Microsoft has invited the media to a special event in New York City on September 21. The company hasn’t shared what they will present, but certain hints confirm new Surface devices. Benchmarks show a new Surface Laptop Studio 2, and FCC filings suggest the arrival of Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4

First spotted by Windows Latest, the alleged Surface Go 4 appeared on FCC on September 1 with the placeholder name “C3K2029“, i.e. Portable Computing Device. Interestingly, some details in the FCC listing for C3K2029 have been removed, but in the meantime, we managed to learn more about the highly anticipated Surface Go 4.

Surface Go 4 retains the same design as its predecessor and comes with Intel’s N200 processor, which is a “mobile processor” from the Alder Lake-N lineup, and it has been designed for 2-in-1 or tablet form factors. While the performance depends on many factors, Surface Go 3 can boost up to 3.7 GHz, depending on the workload.

It has a DP of 6 W, and the Processor N200 does not consume massive energy, which means the device’s battery backup is likely to be better than the predecessor. The FCC filing also confirmed that Microsoft uses the popular AX Wi-Fi 6 module, which offers faster WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Surface Go 4 design

Microsoft’s 2023 Surface refresh does not update the design of the lineup. This means Surface Go 4 is a clone of Surface Go 3, which was a clone of the Surface Go 2. It’s the same device with a 10.5-inch screen surrounded by relatively thin bezels, but the key difference is the processor.

Microsoft is upgrading the lineup to Intel N200 from Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y.

The original Surface Go shipped with just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, which were the primary reasons for the slow performance of the affordable tablet. Microsoft wants to fix these ‘problems’ by offering the base model with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

You can buy the higher-end models in 128GB or 256GB of storage. In other words, you’ll have to spend more money to buy the tablet as Microsoft has dropped the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage option in favour of more performance-friendly variants.

The Surface Pen and the Surface Type Cover are sold separately.

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Microsoft has secured FCC certification for a “portable computing device”, which appears to be the much-awaited Surface Laptop Go 3. Microsoft has filed another FCC request for Surface Go 4. First spotted by Windows Latest, the upcoming Surface Laptop Go 3 passed through the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) on September 5.

The FCC listing doesn’t reveal anything about the device. In FCC filing, this new offering from Microsoft is labelled the “Microsoft Corporation Portable Computing Device”, identified with codes such as C3K-2067, C3K 2067, C3K2067, and C3K2O60.

Microsoft has used the “C3K” certification branding for many Surface products, but it’s mostly associated with the Surface Go and Surface Laptop lineup. Although the current FCC listing doesn’t offer specifics about this Surface product, benchmarks and leaks have hinted that next-gen Surface upgrades won’t change the lineup’s design.

Surface Laptop Go 3 is expected to ship with 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, and the entry-level model now comes with 8GB RAM. On the other hand, Surface Go 4 will be using an Intel N200 processor, and it won’t be any different from the original model in terms of design.

In addition to “Portable Computing Device”, Microsoft has also been approved for an Intel Wi-Fi 6 module AX201.

According to documents seen by Windows Latest, it looks like Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Laptop Go 3 is using Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 AX201D2W, which is known to support the 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 standard and the latest iteration of Bluetooth 5.

Surface Laptop Studio 2

In addition to Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4, Microsoft is also preparing to launch Surface Laptop Studio 2. According to the recent Surface Laptop Studio 2 benchmark on Geekbench, Microsoft may be excluding AMD hardware, as no references to AMD SKU have emerged either in benchmark analyses or in internal documentation.

Microsoft’s testing shows the device is equipped with the 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-11370H, powered by 64GB of RAM. A variant is speculated to integrate Intel’s Core i7 13800H (from the 13th generation), which pairs with the GeForce RTX 4060. This powerhouse will potentially sport 64GB of RAM and a storage capacity of up to 2TB SSD.

Microsoft might also debut a version integrating the 13th-Gen Core i7-13700H, specifically for its entry-level offerings.

Update: This FCC filing is for Surface Laptop Go 3 since Microsoft has filed another certification request for Surface Go 4.

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Benchmarks for the Surface Laptop Studio 2 on Geekbench, a popular benchmarking portal, have confirmed the device’s specs. Microsoft may skip Surface Laptop Studio 2 with AMD hardware this year, as we do not see a reference to the AMD SKU in benchmarks or internal documents.

Microsoft is testing the device with 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-11370H and 64GB of RAM, which provide a massive jump in overall hardware specs. One model may feature Intel’s powerful Core i7 13800H (13th gen) with GeForce RTX 4060, 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Similarly, Microsoft may use 13th-Gen Core i7-13700H in the lower-end models.

