Microsoft Surface

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This article is about the Microsoft Surface series of devices. For the first tablet in the series, see Surface (2012 tablet). For the digital table, see Microsoft PixelSense.

Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface logo.png
Developer Microsoft
Manufacturer Pegatron[1]
Type hybrid tablets, 2-in-1 detachables, interactive whiteboards, all-in-one PCs
Release date
Operating system Windows 8, 8.1; Windows 10
Windows RT (Surface/Surface 2)
This article is part of a series on the
Microsoft Surface

Accessories

Microsoft Surface is a series of touchscreen Windows personal computers and interactive whiteboards designed and developed by Microsoft. The devices are manufactured by Pegatron and are designed to be premium devices that set examples to Windows OEMs.[4][5][6] It comprises four generations of hybrid tablets, 2-in-1 detachable notebooks, a convertible desktop all-in-one, an interactive whiteboard, and various accessories all with unique form factors.[7][8] With the exception of the first-generation Surface and Surface 2, all Surface PCs use Intel processors and are compatible with Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.

The Surface family features six main lines of devices:

  • The Surface line of hybrid tablets, with optional detachable keyboard accessories, and optional stylus pen. The latest model, the Surface Go, uses an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y SoC processor.
  • The Surface Pro line of professional hybrid tablets, with similar, optional detachable keyboard accessories and optional stylus pen. The latest Surface Pro model has a 7th generation Intel Core series processor.
  • The Surface Laptop, a notebook with a 13.5-inch touchscreen.[9] The device runs Windows 10 S by default; however, it can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.[10]
  • The Surface Book, a notebook with a detachable tablet screen. The base is configurable with or without discrete graphics and an independently operable tablet screen, on which the optional stylus pen functions. The stylus pen is sold separately from the latest Surface Book model.[11]
  • The Surface Studio, a 28-inch all-in-one desktop that adjusts into a digital drafting table with stylus and on-screen Surface Dial support.[12]
  • The Surface Hub, a touch screen interactive whiteboard designed for collaboration.[13]

History[edit]

Microsoft first announced Surface at an event on 18 June 2012, presented by former CEO Steve Ballmer in Milk Studios Los Angeles. Surface was the first major initiative by Microsoft to integrate its Windows operating system with its own hardware, and is the first PC designed and distributed solely by Microsoft.[14]

The first Surface device in the Surface line, was marketed as "Surface for Windows RT" at the time was and was announced by Steven Sinofsky, former President of Windows and Windows Live. The second Surface line, based on the Intel architecture was spearheaded with Surface Pro, marketed as "Surface for Windows 8 Pro" at the time, and was demoed by Michael Angiulo, a corporate VP.

Sinofsky initially stated that pricing for the first Surface would be comparable to other ARM devices and pricing for Surface Pro would be comparable to current ultrabooks. Later, Ballmer noted the "sweet spot" for the bulk of the PC market was $300 to $800.[15] Microsoft revealed the pricing and began accepting preorders for the 2012 Surface tablet, on 16 October 2012 "for delivery by 10/26".[16][17][18] The device was launched alongside the general availability of Windows 8 on 26 October 2012.[19] Surface Pro became available the following year on 9 February 2013.[20] The devices were initially available only at Microsoft Stores retail and online, but availability was later expanded into other vendors.[21]

On November 2012, Ballmer described the distribution approach to Surface as "modest"[22] and on November 29 of that year, Microsoft revealed the pricing for the 64 GB and 128 GB versions of Surface with Windows 8 Pro.[23] The tablet would go on sale on 9 February 2013, in the United States and Canada.[24] A launch event was set to be held on 8 February 2013, but was cancelled at the last minute due to the February 2013 nor'easter.[25] The 128GB version of the tablet sold out on the same day as its release. Though there was less demand for the 64GB version because of the much smaller available storage capacity, supplies of the lower cost unit were almost as tight.[26]

On 23 September 2013, Microsoft announced the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, which feature hardware and software updates from the original. The Surface 2 launched 22 October 2013, alongside the Surface Pro 2, four days after the general availability of Windows 8.1. Later, Microsoft launched a variation of the Surface 2 with LTE connectivity for the AT&T network on 18 March 2014. Microsoft then announced the redesigned Surface Pro 3 on 20 May 2014, which went on sale on 20 June 2014.

The following year, on 30 March 2015, it announced the Surface 3, a more compact version of the Surface Pro 3. On 8 September 2015, Microsoft announced the "Surface Enterprise Initiative", a partnership between Accenture, Avanade, Dell Inc., and HP, to "enable more customers to enjoy the benefits of Windows 10." As part of the partnership, Dell will resell Surface Pro products through its business and enterprise channels, and offer its existing enterprise services (including Pro Support, warranty, and Configuration and Deployment) for Surface Pro devices it sells.[27][28]

Microsoft announced the next generation Surface Pro 4 and the all new Surface Book, a hybrid laptop, at Microsoft October 2015 Event in New York on 10 October 2015.[29] Microsoft began shipping Surface Hub devices on 25 March 2016.[30] In June 2016, Microsoft confirmed production of the Surface 3 would stop in December of that year.[31] No replacement product has been announced. Reports suggest this may be a consequence of Intel discontinuing the Broxton iteration of the Atom processor.[32] On 26 October 2016 at Microsoft's event, a Surface Studio and Surface Book with Performance Base was announced.[33] A wheel accessory, the Surface Dial, was announced as well, and became available on 10 November 2016.[34]

Immediately following the announcement of the Surface Laptop at the #MicrosoftEDU event on 2 May 2017, and the Microsoft Build 2017 developer conference, Microsoft announced the fifth-generation Surface Pro at a special event in Shanghai on 23 May 2017.[35][36]

On 17 October 2017, Microsoft announced Surface Book 2 adding a 15 in model to the line, and updating internal components.

