Gigarefurb Refurbished Laptops News

New Surface Pro X launch date, specs and price: everything we know so far

Microsoft held its Fall 2021 event on September 22, revealed a fresh lineup of Surface products, and introduced a new Surface Pro X 2-in-1 device.

Pre-orders are now live for the other newly-announced products in the Surface range, but we only know that the new Surface Pro X will be releasing in 2022, and it isn’t currently available for pre-order. Given it’s shipping with Windows 11, we were expecting a sale date after October 5 (the launch date for Windows 11), but 2022 could mean a wait of anything from a few months to over a year.

The 2019 model of the Surface Pro X wasn’t well received, but Microsoft has its sights set on improving existing features as well as adding new additions, such as the aforementioned Windows 11 operating system, plus the new Surface Slim Pen 2, and a Wi-Fi-only model.

Battery life will also be addressed, with Microsoft stating that users can expect up to 15 hours of use on a single charge. The previous generation of Surface Pro X didn’t impress us with its meager battery life, achieving just under eight hours of real-world use in our benchmarks, so if this anticipated battery life adheres to Microsoft’s claims, this will have greatly improved one of the biggest issues we had with the older model.

While we wait to get a hands-on review, we’re here to keep you updated on everything you need to know about the device before it hits the streets. Keep this page bookmarked, as we will update it as soon as any new information comes our way.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Microsoft Surface Pro X, refreshed for 2021
When is it out? Pre-orders are live, a full launch expected for early Oct
What will it cost? Prices start from $899

New Surface Pro X release date

Microsoft Surface Pro X from the side, showing the front and rear

(Image credit: Microsoft)

There have been no announcements regarding an on-the-shelf launch for the New Microsoft Surface Pro X, other than it will be made available sometime in 2022. in fact, the New Surface Pro X didn’t get much of a mention at all during the event, so it’s still mostly clouded in some mystery.

The original Microsoft Surface Pro X was released back on October 1 2019, but we know that this refreshed model will ship with Windows 11, and as the OS is launching on October 5, It was always going to be highly unlikely that you’d be able to wander into a store and pick one up before then.

There are also going to be models available with Windows 10, but it’s unclear if the devices that have Windows 10 pre-installed will be made available any earlier than those running Windows 11.

New Surface Pro X price

A mood board being created on the Microsoft Surface Pro X

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The pricing for differing variants of the Surface Pro X hasn’t been revealed, but the previous model gained criticism for being a particularly expensive price of kit.

Microsoft has announced that this updated model will start at $899 (around £660 /AU$1250 ), which is still expensive but cheaper than the original which started at $999 (£999, AU$1,699) for 8GB of memory (RAM) and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD).

A model was also available with double the storage for $1,299 (£1,269, AU$2,149), and double the RAM (16GB) with a 512GB SSD, which costs $1,799 (£1,819, AU$2,899), so it’s likely we will see similar increases in this New Surface Pro X as the specifications vary.

New Surface Pro X specs

Someone using the Microsoft Surface pen with the Microsoft Surface Pro X

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Spec sheet

Here are the available specifications for the New Microsoft Surface Pro X:

Operating System:
Surface Pro X: Windows 11 Home on ARM
Surface Pro X with LTE: Windows 10 Home on ARM
Surface Pro X for Business: Windows 11 Pro on ARM
Surface Pro X with LTE for Business: Windows 11 Pro on ARM
CPU: Microsoft SQ®1, Microsoft SQ® 2
Graphics: Microsoft SQ® 1 Adreno™ 685 GPU, Microsoft SQ® 2 Adreno™ 690 GPU
Display: 2880 x 1920
Memory: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
Storage: Removable solid-state drive (SSD) options: 128, 256, or 512GB
Network: Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
Battery: Up to 15 hours of typical device usage
Camera: Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing), 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video, 10.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k video
Audio: Dual far-field Studio Mics, 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio
Ports: 2 x USB-C®3.2 Gen 2, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Keyboard connector port, 1 x nano SIM (LTE only)
Size: 11.3 in x 8.2 in x 0.28 in (287 mm x 208 mm x 7.3 mm)

We’re aware of the various specifications that will be available in the Microsoft Surface Pro X, but there’s no current clarification on what set models will be available, and how the pricing will differ between them.

There are four different operating systems available across home and business as Microsoft will be launching the Surface Pro X with either Windows 11 or Windows 10 for those that need to retain the older OS.

We’re not sure if this will make the device any cheaper, but support is planned for Windows 10 for the next five years, so if you’re forced to use the older OS you don’t need to concern yourself too much.

Both WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity will be available as standard, but the Surface Pro X also has Gigabit LTE capabilities for some speedy downloads. Microsoft also announced that a WiFi-only model will be made available, but it’s unclear if this restricted device will be the cheapest available model in the lineup.

