Surface fans waiting for the Surface Studio all-in-one update can finally rejoice. Microsoft has announced the Surface Studio 2+, an updated version of the Surface Studio 2 with a plus sign in its name, with more powerful hardware and various small changes. It’s a 28-inch all-in-one with a “zero gravity” hinge that effortlessly turns the computer into a giant drawing tablet.
The Surface Studio 2+ is visually identical to its predecessor (hence the name), the 28-inch PixelSense display has an unchanged resolution of 4500×3000, and all the new features lurk inside the dock.
Unlike the many variants of the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5, the Surface Studio 2+ comes in just one configuration – an Intel Core i7-11370H processor, NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics, 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD.
As you may have noticed, the Surface Studio 2 Plus will be powered by Intel’s 11th generation Core i7-11370H processor, a chip that has been on the market for rapidly approaching two years. We’re about to enter Intel’s 13th-generation era, so it’s very disappointing to see Microsoft not moving to a 12th-generation H-series chip or waiting for Intel’s latest and greatest.
Pete Kyriacou, Microsoft’s vice president of program management, explained this: “Our goal is to get to market faster, especially for many of our business customers …… So we’re focused on stability and availability of known good parts because the difference in the H-Series from Gen 11 to Gen 12 is not a goal we need to drive.”
Other improvements include Wi-Fi 6 support (no Wi-Fi 6E), Bluetooth 5.1, three Thunderbolt 4 ports for three 4K video signals, and a redesigned range of accessories.
The PC is also compatible with the first-generation Surface Dial and its display mode. Microsoft dropped this mode in its recent Surface Pro tablets. This also means that the Surface Studio 2+ does not support the Surface Slip Pen 2 and does not offer a high refresh rate like the Surface Pro 9 or Surface Laptop Studio.
The MSRP is $4,299, or $4,499 total if you want the stylus, keyboard and mouse kit. That’s a lot of money, even for business customers who want the wow factor that comes with the Surface Studio 2 Plus.