Based on the benchmarks and references, we believe this could be the possible lineup of Surface Laptop Studio 2, but it’s always subject to change:

• Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB storage.
• Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 2TB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage.

Of course, these models will also feature Intel Iris Xe graphics, included in the 13th-gen lineup.

The benchmark of the high-end model confirmed a single-core score of 2,564 and a multi-core score of 12,463. The multi-core score is almost twice of the original Surface Laptop Studio, which has a multi-core score of around 6,000 and a single-core score of about 2,000.

Significant changes to the device’s design won’t exist as this update focuses on performance and configurations.

Microsoft won’t launch the Surface Duo 2 successor in 2023

While Surface Laptop Studio is getting its successor in 2023, Microsoft has no plans to update the popular Surface Duo lineup.

Microsoft has given up on the ‘dual-screen’ approach and plans to use a traditional foldable screen seen on Samsung, Honor, Xiaomi and other phones. The next Surface Android device will likely feature an internal foldable screen with an external cover display, all put together by a 180-degree hinge.

And yes, Microsoft has cancelled the Surface Duo 3.

Microsoft is exploring new Android hardware options. There are prototypes of traditional smartphones running Android and Microsoft’s Android experience. However, plans are subject to change, and Microsoft may not launch its phone anytime soon.

Microsoft is also working on deeper Android and Windows integration to differentiate its Android offering from other OEMs like Xiaomi and Samsung.

Update: This article has been refreshed with new details.

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I spotted the new patent over the weekend and took a closer look at 30 pages application to understand the plans of Microsoft. The company plans to improve the touchpad to better support Surface Pen for drawing directly on the touchpad, and you can switch between the main display and the touchpad while drawing.

There are multiple drawings and examples, but one example is pretty interesting. It talks about a Surface Book-like device with a trackpad that can be connected to the Surface Pen and used as a drawing pad. In some examples, the primary display and touchpad can be used with a pen to draw in apps.

Deep dive into Microsoft’s new patented Surface Book with a touchpad that could be used as a drawing pad

The patent application outlines a new version of the Surface Book or a similar device, including a trackpad that functions as a drawing pad when used with a Surface Pen. This feature is currently absent in Apple’s MacBook or Microsoft Surface, although Apple has previously tried extending the touchpad using Apple Pencil.

In layman’s terms, the patent explains that users can use a Surface Pen to interact with the main touchscreen of the 2-in-1 hardware. The stylus can control the device in various ways, like directly touching the surface of the display or hovering close to it.

The patent describes how a computing device, like the Surface Book, can connect with a separate device, such as a stylus. This connection forms a channel where one device can send data to another.

For instance, a physical button on the stylus can command the computing device to open a particular application. Similarly, the stylus can provide touch or hover inputs to the touch-sensitive display to interact with apps like Photoshop or draw lines and shapes.

The patent emphasizes that the Surface Book and Pen are paired, ensuring that inputs from the stylus affect only the paired computing device and not any other nearby devices.

It further discusses a scenario where you may want to use the same peripheral device, like a stylus, with another device simultaneously. For instance, you may want to use a stylus with your personal Surface Book, a coworker’s device or a shared office device. In such situations, you may prefer to use similar settings across devices or want different settings depending on their current host device.

The patent acknowledges the need to establish the connection between the devices quickly to ensure the user’s preferred settings are applied promptly and to avoid any control inputs affecting an unintended device.

Finally, the patent highlights that while the active stylus is one example of a “separate peripheral device,” the system can work with various other peripheral devices.

In conclusion, this patent suggests that Microsoft is making the Surface Book a multi-device for creators that could redefine the experience. However, it’s important to note that a patent doesn’t necessarily guarantee that such features will appear in a final product.

We have also spotted Surface Duo 3 patents featuring a Galaxy Fold-like device, but we’re yet to see a similar device from Microsoft.

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While we still don’t have a release date for a possible Surface Duo 3, it is set to arrive in 2023.

We don’t have a confirmation that a foldable Microsoft phone even is in the works, but reports previously suggested that a Surface Duo 3 is indeed in the works. Now, we’ve spotted a new patent application that is further proof that Microsoft is very interested in joining the growing market for foldable phones.

The patent application ‘FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE‘ is focused on foldable devices, suggesting that the design could apply to Surface Duo 3. The application was filed in 2021 and it was published earlier this year, and it details a very promising handheld foldable phone.

As you’re probably aware, Surface Duo features two screens with a hinge in the middle that enables rotation. Microsoft is working on its successor which is believed to be a single-screen phone. In this patent application, Microsoft has discussed a single foldable panel that can go from zero to 360 degrees.

