Skip to main content

Better the second time around? Microsoft plots Surface 2 announcement for Sept. 23

Apple may have the tech world fixated on the long-awaited release of the iPhone 5S (and maybe 5C) tomorrow, but Microsoft wants you to turn your attention on another target: the Surface 2.

Despite universally disappointing reviews on the Pro version of its original Surface and dismal sales, Microsoft will announce a new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 on September 23. The news won’t come as much of a surprise to Surface enthusiasts (if they exist) since Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang already let the cat out of the bag last month on an upcoming Surface sequel.

Recommended Videos

So what’s in store for the next version of Microsoft’s ill-fated Surface? According to Neowin, the Pro version will pack more RAM, a “refined” kickstand, and perhaps most importantly, a Haswell Core i5 processor from Intel, which should help address complaints about battery life. We’ve also heard a docking station for the Pro is in the works, along with a “power cover” to further extend battery life.

As for the Surface 2, Neowin reports the latest Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, along with a 1080p screen.

Given the October 17 release date for Windows 8.1, you can also expect both machines to run the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, and perhaps for the launch to coincide with that date.

Nick Mokey
As Digital Trends’ Editor in Chief, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team covering every gadget under the sun, along with…
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 11: two diminutive laptops fight for the top
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

It might seem strange to compare a clamshell laptop with a detachable tablet 2-in-1, but the fact is, if you're look for a small yet powerful, highly portable PC, you have two great options. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy (maybe the best ever), and the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the best 2-in-1.

Both are very small, both are fast and get great battery life, and so both can serve anyone well who wants a real PC that feels more like a mobile device. But which one is the right choice for you?
Specs and configurations

Read more
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is $500 off at Best Buy (with a bonus)
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Flex Keyboard.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 can combine all the best things about laptop deals and tablet deals if you pair it with the Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. Fortunately, you can buy all of these with huge discounts from Best Buy! The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is on sale at $500 off, bringing the device's price down to $1,600 from $2,100, while a bundle that includes the Surface Slim Pen 2 and the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard is available at $100 off, so you'll only have to pay $350 instead of $450. That's a total of $600 in savings, so you'll only have to pay $1,950 for everything instead of $2,550, but you better hurry because either offer may expire at any moment.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 -- $1,600 $2,100 24% off

We described the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 as a "spectacular" device in our review, and we awarded it a score of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars -- so it's a steal at a 24% discount that translates to $500 in savings. The 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen with 2880 x 1920 resolution and OLED technology is simply stunning, and it will be able to handle demanding tasks with its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, and 32GB of RAM. It's also a Copilot+ device, which means it ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed in its 1TB SSD and it's designed to fully take advantage of Microsoft's Copilot. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 headlines our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you'll need to buy the following accessories to maximize its potential.

Read more
Harness Microsoft’s Copilot with this Surface Pro 11 sale
The Surface Pro 11 on a brown table.

If you want a device that will maximize Copilot, Microsoft's powerful AI assistant, it would make sense to go for the Microsoft Surface Pro 11. And if you buy it today, you can take advantage of Best Buy's offer of a $350 discount for a package that bundles the 2-in-1 laptop with the Surface Pro Keyboard. Instead of $1,350, you'll only have to pay $1,000, which is actually a pretty good price for a machine of this caliber. It's not a good time to hesitate with your purchase though, as the savings may disappear as soon as tomorrow.

Buy Now

Read more