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| Microsoft announces Surface Laptop Studio |
Microsoft has announced the launch of the Surface Laptop Studio, the successor to the Surface Book series of high-performance laptops.
"The Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful device we've made," the company said. It's the culmination of years of Surface innovation in hinges, screens, silicone, and more, and it combines the traditional essence of the Surface into one powerful device.
The new device completely redesigned the company's flagship laptop, abandoning the mobile screen and turning it into a front-facing screen, transforming it from a laptop into a tablet (or the company's studio mode).
The most direct and obvious change in the upcoming Surface Book is the display and hinge. 14.4-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels, supports refresh rates up to 120 Hz and Dolby Vision technology.
The company uses a new flexible dynamic hinge that is said to be durable and allows this laptop to switch between modes, just like the larger Surface Studio. Surface Laptop Studio supports three modes: laptop, cinema, and studio.
Laptop mode organizes the screen like a regular laptop, complete with a full keyboard and new touchpad touchpad.
In theater mode, you can move the screen forward at a custom angle for games, shows, or presentations. The corner covering the keyboard is more convenient for watching Netflix, playing games, touching the screen, or using the new Surface Slim Pen 2 for digital inking.
Studio Mode is designed for writing, drawing, and other forms of creativity. Microsoft avoids calling it "tablet mode" because the Surface Laptop Studio isn't light, at about 1.8kg and 0.7in thick.
The main computer from Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Unlike the Surface Book, the company has moved most components to the base of the Surface Laptop Studio. This adds to the durability of the laptop. The base also includes the Surface Slim Pen 2, which is sold separately.
An 11th generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 quad-core processor can be used to power the Surface Laptop Studio.
Core i5 models are equipped with Intel Iris Xe graphics cards. The Core i7 model has an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4GB of video memory.
There is 16GB to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of removable SSD storage options.
Microsoft has avoided promoting the Surface Book as a full-featured gaming laptop in the past. But the company tends to revive that idea with its Surface Laptop Studio.
Like the Surface Pro 8, the company is switching to Thunderbolt 4 via the Surface Laptop Studio. There are two USB 4 ports with Thunderbolt 4, the usual Surface Connect charging port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Thunderbolt support means you can connect the Surface Laptop Studio to multiple 4K displays, use high-speed external storage, and even use an external GPU to turn this device into a full-fledged gaming PC.
Microsoft is also using a precision glass touchpad with haptic feedback via the Surface Laptop Studio. However, it is not yet clear how haptic feedback works.
The company announced that the Surface Laptop Studio will be available for purchase on October 5 with a starting price of $1,600. When you start Windows 11.