The display is listed with a 2880 x 1920 resolution, which is great news for creatives and folk who like a crisp image, but this doesn’t shine a light to the miniLED tech being used in the Apple M1 iPad Pro which will likely be the surface Pro X’s biggest competitor.

Memory-wise, it seems both an 8GB or 16GB version will be made available, and storage has similar flexibility with options of 128, 256, or 512GB in the form of a removable SSD. It’s unlikely that this is ‘consumer’ replaceable, but we’re willing to be surprised.

You’ll be restricted to just two USB-C 3.2 slots for peripherals but this is a standard for 2-in-1 devices, and with BlueTooth technology, you can easily connect most wireless devices should you need.

Go to Source

Microsoft’s redesigned Surface Pro 8 sets the new bar for Windows tablets

Microsoft announced three new Surface tablets on Wednesday, including a larger, more powerful Surface Pro 8, a new Surface Go 3 that boasts options for a faster Intel Core i3 processor, and an updated Surface Pro X. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 boasts Thunderbolt ports for the first time, integrated LTE, Slim Pen integrated storage and charging, as well as a new display that can run at up to 120Hz.

The new updates to Microsoft’s tablet lineup are on par with what we expected from this Surface launch, with Windows 11 looming on October 5, though Microsoft’s quick pace of recent tablet introductions means that there’s not as much of a performance gap as with prior generations.

Surface Pro 8

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 will go on sale today, and ship on Oct. 5. Prices will begin at $1,100, and go up to $2,600 for consumers.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7+ for Business tops our list of the best Windows tablets, as did 2020’s Surface Pro 7 for consumers. Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8 improves over both, inside and out. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7+ and the new Surface Pro 8 both use Intel’s 11th-gen Core chips, though the Surface Pro 8 boasts more powerful processor options—topping out at a Core i7-1185G7, versus the Core i7-1165G7 found on the Surface Pro 7+. Naturally, the Surface Pro 8 includes options to run Windows 11, too.

However, the new Surface Pro 8 is arguably defined more by its external features, a welcome update to a Surface Pro lineup that has remained somewhat static in its look and feel for several years. Interestingly, Microsoft disclosed that the Surface Pro 8 is part of Intel’s Evo platform, reserved for special, intensive collaboration between Intel’s engineers and the laptop manufacturer.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 — Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8, with the pen cubby exposed.

Here, Microsoft is introducing a slightly larger 13-inch (2,880x 1,920) multitouch “PixelSense Flow” display that preserves the 3:2 screen ratio, versus the 12.3-inch (2736×1824) displays we’ve traditionally expected as part of the Surface Pro lineup. Microsoft says the screen will run up to 120Hz, a first for the Surface tablets, designed around the new Dynamic Refresh Rate technology that Microsoft implemented for smoother e-ink experiences. The Surface Pro 8’s display is up to 12.5 percent brighter (versus what, we don’t know) with an ambient sensor that will detect both external lighting and color to adjust the display accordingly. Finally, Microsoft has added Dolby Vision HDR support, not surprising given the AutoHDR feature that’s arriving with Windows 11.

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8 also includes a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, indicative of how its Surface Pro X tablet has influenced the design of the Surface lineup.

As it did during the transition between USB-A and USB-C ports, Microsoft is treading lightly here. In addition to the two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the Surface Pro 8 tablet still includes a Surface Connect port. This will presumably allow the Surface Pro 8 to charge itself either via the included 65W Surface charger, or via a more conventional USB-C charger—Microsoft said that you’ll be able to quick-charge your Surface Pro 8 to 80 percent in “just over an hour,” with a total of 16 hours of available battery life. The addition of Thunderbolt 4 also means that users will have a choice between the pricey Surface Dock and the broader ecosystem of Thunderbolt docks, as well.

Physically, the Surface Pro 8 is surprisingly a bit smaller than its predecessor, even with the larger screen—that likely means that the bezels have shrunk significantly. But at 1.96 pounds, it’s also slightly heavier. Black isn’t a color option this time around, with Platinum and Graphite as the available choices.

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro Signature Keyboards now include a pen cubby, another way in which the Surface Pro X paved the way for the Surface Pro 8. Here, Microsoft’s cubby hides and charges the new Surface Slim Pen 2 (sold separately). The pen has haptic motor inside that simulates the way in which real pens interact with paper. The Surface Slim Pen 2 will also offer greater precision and lower latency when inking compared with its predecessor, the Surface Slim Pen, Microsoft said, sensing up to 4,096 levels of pressure. Microsoft didn’t reveal key details, such as the charging time and battery life of the Slim Pen 2. However, Microsoft did say that the new haptic experiences will only be available with the Surface Pro 8 and its stunning new Surface Laptop Studio.

Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2 — A closeup of the Surface Slim Pen 2.

