Despite being the most expensive, the largest, and arguably the most exciting computer Microsoft sells, the Surface Studio received the fewest upgrades over six years. The Surface Studio 2+ is only the third version of the computer that even Microsoft refuses to call "Studio 3" due to a small number of changes. Besides having a last-gen Intel processor, the Surface Studio 2+ features some notable downgrades compared to its predecessors, making the upgrade even more head-scratching. In this Specs Appeal article, we compare the Surface Studio 2+ to the outgoing model and its original version introduced in late 2016.
Of course, it is disappointing to see Microsoft opting for the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H instead of a 12th Gen processor with brand-new architecture. Such a decision is especially bewildering considering the fact that the Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9 come with 12th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. Still, the Intel Core i7-11370H is a significant performance jump compared to the processors found in the original and second-gen Surface Studio.
A better GPU is another reason some Surface Studio owners will consider upgrading to the Surface Studio 2+. Microsoft has swapped the old Nvidia GTX 1060 and 1070 in favor of a more modern and significantly more powerful RTX 3060 with 6GB of memory.
Unfortunately, the Surface Studio 2+ has nothing more to offer besides a new CPU+GPU combo, as all the other aspects of the computer remain unchanged. Moreover, you need to accept a few notable downgrades, such as only one SKU with no customization, no SD card slot (why, Microsoft), and no Xbox Wireless built-in. All this makes Surface Studio 2+ look like a placeholder device to fill the gap while Microsoft prepares a more significant upgrade.
Here are key changes summed up in a list:
- Dolby Vision support and auto color management
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB graphics card
- No 16GB RAM option, only 32GB
- No 2TB SSD option, only 1TB
- Improved security with Windows 11 Secured-core PC
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support
- Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports
- No more built-in Xbox Wireless standard
- No more full-sized SD card slot
| Surface Studio 2+ | Surface Studio 2 | Surface Studio 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 28-inch 3:2 PixelSense 4500 x 3000 (192 ppi), 60Hz 10-point multi-touch 1 billion colors Auto Color Management sRGB and Vivid profile DCI-P3 Dolby Vision Gorilla Glass 3 | 28-inch 3:2 PixelSense 4500 x 3000 (192 ppi), 60Hz 10-point multi-touch sRGB and Vivid profile DCI-P3 | |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 10 Windows 11 | Windows 10 |
| Colors | Platinum | ||
| Processor | Intel Core i7-11370H | Intel Core i7-7820HQ | Intel Core i5-6440HQ Intel Core i7-6820HQ |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB | Nvidia GTX 965M 2GB Nvidia GTX 980M 4GB |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4 | 16GB, 32GB DDR4 | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 1TB, 2TB SSD | 64GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 128GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 128 GB SSD + 2TB HDD |
| Security | TPM 2.0 Chip Windows Hello face sign-in Windows 11 Secured-core PC | TPM 2.0 Chip Windows Hello face sign-in | TPM Chip Windows Hello face sign-in |
| Network | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 Gigabit Ethernet | Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1 Xbox Wireless Gigabit Ethernet | Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.0 Xbox Wireless Gigabit Ethernet |
| Camera | Front-facing camera with 1080p video and Windows Hello | ||
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C 4.0 2x USB-A 3.1 1x 3.5mm headphone jack 1x Gigabit Ethernet | 4x USB-A 3.0 | 4x USB-A 3.0 1x Full-size SDXC 1x Mini DisplayPort 1x 3.5mm headphone jack 1x Gigabit Ethernet |
| In the box | Surface Pen Surface Keyboard Surface Mouse | ||
| Price | $4,499 | $3,000 | |
True, the Surface Studio 2+ is much more capable than its predecessor, and wanting a more powerful CPU or graphics card is a solid reason to buy the new model. But does a soon-two-generation-old processor and a mid-range graphics card provide enough incentive to buy such an expensive computer with so few changes? It is a question we have a hard time answering.