On 15 May, 2018, Microsoft announced the Surface Hub 2, featuring a new rotating hinge and the ability to link multiple Hubs together.[37][38]

In June 2018, Microsoft announced the Surface Go, a $400 Surface tablet with a 10-inch screen and 64 or 128 GB of storage.[39]

Hardware[edit]

Surface Pro 3 with Type Cover
Surface 3 with Type Cover
Surface Pro 3 kickstand
Unless otherwise indicated, this section concerns the Surface tablets (Surface and Surface Pro).

Screen and input[edit]

The first two generations of both Surface lines features 10.6 ClearType Full HD display with 16:9 aspect ratio. With the release of the third generation Surface and Surface Pro, Microsoft increased the screen sizes to 10.8 inches (27 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm) respectively, each with a 3:2 aspect ratio, designed for a comfort use in a portrait orientation. The fourth generation increased the screen further to 12.3 inches (31 cm). The screens feature a multi-touch technology with 10 touch-points and scratch-resistance Gorilla Glass. All generations of the Surface Pro and third generation of the Surface also features an active pen, but it is not included in the box with all models.

The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense Surface orientation and switch between portrait and landscape orientation modes. The Surface's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four directions, including upside-down.

There are three buttons on the first three generation of Surface, including a capacitive Windows button near the display that opens the Start Screen, and two physical buttons on the sides: power and volume. The fourth generation removed the capacitive windows button on the screen.

The Surface has front and rear cameras, the resolution of which has been increased to 3.5/8 and 5/5 megapixels for the latest generation of the Surface and Surface Pro, respectively.

Processor[edit]

The first generation Surface uses a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 of the ARM architecture, as opposed to the Intel x64 architecture and therefore shipped with Windows RT, which was written for the ARM architecture. The second generation Surface 2 added an Nvidia Tegra 4. The architecture limited Surface and Surface 2 to only apps from the Windows Store recompiled for ARM. With the release of the Surface 3, Microsoft switched the Surface line to the Intel x64 architecture, the same architecture found in the Surface Pro line. Surface 3 uses the Braswell Atom X7 processor.[40]

With the Surface Pro line, Microsoft uses the Intel x64 architecture which can run most software designed for Microsoft Windows. Both Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 had one processor variant, the Core i5, though the Surface Pro runs the Ivy Bridge iteration, and the Surface Pro 2 runs the Haswell iteration. The Surface Pro 3 added the Haswell Core i3 and Core i7 variants.

Storage[edit]

The Surface devices are released in six internal storage capacities: 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB. With the release of the third generation, the 32 GB model was discontinued. All models also feature a microSDXC card slot, located behind the kickstand, which allow for the use of memory cards up to 200 GB.

Surface devices have a different amount of non-replaceable RAM, ranging from 2 to 16 GB, attached to the motherboard.

External ports[edit]

On the left or right side of any Surface tablet, there is a full-size USB port, Mini DisplayPort (or a micro-HDMI port on older models), and a magnetic charging port or micro-USB charging port (Surface 3). All Surface devices have a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. All the devices feature an accessory spine, or Cover Port. along the bottom that has not changed in dimensions. The ports have been moved in different locations throughout the various generations of Surface tablets, and beginning with the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft moved to a fin-style connector called Surface Connect to charge the device.

Cellular connectivity[edit]

While all Surface devices come in the Wi-Fi only models, some generations also feature the Wi-Fi with a cellular support. The cellular variants, however, do not support circuit-switched voice calls and texts, allowing only data connectivity. The cellular models have a micro-SIM slot at the bottom of the device, next to the Type Cover connecting pins.

External color and kickstand[edit]

The exterior of the earlier generations of Surface (2012 tablet, Pro, and Pro 2) is made of VaporMg magnesium alloy giving a semi-glossy black durable finish that Microsoft calls "dark titanium".[41] Originally, the design of Surface was to feature a full "VaporMg" design, but the production models ditched this and went with a "VaporMg" coating.[42] Later devices moved towards a matte gray finish showing the actual magnesium color through the semi-transparent top coating.[41] The Surface Laptop is available in four colors: platinum, graphite gold, burgundy, and cobalt blue.[43]

The Surface and Surface Pro lines feature a kickstand which flips out from the back of the device to prop it up, allowing the device to be stood up at an angle hands-free. According to Microsoft, this is great for watching movies, video chatting, and typing documents. According to some reviewers, this kickstand is uncomfortable to use in one's lap and means the device won't fit on shallow desks.[44] The first generation has a kickstand that can be set to a 22 degrees angle position. The second generation added a 55 degrees angle position which according to Microsoft makes the device more comfortable to type on the lap. The Surface 3 features three angle positions: 22, 44, and 60 degrees. The Surface Pro 3 is the first device to have a continuous kickstand that can be set at any angles between 22 and 150 degrees. With the fifth-generation Surface Pro, Microsoft added an additional 15 degrees of rotation to the hinge bringing the widest possible angle to 165 degrees, or what Microsoft calls "Studio Mode".[45]

Surface Book[edit]

Main article: Surface Book

On 6 October 2015, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Book, a 2-in-1 detachable with a mechanically attached, durable hardware keyboard. It became the first Surface device to be marketed as a laptop instead of a tablet. The device has a teardrop design.