We do know, however, that the new Surface Pro Signature Keyboards will still be sold separately, as well as the Slim Pen 2. You’ll still have the option to use older Surface Pro Type Covers with the new Surface Pro 8, but you obviously won’t be able to take advantage of the new pen cubby or charging features with those.

Finally, there a few other subtle bonuses: Cellular connectivity appears on the majority of the Surface Pro 8 models, though there’s still a Wi-Fi only option on the low end of Surface Pro 8 commercial offerings. Inside the Surface Pro 8 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 LTE modem, supporting both removable SIM and eSIMs. Microsoft doesn’t list a SIM slot among its port selection, however, so it’s possible only eSIMs will be supported.

Microsoft’s Surface cameras have been beefed up too, with a more powerful 10 megapixel rear camera. Interestingly, Microsoft has taken the user-facing camera and has added sensors that adjust for exposure and color. In other words, the display will now expose your camera during a Teams call properly, lighting your face to best advantage. The Surface Pro 8 also includes a color sensor that will adjust the display’s color to compensate for the ambient light, a nifty touch.

Microsoft doesn’t appear to have made many other changes to the Surface Pro 8 hardware, especially in terms of memory and storage—though only the low-end 128GB and 256GB SSDs are removeable. We’ve included what we know of the Surface Pro 8 specifications, below. Feel free to review our Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ review from 2021 and our Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review from 2020 for additional detail.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 specifications

Display: 13-inch PixelSense Flow (2880×1920, 267 PPI)
Processor: Consumer: (Core i5-1135G7, Core i7-1185G7) Commercial: (Core i3-1115G4, Core i5-1145G7, Core i7-1185G7)
Graphics: UHD (Core i3), Iris Xe (Core i5, i7)
Memory: 8/16/32GB LPDDR4x RAM
Storage: 128GB/256GB removable SSD; 512GB/1TB
Ports: 2 USB-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4), 1 Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover Port, 3.5mm jack
Security: Camera (Windows Hello)
Camera: 5MP/1080p (user-facing), 10MP (rear-facing)
Battery: “Up to 16 hours of battery life”
Wireless: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1; LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
Operating system: Consumer: Windows 11 Home; Business: Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro
Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37in.
Weight: 1.96lb
Color: Platinum, Graphite
Price: Starting at $1,099.99
Optional accessories: Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, Surface Slim Pen 2

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 prices

Core i5/8GB RAM/128 GB SSD: $1,099.99 USD (Platinum)
Core i5/8/256: $1,199.99 (Platinum, Graphite)
Core i5/8/512: $1,399.99 (Platinum, Graphite)
Core i5/16/256 – $1,399.99 (Platinum, Graphite)
Core i7/16/256 – $1,599.99 (Platinum, Graphite)
Core i7/16/512 – $1,899.99 (Platinum, Graphite)
Core i7/16/1TB – $2,199.99 (Platinum)
Core i7/32/1TB – $2,599.99 (Platinum)

Microsoft Surface Go 3

The most noteworthy feature of the new Surface Go 3 is its updated processor, which now includes a quad-core 10th-gen Core i3 in addition to a dual-core 10th-gen Pentium Gold 6500Y processor. If you’re willing to risk owning a Windows tablet with just 4GB of RAM (we wouldn’t) then prices will start at $399.99 and go up from there. Otherwise, the Pentium Gold model with 8GB of memory is $549.99. You can preorder today, with delivery on Oct. 5.

Interestingly, Microsoft’s LTE options now extend down to the minimum configurations, too, rather than remaining a premium offering. Microsoft executives said that had been a customer request for the Go 3, which is now seen as a PC for individuals within a family, rather than sharing a family PC. There’s a new 256GB storage option. But Windows 10 S—sorry, Windows 11 S—is still the default consumer OS.

Otherwise, the Surface Go 3 appears to be largely unchanged from its predecessor, the Surface Go 2—an otherwise nifty little tablet that still had some price/performance issues in its previous generation.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 specifications

Display: 10.5-inch (1920×1280, 220 ppi), 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense display with 10-point touch; Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Processor: Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y/Core i3-10100Y
Graphics: UHD 615
Memory: 4GB or 8GB RAM
Storage: 64GB eMMC/128GB-256GB SSD
Ports: USB-C, Surface Connect, microSD, 3.5mm jack, optional nanoSIM tray
Camera: 5MP (1080p) user-facing, Windows Hello; 8MP (1080p) rear-facing, with autofocus
Battery: up to 11 hours of use
Wireless: 802.11 ax (Wi-Fi 6); Bluetooth 5.0; Qualcomm LTE Advanced X16 modem
Operating system: Windows 10 Home in S mode (consumer); Windows 10 Pro (commercial channels)
Dimensions (inches): 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches (8.3mm)
Weights (per Microsoft): 1.2 pounds with Wi-Fi, 1.22 with LTE (not counting Type Cover)
Color: Silver
Optional accessories: Surface Go 2 Signature Type Cover in Platinum ($130), Black ($100), Poppy Red ($130), and Ice Blue ($130); Surface Pen ($100 for Ice Blue or Poppy Red ), Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub ($100)
Price: $399.99 and up

