Microsoft is finally refreshing the Surface Studio 2 with the aptly named Surface Studio 2+
Microsoft released the Surface Studio 2 almost exactly four years ago today. It has since lost popularity as a result of Apple’s switching to the M1 iMac over the past few years, but Microsoft is now finally responding with the Surface Studio 2+, which was unveiled during Microsoft’s fall hardware event. According to the name, it is an update to the model that was published a few years ago. But the Surface Studio 2+ is a brand-new device from the inside out. With the new Surface Studio, Microsoft claims that the 11th-generation Intel mobile processor is “50% faster” than the previous Surface Studio. Even so, it’s still not enough. The previous version’s 7th-generation Intel processor was already out of date when it came out.
Here, Microsoft is in a comparable predicament. The quad-core Intel Core i7-11370H, which is around a year and a half old, comes with the Surface Studio 2+ out of the box. It’s surprising that Microsoft chose the older generation of CPUs since the more recent 12th-gen Intel CPUs offer substantially higher performance. However, the CPU selection gives some credence to allegations that Microsoft postponed the Surface Studio 2+ because of the pandemic. The graphics of the all-in-one desktop are receiving a far more significant makeover. One of the top 1080p laptop graphics cards available right now is the Nvidia RTX 3060, which is included with the device.
The Surface Studio 2+’s GPU can handle some demanding games at 1080p even though it’s not a gaming computer. However, pushing games to the display’s native resolution is insufficient. The Surface Studio 2+ is a refresh and not an entirely new device because of its screen. The original model’s 28-inch PixelSense display is still in use; it has the same 4,500 x 3,000 resolution and 1,200:1 contrast ratio. But this time, it supports Dolby Vision HDR and has a Gorilla Glass 3 coating.
The computer has Windows 11 pre-installed and is equipped with the necessary components to operate the latest operating system. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise because this is a Microsoft product, after all. Microsoft is also borrowing some repair advice from Apple. Customer Replaceable Units are included with the Surface Studio 2+ (CRUs). What Microsoft will supply and how much it will charge for those components are unknown. In spite of its name, using a CRU on your own voids your warranty. The only method to avoid voiding your warranty is to use a licensed service provider.
Although the Surface Studio 2+’s price and release date are yet unknown, it is safe to presume they will be high. When it first launched, the original version’s base configuration cost $3,500; however, you can no longer buy it.