The Surface Book has what Microsoft calls a "dynamic fulcrum hinge" which allows the device to support the heavier notebook/screen portion.[46] The Surface Studio uses a "zero-gravity hinge" to be placed at multiple angles, from standing up to a drafting table position at 20 degrees.[47]

Another unique aspect of the Surface Book is an available discrete graphics adapter, contained in the keyboard module. This module can then be detached while the Surface Book is running, in which case the system automatically switches to the integrated graphics in the tablet unit.

On 26 October 2016, Microsoft unveiled an additional configuration, called the Surface Book with Performance Base, which has an upgraded processor and a longer battery life.[48]

The second generation Surface Book 2 was announced on 17 October 2017, introducing an upgraded ceramic hinge for stability, and lighter overall weight distribution. A 15-inch model was added to the line.[49]

Surface Laptop[edit]

Main article: Surface Laptop
Surface Laptop in Burgundy color

On 3 May 2017, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop, a non-detachable version of the Surface Book claiming to have the thinnest touch-enabled LCD panel of its kind.[50] Its permanently attached hardware keyboard comes in four colors and uses the same kind of fabric as the Type Cover accessories for the tablets. The device comes with the newly announced Windows 10 S operating system, which enables faster boot times at the expense of the ability to download and install programs from the web instead of the Microsoft Store. Users can switch to a fully enabled version of Windows 10 for free.[50]

Surface Studio[edit]

Main article: Surface Studio

On 26 October 2016, Microsoft announced a 28-inch all-in-one desktop PC, the Surface Studio.[51] The device claims to have the thinnest LCD ever made in an all-in-one PC. All its components, including the processor and a surround-sound system, are located in a compact base on which the screen is mounted upon via a flexible, four-point hinge. The design allows the screen to fold down to a 20-degree angle for physical interaction with the user.[52] It comes with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update preinstalled, but is optimized for the Windows 10 Creators Update released in April 2017.

Surface Hub[edit]

Main article: Surface Hub

On 21 January 2015, Microsoft introduced a new device category under the Surface family: the Surface Hub. It is a 84-inch 120 Hz 4K or 55-inch 1080p multi-touch, multi-pen, wall-mounted all-in-one device, aimed for collaboration and videoconferencing use of businesses. The device runs a variant of the Windows 10 operating system.[53]

Future devices[edit]

There have been numerous rumors that Microsoft is planning to introduce a Surface-branded smartphone.[54][55] Sources say that the device is rumored to run a successor or evolved version of Windows 10 Mobile[56][57] and that the device would replace the Microsoft Mobile-inherited Lumia family.[58] It was subsequently confirmed via a leaked document form Microsoft on June 30, 2018.[59] Some people believe that 'Andromeda project' or 'Andromeda OS' is the code name for the next operating system of Microsoft.[60][61] But project Andromeda is the code name for the next Surface device.[62][63]

Software[edit]

Main articles: Windows 10 and Windows RT

Surface devices (except the Surface and Surface 2 models) sold since 29 July 2015, ship with the Windows 10 operating system. Also, up to July 2016, older models which shipped with Windows 8.1 were eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 10.

The original Surface and Surface 2 models use Windows RT, a special version of Windows 8 designed for devices with ARM processors and cannot be upgraded to Windows 10. However, there were several major updates made available after its initial release that include Windows RT 8.1, RT 8.1 Update 1, RT 8.1 August update, and RT 8.1 Update 3. These older, ARM-based models of Surface are not compatible with Windows 10, but received several new features including a new Start menu similar to that found in early preview builds of Windows 10.[64]

From Surface Pro 4 and onward, all Surface devices support Windows Hello facial biometric authentication out of the box through its cameras and IR-sensors.[65] The Surface Pro 3 can utilize the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID to gain Windows Hello support.[66]

Tablet mode[edit]

The Windows 10 user interface has two modes: desktop mode and tablet mode. When a keyboard is connected to the Surface, Windows 10 runs in desktop mode; when it is absent, Windows 10 runs in tablet mode.

When running in tablet mode, the start menu and all the apps run in full screen. All running apps are hidden from the taskbar and a back button appears. Swiping from the top closes the app while swiping from the left evokes the Task View and swiping from the right evokes the Action Center.

Apps[edit]

Several of the included apps updated with Windows 10 are: Mail, People, Camera, Calendar, Microsoft Edge, Xbox app, OneNote, Photos, Voice Recorder, Phone Companion, Calculator, Scan, Alarms & Clock, and the Microsoft Store. Other apps include Maps, Movies & TV, Groove Music, Microsoft Solitaire Collection and the MSN apps: Money, News, Weather, and Sports.

Surface devices come preloaded with the OneNote app for taking handwritten notes. Windows 10 also features a text input panel with handwriting recognition which automatically converts handwriting to text.

The Microsoft Edge browser features an inking function which allows handwritten annotations directly on webpages.