Microsoft Surface Go 3 prices

Pentium Gold/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, WiFi: $399.99
Pentium Gold/8GB/128GB, WiFi: $549.00
Core i3/8GB/128GB, WiFi: $629.99
Pentium Gold/4GB/64GB, LTE: $499.99
Core i3/8GB/128GB, LTE: $729.99

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Microsoft’s Surface Pro X tablet has been left largely unchanged since its launch in 2019 and the somewhat middling review of the Surface Pro X we handed out later. Since then, it’s been updated with a faster SQ2 processor in 2020.

Now, in late 2021, Microsoft is adding a Wi-Fi only option to its former LTE lineup. Microsoft would also like you to know that Windows 11 on ARM includes 64-bit X86 emulation by default now, so Windows emulation problems on Arm chips should hopefully go away, mostly. We’re told that some apps still won’t work because of incompatible graphics drivers.

We’ve included the specifications of the Surface Pro X below, followed by the new prices. The Surface Pro X can be preordered today and will ship on Oct. 5.

Microsoft Surface Pro X specifications

Display: 13-inch (2880×1920) PixelSense display, multi-touch
Processor: Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2
Graphics: Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685/SQ 2 Adreno 690
Memory: 8GB/16GB LPDDR4x RAM
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB SSD
Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 Surface Connect, 1 optional nanoSIM, Surface keyboard connector
Camera: 5MP/1080p (user facing); 10MP autofocus with 1080p/4K video options
Battery: up to 15 hours of use
Wireless: Wi-Fi5/802.11ac; Bluetooth 5; Snapdragon X24 LTE modem with nanoSIM or eSIM
Operating system: Windows 10 Home onArm
Dimensions (inches): 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 in.
Weight: 1.7 pounds
Color: Black, Platinum
Optional accessories: Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle ($270)
Price: $899.99 on up

Surface Pro X pricing

SQ1/8GB/128GB SSD, WiFi: $899.99 USD (Platinum)
SQ1/8GB/128GB, LTE: $999.99 USD (Black)
SQ1/8GB/256GB, WiFi: $1,099.99 USD (Platinum)
SQ1/8GB/256GB, LTE: $1,249.99 USD (Black)
SQ2/16GB/256GB, WiFi: $1,299.99 USD (Platinum)
SQ2/16GB/256GB, LTE: $1,449.99 USD (Platinum, Black)
SQ2/16GB/512GB, WiFi: $1,499.99 USD (Platinum)
SQ2/16GB/512GB LTE: $1,649.99 USD (Platinum, Black)

Accessory pricing

Microsoft also provided prices for its various accessories, including the new Surface Slim Pen 2, a standalone Slim Pen 2 charger, the new Signature Keyboards, and more. A new Ocean Plastic Mouse is made of 20 percent plastic that Microsoft and its partners reclaimed from the ocean—not oceangoing plastic like some competitors use, but actual plastic reclaimed from the ocean.

Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse — Microsoft’s Ocean Plastic Mouse has an interesting sand/soapy texture.

Surface Slim Pen 2: $129.99
Surface Slim Pen Charger: $34.99
Surface Pro Signature Keyboard w/ Slim Pen 2 Bundle: $279.99
Surface Pro Signature Keyboard: $179.99 (Alcantara Ice Blue, Poppy Red, Platinum, Black)
Surface Pro Keyboard: $139.99
Surface Go Signature Type Cover: $129.99 (Alcantara Ice Blue, Poppy Red, Platinum)
Surface Go Type Cover: $99.99 (Black microfiber)
Ocean Plastic Mouse: $24.99

Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

Go to Source

Surface Adaptive Kit shows Microsoft is serious about accessibility

The Microsoft Fall 2021 Event is over and we saw lots of incredible new devices, but one of our favorite new offerings from Microsoft isn’t a device, it’s the Surface Adaptive Kit, which we got to see up close at a press event earlier this week in New York City.

The Surface Adaptive Kit features several sets of adhesive bump labels to provide better touch sensing for key caps, including translucent labels that don’t obscure the keys, port indicator labels, and opener support for those with motor disabilities.

During the Microsoft Fall 2021 Event, Kris Hunter, principle director of Devices UX Research and Accessibility, and Dave Dame, Director of Accessibility for Devices, demonstrated how the Surface Adaptive Kit can be used to do everything from identify ports to assist users in opening their devices using pull tabs and lanyards.

“It’s not simply about creating accessible technology,” said Dame, who has cerebral palsy, “it’s about what the person can achieve and experience because of that technology.”

