Quick overview of the 2019 Microsoft Surface event
Microsoft revealed seven new products on today's Surface event; five of which will come out this year, two next year. The coverage of the event is overwhelming and many sites post five, ten or even more articles that cover individual products or impressions.
This overview provides you with the most important information in a single, straightforward way.
Highlights:
- Microsoft Surface Duo: Android-powered mobile device with two screens that can rotate 360 degrees.
- Microsoft Surface Pro X: A new Surface device powered by a Qualcom/Microsoft processor called SQ1 and runs Windows on ARM.
- Microsoft Surface Neo: A new Surface device featuring two 9 inch displays that rotate 360 degrees.
Let's get started.
Surface Pro 7
A refresh of the Surface Pro lineup, now available in the seventh generation. Powered by Intel 10th generation processes the device will give customers several options when it comes to the components.
The base model starts with 4 Gigabytes of RAM, 128 Gigabytes of storage and a core i3 process; other models offer up to 16 Gigabytes of RAM, 1 Terabyte of storage and an Intel core i7 process.
Design has not changed all that much but the seventh generation of the Surface Pro has a USB-C port. There are some new color options and type covers and pens are sold individually as usually.
Availability: October 22 starting at $749.99
Surface Pro X
A new device in the surface family that is powered by a newly designed processor called Surface SQ1 that is been developed by Microsoft and Qualcomm. It runs Windows on ARM and Microsoft promises that it is good for up to 13 hours of battery life. The device supports fast charge and has built-in LTE support.
It features a 13-inch PixelSense (2880x1920) display and works like a two-in-one with a detachable keyboard. The device weights about 1.7 pounds and Microsoft added several new features to the device. The Type Cover has been redesigned so that it may now be used to hold and charge the new Surface Slim Pen. Surface Pro X supports removable SSD storage (M.2).
Availability: starting November 5th, 2019 starting at $999. Preorders start today according to Microsoft.
Surface Laptop 3
The next iteration of Surface Laptop comes as a 13.5 inch and 15 inch model. The smaller model is powered by Intel 10th generation processes while the 15 inch model is powered by custom AMD Ryzen processors and not Intel chips.
The 13.5 inch PixelSense screen has a resolution of 2256 x 1504, the 15 inch screen a resolution of 2496 x 1664.
The devices features a removable hard drive, a 20% larger trackpad, 1,3mm key travel instead of 1.5mm in Surface Laptop 2 for "near-silent typing", and an USB-C port. Microsoft promises up to 11.5 hours of battery life from all models and fast charging (80% in one hour).
Consumers get Windows 10 Home, commercial customers Windows 10 Pro on the devices.
Availability: October 22, starting at $999 and $1199 respectively.
The 2020 devices
The devices are not finalized yet but Microsoft showcased prototypes of the devices. The company revealed little about hardware and made no mention of price at this point in time.
Surface Duo
Surface Duo probably the biggest announcement of the entire event. It is Microsoft's re-entry in the mobile market and looks on first glance like a smaller copy of the Surface Neo.
It is a foldable device with two 5.6 inch displays that rotate 360 degrees and expand to a 8.3 inch tablet. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 855 process and runs Android.
The two displays unlock several new modes of operation, e.g. using one display as a keyboard or game controller, and it is possible to run apps side-by-side.
Availability: 2020
Surface Neo
The dual-screen Surface Neo may remind some of Microsoft's Courier concept from 2008. The device is powered by a new version of Windows that Microsoft calls Windows 10X. It has two 9 inch displays that are can rotate 360 degrees just the devices of the surface Duo can. And just like the Android-powered device, the screens may be used in various modes to get the most out of the device.
Availability: 2020
Now You: what is your take on these devices?
Go AMD. About time Intel had a wake-up call.
Such high prices for low end components. Complete garbage, I’ll stick with Asus or Dell, tyvm. As a bonus they are easily serviceable (you only need one screwdriver to take the entire thing apart) and run on standard replaceable components (sata/m.2 drives, sodimm sticks, etc.).
As for smartphones, if I want Android then absolutely nothing comes close to Google’s own Pixel devices. Not even the Andoid One branded devices. Anything else is just inferior in every single aspect.
I fail to see anything good about them. Such mediocre products. Very below average but overpriced.
I’m interested in the Surface Duo; not that I would purchase one as it is probably quite expensive and not suitable for replacing my Google Pixel 3a device, but I’d like to know how well this two screen bending thing actually works, and how much productivity increases, if at all.
The second device that I’m interested in, not buying either, is the AMD powered device, as I’d like to see how well it works in comparison to Intel powered Surface devices.
Lastly, the Surface Pro X is also something that I would like to take for a test ride because of its chip.