Microsoft has ported its Office suite for use on Windows 10 devices, including the Surface devices running Windows 10. As the screen size on these devices exceed 10 inches, the apps require an Office 365 subscription to edit documents, although it is not needed to view and print them.

Surface devices have an internal microphone and speakers optimized for the Cortana personal assistant feature included on Windows 10 devices.

Third-party applications that have been designed with the pen and touch interaction of Surface in mind include Drawboard PDF and Sketchable.

Specialized software[edit]

Prior to the release of Windows 10, on Surface Pro 3 Microsoft made the Surface Hub app available, which allowed the adjustment of Pen pressure sensitivity and button functions.[67] The Surface Hub app was renamed "Surface" following the launch of the Surface Hub device. Additionally, toggles to control sound quality and to disable the capacitive Windows button on the Surface 3 and Pro 3 devices were included.[68]

With Surface Pro 3 and the Surface Pen based on N-Trig technology, Microsoft added the capability to launch OneNote from the lock screen without logging in by pressing the purple button at the top of the pen.[69] Microsoft added sections to Windows 10 settings that have the ability to control the functions of the buttons on the Surface Pen. One such function is to launch OneNote with the press of the top button of the Surface Pro 4 pen.[70] With the introduction of the Surface Dial, Microsoft added a Wheel settings section to the Settings app in Windows 10 under Devices.[71] The Windows 10 Anniversary Update added the ability to adjust the shortcuts of each of the Pen's buttons performed.[72]

Accessories[edit]

Main article: List of Surface accessories
The 2012 Surface tablet with Touch Cover 2 attached

Microsoft offer several Surface accessories, most of which are Bluetooth connected devices. Among these are the Surface Pen, the keyboard covers, and the Surface Dial.

There are two main versions of the keyboard covers that connect via the Accessory Spine on the Surface tablets. The now discontinued Touch Cover, and the ever-evolving Type Cover. They feature a full QWERTY keyboard, with pre-defined action keys in place of the function row, though the function row is still accessible via the function button, and a multi-touch trackpad. The covers are made of various soft-touch materials and connect to the Surface with a polycarbonate spine with pogo pins.[73][74]

Microsoft sells the Surface Pen, an active-digitzer pen, separate of Surface, but included it in all Surface tablets until the fifth-generation Surface Pro where it was removed. The Surface Pen is designed to integrate with inking capabilities on Windows including OneNote[75] and Windows Ink Workspace.

The Surface Dial was introduced alongside the Surface Studio, and is a computer wheel designed to work on-screen with the Surface Studio and fifth-generation Surface Pro. Previous Surface Pro devices were updated to support it as well.

Remix project[edit]

In 2013, Microsoft announced that they were going to design other covers for the Surface accessory spine (code named "blades"[76]) based on the Touch Cover 2's sensors. The only product that was shipped was the Surface Music Cover and the Surface Music Kit app.[77][78][79][80]

Model comparison[edit]

Surface line[edit]

Model Surface[81] Surface 2[82] Surface 3[83] Surface Go[84]
Date announced June 2012 October 2013 March 2015 July 2018
Operating
System 		initial pre-install Windows RT 8.0 Windows RT 8.1 Windows 8.1 Windows 10
version 1803
latest supported Windows RT 8.1[85] Windows 10
version 1803
Dimensions
mm (in) 		height 171.9 (6.77) 172.4 (6.79) 186.9 (7.36) 175 (6.9)
width 274.5 (10.81) 274.5 (10.81) 266.9 (10.51) 245 (9.6)
depth 9.3 (0.37) 8.8 (0.35) 8.6 (0.34) 8.3 (0.33)
Weight (g (lb)) 680 (1.50) 622 (1.371) 522 (1.151)
RAM (GB) 2 2/4 4/8
Internal storage (GB) 32/64 64/128 64 (eMMC)/128 (SSD)
Expandable storage (GB) MicroSDXC, up to 200 GB
Display Size 26.9 cm (10.6 in) 27.4 cm (10.8 in) 25.4 cm (10.0 in)
Aspect ratio 16:9 3:2
Resolution 1366x768 1920x1080 1920x1280 1800x1200
ppi 148 208 214 217
SoC Nvidia Tegra 3 (T30) Nvidia Tegra 4 (T114) Intel Atom x7-Z8700 Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
Battery 31.5 Wh Li-Ion 28 Wh Li-Ion
Cameras front camera 3.5 MP 5.0 MP
HD (1280x720) video FHD (1920x1080) video
rear camera 5.0 MP 8.0 MP
HD (1280x720) video FHD (1920x1080) video
Sensors ambient light Yes
accelerometer Yes
gyroscope Yes
GPS No Cellular version
magnetometer Yes
proximity No Yes
microphones 2 1
Connectors A/V 3.5 mm audio socket
Micro HDMI Mini DisplayPort
USB 2.0 3.0 3.1 gen 1 Type C
Radios Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.0 4.1
cellular No Optional
Miscellaneous pen input None N-trig active pen
TPM Yes No Yes 2.0
Surface Dial support No Partial (no on-screen support),
via Windows 10 upgrade 		Partial (no on-screen support)
integrated
Windows Hello
support 		No Yes, via backlit IR camera

Surface Pro line[edit]