The four sheets of adaptive stickers in the Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Surface Adaptive Kit is compatible with all the most recent Surface devices like the Surface Laptop 4, Surface Book 3, and Surface Pro 8, but if we’re being honest, you could probably use these on any device you have which is one of the best parts about it.

It’s great when a manufacturer introduces accessibility features into its devices, but that doesn’t do much for people with disabilities who don’t own those devices, especially when you consider that people with disabilities are among the most economically vulnerable people in society, owing to employment discrimination or even the inability to work at all.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft for more details about the pricing and availability of the Surface Adaptive Kit and we’ll update this article when we hear back from the company. Whatever its price though, it’s going to be far cheaper than buying a whole new device just to have access to better accessibility features.

It’s a small thing for most of us, in the grand scheme of things, but for those it empowers to use new technology, or even to simply use their devices in a more comfortable manner, it is a huge improvement over where we were just five years ago when people with disabilities were almost entirely ignored by the large tech companies.

Image 1 of 5

Accessibility aids for Microsoft Studio devices in pastel colors — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Image 2 of 5

The Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit applied to a Microsoft Surface Pro 8 — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Image 3 of 5

Image 4 of 5

Image 5 of 5

Microsoft continues to lead on accessibility

We cover a lot of hardware here at TechRadar, from every major brand on Earth, and there really is no question that Microsoft is becoming a real leader on the accessibility front.

Computer hardware has typically been one of the easier obstacles to overcome when it comes to accessibility, since a USB port is a USB port and so long as a device complies with USB standards, a computer will recognize it, allowing a lot of accessible controllers to work with computers.

But more mobile devices than a desktop or even a laptop are becoming a more common and important feature of the computing landscape, and it’s here that accessibility is often being overlooked. While iOS and Android have accessibility features built in, the device running those operating systems typically have no accessibility interfaces whatsoever.

While the Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit might be branded for Microsoft Surface devices, there is nothing stopping someone with disabilities from using these physical indicators on an iPad, which is a very big deal. Seeing how simple a solution something like the Surface Adaptive Kit is to some very common accessibility issues, you’d think more big name tech companies would have done something like this.

But, as with the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Microsoft seems to be one of the only big name tech companies out there who really care to bother trying to solve those issues, and for that, they deserve real praise.

Go to Source

Microsoft Surface Go 3: price, features and everything we know

As we expected, Microsoft announced the Surface Go 3 at its Fall 2021 hardware event. We’d seen an influx of rumors recently, which made the likely hood of an appearance likely, so we were pleased to see the affordable 2-in-1 device get an update.

Toting up to 10th generation Intel processors, and with Windows 11 pre-installed, the Surface Go 3 looks like it could be an ideal device for students, or anyone who likes the look of the Surface Pro 8 (which was also announced at the event), but doesn’t want to pay the premium price tag of Microsoft’s flagship device.

Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any new details that reach our desks.

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next-generation Surface Go
When is it out? Pre-orders are now live
What will it cost? Probably starting around $399 (£379, AU$599)

Surface Go 3 release date

The Surface Go 3 was announced at Microsoft’s Fall Hardware Event on September 22, 2021. As well as announcing the new device, Microsoft also revealed that pre-orders are live as well.

With it coming with Windows 11 pre-installed, it will get into people’s hands on October 5, 2021, alongside the operating system’s launch.

Press images of Surface Go 3 tablet

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Go 3 price

The Surface Go line has always felt like Microsoft’s attempt at securing the budget market and giving Apple’s iPad and iPad mini a good run for their money.

It definitely succeeded there, touting the original Surface Go at $399 (£379, AU$599) for its lowest configuration and $549 (£509, AU$839) maxed-out. The Surface Go 2 is just as affordable, starting at $399 (£379, AU$599), although it does go up to $729.99 (£719, AU$1,199) for its highest configuration.

It’s highly likely that the Surface Go 3 will follow suit, starting at $399/£379/AU$599, only with more powerful specs. However, if Microsoft does switch to AMD chips, which tend to be more affordable than Intel’s, this succeeding device could potentially be more affordable.

Leaked pricing suggests that apparently it’ll start at about 380 Euros (around $445, £325, AU$610), running up to 575 Euros (around $675, £490, AU$930) for the top-end model of the Go 3, but those conversions from Thai currency are of limited value and aren’t going to reflect what Microsoft will charge in other markets like the US.

It might also work in Microsoft’s favor if it’s somehow able to bundle the device with a Type Cover or Surface Pen, though it hasn’t done that in years, so we wouldn’t put much stock in that happening.

Press images of Surface Go 3 tablet

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Go 3 specifications

The Surface Go 3 comes with a 10.5-inch 1920 x 1280 resolution display, 4GB or 8GB RAM, and either a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor, or quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i3-10100Y.

This should be fine for most day-to-day tasks, though it won’t compete with the Surface Pro 8 when it comes to performance.

