It’s been 4 years since we bought the Surface Studio 2, the much-improved followup to Microsoft’s ever-so-flexible all-in-one desktop. Surely, the corporate has one thing particular in retailer for the subsequent model, proper? Well, sure and no. The Surface Studio 2+ is certainly considerably sooner than earlier than, because of Intel’s H35 Eleventh-gen CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 graphics.

But we have additionally spent most of this 12 months being impressed by Intel’s terrific Twelfth-gen hybrid chips, which ship vastly higher efficiency than Eleventh-gen CPUs. (Just think about how far more intriguing the Studio 2+ can be with a 16-core Twelfth-gen HX CPU.) You’d suppose a pc beginning at $4,300 would have the quickest {hardware} out there? No surprise it isn’t known as the Surface Studio 3.

If you have been following our protection of the Studio line, the Studio 2+ will sound fairly acquainted. It has the identical 28-inch PixelSense display, a versatile hinge that may be effortlessly pushed all the way down to an easel-like angle, and it packs in all of its {hardware} in a desktop-friendly base. Following the pattern we have seen with all of Microsoft’s Surface {hardware} this 12 months, there are no exterior design adjustments in any respect. But hey, no less than we have lastly bought Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and Dolby Vision HDR.

Microsoft claims the Core i7-11370H CPU within the Surface Studio 2+ is 50 % sooner than the Studio 2, in addition to 5 occasions sooner than the unique 2017 modeled. Coupled with the RTX 3060, which is twice as quick because the GTX 1060 within the Studio 2, this new desktop will certainly be a quick performer. But the {hardware} geek in me can not help however surprise why Microsoft could not make Intel’s Twelfth-gen chips work. They’re technically extra environment friendly, and it isn’t as if there wasn’t sufficient time to organize for brand spanking new {hardware}.

I’m positive the Studio 2+ will fulfill normal patrons who’re prepared to pony up huge bucks for a uniquely versatile desktop. But I am unable to consider recommending Intel’s Eleventh-gen chips in some other laptop as we speak, except you are snagging it with a severe low cost. For such a premium, they’re virtually a dealbreaker.

At least the Studio 2+ is nicely outfitted in any other case, transport with 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD. (It positive can be good to see some SSD growth slots, although). But take observe, if you’d like it to ship with Microsoft’s Surface Pen, Keyboard and Mouse, you will must spend an additional $300. (That makes it a $4,500 laptop with final 12 months’s Intel chip! The horror!)

You can pre-order the Surface Studio 2+ as we speak, and it will be out there in choose markets on October twenty fifth.

Follow together with the remainder of our information from Microsoft’s 2022 Surface occasion.