On Wednesday, September 22, Microsoft held an online event where the company announced redesigned and updated Surface laptops and tablets. Microsoft unveiled several portable computing devices at the Surface 2021 event, including the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Go 3. The new Surface Pro 8 boasts new 11th-gen Intel chips, comes with the new Slim Pen 2, and makes minor design improvements. Alongside this, the Surface Go 3 is being launched with 10th Gen Intel processors that are claimed to provide up to 60% faster performance. Let’s take a look at the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and Surface Go 3.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, pricing, availability
The brand new Microsoft Surface Go 3 will be available with Windows 11 starting October 5th for $399. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,100 and is now available for pre-order in the US. Please note that the keyboard and pen are not included with the tablet and must be purchased separately.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Specifications
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 features a 13-inch PixelSense display with a screen resolution of 2880×1920 pixels and a 120Hz high refresh rate screen using Windows 11’s new Dynamic Refresh Rate feature. The panel also supports Dolby Vision and Adaptive Color Technology. The built-in stand can be adjusted to different angles to get the perfect working angle. The new stand also houses the Slim Pen 2, which promises more precise drawing. For the first time, the pen is said to create “tiny mechanical vibrations”that can ostensibly mimic the dragging of a pen across paper.
It runs Windows 11 and features 11th Gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors. It can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM paired with 1TB NVMe SSD storage. There is a 10-megapixel rear-facing camera with support for 4K video recording, and a 5-megapixel front-facing lens that can record video at up to 1080p. Finally, Microsoft has ditched the regular old USB A port and replaced it with Thunderbolt 4. In terms of ports, users get two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 connectors along with the standard Surface Connect charging port. The addition of Thunderbolt 4 makes it possible to connect to 4K monitors, use high-speed external storage, and more.
Microsoft Surface Go 3 Specifications
The Microsoft Surface Go 2 has a successor today: the new Surface Go 3. Inside, there are changes: Microsoft is offering Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or Intel Core i3-10100Y processors, up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The new Surface Go 3 claims to offer up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. Users can also set up this device with LTE for seamless connectivity.
There’s a 10.5-inch PixelSense display, 10-point multi-touch, 1920 x 1280, 220 ppi with a 3:2 aspect ratio. For photos, you get an 8-megapixel shooter with autofocus and Full HD video recording capability. On the front is a single 5-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls.
However, the device looks almost identical to the Surface Go 2. The new Surface Go 3 runs Windows 11 and supports Windows Hello facial recognition. Connectivity options on Surface Go 3 include WLAN AX, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, a 3.5mm jack, and a microSD slot for storage expansion.
However, let us know what you think of these new Microsoft products by leaving a comment below.