Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 is an replace to its dynamic, distinctive predecessor, refreshed with a Thirteenth-gen Intel Core chip and a devoted AI processor, too.

Microsoft up to date three of its Surface laptops with new parts at its fall occasion on Thursday, including the Surface Laptop Studio 2, the Surface Laptop Go 3, and the Surface Go 4 for Business to fill numerous niches in its lineup. Microsoft additionally quietly introduced a Surface Hub 3 for companies.

While not one of the {hardware} updates are massively noteworthy, among the circumstances surrounding the occasion are. For one, the soul of the Surface model, Panos Panay announced he would leave Microsoft simply this week, days earlier than Microsoft’s Surface launch occurred. And not one of the new Surfaces will embrace Intel’s Core Ultra or “Meteor Lake” chips: Intel’s newest processor, but in addition one which leans closely on the AI options that Microsoft will lean into with Windows 11 23H2 and past.

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 will vary in worth from $1,999 to a whopping $3,699, and is available for preorder to ship on Oct. 3.

Microsoft is anticipated to launch its new Surface {hardware} together with its newest Windows 11 function replace, referred to as Windows 11 23H2.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: what’s new

Michael Crider/IDG

From a {hardware} standpoint, the present Surface Laptop Studio is among Microsoft’s best. Omitting an Editor’s Choice award from our Surface Laptop Studio review feels somewhat low-cost looking back, however the Surface Laptop Studio lineup has by no means come low-cost. The pull-forward show (14.4-inch PixelSense Flow, 2400×1600,120Hz) design continues to be there within the Surface Studio 2, and we’re pretty sure Microsoft has maintained the excellent audio system that made the Laptop Studio a chic multimedia expertise.

What’s new? The insides. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 consists of the 13th-gen “Raptor Lake-H” processors Intel launched this previous January, particularly the Core i7-13700H and the Core i7-13800H processors. (The latter is for a industrial model.)

Remember, the Surface Laptop Studio line are “creator-class” notebooks: probably not gaming machines, however machines designed for streaming, video modifying, CAD work, and extra. As such, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 comprises each the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (6GB GDDR6) and GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6) discrete GPUs — each elements that fall into the low finish of the RTX 4-series lineup, however ought to show immensely useful for content material creators. Oddly, there’s additionally an RTX 2000 choice on the Surface Laptop Studio 2, too, for some purpose?

What’s actually attention-grabbing is that Microsoft has additionally referred to as out the AI chip contained in the Surface Studio 2, too. It’s an Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator — most definitely the identical one as is within the Samsung Galaxy Book3 sequence and the Surface Pro 9. But it’s the primary time we’ve seen this referred to as out by identify, and it’s probably used to assist speed up the brand new AI options being woven deeply into Windows 11’s new update.

Michael Crider/IDG

Microsoft has additionally pumped up the interior reminiscence and storage configurations, too. While 16GB of RAM is widespread, 32GB just isn’t — and a brand new 64GB choice pushes into workstation territory so far as RAM is worried. There’s a leap to LPDDR5, too. Video editors can be happy to see that there are 512GB, 1TB, and even 2TB choices accessible.

Though the chassis stays nearly unchanged, there are two small tweaks: a USB-A port, and a microSD card slot. While clients might fill these legacy I/O gaps with a USB-C hub, together with these ports are simply conveniences. A pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports stay for higher-speed enlargement to Thunderbolt docks. There’s nonetheless a Surface Connect port, too! Otherwise, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5 spherical out the connectivity choices.

Only Windows 11 Home is obtainable; there are not any Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro choices, a considerably peculiar selection given the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s heavy give attention to content material creation.

IDG

Surface Laptop Studio 2 specs

• Display: 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow contact show (2400×1600 (201 PPI), 120Hz), 500-650nits
• Processor: Intel Core H35 i7-13700H, Core i7-13800H
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050/4060, or RTX 2000 or Iris Xe
• Memory: 16GB/32GB/64 LPDDR5X RAM (32GB as examined)
• Storage: 512GB, 1 TB, 2TB SSD (all removeable) (1 TB as examined)
• Ports: 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 4/USB 4.0), 1 Surface Connect, USB-A, microSDXC, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Camera: User-facing: 1080p with Windows Studio Effects
• Battery: 19 hours (Iris Xe) to 16 hours (2 TB fashions)
• Wireless: 802.11 ax (Wi-Fi 6); Bluetooth 5.1
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions (inches): 12.7 x 9.1 x 0.86in
• Weight: 4.18 to 4.37lbs
• Color: Platinum
• Price: $1,999 to $3,699