Model Surface Pro[86] Surface Pro 2[87] Surface Pro 3[88] Surface Pro 4[89] Surface Pro (2017)[90] Surface Pro 6[91]
Date announced February 2013 October 2013 June 2014 October 2015 May 2017 October 2018
Operating
System 		initial pre-install Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Windows 10
version 1507 		Windows 10
version 1703 		Windows 10
version 1809
latest supported Windows 10
version 1809
edition Pro Home/Pro
Dimensions
mm (in) 		height 172.9 (6.81) 201.3 (7.93) 201.4 (7.93)
width 274.5 (10.81) 292 (11.5) 292.1 (11.50)
depth 13.46 (0.530) 9.1 (0.36) 8.4 (0.33) 8.5 (0.33)
Weight (g (lb)) 910 (2.01) 900 (2.0) 800 (1.8) 766 (1.689) (m3)
786 (1.733) (i5)
786 (1.733) (i7) 		768 (1.693) (m3)
770 (1.70) (i5)
784 (1.728) (i7) 		775 (1.709) (i5)
792 (1.746) (i7)
RAM capacity (GB) 4 4/8 4/8/16 8/16
speed (MHz) 1600 1866
type DDR3 LPDDR3
Internal storage (GB) 64/128/256
mSATA SSD 		64/128/256/512
mSATA SSD 		128/256/512/1024
PCIe NVME SSD
Expandable storage (GB) MicroSDXC, up to 200 GB
Display Size 27.0 cm (10.6 in) 30.0 cm (11.8 in) 31.2 cm (12.3 in)
Aspect ratio 16:9 3:2
Resolution 1920x1080 pixels 2160x1440 pixels 2736x1824 pixels
ppi 208 214 267
Processor generation Intel 3rd generation
Ivy Bridge 		Intel 4th generation
Haswell 		Intel 6th generation
Skylake 		Intel 7th generation
Kaby Lake 		Intel 8th generation
Kaby Lake R
model i5-3317U i5-4200U
i5-4300U 		i3-4020Y
i5-4300U
i7-4650U 		m3-6Y30
i5-6300U
i7-6650U 		m3-7Y30
i5-7300U
i7-7660U 		i5-8250U
i5-8350U
i7-8650U
CPU frequency
base–turbo (GHz) 		1.7–2.6 1.6–2.6
1.9–2.9 		1.5–n/a
1.9–2.9
1.7–3.3 		0.9–2.2
2.4–3.0
2.2–3.4 		1.0–2.6
2.6–3.5
2.5–4.0 		1.6-3.4
1.7-3.6
1.9-4.2
CPU L3 cache
size (MB) 		3 3
3
4 		4
3
4 		6
6
8
GPU model HD Graphics 4000 HD Graphics 4400 HD Graphics 4200
HD Graphics 4400
HD Graphics 5000 		HD Graphics 515
HD Graphics 520
Iris Graphics 540 		HD Graphics 615
HD Graphics 620
Iris Plus Graphics 640 		UHD Graphics 620
GPU ALUs 128 160 160
160
320 		192
192
384 		192
192
384
TDP (W) 17 15 11.5
15
15 		4.5
15
15 		15
Battery 42 Wh Li-Ion 38.2 Wh Li-Ion 45 Wh Li-Ion
Cameras front camera 1.2 MP 5 MP
HD (1280x720) video FHD (1920x1080) video
rear camera 1.2 MP 5 MP 8 MP with autofocus
HD (1280x720) video FHD (1920x1080) video
Sensors ambient light Yes
accelerometer Yes
gyroscope Yes
GPS No
magnetometer Yes No
microphones 2
Connectors A/V 3.5 mm audio socket
Mini DisplayPort
USB USB 3.0
Surface Connect Surface Connect (5-pin) Surface Connect (40-pin)
Cover port Cover port with power pins Cover port without power pins
Radios Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 4.0 LE 4.1
cellular No Optional No
Surface Pen
support 		technology Wacom passive pen N-trig active pen
pressure levels 256 1024 256 1024 4096
tilt levels No 1024
Miscellaneous TPM Yes Yes, version 1.2 Yes, version 2.0
Surface Dial support Partial (no on-screen support),
via Windows 10 upgrade 		Yes, via firmware update Yes
integrated
Windows Hello
support 		No Yes, via backlit IR camera

Surface Book line[edit]

