Fall Microsoft Event: Surface Laptop 5, Pro 9, and Studio 2+

The “techtober” train continues, most recently on October 12 when Microsoft unveiled some new Surface devices. A virtual event unveiled the Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9, and Surface Studio 2+ along with several new accessories.

Interestingly Microsoft (MSFT) has not introduced or shared any updates related to his smartphone, the Surface Duo, or his audio products like the Surface Headphones. Rather, this year they have focused on 2-in-1s, desktops and laptops for updates.

Let’s unpack what you need to know about each product and how to complete an order if you’re already sold.

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In the world of Windows laptops, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop is generally at the high end. It’s a flagship device with leading-edge processors, a premium design, and all the eye-catching features of Windows 11. Of course, they also offer the Laptop Go 2 in a cheaper version.

And like the previous generation, the Laptop 5 comes in two sizes: 13.5-inch or 15-inch, both touchscreen PixelSense displays. Additionally, they are set in a 3:2 aspect ratio, allowing you to fit more of the display vertically. New for 2022 is Dolby Vision IQ, which tunes colors to deliver the best picture depending on where you’re using the laptop – it makes the adjustments via an ambient light sensor. This is a fairly common feature on TVs, including the Fire TV Omni QLED.

For video calls, or maybe some filming projects on the fly, Microsoft is sticking with an HD webcam that can also authenticate to Windows Hello face unlocks and studio microphones built into the laptop.

In terms of design and materials, the Laptop 5 sticks to an aluminum build that aims to be sleek and modern. Like a MacBook Air, there’s a company logo on the back and it’s available in a few tints. You can choose platinum, sage, matte black, or sandstone for the 13.5-inch Laptop 5, while the 15-inch model only comes in platinum or matte black.

The Windows 11 experience on the Laptop 5 is powered by Intel’s latest 12th Gen chips. According to Microsoft, these should be over 50% faster and more powerful than the previous generation. These chips, either an i5 or an i7, are both Evo, Intel’s latest platform and design.

The Surface Laptop 5 is more refinement and a processor boost than a total redesign or major change. If you probably have a laptop 4, you can most likely suspend it. The Surface Laptop 5 is available to order now starting at $999.99 and will begin shipping October 25th.

Just like the Surface Laptop 5, the Surface Pro 9 sticks to a working design and focuses on enhancing the experience with more powerful chips. And here’s the big change: you can choose from an Intel processor to a Microsoft SQ3 processor from Qualcomm Snapdragon – the latter being an ARM-based mobile processor that enables 5G support.

The Microsoft SQ3 processor extends battery life up to 19 hours, which should beat the Intel model’s all-day promise, and a dedicated neural processing unit. This should especially help with the locomotion of AI functions. The Pro 9 with this processor also supports 5G connectivity. The Intel-based Pro 9, like the Laptop 5, will deliver over 50% speed gains from generation to generation.

Both should speed up Microsoft’s 2-in-1 Windows 11 tablet, but otherwise there’s a lot of similarity here. The Surface Pro 9 still features an aluminum body that comes in a few new hues: platinum, graphite, sapphire, and forest. They all look pretty sharp in the photos too and it still has a kickstand built into the back. Regardless of the colors, these feature a 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with Dolby Vision IQ, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for added durability.

You can pair these with a Surface Pro keyboard for a laptop-like experience with a full keyboard and trackpad. In addition, the Surface Slim Pen 2 and the normal pen are still supported here.

Microsoft is now taking pre-orders for the Surface Pro 9, which starts at $999.99 for a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 chip or $1,299 for the Microsoft SQ3 processor. In any case, they will start shipping on October 25th.

• Surface Pro 9, Intel processor (Starting at $999.99 at Amazon or Microsoft)
• Surface Pro 9, SQ3 processor (Starting at $1,299.99 at Amazon or Microsoft)

Alongside updates to the Pro 9 and Laptop 5, Microsoft has also announced the Surface Studio 2+. Which is a desktop that can sit like a regular 28 inch monitor folded almost flat. It starts at $4,499.99 and comes with a pen, keyboard, and mouse. However, as the “+” in the product name suggests, this is also a speed bump and some new features for the previous Surface Studio 2.

For example, it opts for the same 28-inch PixelSense display that can stand up for a traditional computing experience or lay flat for tabletop use. It’s ideal for developers or those who use the stylus, as you can use the vivid, sharp display like a canvas, albeit a digital one. It’s also sharp with a resolution of 4500 x 3000.

The Studio 2+ runs Windows 11 out of the box and is powered by an 11th Gen Intel processor, which is up to 50% faster than the standard Studio 2. It also gets dedicated graphics via an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. These should offer plenty of power for everyday productivity tasks, more intense creative tasks, and even some gaming. The Studio 2+ comes with 1TB of solid state storage and 32GB of RAM.

Microsoft is now taking pre-orders for the Surface Studio 2+ and it will be arriving to customers on October 25th.

• Surface Studio 2+ (Starting at $4,499.99 at Microsoft)

Finally, Microsoft has released two new accessories. The first is a $249.99 audio dock, which is a hands-free kit combined with a dock for steroids. You can connect a laptop or desktop for two additional USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI port, as well as built-in microphones and speakers. It aims to increase productivity – and keep you less tangled with cords – but also improve the calling experience. We’re curious to see how this fares with some similar speakerphones like this one from Anker.

There is also the Microsoft Presenter+ for $79.99. It’s a simple remote control that you can use to control presentations, both from home and while speaking to a larger group. As you’d expect, it’s built specifically for Microsoft Teams with a raise-hand button, integrated haptics for button-clicking, and a mute button.

Just like the Surface Pro 9, Laptop 5 and Studio 2+, these are both available to order and will begin shipping on October 25th.

Prices correct at time of publication and items in stock.