Surface Studio 2: what we want to see

When Microsoft revealed the Surface Studio, the world was in awe of the all-in-one masterpiece. Now, in 2018, we’re anxiously waiting to get our hands on the Surface Studio 2.

While the Surface Studio doesn’t have enough ports, the sequel could – and should – fix this oversight with Thunderbolt 3 implementation. The Surface Studio 2 could also use newer Coffee Lake processors and 5K display – maybe even an RTX 2080. If Microsoft can successfully update the Surface Studio 2, it could be the perfect foil to the Apple iMac Pro.

We don’t have much to go off of, though, as Microsoft remains tight-lipped about the Surface Studio sequel. However, we don’t need to know much to do some speculation, though, so let’s dive into what the Surface Studio 2 may look like.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The would-be second Surface Studio desktop
• When is it out? Possibly between September and November 2018
• What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current model

Surface Studio 2 release date

The original Surface Studio launched in late 2016, so Microsoft’s iMac competitor is due for a refresh given the firm’s general cadence for Surface products that aren’t the Surface Pro.

However, beyond a shaky Windows Central report, citing sources that said ‘Surface Studio 2 is a-go’, we haven’t really heard anything about when we can expect the Surface Studio sequel.

The Surface Studio could be right around the corner – we could see it launching any time in the next few months. However, time is running out if Microsoft is going to release it by the end of the year. Until more solid information shows up, though, we’re going to stick with our initial September-November prediction.

Surface Studio 2 price

Sadly, there’s even less known regarding the Surface Studio 2’s possible pricing, i.e. absolutely nothing. So, all we can expect of the potential device’s price so far is for it to hold close to that of the previous model.

Currently, the Surface Studio goes for anywhere between $2,999 (£2,999, AU$4,699) and $4,199 (£4,249, AU$6,599). For Microsoft to go any further above that price might be a shot in the foot, especially considering the pricing of its primary competition, the Apple iMac line.

Conversely, it’s tough to expect Microsoft to drive the price much lower than it is now, either, as the original Surface Studio saw an impressive demand at its current price point during launch. Stay tuned to this space as more rumors and leaks come to light.

What we want to see in Surface Studio 2

For as impressed as we were – and still are – by the Surface Studio, plenty has progressed in the nearly two years since its release, and there’s always room for improvement. Here’s what we hope to see come to fruition in the Surface Studio 2:

More powerful components
This may seem obvious, but the Surface Studio 2 would benefit from some more powerful internals. The original was weak on release day. This time around, a proper desktop-grade Coffee Lake or 9th-generation Coffee Lake-S processor is critically important, as are up to date graphics.

With the Ray Tracing technology introduced with Nvidia Turing, the Surface Studio 2 could take off as the workstation it clearly wants to be. Ray Tracing, at the moment, at least, has more to offer creatives and professionals than gamers, anyway.  

An even sharper screen
The current Surface Studio screen is absolutely gorgeous, sporting a massive 4,500 x 3,000-pixel resolution across the sRGB, DCI-P3 and Vivid color spaces. But, there’s no reason that it can’t go further. Seeing a 5K Surface Studio to directly rival the priciest iMac would be awfully exciting for content creators.

Thunderbolt 3 connectivity
For as versatile as the Thunderbolt 2 DisplayPort is on the current incarnation of the Surface Studio, it’s about time for Microsoft to move onto Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C – across the entire Surface lineup. Not only does it offer more throughput for file transfers, but it also serves as a one plug hub for all displays and other peripherals you may want to use. If the Surface Studio 2 is to truly compete, it needs to respect this growing standard for its audience’s sake. 

All accessories included
The Surface Studio is an expensive device – and the sequel will probably be no different. For how much the Surface Studio 2 is going to cost, Microsoft should be including all of the essential accessories out of the box – that even means the Surface Dial. When you’re spending several thousand dollars, you should expect a complete experience. 

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