Microsoft is again with a brand new Surface all-in-one desktop PC, and on the floor (heh), not a lot has modified. But with a brand new processor and GPU beneath the hood, is the Surface Studio lastly price its extremely excessive price ticket?
I’ve been every day driving the Surface Studio 2+ for slightly over a month, coming straight from a Surface Studio 2 that I bought and used for a few years. This is my full assessment.
Surface Studio 2+: Availability & Specs
Surface Studio 2+ is now delivery solely from the Microsoft Store for an eyewatering $4699. Unlike earlier generations, the Surface Studio 2+ is barely obtainable in a single configuration, with an Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop GPU.
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-11370H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (6GB) |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Display | Screen: 28” PixelSense Touch Display |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | Resolution: 4500 x 3000 (192 PPI) |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | Dolby Vision assist |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Ports | 3 x USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | 2 x USB-A 3.1 |
| Row 10 – Cell 0 | 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Row 11 – Cell 0 | Gigabit Ethernet port |
| Security | TPM 2.0 chipWindows Hello face sign-in. |
| Camera | 1080p entrance dealing with digital camera |
| Audio | Stereo 2.1 audio system with Dolby Atmos |
| Row 15 – Cell 0 | Dual far-field studio microphones |
| Network | WiFi 6: 802.11ax suitable |
| Row 17 – Cell 0 | Bluetooth Wireless 5.1 expertise |
| Dimensions | Base Length: 250mm Width: 220mm Thickness: 31.45mm Display Length: 637.35mm Width: 12.5mm Height: 438.90 mm |
| Weight | Weight: 9.56kg max |
| Color | Platinum |
| Price | $4,699 |
Surface Studio 2+: Design & Ports
The Surface Studio 2+ options an nearly equivalent design to the first-gen Surface Studio that shipped again in late 2016. That makes this design practically seven years outdated, and whereas it nonetheless stands out as a singular all-in-one within the PC area, it is beginning to present its age in sure areas.
For instance, the bezels across the show are on the bigger facet for 2023. When we now have all-in-one PCs from HP, Lenovo, and Apple, delivery with a lot thinner bezels, the Studio 2+ stands out like a sore thumb in comparison facet by facet with the competitors.
The solely change to the design of the Surface Studio 2+ is with the format of the ports across the again. Frustratingly, there are nonetheless no USB-A or USB-C ports on the facet or entrance of the field the place the pc guts reside, so you’ve got nonetheless bought to succeed in round to the again to plug in equipment.
The number of ports has modified as nicely. We now have three USB-C ports, all of that are Thunderbolt 4 succesful, in addition to two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Microsoft has eliminated the full-size SD card reader, that means you will want a dongle if that is one thing you used on the primary two Surface Studios.
Surface Studio 2+: Display & Features
Microsoft’s Surface Studio show has at all times been above the competitors within the PC area. With a near 5K decision of 4500 x 3000, it is one of many sharpest shows you may get on a Windows PC with a PPI of 192. This means Windows, icons, and textual content render fantastically on the 28-inch 3:2 touchscreen panel at a local 200% scaling.
The solely actual draw back to the show lately is that it is nonetheless solely 60Hz, which is okay for those who’ve by no means skilled a high-refresh-rate pc monitor. But for those who’re coming from a show with a 120Hz or increased refresh price, you will discover the downgrade. But that is the trade-off for having an excellent high-resolution panel.
I’ll say that distinction ratios are glorious for an IPS panel. Microsoft charges it as 1200:1, and if I did not already know that this wasn’t an OLED, I’d have a tough time believing it wasn’t.
This time, there may be assist for Dolby Vision, an HDR (high-dynamic-range) expertise that delivers higher distinction for motion pictures, media, and extra. Microsoft has been utilizing Dolby Vision in its newest Surface gadgets, and it is nice to see it right here because it delivers a bit extra punch to the Studio 2+’s show.
Like the show, the audio will get a software program increase this time from the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, which offers higher spatial separation and audio efficiency.
