Windows 11 officially rolls out on Oct. 5, which means it’s also time for Microsoft to launch new Surface hardware to go with it.
There have been a slew of rumors in recent weeks as to which devices Microsoft is working on, and now it’s time to see what’s actually in store this fall.
How to Watch
The show kicks off at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The event is totally virtual, and you can stream it live from Microsoft’s website to see all the devices in action.
Here’s everything we expect to be announced.
Surface Duo 2
Let’s start with the least Windows-y product in the lineup: Microsoft’s attempt to make a foldable Android phones is expected to get a reboot at the Surface event. The Surface Duo 2 leaked over the summer, first appearing on YouTube, and then Windows Central verified what was to come.
Leaked pics of the Surface Duo 2 show a dual-screen folding device with two 5.8-inch displays side by side, separated by a hinge. We’re expecting to see improved cameras: The leaks show a bulky rear camera module with three lenses, a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens. There’s also a selfie camera on the inside for video calls and the like.
The battery capacity of the Surface Duo 2 is expected to increase to help accommodate the device’s supposedly high refresh rate, though it’s unconfirmed if it’s 90Hz or 120Hz. We’ve also heard the Surface Duo 2 will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip, 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC, which should help make up a little for the last-gen Duo’s complete lack of contactless payments.
Surface Book 4
The device that is likely to steal the spotlight is the Surface Book 4, which is Microsoft’s flagship laptop. According to patents and some very creative rendering, this is expected to be a complete redesign of the portable two-in-one, with Microsoft dropping the detachable display in favor of a tethered one that’s more stable. The previous iterations of the Surface Book were top-heavy since all the components were laid inside the display. But this redesign would make the Surface Book 4 a bonafide convertible, able to turn from a laptop to a tablet for drawing and reading. Possible specs include a larger trackpad, a 14-inch display, two USB-C ports, and NVIDIA RTX graphics.
Windows Central notes that the name of this particular convertible laptop hasn’t been entirely solidified. Some of the possible names include “Book 4,” “Laptop Pro,” and “Laptop Studio.”
Surface Pro 8
The device that most resembles the first-generation Surface is the rumored Surface Pro 8. This one will help usher in Windows 11, just like the original helped launch Windows 8 in 2012. How time flies!
The Surface Pro 8 isn’t likely to be a drastic design change since Microsoft has built an expansive line of accessories and peripherals specifically for this device. However, The Verge reports the design should include a larger display and smaller bezels and that at least one variant of the Surface Pro 8 will have Thunderbolt support, which would be a first for a Surface device. It’s also expected to get updated with Intel’s 11th-generation chips, which is par for the course for most laptop announcements this year.
Surface Pro X and Surface Go 3
There will likely be a hardware bump for the ARM-based Surface Pro X, including a chip refresh and a screen with a higher refresh rate. But beyond that, there’s little in the way of leaks and rumors regarding the Surface Pro X, besides the fact that Microsoft might finally make its always-connected device a little less connected by creating a wifi-only version of the device.
The budget Surface Go is also likely to get a reprise with the Surface Go 3. But for the most part, we’re only expecting a spec bump. Geekbench results point to the low-end Surface Go 3 running an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y and the higher-end version running on an Intel Core i3-10100Y processor with LTE.
Don’t Forget the Accessories
We’re expecting the Surface devices to get a few new pieces of flair. There’s likely a new Surface Pen on the horizon to accompany the Surface Book 4, along with haptic support tuned to Windows 11's new pen-specific features. The signature Type Covers that accompany the Surface devices may also get a refresh. There’s no word on whether Microsoft might update the Surface Headphones 2 or Surface Earbuds, as they’re both a year and a half old at this point.
But we’ll find out in just a couple of days when Microsoft announces all its new hardware for fall. And then we have just a short wait until Windows 11 is officially available to all on Oct. 5. Keep it locked to Gizmodo for all the news—and share your Microsoft device wishlist with us in the comments below!