The picture in the patent application shows the foldable phone can switch between a seamless tablet and a one-handed smartphone. This could idea could be rather radical only if Microsoft is able to create a new user interface optimized for such a form factor. Per the filing, a foldable phone’s display can bend both inwards and outwards.

This is interesting as phones from companies like Samsung only support inward folding where the second display is on the top. Microsoft’s idea allows the Surface Duo 3 to bend both inwards as well as outwards, which hasn’t been attempted by an Android manufacturer so far.

Of course, patents don’t necessarily mean that the Surface Duo 3 with this design is imminent or even likely. However, the patent gives us a better look at what the company’s thinking and there’s a chance a similar design will be used for Surface Duo 3 or future devices.

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There’s no word on Surface Studio or Surface Laptop Studio refresh yet, but we’ve spotted a new document published earlier this week by the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) details a mysterious Surface-branded product called “Desktop Computer” (C3K2043).

This is likely to be the Surface Studio as Surface Go/Pro/Laptop/Book or even Duo fall under the “Portable Computer” category in Microsoft’s FCC filing. As you’re probably aware, any device capable of wireless communication must pass through the FCC and Surface Studio is no exception.

The alleged Surface Studio 3 has cleared FCC certification and passed through its network and quality control tests, before being sold in the US.

Microsoft has been granted short-term confidentiality on the documents and important test attachments until February 28, 2023. However, we can look closely at the available documents and make some educated guesses. For example, the smaller details on the applications, such as the network chipset confirmed the device will ship with Intel CPU.

As per one of the documents, the alleged Surface Studio 3 uses Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 compatible 802.11ax chip. This chip operates in both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz ranges, creating more available channels.

Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about the pricing, hardware specs and other features of the next-generation Surface Studio. However, Microsoft is believed to be working on new accessories for the desktop computer,

This is a developing story…

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For those unaware, FCC is the Federal Communications Commission of the United States and they certify products for consumers in the country. The product has been approved for its electromagnetic interference and other features by the government of the United States.

According to the FCC listing C3K1997, Surface Pro 9 could use built-in 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and offer Wi-Fi 6. The listing has clearly mentioned support for “multi-band 5G NR, 802.11b/g/n/ax WLAN”, confirming our speculation that the next-gen hardware from the company will feature 5G technology.

It is also worth noting that Surface Pro 9 will be shipping with an ARM processor, according to this FCC filing. The filing includes references to Qualcomm’s Smart Transmit 3.0 which aims to extend 5G coverage and improve uplink speeds. It also optimizes transmissions across cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas.

Of course, Surface Pro 9 will also launch with Intel processors in addition to Snapdragon chips.

In one of the FCC listings, Microsoft noted that the Surface device supports open and closed configurations, a phrase that has been previously used in filings for dual-screen Surface Duo. However, the network certification suggests that the device in the filing is definitely not a phone.

Surface Pro 9 – a new powerhouse

All of these features should result in better battery, wireless and overall system performance when compared to the previous Surface Pro, especially the Surface Pro X lineup.  The Surface Pro 9 is expected to be announced in October, though an official launch date has yet to be announced.

The device is expected to pack 128GB of storage (both 5G and WiFi-only will be offered). It will include either 8GB or 16GB of RAM and either 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. A powerful variant of Surface Pro 9 is also expected to ship with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

We don’t know if any significant changes would be made to the screen size or overall design of the lineup.

It is worth noting that the information is based on listings seen by us and they should be taken with a pinch of salt until the product line is confirmed by Microsoft. There’s a possibility the device we’re talking about is Surface Pro X and not Surface Pro 8.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we won’t have too long to wait to see the next-gen hardware.

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The retailer’s listing was published last week and it doesn’t reveal the new features of the next-gen hardware, but it has confirmed that Microsoft wants to use Intel’s 11th-generation processor in the Surface Laptop Go 2. The 11th-gen processor would be i5-1135G7 which promises better performance as compared to the 10th-gen CPU in Laptop Go.

Notably, this is a refresh of the original Surface Laptop Go 2 and we’re not expecting significant changes to its design. However, the retailer has confirmed that the webcam will deliver better HD performance than its predecessor.

As per the listing, it would be yet another incredibly thin and light laptop from Microsoft, measuring 0.62 inches thick and 2.45 lb, respectively. It is also going to be affordable, so the pricing will be similar to the original 2020 model.

Although the bottom of the laptop is plastic, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 uses a premium aluminium finish around the keyboard deck and display.

The display of the device remains unchanged, according to the Korean listing. It still comes with a 12.4-inch display and you can expect the same kind of build quality, which means Microsoft won’t be using plastic laptop chassis here. You can use the laptop without worrying about it breaking.

It also comes with USB-C, USB-A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s a fingerprint sensor that can be accessed via the power button.