It also runs Windows 11 S Mode, which is a limited version of the operating system which only allows you to install apps from the Microsoft Store. This could help prevent people from installing apps that the Surface Go 3 will struggle with.

If that sounds a bit worrying then don’t worry, as hopefully it’s easy to switch off S Mode to use the full version of Windows 11, allowing you to run any app you like. You may find that the Surface Go 3 will struggle with some of these applications, however, and we’d rule out any gaming as well – unless you stream games via Xbox Game Pass.

What we want to see in a Surface Go 3

The Surface Go 2 is already a pretty impressive Windows 10 tablet, rocking a premium design and decent specs for less. It’s certainly a great value for consumers who don’t want to spend close to a thousand dollars for a tablet.

However, as can be expected in cheaper devices, it also comes with its share of shortcomings. The base model is underpowered. Considering that there are quite a few Android tablets out that will give you what you need for a lot less, and you’re missing the Type Cover and Surface Pen, which you have to purchase separately, it’s not as compelling a purchase for its target audience as its rivals.

So, for the Surface Go 3 to be really worth it, Microsoft would need to make a few adjustments. Luckily, the company has a couple of years to work on necessary improvements. In the meantime, let’s talk about what we’re hoping to see in the Surface Go 3.

More power in its base model
Those hoping to only use the Surface Go 3 as a tablet, either for after-work entertainment or catch up on current events and with loved ones on social media might be satisfied with the line’s entry-level configuration. To the rest – students, for example – the base model will feel it underpowered, especially next to its cheaper Android rivals.

The higher configurations are more powerful, certainly. But, you’re then paying more, which beats the purpose of getting a cheap tablet.

If Microsoft wants to convince more budget buyers to upgrade to the next-generation Surface Go, it needs to give its base model a bit more juice.

Cheaper configurations
Something we hope might happen with Microsoft opting to use AMD chips, replacing the Intel chips in the Surface Go’s earlier models, is for the price to drop – if not for its base model, then for its higher configurations. That will make it more in line with its Android rivals in price.

Of course, the aforementioned lower-powered AMD chips might not even show up in the Surface Go 3. If it does, however, it might prove an even better value to its target audience.

Higher resolution cameras
Both generations of the Surface Go feature the same 5MP front-facing and 8MP rear cameras, but let’s face it, those resolutions are hardly enough these days. The Surface Duo has an 11MP camera while the Surface Pro X has a 10MP rear-facing one.

Type Cover and/or stylus pen included
One of the biggest gripes about the Surface Go line is that they do not come with a Type Cover or a stylus pen. For those looking to use it as a tablet, that’s certainly not a problem. And, to be fair, its biggest competitor, the iPad, doesn’t either.

Still, Microsoft is touting this as its “smallest, lightest 2-in-1 laptop” – and what is a laptop without its keyboard and trackpad. Microsoft cannot hope to continue touting the Surface Go as one without that Type Cover, especially not to students who’d rather not spend an extra $100+ for it.

Slimmer bezels
Microsoft did shrink the bezel on the Surface Go 2 so it has an even bigger display without increasing the tablet’s size. However, the Surface Pro X has proven that even slimmer bezels are possible, so it would be nice to see the Surface Go 3 to follow suit, giving its users a bigger screen area for the same device footprint.

Go to Source

How to watch the Carabao Cup on TV & online

The Carabao Cup was one of the very few competitions to be unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic during the 2019-20 season and is back in 2021 for more inter-league action. If you want to know how to watch it on TV or stream online then you’ve come to the right place.

Which Carabao Cup games are on TV?

Here are the upcoming Carabao Cup fixtures with dates and UK kick-off times. If the game is being broadcast on TV we’ll also include which channel it’s on.

Wed 22 Sept (third round)

Brighton vs Swansea – KO 19.30
Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon – KO 19:45
Chelsea vs Aston Villa – KO 19:45
Manchester United vs West Ham – KO 19:45 – Sky Sports Main Event/Football
Millwall vs Leicester City – KO 19:45
Wolves vs Spurs – KO 19:45

How to watch the Carabao Cup on Sky Sports

Sky Sports has exclusive rights to the Carabao Cup in the UK, so you’ll need to pay a fee in order to watch the match. Sky Sports will show two live matches from the first round to the fifth round, both semi-finals and the Carabao Cup final.

Existing Sky Q customers with a Sky Sports package can also tune into games on TV or online via Sky Go.

The cheapest standalone plan currently costs £18 a month, or you can get all the Sky Sports channels at a reduced price of £23pm for 18 months. See the full range of subscriptions on the Sky website.

How to watch the Carabao Cup via Now

However, if you don’t want to commit to a Sky Sports subscription, there is another option. The Sky-owned Now streaming service (previously Now TV) offers access to the channels as and when you need it, making it a great option if you just want to watch the Carabao Cup final.

Now is available on a wide range of devices including smartphones and games consoles and now offers HD quality if you buy the Now TV Boost option.

