Microsoft’s Surface hardware event 2021: rumors, news, and announcements – The Verge

How the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro 8 stack up against other creator laptops

2021-09-30T17:32:05-04:00

Microsoft announced a new version of the Surface Pro last week, along with the Surface Laptop Studio. The Surface Pro 8 feels very much like a logical evolution of Microsoft's tablet / laptop. Some of the more notable improvements include a 120Hz display with slimmer bezels, Thunderbolt 4 support, as well as a reworked surface keyboard that includes a dedicated space to store and charge the new Surface Slim Pen 2.

Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop Studio features a uniquely hinged screen and more powerful hardware. This is effectively a replacement for the Surface Book 3, with a three-point adjustable display that can lay flat for drawing or sn …

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Docking a Surface Pen to your Surface Duo 2 phone will cost $65

2021-09-23T18:42:49-04:00

Microsoft has a new phone of its own, the Surface Duo 2, arriving October 21st - and if you buy an optional "Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover," you'll be able to magnetically dock and wirelessly charge the company's optional $130 Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus and use it with the Android phone.

The need for a special cover wasn't quite made clear during the company's presentation last week, nor a price or release date, but Microsoft confirmed to Windows Central today that it'll cost $65 on October 21st. While that's the same day the Surface Duo 2 is slated to launch, it strangely didn't go up for pre-order alongside the phones, and still isn't available …

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How to preorder the Surface Duo 2

2021-09-22T13:05:14-04:00

The 128GB and 256GB variants of the Surface Duo 2 come in either black or white. | Image: Microsoft

As expected, Microsoft announced the new Surface Duo 2 during what was an otherwise laptop-focused Surface event. The tech giant debuted the new Android phone alongside four new Surface devices, including the Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 8, and Surface Go 3.

Packed with some major updates, the successor to last year's Surface Duo is faster and comes equipped with an improved camera and support for contactless payments. Pricing starts at $1,499.99, and the dual-screen, hinged device will launch on October 20th. However, you can preorder the phone - as well as the other Surface hardware - from several retailers now, and check out our hands-on t …

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How to preorder all of the new Surface hardware

2021-09-22T12:07:08-04:00

Microsoft recently held its fall Surface event to debut new hardware, and the company essentially refreshed its entire lineup, plus some. Microsoft recently held its fall Surface event to debut new hardware, and the company essentially refreshed its entire lineup, plus some. There's a Wi-Fi version of the Surface Pro X, followed by the Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, and the all-new Surface Laptop Studio. Microsoft picked a good time to release a bunch of new gadgets, as they'll be among the first to run Windows 11, the next iteration of the OS that launches on October 11th.

The improvements made to each of these products seem substantial, wi …

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The Surface Pro X gets a Wi-Fi-only version

2021-09-22T12:00:54-04:00

The Microsoft Surface Pro X now comes in a Wi-Fi-only version. Microsoft is offering a version of its ARM-based Surface device that does away with cellular connectivity.

Cellular connectivity on the Surface Pro X has been a bit of a thorny issue. The higher-end version of the Surface Pro X rocks a custom SQ2 processor based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 processor. That 8cx can support 5G, but the Surface Pro X limits cellular connectivity to 4G LTE. The new model almost feels like it's taking a step backwards by doing away with cellular connectivity entirely.

Until you remember that the future is much more work from home than the past …

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Microsoft’s new Slim Pen 2 uses haptics to mimic the feeling of using a real pen

2021-09-22T12:00:23-04:00

Microsoft has refreshed its Slim Pen to magnetically fit into the Surface Pro 8's keyboard. Notably, the Slim Pen 2 has a custom chip called Microsoft G6 and haptic functionality that aims to make writing and drawing feel more realistic. Microsoft says that it's extending the haptic tech to work in several apps, and it showcased the stylus being used in Adobe Photoshop.

The artist on display claimed that its sharper tip makes it easier to use and more responsive. It can work with every product announced today, including the Surface Pro 8, the Surface Go 3, the Pro X, and the Surface Duo 2 via its pen cover. It can attach magnetically to the …

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Microsoft Surface Duo 2 hands-on: once more, with cameras

2021-09-22T12:00:00-04:00

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2. | Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

Today, Microsoft is unveiling the Surface Duo 2, a new Android-based smartphone with two screens and a raft of updates over the problematic original Surface Duo. From improvements to the cameras to bigger screens to software tweaks to a better way to store a Surface Pen, Microsoft is addressing all the obvious problems from the first model.

As before, it's a dual-screen device meant to help people multitask by letting them run two apps side by side. The overall design is very similar, but Microsoft has softened the corners and allowed the glass to curve into the edges more. It's a nice object to hold even though it's not quite as visually s …

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Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s new powerful flagship laptop

2021-09-22T11:36:21-04:00

Microsoft is announcing the Surface Laptop Studio today, a successor to the Surface Book line of powerful laptops. It presents a total redesign for Microsoft's flagship laptop, ditching the removable display in favor of one that pulls forward to transform from laptop into tablet (or what Microsoft calls studio mode).

"Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful Surface we've ever built," says Pete Kyriacou, vice president of devices at Microsoft. "It is the culmination of years of Surface innovation - on hinges, display, silicon, and more - and brings the best of the Surface heritage together in one powerhouse device."

Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Studio is a complete redesign of the Surface Book. | Image: Microsoft" data-portal-copyright="Image: Microsoft">

The most immediate an …

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Surface Adaptive Kit makes Microsoft’s laptops more accessible

2021-09-22T11:27:09-04:00

Microsoft is creating a Surface Adaptive Kit for people with disabilities. The kit makes Microsoft's range of laptops and tablets more accessible with keycap labels, bump labels, port indicators, and device openers.

The keycap and bump labels make it easier to identify important keys, or find ports and cables. The opener support includes a pull tab and ring to provide more flexibility for opening a laptop lid or maneuvering a Surface kickstand. Microsoft has created the kit in collaboration with people with disabilities to make sure it covers a wide spectrum of needs.

The Surface Adaptive Kit includes pull tabs, bump labels, and keycaps. | Image: Microsoft" data-portal-copyright="Image: Microsoft">The full Surface Adaptive Kit will suit a variety of needs. | Image: Microsoft" data-portal-copyright="Image: Microsoft">

The Surface Adaptive Kit will include a set of keycap labels and a keyca …

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Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 has all the features that were missing the first time around

2021-09-22T11:26:25-04:00

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 | Image: Microsoft

Microsoft has officially announced the new Surface Duo 2, its second attempt at an Android-powered folding phone. The Duo 2 retains the head-turning design of the first-generation model, but it specifically addresses many of the complaints we had. This time around, Microsoft is putting a legit camera on it, supporting 5G, using a current processor, and is throwing in bigger screens - things that are all quite nice to have on expensive phones. Microsoft says the Duo 2 will be available starting on October 21st for $1,499.99.

The Surface Duo 2, which is available in the same white color as the first-gen plus a new black option, has two 5.8-in …

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