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What to expect from Microsoft's Surface event on October 12th

<p>Microsoft is holding its customary fall Surface event on October 12th (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-surface-event-date-time-173943420.html), and this year's presentation may be more jam-packed than most. Rumors have swirled of not just new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models, but a long-overdue Surface Studio refresh and even a mini desktop. But how likely are those to pan out? We'll give you an idea of what to expect.</p><h2>Surface Pro 9</h2><h2></h2><figure>(https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2022-10/439dad30-4648-11ed-9737-69bef9bf1f7c)<figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Dana Wollman/Engadget</div></figure><h2></h2><p>It almost wouldn’t be a Microsoft hardware event without a new tablet, and the Surface Pro 9 could be one of the more important updates to the lineup in recent memory. Windows Centralsources (https://www.windowscentral.com/hardware/laptops/microsoft-to-merge-surface-pro-x-and-surface-pro-9-under-one-product-line-this-fall) claim the new model will merge the ARM-based Surface Pro X into the regular Pro family. If so, you’ll have your choice of processor architectures without having to switch form factors — a first for the Pro series.</p><span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>You might get a significant speed boost, whichever chip sits inside. Those same sources believe Intel-based Surface Pro 9 models will use 12th-generation Core i5 and i7 U-series processors (considerably faster than the Pro 8’s (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-surface-pro-8-review-130044641.html) 11th-gen parts), while ARM versions will reportedly come with the SQ3, a custom variant of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 (https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-8cx-gen-3-7c-gen-3-arm-chipsets-windows-gaming-handheld-230008247.html). Microsoft may stick with the maximum 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage from before, although cellular models will apparently support 5G.</p><p>Just don’t expect much to change on the outside. Sources say the Surface Pro 9 will largely resemble its predecessor, complete with a 13-inch 120Hz display, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a front 5-megapixel camera, a rear 10MP cam and support for the Slim Pen 2. This may be an iterative design, but we liked the Pro 8 last year. It’s just a question of whether or not the pricing is reasonable. WinFutureclaims (https://winfuture-de.translate.goog/news,131955.html?_x_tr_sl=de&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp) Europeans may pay the equivalent of $1,300 for a Core i5 version with 256GB of storage, but that might not reflect American pricing.</p><h2>Surface Laptop 5</h2><h2></h2><figure>(https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2022-10/87c5cbf0-4648-11ed-ba7d-5daf5ea7e186)<figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Devindra Hardawar/Engadget</div></figure><h2></h2><p>Microsoft hasn’t touched the Surface Laptop since spring 2021 (https://www.engadget.com/surface-laptop-4-review-2021-bigger-better-ultraportable-133047360.html), so it’s due for a refresh. Thankfully, one appears to be in the pipeline. Both Windows Central and WinFuture insiders claim a Surface Laptop 5 is in the works with some modest but meaningful improvements.</p><p>The 13.5- and 15-inch portables would ship with 12th-gen Core i5 and i7 processors that would represent tangible upgrades over earlier chips. However, the most notable change may be what you don’t get — WinFuture says there won’t be any AMD Ryzen-powered variants of the Surface Laptop 5. The machine may offer Thunderbolt 4 support for the first time, though.</p><p>Like its tablet counterpart, the Surface Laptop 5’s design might be virtually unchanged. Leakers don’t anticipate cosmetic updates apart from a possible sage green color option borrowed from the Laptop Go 2 (https://www.engadget.com/surface-laptop-go-2-review-basic-but-in-a-good-way-specs-price-133047655.html). That won’t be a problem if you like Microsoft’s minimalist aesthetics, but it may be disappointing if you wanted an eye-catching notebook like the XPS 13 Plus (https://www.engadget.com/dell-xps-13-plus-review-beauty-usability-120015270.html) or MacBook Air M2 (https://www.engadget.com/macbook-air-m2-review-2022-130040098.html) — especially considering the rumored $1,200 asking price in Europe.</p><h2>Surface Studio 3</h2><h2></h2><figure>(https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2022-10/f6c4ddc0-4648-11ed-bb3f-8ffb15eb132f)<figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Devindra Hardawar/Engadget</div></figure><h2></h2><p>To say Microsoft has neglected the Surface Studio would be an understatement. The most recent version of the all-in-one desktop was released in 2018 (https://www.engadget.com/2018-12-21-surface-studio-2-review.html), and its specifications are woefully behind the times. Windows Central recently offered some hope (https://www.windowscentral.com/hardware/laptops/what-to-expect-from-microsofts-fall-surface-2022-hardware-event), though, as it hears a Surface Studio 3 is finally on the way.</p><p>The new PC will supposedly use the familiar (but still clever) chassis from the first two Studios, including its signature tilting, stylus-friendly 28-inch display. Microsoft will instead focus on the internals, upgrading to an 11th-gen Core i7 CPU (sorry, no 12th-gen here) with Thunderbolt 4 ports. There may be an improved webcam, too, along with Dolby Vision HDR visuals and Dolby Atmos audio.</p><p>You might have to deal with some conspicuous omissions. The Surface Studio 3 may ditch the SD card slot, and there could be just one configuration with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. As with its ancestors, the revised computer could be aimed squarely at creative pros who want a pen-friendly display and are willing to pay for the privilege. There’s no leaked pricing as of this writing, but with specs like those it’s certain to be expensive.</p><h2>Wildcards: A mini PC and Surface accessories</h2><h2></h2><figure>(https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2022-10/b5bd4370-4649-11ed-bfbf-a2aae4fcd47c)<figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Microsoft</div></figure><h2></h2><p>These events sometimes include leftfield introductions (who would have predicted the Surface Laptop Studio (https://www.engadget.com/surface-laptop-studio-review-better-surface-book-130019425.html)?), but you may need to tone down your expectations this year. The biggest treat may be the release of the previously-teased Project Volterra (https://www.engadget.com/project-volterra-announced-180123291.html), a compact desktop aimed at developers building ARM-native Windows apps with AI features. So, it won’t be the Surface equivalent to the Mac mini, then.</p><p>Accessories may be the only other highlights. Windows Central’s Zac Bowden recently shared  (https://twitter.com/zacbowden/status/1564940071731707907)images of what he says are updated Surface Keyboard and Surface Pen models that could come with the Surface Studio 3 in addition to selling separately. A Surface Mouse revision may be available, too. Bowden further suggested that you could see a “premium” speaker as well as a Teams-oriented remote, but there’s little else known about them.</p><p>We wouldn’t count on other Surface computers or mobile devices. There haven’t been murmurs of a Surface Duo (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-surface-duo-2-review-camera-sample-specs-glance-bar-130004036.html) 3 phone, and Microsoft put the Surface Neo on ice (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-windows-10x-single-screen-175859033.html) in 2020. It’s also hard to imagine a Surface Go (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-surface-go-3-review-130025822.html) revision, for that matter. Barring surprises, this event appears focused on core Surface devices and not much else.</p>

Source: What to expect from Microsoft's Surface event on October 12th (https://www.engadget.com/what-to-expect-microsoft-surface-event-fall-2022-150037903.html?src=rss)