The release date of the device is not available, but the retailer claims pre-orders will begin on June 2nd.

Surface Laptop Go 2 expectations

As mentioned, the Surface Laptop Go 2 will remain in the same price bracket and it should start from $549 for the most basic variant. Of course, the price would increase if you choose the upper-end model. The entry-level model will be shipping with the same RAM and storage configuration i.e 4GB RAM and 64GB of eMMC.

The higher-end models will have fingerprint sensors and up to 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB storage (SSDs).

Microsoft also seems to be considering new sleeves for the new Surface, which could be bundled for free if you buy it from the retailer.

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A new patent titled “FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE” shows a dual-screen foldable device that uses a single folding display. Microsoft calls it a “single-piece rear cover” that apparently uses a stretchable material in an expandable area and it’s located adjacent to the hinge, which means it’s similar to the Galaxy Fold.

The primary advantage is that this new design shouldn’t take up too much space within the body of the foldable phone, meaning that Microsoft’s next-generation foldable Android phones could be slimmer than a dual-screen device, and this “rear cover” design is more durable than Galaxy Fold and similar foldable phones, so it’s less likely to break.

In the patent application, Microsoft talks about a foldable device that folds through 360 degrees at a folding portion. It uses a rear cover and a cover glass layer covering the entire display and a light-emitting layer is added between the rear cover and the cover glass layer to ensure a natural experience.

There’s also a backplate between the rear cover and the light-emitting layer.

While this sounds exciting, we know that devices using a single screen or ultra-thin glass layer with a plastic film have visible mechanical creases. One perfect example is the Samsung Fold, which has wrinkles and other visual artefacts at the folding portion of the display, and it’s also vulnerable to cracking and other physical damage.

This patented Surface Duo 3 uses a foldable glass with a backplate which uses “backplate slots” that enables folding while avoiding mechanical creases.

“The present examples also provide a consistent transparency and light transmission across the display including the folding portion, along with mechanically robust components. In this manner, display devices of the present disclosure can freely rotate through various angles and orientations while also exhibiting substantially uniform and smooth surfaces in various folded and flat orientations to provide a pleasing and high quality appearance and feel to a user,” Microsoft noted in the patent application.

The patented Surface Duo 3 could be a durable device with most of the advantages of a foldable phone. At the same time, it will also have fewer problems. Of course, it’s just a patent and there’s no guarantee it will ever join the Microsoft Surface lineup, but let’s not forget the original Surface Duo initially existed on paper only.

Given the recent organization reshuffle and Microsoft’s increased focus on the Android platform, there’s certainly a chance this device could happen.

We’re not convinced that Surface Duo 3 with the existing design or this ambitious idea would land anytime. That’s because Microsoft is currently focusing on the software of Surface Duo-like devices and the next-gen dual-screen or foldable phone has been delayed.

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Qualcomm has always focused on battery life over performance and the chipmaker is now slowly switching to a new design which will be more optimized for performance with “Gold+” and “Gold high-end cores. Qualcomm’s plan is to bridge the gap between Intel, Snapdragon and Apple’s Silicon products.

The benchmark listing was made public earlier this year, showing an “OEMVL OEMVL” prototype. This naming scheme has previously been used by Microsoft for the Surface Pro lineup, Surface Laptop, Surface Book and even Surface Go. It is safe to assume the leaked prototype is either Surface Pro X 2 (2022?) or a new product.

As per the listing, Microsoft is testing the hardware with Windows 11 preview builds and it appears to be in the early stage of development given its single-core test results and naming scheme.

Considering that the prototype was benchmarked in its early stage of development, it’s entirely possible that this hardware may not ship at all, but Surface Pro X with SQ3 is still on track to launch later this year.

The report shows that the prototype was able to fetch a score of 1005 on single-core and 5574 on multi-core. The result is significantly higher when you compare it with Surface Pro X with SQ2 which managed to achieve a score of 806 in the single-core test and 3247 for multi-core.

It’s also worth pointing out that the device was benchmarked in the ‘Balanced’ power plan, so it’s likely that the results will be higher if the device is benchmarked again in the high-performance plan.

We compared the benchmark results with Intel Core i7 1165G7 and the latest offering from Microsoft apparently outperforms the Intel chip in multi-score tests. This is not surprising as the Intel Tiger Lake-U lineup has been particularly lackluster when compared to rivals likes AMD and even Apple.

At the same time, Microsoft and Qualcomm’s processor is still no match for the Apple M1, but we can clearly see noticeable improvements. The Apple M1 fetches up to 8,000 scores in multi-core tests.

The benchmarked hardware is a prototype and no other details have been revealed about Microsoft’s next-gen rival to the M1 chip.

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