Surface Pro 8, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Duo 2, and Surface Go 3 were some of the new devices Microsoft unveiled earlier this week. While these devices were usually presented as the successors of the previous generation Surface models, the Redmond company brought some unique elements to them that make them work better than their predecessors. The Surface Laptop Studio, in particular, caught the eye at launch for its distinctive design that differs from traditional 2-in-1 devices. Microsoft has also provided the necessary updates to the Surface Duo 2 — with features like triple rear cameras, improved displays, and a faster, newer-generation Qualcomm processor to compete with Apple and Samsung.
On Gadget’s 360 podcast Orbital this week, editor Jamshed Avari and I – Orbital producer Jagmeet Singh – join host Akhil Arora to talk about what makes all these new Surface devices interesting.
The discussion starts with the Surface Pro 8, the successor to the Surface Pro 7, which has new Intel Core processors and is based on Intel Evo design. The tablet also includes a 120Hz display with Adaptive Color technology and support for Dolby Vision.
Surface Pro 8 price starts at $1,099 (about Rs. 81,200), which is higher than the Surface Pro 7, which started at $749 (about Rs. 55,300). Microsoft also made no significant design-level changes to the new model.
The Surface Pro 7 was launched in India at a base price of Rs. 72,999. However, Microsoft has not yet revealed the Indian price of the Surface Pro 8.
Unlike the Surface Pro 8, the new lineup features the Surface Laptop Studio with an all-new design touted as the “evolution of Surface Book”. Thanks to the Dynamic Woven Hinge, it can work as a tablet, laptop, or canvas.
The Surface Laptop Studio is aimed at developers, creative professionals, designers, and gamers looking for a distinctive machine, not a traditional laptop or tablet. It comes with a starting price of $1,599 (about Rs. 1,18,000), which is identical to the Surface Book 3. The latter came to India for an initial fee of Rs. 156,299.
Microsoft released the Surface Duo 2 to answer the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. The new Surface Duo has all the good things missing from the original model – including three rear cameras over a single one and the top-of-the-line ones. Line Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC against Snapdragon 855. The new dual-screen phone also has 5G support and runs on Android 11.
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 ships with a list of improvements over its predecessor. Photo Credit: Microsoft
Since Microsoft has opted for a dual-screen design rather than a single foldable screen, the Surface Duo 2 seems more durable than the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, Samsung has improved in that direction with its foldable. Microsoft also has strong partnerships with developers, which could help bring new experiences to the Surface Duo 2 over time.
The Surface Duo 2 price starts at $1,499 (approximately Rs. 1,10,700), which is $100 (roughly Rs. 7,400) more than the Surface Duo launched at an initial price of $1,399 (roughly Rs. 1.03. 300). The previous version did not make it to India, It is still unknown if we will be able to see its successor soon.
Microsoft also announced its partnership with game developers at the event to bring 150 optimized games for the dual-screen setup. The company also listed Asphalt Legends 9, Modern Combat 5, and Dungeon Hunter 5 as popular games optimized specifically for the new phone.
We also discuss the Surface Go 3, which hasn’t changed much if you’ve seen the Surface Go two before. It comes with newer Intel Core processors – the top variant has the 10th-generation Intel Core chip that is claimed to deliver 60 percent faster performance than the previous Surface Go version.
The Surface Go 3 comes with a price of $399 (about Rs. 29,500). This is the same one we had for the Surface Go two last year. The previous model came to India at a starting price of Rs. 47,599.
Most of the new Surface offerings are designed to help project Windows 11’s key features. But models like Surface Duo 2 could be a reference model for other manufacturers.
We talk about how feasible the new Surface range is when we compare them to the latest hardware from companies like Apple and Samsung. The discussion also revolves around the Indian perspective of the new Microsoft devices.
You can listen to our full Orbital episode on the Surface family 2021 by pressing the play button on the Spotify player above.
You can also follow the Gadgets 360 podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Could you rate us and leave a review?
Our latest podcast episodes come every Friday, so tune in regularly.
