Microsoft has announced the launch of the latest version of its Surface Studio 2 all-in-one desktop PC. The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ has an upgraded processor and a more powerful graphics card.
Processor
The Surface Studio 2+ comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H processor. Microsoft claims it is 50 percent faster than the 7th generation processor in the original Surface Studio 2. However, Intel’s 12th-generation processors have been out for some time now. As such, it’s a shame that Microsoft opted for the older 11th Gen CPU model.
Graphics
The Surface Studio 2+ has a powerful GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 GPU memory. This GPU is around twice as fast as the GTX 1060 graphics card in the previous model. In addition, the 6 GB of GPU memory should mean that you can work comfortably with 4K video using software such as Davinci Resolve.
Display
This desktop has a 28-inch PixelSense touch display. The screen has the Surface’s signature 4500 x 3000 3:2 aspect ratio that gives you 13 percent more screen real estate than a 28-inch 16:9 screen. The individually color-calibrated display also has a 1200:1 contrast ratio and is compatible with Dolby Vision.
Storage
The desktop comes with 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD). Unfortunately, there are no internal options to expand or upgrade the components supplied with the computer. This means that you can’t add extra memory or internal SSDs. However, it features three USB-C ports, which support USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4, so you can add fast external drives.
Other features
Also, this desktop is compatible with Microsoft’s Surface Pen, Keyboard and Mouse. It also has integrated magnetic storage for the Surface Pen. The Surface Studio 2+ has Microsoft’s Zero gravity Hinge, which means you can angle the display exactly as you like it. You also get a 1080p Full HD front-facing camera and dual far-field studio microphones for high-quality video calls.
Verdict
Overall, the Surface Studio 2+ is an interesting prospect. If you are looking for an all-in-one computer with a touchscreen, then it is definitely worth considering if you are a Windows user. However, for the money, you could get a regular tower or desktop PC with a much higher specification. In addition, that option would give you the chance to upgrade your components to future-proof your computer.
Pricing and availability
The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ is scheduled to be released on October 25th. Its pricing starts at $4,499.