The Floor Laptop computer Studio is the most recent brand-new product in Microsoft’s vary, though it was introduced again in September 2021.
That unique machine changed the Floor E-book line, ditching the removable display screen in favour of a design with three fastened positions. You need to use it as an everyday 14.4in laptop computer, pull the display screen ahead in ‘Stage mode’ or lay it down flat in ‘Studio mode’. As talked about in our full assessment, every of those is genuinely helpful, however there’s positively nonetheless room for enchancment.
So, what can we anticipate from the upcoming second era? Right here’s every thing we all know to date.
When will the Floor Laptop computer Studio 2 be launched?
With just one era of the Floor Laptop computer Studio to date, it’s tough to foretell when the subsequent one will arrive. Nonetheless, combining its launch date with the Floor E-book it changed might present some clues:
This implies we’ll be ready greater than two years between generations, though the first-gen Laptop computer Studio arrived solely 17 months after the E-book 3.
It’s attainable we’ll see the Laptop computer Studio 2 in 2023 – in that case, look out for it at Microsoft’s typical September or October occasion. However it may simply be delayed till 2024. Home windows Central’s Zac Bowden, normally a dependable supply of Floor information, stated in a January 2023 video that latest layoffs at Microsoft may impact the upcoming Floor launch schedule.
How a lot will the Floor Laptop computer Studio 2 price?
Pricing is among the final issues to be revealed a few product – you’ll have to attend till the Laptop computer Studio 2 launches. However except there are substantial upgrades, it’s prone to be roughly consistent with the unique:
- Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB storage: $1,599.99/£1,449
- Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage: $1799.99/£1,649
- Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage: $2099.99/£1,899
- Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage: $2699.99/£2,477
- Core i7, 32GB RAM, 2TB storage: $3099.99/£2,879
Regardless of excessive inflation charges world wide, there’s an opportunity the subsequent Laptop computer Studio will be barely cheaper. Value is among the massive issues that counts in opposition to the unique, making it laborious to justify for the typical shopper. Bringing this type issue to a wider viewers will certainly be in Microsoft’s plans.
What’s going to the Floor Laptop computer Studio 2 specs and options be?
There aren’t any concrete spec rumours for the Laptop computer Studio 2 at this stage, suggesting it’ll be some time earlier than the machine is launched. Nonetheless, there are a number of educated guesses we will make.
Firstly, it’s virtually sure there’ll be new Intel chips. This will likely be from the brand new 13th-gen Raptor Lake vary if it launches in 2023 – even perhaps from the brand new high-end Core HX Collection. But when it’s delayed till 2024, 14th-gen Meteor Lake CPUs are extra seemingly.
It’d be an enormous shock to see any AMD or ARM-based chips accessible, however there’ll in all probability be a brand new discrete graphics card. This can in all probability be from the most recent GeForce RTX 40 vary, however there might also be a successor right here by the point the Laptop computer Studio 2 arrives.
If the unique is something to go by, this in all probability gained’t be probably the most highly effective laptop computer GPU Nvidia makes, however it will not be far off.
The RTX 3050 Ti on the unique Laptop computer Studio is simply accessible with a Core i7 mannequin – it’d be good to see this accessible with Core i5 relatively than simply high-end fashions. Built-in graphics are nonetheless prone to make an look, though this can be a brand new model of Intel’s Iris Xe.
With the Laptop computer Studio’s design was usually properly obtained, substantial adjustments are unlikely right here. It’ll in all probability nonetheless be a 14.4in, 3-in-1 machine with the identical three modes.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Microsoft might select to improve the show, though the corporate appears to nonetheless be proud of LCD relatively than OLED. The display screen already has a excessive 2400×1600 decision and 120Hz refresh fee that may dynamically alter relying on what you’re doing – neither want enchancment.
You possibly can say the identical for the spectacular 1080p and IR sensor that guarantee nice video calls and dependable face unlock. However it’d be good to see a separate fingerprint scanner, doubtlessly one which’s constructed into the ability button.
Given how thick the Laptop computer Studio is, there must be extra ports. Including USB-A and HDMI to the prevailing USB-C and three.5mm headphone jack could be nice, and ditching the Floor Join port for USB-C charging may liberate some house.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Battery life is already a key energy of the machine, however it’d be good to extend the 58Wh most capability. It additionally at the moment takes over two hours for a full cost, one thing which must be improved on the subsequent iteration.
As you’ll be able to see, a number of small refinements may make the second-gen Floor Laptop computer Studio a way more interesting machine. However nothing has been confirmed and even rumoured at this stage – we’ll replace this text as soon as extra data is thought.
For a take a look at different merchandise prone to launch this yr, see our separate guides to the Floor Professional 10 and Floor Laptop computer 6.