Dual displays, Windows 10X and the new Android smartphone: what Microsoft showed at its Surface Event

Microsoft held a big event a few hours ago, presenting seven new Surface gadgets and even a new version of Windows. The event was attended by company CEO Satya Nadella and Surface Gadget Development Manager Panos Panay. The presentation turned out to be more than the well-known event of 2015, when we were shown the first Surface Book, three Lumia phones, Surface Pro 4 and Microsoft Band 2. This time the main events were a dual Surface NEO laptop and a dual Android smartphone, which the company, judging by According to the presentation, he counts very much.

Surface NEO

One of the big surprises of the presentation. New folding tablet with two screens. Each 9 inches rotates 360 degrees. By itself, the screen does not add up, like in various infamous products. Just two displays are connected like this. A special keyboard has been developed for the tablet (or mini-laptop, as you prefer). It can be located on top of the lower display, if you are sensitive to tactile sensations when working. At the same time, part of the screen remains open, and you can use it a la touchbar on a MacBook. The keyboard can be disconnected and work with it remotely, and if it is not needed, it leans back to the rear panel.

Two displays can either be part of one large window or display different information. To achieve this freedom of action (and switching between modes), Microsoft has developed a new OS.

The weight of the device will be 655 grams, the thickness in the unfolded state - 5.6 mm. While the product is still being tested, the release is set for 2020. The price has not yet been announced.

Windows 10X

Surface Neo runs on a new OS designed specifically for multi-screen devices. Unlike unsuccessful products like Windows RT or Windows 10 S, with 10X the difference is that all the traditional applications on it will be available. You can download any game or software, and run it quietly, just like on a PC with Windows 10.

At the same time, Microsoft is trying to monetary interest developers in creating (or at least adapting) programs specifically for devices with multiple displays. They will have to find creative ways to work with the space between the screens. We must somehow make sure that the hinge is not very striking during operation.

Surface duo

Microsoft Android smartphone. With two screens. Similar to Surface Neo, only one and a half times less. There are two 5.6-inch displays that can unfold like a book, turning the phone into an 8.3-inch tablet. By default, there is access to the Google Play Store and all Google services, although the Android version is heavily redesigned and visually similar to Windows 10X, which stands on the large Surface Neo.

The displays can display two applications at the same time, or you can switch to landscape mode, and use the second screen in the form of a keyboard or game joystick. The device is rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 855, but all details are still subject to change. For example, Microsoft is not sure whether to put a rear camera on the device at all. The release of the gadget is scheduled for the end of 2020, so far it is presented only so that developers have time to develop applications for new hardware.

Officially, Microsoft does not call the new device the “smartphone”, although the parallels with the Galaxy Fold are obvious. Both externally and in the desired functions, the devices are very similar. Although at Microsoft it is larger, it looks more reliable and costs, presumably, should be much less. The only sad thing is that to develop their gadgets, companies now have to rely on a competitor's platform. Windows does not even install Microsoft itself on its phones.

Surface PRO X

New premium tablet company. Two-in-one, with an attached keyboard can turn into a lightweight laptop. The diagonal of the screen is 13 inches, the frames have become smaller, inside - Windows 10, a special slot for storing the Surface Pen stylus has appeared in the Type Cover keyboard.

Powered by Microsoft SQ1 chipset (created in partnership with Qualcomm). Up to 16 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB SSD, in addition to Wi-Fi, LTE connection is available. The company says the new tabletbook for every watt spent has become three times more powerful than the previous Surface Pro 6. The GPU is better than the Xbox One. Microsoft's price is $ 999 (in Russia, it will probably be from 85 thousand rubles, if it appears here at all). Available for pre-order , shipments begin on November 5th.

Surface earbuds

Microsoft enters the battle for wireless. The headphones will last up to 24 hours without battery (with case charging), they have a special dual microphone and Microsoft promises excellent sound. Management is standard: you can switch songs, adjust the sound and receive calls by tapping on their surface. There will also be close integration with Microsoft Office, such as the ability to switch slides in MS PowerPoint. How we lived without such a function before is a mystery.

Headphone sales will start in December, the price is $ 249.

Surface PRO 7

They showed another version of the "tabletbook". Upgrades compared to Pro 6 include charging from USB-C (instead of the inconvenient Surface Connector, which the company pressed on with previous versions). Inside is the 10th generation Intel processor, up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB SSD. Now the device supports fast charging, plus the company promises up to 10.5 hours of operation per charge. A pre-order for a tabletbook is open on the company's website, the base model costs $ 749, shipments begin on October 22.

Surface Laptop 3

A new generation of full-fledged Microsoft laptops. Two options: with a display of 13.5 and 15 inches. Touchscreen, resolution 2256x1504 or 2496x1664 (in both cases 201 PPI comes out). The younger model runs on the 4-core Intel Ice Lake with Iris Plus graphics, and Microsoft says it's 3 times faster than Apple's current MacBook Air. And to create the hardware for the 15-inch version, Microsoft worked closely with AMD and created the new Ryzen Surface Edition processor. With Vega 9 or RX Vega 11 graphics. The company says they've got the best graphics performance among all the laptops in their class, almost on par with gaming PCs.

Trackpad increased by 20%. The battery holds 11.5 hours of operation on a single charge in both versions. Five body colors available. Weighs 13.5-inch gadget 1.2 kg, 15-inch - 1.5 kg. Products are available for pre-order , starting from $ 999 for a smaller model and from $ 1199 for a larger one. Shipment starts on October 22.

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