Microsoft Announced 6 New Surface Family Products Yesterday
At the annual Microsoft product launch, we saw a lot of good products.
Although the Surface line products have been initially focused on notebook products, the new members of the Surface family that have been expected since the introduction of wireless noise-canceling headphones last year have continued to emerge, and this year is no exception.
In addition to the regular upgrade of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro series, Microsoft also released the first Surface brand true wireless headset, dual-screen foldable notebook and new foldable smartphone. Let’s talk about some of their highlights.
Surface Laptop 3: Comes in a 15-inch Screen and a USB-C interface
At almost the same time last year, Microsoft released the second generation of Surface Laptop, which upgraded its appearance and hardware configuration. In addition to its more powerful performance, it also brought a new color variant. The only thing that is a little regrettable is that Microsoft didn’t equip it with a USB-C interface. On the Surface Laptop 3, this has finally improved.
The Surface Laptop 3 is equipped with a USB-C 3.1 interface that can be used to transfer data and charge more quickly. It has a higher transfer rate than previous generations. However, one thing should be reminded. Since this laptop doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3, you cannot connect to the external graphics dock.
In addition to improvements in the interface section, there are two more obvious changes in the Surface Laptop 3 series. One is that its touchpad area is increased by 20%, the gesture control is more friendly, and the other is that the C surface is reserved.
In terms of core hardware configuration, the Surface Laptop 3 series is available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch versions. The former is equipped with Intel’s 10th generation Core processor, while the latter is equipped with AMD Ryzen Surface Edition processor. Microsoft claims that the 15-inch version has very powerful graphics processing power.
As for the battery life that everyone is concerned about, according to the official data, the Surface Laptop 3 series can last up to 11.5 hours and support fast charging, which can be charged from 0 to 80% in one hour. The two versions start at $999 and $1,199, respectively, and will begin accepting pre-orders on October 22.
Surface Pro 7: Brings USB-C interface and updates to the 10th generation Core processor
Thanks to the structural design of the tablet + keyboard, the two-in-one device has a natural advantage over the traditional notebook products in terms of portability and usage scenarios. Among the many 2-in-1 devices, the Microsoft Surface Pro series is a relatively representative model.
On the Surface Pro 6, Microsoft brought a new color and redesigned the internal structure, resulting in better battery life and cooling performance. But like the Surface Laptop, it was not equipped with the USB-C interface.
On the Surface Pro 7, the long-awaited USB-C interface is finally added. But like the Surface Laptop 3, it does not support Thunderbolt 3, which is more or less regrettable.
In other aspects, this generation of products is still equipped with a 12.3-inch touch screen. The processor is upgraded to Intel’s 10th generation Core line. The storage combination starts from 4GB + 128GB.
This product is available in black and silver. The starting price tag of the Surface Pro 7 is $749 and will begin accepting orders on October 22.
Surface Pro X: The first ARM-based Surface
In addition to the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft has released another Surface Pro product, namely the Surface Pro X.
The Surface Pro X is the first product in the Surface family to be named with the ‘X’ suffix. It still runs Windows, but the internal chips are not from Intel or AMD. It is packed with the SQ1 processor jointly developed by Microsoft and Qualcomm (from the Snapdragon 8cx computing platform).
According to the official introduction, the Surface SQ1 is based on ARM and consumes 7W. It is worth mentioning that it emphasizes graphics processing power. GPU computing power can reach 2.1 teraflops, and integrates a new AI engine.
In other aspects, the Surface Pro X supports 4G LTE. The screen size has increased to 13 inches, and the resolution is 2880 × 1920, while the border width is further narrowed. In addition, its body is only 5.3mm thick and weighs 774g, which brings a very good portability.
In addition to the above mentioned features, Microsoft has also adjusted its stylus position. The Surface Pro X stylus no longer needs to be attached to the device frame, but can be placed directly on the top of the keyboard. With this move, it solved the problem of easy loss.
As for pricing, the Surface Pro X starts at $999 and will be available for sale on November 5.
Surface Earbuds: True Wireless Headphones with Voice Control Office
Although we heard Microsoft is working on true wireless headphones ahead of the press conference, its rustic shape was still a bit surprised when the Surface EarBuds debut.
The Surface EarBuds features a popular in-ear design that is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Buds but has a simpler look. The two earbuds are equipped with a touch-sensitive interactive touch panel. Plus, there is a built-in microphone. So they can be interacted by clicking.
The biggest highlight of this headset is the combination of the music software Spotify and the Office suite software. The former can be operated without the screen when you listen to the song, play your favorite music running on the computer. Thus, you can add subtitles in real time when making content such as PPT.
In order to achieve functional usability, the Surface EarBuds supports multiple languages, and the official said that it provides 24-hour battery life. This product is priced at $249 and will be available later this year.
Surface Neo: Dual screen notebook
Though we have heard and seen too much about the folding screen products of Microsoft, everything changed once they were announce. First, the company uncovered the Surface Neo.
The Surface Neo feels like replacing a C-side of a laptop with a whole screen. It still has an obvious Surface design. Two 9-inch, 5.6 mm thick displays make it quite fit. It looks like a real “notebook”, and when it’s turned on, it’s a 13-inch laptop with a unique hinge design that makes it easy to flip.
In order to reflect the powerful productivity of the Surface Neo, Micros
It is worth mentioning that when switching from landscape mode to portrait mode, it can also pop up the keyboard area like a traditional laptop. The company even designed a magnetic keyboard to increase productivity. The back of the product can also directly absorb the surface by magnetic force for the stylus. It will come in 2020.
Surface Duo: Dual-screen phone for Android
A dual-screen laptops is not enough? Then meet the Surface Duo, which debuted at the end of the conference. This dual-screen smartphone is another sign that Microsoft has regained its smartphone business. The system that Microsoft chose this time is Android.
Like to the early dual-screen phones such as Kyocera and ZTE, the Surface Duo features a two-screen foldable solution with two 5.6-inch screens that can be combined into a larger screen by hinged connections.
It looks like the mini version of Surface Neo, but it is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor inside. The camera of this phone was not seen in the live demonstration. However, in an interview, the company said that the final design has not yet been determined. So there may be changes in the official listing.
Although this device supports calls and text messages, Microsoft officially does not call the Surface Duo a smartphone. It seems to operate more in combination with the interaction of two screens. Microsoft said that the Surface Neo and Surface Duo devices are already on different platforms, but they are already worth looking forward to. However, at present, the price of this product is unknown, and the release time is also next year. Perhaps during this time, Microsoft needs to find enough developers to adapt its products.