Model Surface Book [92] Surface Book 2 [93]
Date announced October 2015
October 2016 (with Performance Base) 		October 2017
Operating
System 		initial pre-install Windows 10 Pro
version 1507
version 1607 (with Performance Base) 		Windows 10 Pro
version 1703
latest supported Windows 10 Pro
version 1803
Dimensions
mm (in) 		height 232 (9.1)
width 312 (12.3)
depth 23 (0.91)
Weight
g (lb) 		1,516 (3.342)
1,576 (3.474) (with dGPU)
1,647 (3.631) (with Performance Base) 		1,534 (3.382) (13.5" i5)
1,642 (3.620) (13.5" i7)
1,905 (4.200) (15")
RAM capacity (GB) 8/16 8/16 (13.5")
16 (15")
speed
MHz 		1600 1866
type LPDDR3
Internal storage (GB) 128/256/512/1024 PCIe SSD 256/512/1024 PCIe SSD
Expandable storage (GB) MicroSDXC, up to 200 GB
Display 34.3 (13.5) 34.3 (13.5)
38.1 (15.0)
3:2 aspect ratio
3000x2000 pixels at 267 ppi 3000x2000 pixels at 267 ppi
3240x2160 pixels at 260 ppi
Processor generation Intel 6th generation
Skylake 		Intel 7/8th generation
Kaby Lake
model i5-6300U
i7-6600U 		i5-7300U
i7-8650U
CPU Frequency
base–turbo (GHz) 		2.4–3.0
2.6–3.4 		2.6–3.5
1.9–4.2
CPU L3 cache
size (MB) 		3
4 		3
8
GPU model HD Graphics 520 HD/UHD Graphics 620
GPU ALUs 192
TDP (watts) 15
Graphics Card model Custom GeForce 940M (with dGPU)
GeForce GTX 965M (with Performance Base) 		GeForce GTX 1050 (13.5")
GeForce GTX 1060 (15")
ALUs 384[94] (with dGPU)
1024 (with Performance Base) 		640 (13.5")
1280 (15")
memory 1 GB GDDR5 (with dGPU)
2 GB GDDR5 (with Performance Base) 		2 GB GDDR5 (13.5")
6 GB GDDR5 (15")
TDP (watts) 36 (with dGPU)
60 (with Performance Base) 		75 (13.5")
120 (15")
Battery capacity (Wh) Display: 18
Keyboard base: 51[95]
Keyboard base: 63.4 (with Performance Base) 		Unknown
type Lithium-ion
Cameras front camera 5 MP
FHD (1920x1080) video
rear camera 8 MP
FHD (1920x1080) video
Sensors Surface Book Surface Book 2
Ambient light sensor Yes
Accelerometer Yes
Gyroscope Yes
GPS No
Magnetometer No Yes
Microphones 2
Connectivity Surface Book Surface Book 2
A/V 3.5 mm audio socket
Mini DisplayPort USB-C
Bluetooth 4.0 LE 4.1
Cellular No
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Miscellaneous Surface Book Surface Book 2
Pen input N-trig active pen
Surface Dial support Yes (with firmware update) Yes
Integrated Windows Hello support Yes (via backlit IR camera)
TPM Yes Yes (2.0)
Models Surface Book Surface Book 2

Surface Studio line[edit]

Models Surface Studio[96] Surface Studio 2[97]
Date announced October 2016 October 2018
Operating system Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Version initial pre-install Windows 10 Pro
version 1607 		Windows 10 Pro
version 1809
latest supported Windows 10 Pro
version 1809
Physical specifications Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Base dimensions
cm (in) 		height 22 (8.7)
width 25 (9.8)
depth 3.2 (1.3)
Display dimensions
cm (in) 		height 43.9 (17.3)
width 63.7 (25.1)
depth 1.3 (0.51)
Weight
kg (lb) 		9.56 (21.1) max
Memory Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Internal storage capacity (TB) 1/2
type Hybrid drive SSD
RAM capacity (GB) 8/16/32 16/32
speed (MHz) 2133
type DDR4
Expandable storage SDXC, up to 200 GB
Display Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Aspect ratio 3:2
Diagonal size (cm (in)) 71.1 (28.0)
Pixel density (ppi) 192
Resolution (px) 4500x3000
Technology LCD
CPU and GPU Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Generation Intel 6th generation
Skylake 		Intel 7th generation
Kaby Lake
CPU model[98] i5-6440HQ
i7-6820HQ 		i7-7820HQ
Frequency (base – turbo, GHz) 2.6-3.5
2.7-3.6 		2.9-3.9
L3 cache (MB) 6
8 		8
Discrete GPU GeForce GTX 965M with 2GB GDDR5
GeForce GTX 980M GPU with 4GB GDDR5 		GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5
GeForce GTX 1070 GPU with 8GB GDDR5
TDP (W) 45
Cameras Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Front camera megapixels 5
video resolution FHD (1920x1080)
Sensors Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Ambient light sensor Yes
Number of microphones 2
Connectivity Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
A/V 3.5 mm audio socket
Mini DisplayPort
Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Miscellaneous Surface Studio Surface Studio 2
Pen input N-trig active pen
Surface Dial support Yes
Integrated Windows Hello support Yes (via backlit IR camera)
TPM Yes
Models Surface Studio Surface Studio 2

Promotion[edit]

A Surface advert painted on the side of a building

Television commercial[edit]

In October 2012, Microsoft aired its first commercial, directed by Jon Chu, for the Surface product line. The first 30-second commercial is the Surface Movement which focus on Windows RT version of the first generation of Surface with detachable keyboard and kickstand.[99] It first aired during Dancing with the Stars commercial break.[100]

Partnership with NFL[edit]

In 2014, Microsoft announced a five-year, $400 million deal with the National Football League, in which Surface became the official tablet computer brand of the NFL. As part of the partnership, special, ruggedized Surface Pro 2 devices were issued to teams for use on the sidelines, allowing coaches and players view and annotate footage of previous plays. The partnership was initially hampered by television commentators, who erroneously referred to the devices as being an "iPad" on several occasions. Microsoft has since stated that it "coached" commentators on properly referring to the devices on-air.[101][102][103][104]

Designed on Surface[edit]

On January 11, 2016, Microsoft announced a collaboration with POW! WOW!. It includes a group of artists from around the world that utilizes various Surface devices, such as the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book, to create a total of 17 murals. The artists are filmed using their Surface devices and explain how they integrate Surface into their workflow. The final products are then posted to YouTube that accompanies a post on the Microsoft Devices blog.[105]

United States Department of Defense[edit]

