The Surface Studio 2 is Microsoft’s follow-up to their ground-breaking all-in-one Surface Studio desktop PC, which was introduced more than a year ago. Microsoft hopes to raise the bar for desktop computers and deliver better performance with the Surface Studio 2’s upgraded hardware than it did with the Surface Studio.
The Surface Studio 2 was introduced with enhancements to the display, processor, and graphics card during Microsoft’s Surface Event in New York.
Of course, the price has also gone up in comparison to its predecessor. The Surface Pro 6 2-in-1 convertible tablet and the company’s second-generation Surface Laptop were also unveiled at the same time as the product.
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Key Specifications
- Dimensions — Display: 25.1in x 17.3in x 0.5in, Base: 9.8in x 8.7in x 1.3in
- Display — 28-inch PixelSense 4500 x 3000 pixels (192 PPI)
- Storage — 1TB or 2TB solid-state drive (SSD)
- Memory — 16GB or 32GB (DDR4)
- Graphics — NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or 1070 8GB GDDR5 memory
- Processor — Intel Core i7-7820HQ
- Software — Windows 10 Pro
- Connections — 4 x USB 3.0 (one high power port), SD card reader, USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port
- Camera — 5-megapixels 1080P HD camera, compatible with Windows Hello Face Authentication.
Design and Display
Good news if you used or saw the original Surface Studio and admired its design, general construction, and aesthetics: Microsoft used the same build for the Surface Studio 2.
And because the design was excellent, I do not currently see a reason to change what works and what the users adore.
The Surface Studio 2 is the same size as the original and features the same ingenious hinge that turns the Studio’s enormous desktop into a digital drafting table for painting and drawing.
The screen remains the same as well: a 28-inch wide PixelSense screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a display density of 192 PPI.
Microsoft claims that the display has been upgraded and is now brighter (up to 38%) and has better contrast (22 percent ).
Processor and Storage
The Surface Studio 2’s internal components have been greatly enhanced, despite the fact that its exterior design may not quite reflect a device improvement.
The desktop is run by 7th generation Core i7 CPUs from Intel. Although they aren’t the best Intel CPU, they would nevertheless function effectively.
There are two desktop variants with different storage possibilities in terms of storage. While the second model contains 2TB, the base model only includes a 1TB SSD.
A Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 / GTX 1070 graphics card is built into the new Surface Studio to improve gaming, image editing, video processing, and overall graphical performance.
Software and Connectivity
In addition to the standard port choices and connectivity options present on the first Surface Studio, the Surface Studio 2 now has a USB-C port. Operating system version Professional of Microsoft’s Windows 10 is preinstalled on the new Surface Studio (Windows 10 Pro).
Surface Studio 2 Price and Availability
The base model of the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 costs roughly $3,499, while the second model with better options costs $4,799. The improved desktop went available for pre-order as soon as it was revealed, although it is anticipated to go on sale on October 16.
If you own the original Microsoft Surface Studio and require a more potent GPU that will result in graphical performance increases of roughly 50%, a more streamlined gaming experience, a USB-C connection, and improved display quality, you should choose the Surface Studio 2.
If not, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to remain with the older Surface Studio as the new version is far more expensive than the advantages it adds.