Your options are a Day Pass (24 hours of access) from £9.99 but it’s going to make much more sense to get the Month Pass if you plan to also watch the Premier League or any other live sport.

This costs £33.99pm, but Sky is throwing in Now TV Boost (usually £3pm) at no extra cost. As well as HD quality, this will also allow to to stream on up to three devices simultaneously, as opposed to two without.

Click here to view Now’s Sky Sports Pass packages.

For more information, there’s a full guide to Carabao Cup fixtures and results on the EFL website.

How to watch the Carabao Cup abroad

If you’re a British viewer living abroad (or planning to travel at some point) and you still want to watch using your existing UK services, then you can also use a VPN to ‘browse from the UK’ and access both your Sky Sports and Now subscriptions.

Nord VPN is one of our top recommendations, but you can check out our best VPN chart, which shows you some of the best services for accessing UK content from abroad.

Want more football? Here’s how to watch the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

Go to Source

Microsoft announces Surface Go 3, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8 and more ahead of Windows 11 launch

Microsoft has officially announced a huge range of new Surface products, bringing long-awaited updates to its existing products (such as the Surface Pro 8), along with a few genuine surprises as well.

The most eye-catching launch was the Surface Laptop Studio, which is a laptop aimed at creatives with a 14.4-inch touchscreen that can be pulled out and angled to turn it into a digital canvas. The screen comes with a ‘PixelSense’ resolution of 2,400 x 1,600 and up to 120Hz refresh rate.

Hardware-wise it sounds pretty awesome with 11th gen Intel processors and the option to come with an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4GB of GGDR6 memory. There is also a commercial model available with Nvidia’s professional-grade RTX A2000 laptop GPU.

The Surface Laptop Studio’s pre-orders are now live, starting at $1,599 (around £1,200, AU$2,200).

Surface Laptop Studio with screen pulled out in canvas mode

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Dolby Atmos speakers, a 1080p webcam, 16GB or 32GB RAM and up to 2TB SSD round out the features.

The design itself is reminiscent of a tablet, such as the iPad Pro or Surface Pro 7 with a connected keyboard. Unlike those tablets, though, this keyboard can’t be removed. We love seeing companies play with the traditional laptop form factor, so we’ll be keeping our eye on the Surface Laptop Studio. It’ll be interesting to see how digital creatives, its primary target audience, react to this.

Several Surface Pro 8 tablets

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Pro 8 gets announced

The Surface Pro 8 also made an appearance at Microsoft’s Surface event. This was less of a surprise, but still welcome, as the Surface Pro 7 released almost two years ago, so it was well overdue an upgrade.

Going by Microsoft’s announcement, it thankfully seems like the wait will be worth it, with the company claiming that it is the ‘most powerful Pro ever, offering twice the performance of the Surface Pro 7 with ‘40% higher sustained CPU performance’ and ‘74% faster graphics sustained performance’.

This is thanks to the Surface Pro 8 coming with 11th gen Intel processors (which feature Intel Xe integrated graphics) and 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of RAM.

The Surface Pro 8 also comes with a 13-inch 2,880 x 1,920 screen, which is 11% larger, with a 10.8% higher resolution, than previous screens, and can also come with an optional 120Hz refresh rate.

Microsoft also promises up to 16 hours of battery life, with the Surface Pro 8 charging to 80% in just over an hour. There’s also a 5MP front-facing camera with 1080p video, and a 10MP rear-facing camera with 1080p and 4K video support, which should make this a great device for making video calls on.

As with previous Surface Pro devices, the Surface Pro 8 can be used with a keyboard to turn it into a laptop-like device, but that’s still sold separately.

The Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,099 (around £810, $1,500). That will get you an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.

It’s a pretty big bump from the Surface Pro 7, which launched at just $749/£799/AU$1,249. However, that was for a configuration with just a Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM. But the Pro 7 configuration with a Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD launched for just $899/£899/AU$1,499, which is a full $200 cheaper in the US. It’s a pretty massive price difference.

Surface Go 3 tablet with keyboard attached

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Budget Surface Go 3 is also coming

The Surface Go 3 is another affordable tablet from Microsoft, again offering a stylish design but for a price that’ll be more realistic for many people. It comes with a 10.5-inch 1920 x 1280 resolution display, 4GB or 8GB RAM, and either a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor, or quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i3-10100Y.

Previous Surface Go products have been great devices for students, as their lower prices and excellent build quality makes them well suited for schools and colleges, and, hopefully, the Surface Go 3 will continue that trend. Pricing will be key here – but so far Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the price of the Surface Go 3, but we’ll update this story as soon as we hear more.

Two Surface Pro X tablets back-to-back

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A new Surface Pro X

Microsoft has also surprised us with a new Surface Pro X. The original was an interesting attempt by Microsoft to create a Surface Pro tablet powered by a bespoke ARM processor co-designed by Microsoft (rather than relying on Intel to provide the processing power).

