's a good thing Apple mainstreamed all this great features for Microsoft to steal.

 

[tann]

Looks quite slick! The Magic Keyboard is really missing that final “drawing” mode. Such a pain to have to take it out and in when you want to draw properly.

 

[SkyRom]

I watched this event. I came away ... perplexed, as I often do with Microsoft's work. For one, just as a presentation, it's astonishing how much they are copying Apple's keynotes verbatim now. I guess that's better than the programmer-clinical feel they used to have, but it's pretty blatant, down to the cinematography cuts between shorts.

As for the devices, hmmm. I'm glad the Duo 2 has specs on par with the current gen devices. 5G, Bluetooth 5.1 and Snapdragon 888 are excellent upgrades, along with the improved cameras. Two things keep me from giving it a spin as my main device.

1. It's so damn expensive! $1800 for a non-Apple device is just ... rough.
2. It's still chunkier than I expect from (again) an $1800 device. Why am I looking at Bezels in 2021? Why are the screens wider than a deck of cards pre-fold? I'm already considering downsizing from my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and I just don't want to carry a giant brick in my pocket.

Surface Laptop Studio is ... exciting, fresh, new design. But I don't know about it as a flagship device. I feel like I have to choose between weak specs as a power business user on the Surface Pro 8 with no graphics upgrade and limited to quad-core processing, or I have to go all-in on this new device. This is something I would try in a store for sure, but I can't see myself paying $3000 for a 2TB version and using it as my sole/primary business device, especially with a MacBook Pro redesign finally coming soon.

My other issue with the device is the Surface Book was actually amazing, and just needed smaller bezels and updated internals, at most maybe keyboard upgrades and a faster graphics-switching response time to make it seamless. 120 hz is excellent for refresh though.

Surface Pro 8. Seems fine for whoever needs it. It has never made sense to me to get a laptop that I can't use in my literal *lap*, but everyone I know who has one loves it. *shrug*

Overall, I give Microsoft a 7/10 for keeping up with the competition, updating all their devices, and releasing Windows 11 on time, which seems strong. If they had updated the Surface Studio and dropped the price, maybe I'd buy a new machine for work. At least they finally have a "full" ecosystem that's supported: tablets, phone, laptops, desktops, bud and studio style headphones. It's a start, but for a trillion dollar monopoly, I'd like to see them catch up faster.

 

[Rogifan]

That design is odd to me. Who wants to use a laptop where the screen is covering the keyboard? And 10 pounds? Ouch.

 

[benroberts3]

Definitely still prefer an Apple computer but that was an awesome product video.

 

[tgwaste]

But that hump on the bottom.............

I know.. its like what??

Both products are just crap.

 

[H2SO4]

But that hump on the bottom.............

Certainly ugly, but no worse than the camera bump on the iPhone or that ugly battery case you can get for it.

 

[fyun89]

If you get a Surface Studio laptop, just don't even remotely spill anything onto the work surface or allow a drink to condensate in its glass next to it - why? Because it'll go right into the vents at the bottom. I don't know this was a good design decision?
View attachment 1840417

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Almost every laptops have vents on the side, close to bottom. Including mbp. Not sure what the new issue is here.

On another note, I find it funny they never show the back side of the laptop lol

 

[Serban55]

People bought cooling pads for their Intel laptops...now, microsoft offers you built-in design and you still cry ?! )

 

[macsplusmacs]

Certainly ugly, but no worse than the camera bump on the iPhone or that ugly battery case you can get for it.

Way worse.

 

[H2SO4]

I know.. its like what??

Both products are just crap.

Fab, can you post your hands on for us to read please?

 

[H2SO4]

Way worse.

Agree to disagree.
I actually quite like the notch on the phone display but that camera bump is one of the ugliest things Ive seen on an Apple product.

 

[Serban55]

Certainly ugly, but no worse than the camera bump on the iPhone or that ugly battery case you can get for it.

camera bump is an phenomena now, everybody is using that..battery case is an optional and its magneticaly attached
Microsoft is going backwards and shows that cooling pads are still a thing with intel, while Apple is embracing the future