The Surface Studio 2 has a singular sound system that units it aside from different desktop PCs. The show homes 4 audio system (two on either side), and the bottom accommodates a subwoofer. The audio system are hidden behind the display screen, making a seamless and stylish design. This function provides to the general high quality and worth of the Surface Studio 2, because it eliminates the necessity for exterior audio system and preserves the aesthetic of the system.
While you possibly can’t see Studio 2+’s audio system, they punch approach above their weight for an embedded design.
The Studio 2+ additionally features a 1080p entrance dealing with webcam and dual-microphone array alongside the highest bezel, which appears and sounds glorious. Additionally, the webcam contains assist for Windows Hello facial recognition, which is lots quick and tremendous handy for authenticating purchases and logging into your system.
While the Surface Studio line has at all times been capable of lay the show down to make use of in draft board mode, the Surface Studio 2+ is the primary to supply native assist for Windows 11’s contact mode (see my hands-on). When you lay the show down, Windows 11 will convert the Taskbar into one thing extra touch-friendly and reduce it out of the best way when it isn’t getting used.
This is what units the Surface Studio line aside. Paired with contact and pen capabilities, this system is an artist’s dream. Microsoft continues to ship the Surface Studio 2+ with the older Surface Pen, not the brand new Surface Slim Pen 2 with haptic capabilities.
Finally, it is price noting that for $4,700, Microsoft does embody Surface Keyboard, that Surface Pen, and Surface Mouse within the field, all pre-paired. Combined with the built-in audio system, that is really an all-in-one expertise, as no different equipment are needed.
While it’s not included, Surface Studio 2+, like its predecessors, does assist the distinctive Surface Dial, which is a superb accent for artists and engineers who use this PC for its supposed goal. Microsoft additionally not too long ago up to date the Surface Dial settings in Windows 11 (preview), which can also be a pleasant contact.
Surface Studio 2+: Performance
Performance on the Surface Studio 2+ is nice. It’s an enormous improve over the Surface Studio 2, which was rocking a Seventh-Gen Intel chip and a GTX 1070. The Studio 2+ makes use of a newer (2021) Eleventh-Gen Intel Core i7-11370H, paired with the wonderful NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop GPU.
Now, you will have observed that each the CPU (Intel is now on Thirteenth Gen Mobile) and GPU are of the last-gen selection. That’s okay on the GPU entrance, because it was nonetheless the most recent when the Studio 2+ was first introduced, however the identical can’t be stated for the CPU. Intel Twelfth-Gen had been available on the market for nearly a yr, but the Studio 2+ is delivery with an Eleventh-Gen chip.
Intel’s Twelfth and Thirteenth Gen processors underwent a serious architectural shift with an enormous.LITTLE design, which has similarities to ARM. So, as an alternative of 4 cores (8 threads) within the i7-11370H at 4.8GHz, the newer Thirteenth Gen i7-13700H will get 14 cores (20 threads) at 5.0GHz. It’s a large distinction in efficiency that you just do not get right here.
That stated, the Studio 2+ is not sluggish, however paying $4499 for a last-gen CPU does sting slightly. What’s extra, the CPU and GPU within the Studio 2+ are utilizing “laptop computer” variants, that means these do not even push full desktop-grade energy. This is as a result of the thermal design of the Studio would not permit for something hotter.
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With that stated, these chips are outputting quantity of efficiency. The 11370H is similar chip that ships within the Surface Laptop Studio, and it is nice for heavy duties reminiscent of inventive work in Adobe functions. It’ll crunch information in a big spreadsheet with no issues too.
The GPU is an NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, which can also be nice for video rendering and 3D modeling. It’s additionally able to gaming, however you will be required to show down the decision in video games or run them at decrease graphics settings to attain a clean 60fps.
With the inclusion of NVIDIA RTX this time round, Studio 2+ house owners may also leverage trendy AI instruments that depend on the tensor cores like NVIDIA Broadcast (now with eye-contact assist) and different AI mills., and acquire assist for ray tracing and NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS).