The original Surface Pro X didn’t really blow us away, however, due to its high price and lackluster performance – a common complaint about ARM-based Windows 10 devices back when it launched in 2019.

So, we’re pleased that Microsoft is having another attempt, and it looks like it could improve on its predecessor in a number of ways. For a start, there’s a new entry level price point of $899 (around £650, AU$1,250), which is a lot more affordable.

The original Surface Pro X only offered a version with both Wi-Fi and Gigabit LTE mobile internet, but the new model comes with a Wi-Fi only option, which helps lower the price and should be a good option for people who don’t want to pay extra for an LTE mobile data connection they’ll never use.

Windows 11 on ARM will also support x86 and x64 emulation, so this new version should have access to a much wider selection of apps. The lack of apps for the original was a big issue.

It also features a 13-inch display with a 2,880 x 1,920 resolution, a Microsoft SQ 1 or SQ 2 custom CPU and GPU SoC, 8GB or 16GB RAM and up to 15 hours of battery life.

Surface Duo 2 dual-screen phone opened and showing desktop and apps

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Oh, and there was a phone as well

Microsoft also announced the new Surface Duo 2, its updated dual-screen smartphone, and it’s still trying to avoid calling it a phone. But, it makes phone calls, so we’re going to call it a phone, anyway.

The Surface Duo 2 will start at $1,499 (around £1,100, AU$2,000) in “select markets”

Because of this, our phones team has dug into the Surface Duo 2 launch news some more. Sorry, Microsoft.

Analysis: New hardware is just what Microsoft needed

While we had a feeling that Microsoft was going to release several Surface devices, the sheer amount of new hardware it launched took us by surprise. We’re pleased to see the Surface Pro 8 appear, as the Surface Pro 7 was a bit of a disappointment, and it’s been hanging around without a successor for almost two years now.

The Surface Laptop Studio could also be a big winner with creatives. It’s great to see Microsoft innovating again, though it could prove to be a niche product.

We’re even glad that it’s trying out the Surface Pro X again, with some key tweaks that could make this new version more popular than the previous model – though time will tell.

These new launches give Microsoft’s hardware lineup a needed shot in the arm ahead of Windows 11’s launch. Every device announced at the event, except for the Surface Duo 2, will come with Windows 11 pre-installed, and that will give Microsoft a range of flagship devices that can showcase its new operating system.

All these devices are now available for pre-order, and will be delivered on October 5.

Go to Source

AMD Ryzen processors are getting a performance boost on Linux

Chip giant AMD has shared details about a new driver that promises to improve the performance of its Zen-based processors on Linux.

According to reports, the new driver is the result of a joint collaboration between AMD and Valve, with the two companies toiling to enhance performance and power efficiency reportedly in preparation for the launch of the Steam Deck, Valve’s Zen 2-based take on portable gaming.

Senior member of the technical staff at AMD, Rui (Ray) Huang had posted patches for the new driver to the Linux kernel earlier this month, and shared more details about the work at the X.Org Developers Conference (XDC2021).

The drivers currently support processors powered by the Zen 3 microarchitecture, such as the Ryzen 5000 desktop processors, as well as the Epyc server processors, and will soon be extended to cover the entire Zen range.

In with the new

Digesting Huang’s presentation, Tom’s Hardware notes the new CPU driver started development when Valve found problems with the current Linux ACPI CPUFreq driver, particularly with games that relied on its Proton compatibility layer.

It then contacted AMD, and the two rolled up their sleeves to rework the older ACPI driver to take full advantage of the dexterity of the latest Zen processors. The result is the new CPPC driver, which according to Huang is capable of targeting any power state depending on its current workload.

Huang’s presentation revealed that in preliminary tests with a Ryzen 7 5750G, the developers found that the new driver boosted Zen 3’s performance per watt by 10-25%.

To compare the performance of the new driver with the older regime, Huang ran Horizon Zero Dawn on a Ryzen 7 Pro 5750G, locked to 60FPS. While the older driver could only bring the idle cores down to 3.8Ghz, the new driver managed to tune them all the way down to just 400Mhz.

Via Tom’s Hardware

Go to Source

Surface Pro 8

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 specifications

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 prices

Microsoft Surface Go 3

Microsoft Surface Go 3 specifications

Microsoft Surface Go 3 prices

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Microsoft Surface Pro X specifications

Surface Pro X pricing

Accessory pricing

Which Carabao Cup games are on TV?

Wed 22 Sept (third round)

How to watch the Carabao Cup on Sky Sports

<br /> <img height="63" width="300" alt="" class="suppliedart" src="https://news.gigarefurb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/sky_sports_logo.jpeg"/><br />

How to watch the Carabao Cup via Now

How to watch the Carabao Cup abroad