On February 17, 2016, Microsoft announced that alongside the US Department of Defense's plans to upgrade to Windows 10, that it has approved Surface devices and certified them for use through the Defense Information Systems Agency Unified Capabilities Approved Products List. Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 3, and Surface 3 have all been approved as Multifunction Mobile Devices, thus meeting the necessary requirements for security and compatibility with other systems.[106]

Reception[edit]

Reviews of the first-generation Surface RT by critics have ranged broadly. The hardware received mostly positive reviews, while the software and overall experience were mixed. Wired reviewer Mathew Honan stated that while "This is one of the most exciting pieces of hardware I’ve ever used. It is extremely well-designed; meticulous even," the tablets are "likely to confuse many of Microsoft’s longtime customers".[107] TechCrunch,[108] Matt Buchanan at BuzzFeed,[109] and Gizmodo recommended against purchasing the tablet. Gizmodo mentioned issues such as the high price tag and described it as similar but inferior to the iPad, but also praised the hardware saying, "You'll appreciate it every time you pick it up and turn it on. It's a simple, joyful experience."[110] David Pogue at The New York Times praised the hardware but criticized the software.[111] The Verge described the technology as fulfilling the role of a laptop or tablet "half as well as other devices on the market," adding "the whole thing is honestly perplexing."[112] Warner Crocker from Gotta Be Mobile described it as "frustratingly confusing."[113] Farhad Manjoo of Slate noted that the "shortcomings are puzzling" given how much time Microsoft spent developing the device.[114] Neil McAllister has noted the lack of a compelling case to switch from the iPad to a Windows RT device at the same price point, because Apple already has a strong network effect from their app developers and few Windows developers have ported their offerings over to the ARM processor.[115] The Surface RT had worse battery life than similar devices.[116] The first-generation Surface Pro has shorter battery life than the original ARM-based Surface due in part to its full HD screen and Intel Core i5 processor.

The Surface Pro 3 has received positive reviewers. David Pogue suggested "The upshot is that, with hardly any thickness or weight penalty, the kickstand and the Type Cover let you transform your 1.8-pound tablet into an actual, fast, luxury laptop". Pogue said that the Surface Pro 3's form factor works well as a tablet, in contrast to the Surface Pro 2, whose bulk and weight limited its appeal as a tablet. Pogue also stated that the new multi-stage kickstand, 3:2 screen aspect ratio, and new Type Cover 3 detachable keyboard made it a competent laptop. Another advantage of the Surface Pro 3 is that it is considered a tablet by the FAA and TSA, despite its hardware which makes it capable of running all x86 Windows programs. This is advantageous in air travel, since a tablet can be used during takeoff or landing, and a tablet can be left in a bag when going through a TSA scanner machine, neither of which apply to a laptop.[117] It has been suggested that the Surface Pro 3 comes closest to the Microsoft Tablet PC concept that company founder Bill Gates announced in 2001,[118][117] being the first Surface to become a credible laptop replacement.[119] Time magazine included Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in the list of the 25 best inventions of 2014.[120]

The Surface 3 (non-Pro) has received generally positive reviews from computer critics. They praised Microsoft's shift from ARM architecture toward x86, and therefore from Windows RT to a regular Windows OS. Most noted a well designed chassis and accessories produced of quality materials, and overall premium feeling of use. While less powerful, the Surface 3 was a lighter and cheaper alternative to the Surface Pro 3. More importantly, the Surface 3 could compete at the high-end of Android and iPad tablets, with the advantage of being a device running a full desktop OS instead of a mobile OS for a similar price.[121] Reviewers also note that 37 GB[122] of the total storage space in the low-end Surface 3 is available to the user, while its close competitor, the low-end iPad Air 2, has only 12.5 GB of user-available storage space for the same price.[123][124] The most common downsides are relatively low battery life, slower performance compared to devices with Intel Core processors[124][125] and a high price since accessories like Surface Pen and Type Cover are not included.[124][126][121]

Industry response[edit]

When Surface was first announced, critics noted that the device represented a significant departure for Microsoft, as the company had previously relied exclusively on third-party OEMs to produce devices running Windows, and began shifting towards a first-party hardware model with similarities to that of Apple.[127][128] Steve Ballmer said that like Xbox, Surface was an example of the sort of hardware products Microsoft will release in the future.[129]

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), whose products have traditionally run Microsoft operating systems, have had positive responses to the release of Surface.[130] HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Dell[131] applauded Microsoft's decision to create its own Tablet PC and said that relationships with Microsoft have not changed. John Solomon, senior vice president of HP, said that "Microsoft was basically making a leadership statement and showing what's possible in the tablet space".[132][133] Acer founder Stan Shih said that he believed Microsoft only introduced its own hardware in order to establish the market and would then withdraw in favor of its OEMs.[134]

However, others believe that OEMs were left sidelined by the perception that Microsoft's new tablet would replace their products.[135][136] Acer chairman JT Wang advised Microsoft to "please think twice".[137] Microsoft has acknowledged that Surface may "affect their commitment" of partners to the Windows platform.[138]