Like the Surface Studio 2, the Surface Studio 2+ will thermal throttle barely when operating demanding duties for prolonged durations, however not sufficient to influence utilization in my testing. The followers will spin up, and you’ll hear them once they do, however more often than not, the Studio 2+ is operating cool and quiet.
Another large space for enchancment is storage efficiency. The first Surface Studio had a spinning exhausting drive with atrocious efficiency (1,327 MB/s sequential learn, simply 512MB/s for write). Surface Studio 2 went to an SSD, and issues improved dramatically, leaping to three,094 MB/s learn (952MB/s write).
Surface Studio 2+? It goes as much as 6,382 MB/s for sequential learn and 4,924 MB/s for write. That’s an enormous acquire in efficiency and, when mixed with the up to date CPU and GPU, makes the general responsiveness of Studio 2+ really feel significantly better in comparison with earlier variations. Heck, these storage speeds are nice for any PC in 2023.
Surface Studio 2+: Competition
The all-in-one market is heating up this yr, with the likes of HP and Lenovo delivery high-end, flagship all-in-ones for inventive professionals. HP has the Envy 34, (opens in new tab) which will be had with an Intel Twelfth-Generation Core i9 and RTX 3080, together with a 5K ultrawide show. These specs, on paper, blow the Surface Studio 2+ out of the water, and for simply $3599, it’s significantly much less too.
Then there’s the Lenovo AiO 9i, which has simply been introduced and is anticipated to start out delivery later this yr. This system options Intel Thirteenth-Gen processors and RTX 40 sequence graphics, paired with a 32-inch 4K show panel that is greater than the Studio 2+, and pricing that begins at simply $1,799.
Lenovo additionally has the older however Surface Studio-like Yoga A940 AIO (2019). It has a smaller 27-inch 3840 x 2160 show, dated ninth Generation Intel Core i7-9700 processor, AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU, and the show does come down just like the Studio 2+’s all for lots much less cash at $1,904. Granted, the Studio 2+ shall be higher in each class, however Leonvo’s alternative is 60% cheaper, making it choice for these on a finances who desire a related design.
With that stated, Surface Studio 2+ nonetheless stands by itself for energy, efficiency, dimension, design, and performance, making it essentially the most premium expertise for this format.
You can see extra decisions on our finest all-in-one Windows PCs suggestions.
Surface Studio 2+: Should you purchase?
You can purchase the Surface Studio 2+ if …
- You’re in search of a flagship Windows all-in-one.
- You are an artist that makes use of a digital pen.
- You need the perfect show in a Windows all-in-one.
- You want a touchscreen.
You mustn’t purchase the Surface Studio 2+ if …
- You want the most recent specs.
- You need your cash to get you extra efficiency.
- You do not want a touchscreen.
- You do not want a show that lays down.
The Surface Studio 2+ is tough to advocate, however not as a result of it is not nice. I feel the Surface Studio 2+ is the perfect all-in-one available on the market, however the price-to-performance ratio is simply too out of kilter to be one thing I can fortunately advocate to anybody in search of a Windows all-in-one.
Unless you want the issues that make Surface Studio distinctive: 5K show, contact and pen assist, studio mode, and so forth., it is possible for you to to get one thing with rather more up-to-date specs for much less cash. But for those who want any of the issues listed above, you type of do not have a alternative.
If you are an present Surface Studio consumer and are contemplating upgrading, here is my two cents: Surface Studio 1 prospects ought to undoubtedly improve; the efficiency enhance from Sixth-Gen Intel and GTX 965m shall be mind-blowing. If you are coming from a Surface Studio 2, the reply is much less apparent.
Surface Studio 2 remains to be totally supported by Windows 11, and the Seventh-Gen Intel chip paired with a GTX 1070 remains to be a superb pairing for inventive duties. Unless you actually do discover the Surface Studio 2 missing within the efficiency division, otherwise you want Thunderbolt 4, I feel you possibly can await the Surface Studio 3.
Microsoft’s newest all-in-one is extra of the identical for the Surface Studio line, and that is nice for followers of this type issue but additionally not nice for these in search of extra energy.
