From Laptops to AI Enhancements: Highlights from the Microsoft Surface Event

Microsoft held a media event in New York City yesterday. In this event, it made several major announcements. That includes updates to its existing products and services. Among the new products, we have the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, Laptop Studio 2, Surface Hub 3, and Surface Go 4.

In addition to the new Microsoft Surface devices, the event also introduced AI enhancements on Windows 11, Microsoft 365, and its advertisement services. Here’s everything you need to know regarding these announcements.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 launched at the event looks and feels pretty similar to the original model launched in 2021. And just like the predecessor, you can use the new Laptop Studio 2 as a traditional laptop with a keyboard. Or, you can switch things up and lay it flat to use it like a tablet.

Under the hood, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 has a 13th-generation Intel Core chip. There are a few options in the graphics department. You can get the laptop with Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada Generation, RTX 4060, or RTX 4050. Alternatively, you can get the laptop without a dedicated GPU, which will come with Intel Iris XE iGPU.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 will come with a 120-watt charging adapter for the Nvidia models. Besides, the laptop has a 14.4-inch screen, up to 64GB of RAM, a USB-A port, a MicroSD card reader, and up to 2TB of storage. Regarding the pricing, it starts at $1,999.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

While the Laptop Studio 2 is the fastest Microsoft Surface laptop to date, there’s an entry-level model available too. It’s called the Laptop Go 3, which comes with a 12.4-inch touch screen and runs on the 12th-generation Intel processor. Although it may not be the fastest, it is the lightest and most portable Microsoft laptop.

But the performance of the Surface Laptop Go 3 isn’t bad. To be exact, the laptop is 88% faster than the original model, which will let you get more things done with the device. Also, you can equip the laptop with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. And the battery life of the Laptop Go 3 is rated at 13.5 hours. The pricing starts at $799.

Microsoft Surface Go 4

Microsoft has also announced the Surface Go 4 at the event. It’s the latest miniature version of the Surface Pro tablet. However, Microsoft has made it exclusive for organizations. The company suggested that the new model could be especially useful for frontline workers and businesses.

Under the hood, the Microsoft Surface Go 4 comes with an Intel N200 processor. It has a 10.5-inch touchscreen and can offer 11 hours of battery life with a single charge. Also, the mini laptop can be docked to a monitor, offering a desktop-like experience. It can also be used as a tablet or a proper laptop when paired with a keyboard.

Microsoft Surface Hub 3

Microsoft has also updated its Surface Hub lineup at the event. If you don’t know what this lineup is about, it’s a large touchscreen device that is best for use in the office. The latest Surface Hub 3 comes in two variants. One has an 85-inch screen, while the other has a 50-inch display.

The Surface Hub 3 makes it easier for office workers to join Team video calls. And there are some advanced features baked into the device. It can automatically remove the background and enhance the video calling sessions. In terms of performance, the new Hub 3 models are 60% better in terms of processing and 160% better in graphical applications.

Windows 11 Update

At the Microsoft Surface event, Microsoft said it will roll out the next major update for Windows 11 on September 26. This update will bring the new Copilot to the Bing search engine and its Edge web browser. After updating their system, users can summon the Copilot by pressing the Windows and C keys together.

Besides, the new Windows 11 update will offer a better experience on the cloud-based version of Windows. In the Microsoft Surface event, Microsoft said users can directly log into their cloud as their primary experience on the PC. Also, some of the core applications of Windows will receive an update.

That includes the snipping tool, which will make it easier to pull out text directly from screenshots. And the longstanding Paint app will get a facelift with the help of generative AI. Users can type a few words of text and choose the style, and Paint will auto-generate an image based on the prompt. It will work basically like the Adobe Firefly.

Additionally, the built-in Notepad app will have an automatic saving feature. This feature will enable you to hop right into work after you close the app and re-open it. Other highlights for Windows 11 from the Microsoft Surface event include better backup features. Thanks to this, it will be easy to get your system up and running after you decide to restore the Windows.

Copilot Integration

Microsoft has integrated generative AI into its advertising tool. However, Microsoft didn’t say much regarding the integration in the Surface event. All we know is that Copilot will answer marketers’ questions for advertising through a simple chat interface. And over time, it will help automate the process of creating ads.

Additionally, the Microsoft Copilot will see a big release for large-sized businesses. Large organizations will be able to start paying for the Copilot in Microsoft 365 starting from November 1. And at the moment, Microsoft has started allowing some small businesses to get into the early access program.