Microsoft presents Surface Laptop Go 3 and Laptop Studio 2
22/9/2023
Translation: machine translated
Both the smallest and the most powerful notebook in the Surface range are getting an upgrade. This primarily includes more powerful processors. Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 can be pre-ordered immediately.
Microsoft announced new hardware and software at its September event. In terms of software, the focus was on the new Copilot for Windows 11, which is making its way into all Microsoft apps and will be released with a comprehensive update on 26 September. You can find out more in the following article:
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
The biggest new feature of the Surface Laptop Go 3 compared to its predecessor is the switch to a twelfth-generation Intel processor.
Source: Microsoft
It's a shame that Microsoft didn't install one of the 13th generation right away. Nevertheless, the smallest Surface Laptop benefits from the change. It is said to be 88 per cent faster than its predecessor. In addition to the increased power, the mobile Intel Core i5-1235U should also improve the battery life somewhat. This is because Intel processors from the 12th gen onwards have both performance and efficiency cores. The i5-1235U has two high-performance and eight efficient cores (12 threads), which clock up to a maximum of 4.4 and 3.3 gigahertz and twelve megabytes of smart cache. Intel's Iris Xe, which is integrated into the chip, is used for the graphics.
The CPU is supported by a choice of 8 or 16 gigabytes of RAM and a removable SSD with 256 gigabytes. Due to its compact size, the laptop weighs just 1.13 kilograms. Nevertheless, its battery life is said to be up to 15 hours with typical device use.
On the outside, not much has changed. The notebook still has a 12.4-inch touch display with 1536 x 1024 pixels in 3:2 format (Gorilla Glass 3) and has a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button for logging in. An infrared camera for facial recognition, which is otherwise standard on a Surface device, is missing. Instead, it has an HD front camera, two studio microphones and Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio Premium licencing. There is one USB-C 3.2 port, one USB-A 3.1 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and the Surface Connect port (power connection). Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 ensure wireless data connections.
The Go 3 laptop is now available for pre-order in Switzerland in four colours. In Germany, sales will start with the official launch on 3 October.
Surface Laptop Go 3 with 8 gigabytes of RAM
Surface Laptop Go 3 with 16 gigabytes of RAM
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
A second version of the Surface Laptop Studio is being released after two years. With its convertible approach and built-in hardware, it is designed to be ideal for productivity and creativity. Thanks to the dedicated graphics card, it is suitable for working in Photoshop and the like as well as for gaming.
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
The laptop is a 2-in-1 device because its display can be pulled over the keyboard. Microsoft calls this Studio mode. This enables comfortable drawing, painting and writing with the Surface Slim Pen 2, just like on a tablet. However, a tablet with powerful hardware and an integrated pen holder for charging under the keyboard.
Source: Microsoft
The touch display is 14.4 inches in size, has 2400 x 1600 pixels (3:2 format) 120 Hertz refresh rate, DisplayHDR 400 and Gorilla Glass 5. For the processor, Microsoft relies on the 13th generation from Intel - the Intel Core i7-13700H. It has six performance and eight efficiency cores (20 threads) that clock up to a maximum of 5 and 3.7 gigahertz and 24 megabytes of smart cache. As Intel will only integrate an AI chip in the next generation of processors, Microsoft is providing the CPU with a dedicated AI processor Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC. There is also a choice of 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes of RAM and a 512 gigabyte or 1 terabyte SSD, which can be replaced.
If you need graphics power for your employees or would like to play games on your laptop, you can get a model with a dedicated graphics card. The GPU options are the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with 6 gigabytes of GDDR6 vRAM (2130 megahertz boost clock frequency), the GeForce RTX 4060 with 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 vRAM (2010 megahertz boost clock frequency) and the Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada generation with 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 vRAM (2115 megahertz boost clock frequency). Models with an Nvidia graphics card should achieve up to 18 hours of battery life with typical use - those with the XE graphics integrated in the processor up to 19 hours.
A camera with Windows Hello 2.0 facial recognition is available for authentication. A full HD studio camera is also installed. Four Dolby Atmos-certified Omnisonic speakers and two studio microphones should ensure that audio communication is also good. The connections include two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C port, USB4-compatible), one USB-A 3.1 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and the Surface Connect port. Memory expansion is also possible thanks to a microSDXC card reader. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 offer further connectivity.
The Laptop Studio 2 will also go on sale on 3 October - pre-orders in Switzerland start immediately.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 with 16 gigabytes of RAM (Iris XE, RTX 4050)
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 with 32 gigabytes of RAM (RTX 4050, RTX 2000 Ada)
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 with 64 gigabytes of RAM (RTX 4060)
Cover image: YouTube screenshot/Microsoft
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.