The need for the Surface to market an ARM-compatible version of Windows was questioned by analysts because of recent developments in the PC industry; both Intel and AMD introduced x86-based system-on-chip designs for Windows 8, Atom "Clover Trail" and "Temash" respectively, in response to the growing competition from ARM licensees. In particular, Intel claimed that Clover Trail-based tablets could provide battery life rivaling that of ARM devices; in a test by PC World, Samsung's Clover Trail-based Ativ Smart PC was shown to have battery life exceeding that of the first gen ARM-based Surface. Peter Bright of Ars Technica argued that Windows RT had no clear purpose, since the power advantage of ARM-based devices was "nowhere near as clear-cut as it was two years ago", and that users would be better off purchasing Office 2013 themselves because of the removed features and licensing restrictions of Office RT.[139][140][141]

Sales[edit]

First-generation Surface tablets for sale at a Microsoft Store

Sales of the first generation Surface did not meet Microsoft's expectations, which led to price reductions and other sales incentives.[142][143]

In March 2013, Bloomberg reported from inside sources that Surface sales were behind expectations, particularly of the ARM-based Surface model. Microsoft had originally projected sales of 2 million Surface units during the final quarter of 2012, a total of 1.5 million Surface devices had been sold since launch with Surface Pro accounting for 400,000 of these sales. The more expensive Surface Pro, with its Intel CPU that makes it a full-fledged Windows laptop PC, despite its compromises, was successful compared to other OEMs' first-generation Windows 8 Ultrabook hybrids which were larger and/or more expensive.

In July 2013, Steve Ballmer revealed that the Surface hasn't sold as well as he hoped.[144] He reported that Microsoft had made a loss of US$900,000,000 due to the lackluster Surface sales. Concurrently, Microsoft cut the price of first-gen Surface RT worldwide by 30%, with its U.S. price falling to US$350.[145][146][147][148] This was followed by a further price cut in August after it was revealed that even the marketing costs had exceed the sales.[149] On August 4, 2013, the cost of Surface Pro was cut by $100 giving it an entry price of $799. Several law firms sued Microsoft, accusing the company of misleading shareholders about sales of the first-gen ARM based Surface tablet, calling it an "unmitigated disaster".[150] In the first two years of sales, Microsoft lost almost two billion dollars.[151]

The poor sales of the ARM-based Surface tablet had been credited to the continuing market dominance of Microsoft's competitors in the tablet market. Particularly, Apple's iPad retained its dominance due its App store offering the most tablet-optimized applications. Most OEMs opted to produce tablets running Google Android, which came in a wide variety of sizes and prices (albeit with mixed success among most OEMs), and Google Play had the second-largest selection of tablet applications. By contrast there was a limited amount of software designed specifically for Surface's operating system, Windows RT, the selection which was even weaker than Windows Phone.[152] Indeed, OEMs reported that most customers felt Intel-based tablets were more appropriate for use in business environments, as they were compatible with the much more widely available x86 programs while Windows RT was not. Microsoft's subsequent efforts have been focused upon refining the Surface Pro and making it a viable competitor in the premium ultra-mobile PC category, against other Ultrabooks and the MacBook Air, while discontinuing development of ARM-powered Surface devices as the Surface 3 (non-Pro) had an Intel x86 CPU (albeit with lower performance than the Surface Pro 3).[152][153]

Surface Pro 3 promotion in front of a Microsoft Store

The resultant Surface Pro 3 succeeded in garnering a great interest in the Surface line, making Surface business profitable for the first time in fiscal year Q1 2015.[154] Later in Q2, the Surface division's sales topped $1 billion.[155] Surface division scored $888 million for Q4 2015 despite an overall loss of $2.1 billion for Microsoft, a 117% year-over-year growth thanks to the steady commercial performance of Surface Pro 3 and the launch of mainstream model Surface 3.[156] In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 the Surface division posted its best earnings performance to date.[157]

Reported issues[edit]

Users on Microsoft's support forum reported that some Touch Covers were splitting at the seam where it connects to the tablet, exposing its wiring. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the company was aware of the issue, and would offer free replacements for those who have been affected by the defect.[158][159] Other users reported issues with audio randomly stuttering or muting on the Surface tablet while in use.[160] Wi-Fi connectivity issues were also reported. Firmware updates that attempted to fix the problem were released, but some users still reported problems like blue screen errors while watching video and crash of display driver.[161][162][163] Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in the Windows key that does not always work, but has promised a fix.[164] The latest update, which promised to fix the issue, was not able to fix it.[165]

With the original Surface Pro, Microsoft acknowledged issues encountered by some users with its stylus pen, including intermittent pen failures, and with older applications that do not have complete pen support due to the different APIs used by Surface Pro's stylus drivers. In the latter case, Microsoft has indicated that it is working with software vendors to ensure better compatibility.[166][167] As for later models beginning with the Surface Pro 3, the N-Trig digital pen digitizer system has attained high pen compatibility with older applications thanks to a regularly updated, optional WinTab driver.[168] Issues had also been experienced with slow Wi-Fi connectivity, and the device not properly returning from standby.[169][170]

iFixit has awarded the Surface Pro its worst ever repairability rating, but CEO Kyle Wiens claims that it is due to incompetence rather than deliberate design choices.[171]

Timeline[edit]

Surface Laptop 2Surface LaptopSurface Studio 2Surface StudioSurface HubSurface Book 2Surface BookSurface Pro 6Surface Pro (2017)Surface Pro 4Surface Pro 3Surface Pro 2Surface ProSurface GoSurface 3Surface 2Surface (2012 tablet)
Source: Microsoft Devices Blog


See also[edit]

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External links[edit]

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