Here’s what Surface is Planning to Release in 2019
As we wrap up 2018, it’s time to take a look at what Microsoft has planned for the year ahead when it comes to Surface. Conveniently, I wrote a book on this topic (the inside story of building the entire brand, that you can read about here) which is how I came across this information.
Initially, my plan was to not post any of this and leave it in the book but knowing that anyone is $10 away from a roadmap of Microsoft’s upcoming products, there was no way to keep it out of the headlines. All this being said, some of these products are a year or more away which means plans will, and often do, change; typically I wait until I know exactly when something will release before posting but here we are.
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Surface Laptop is scheduled to be refreshed in Q4 of next year, the interesting bit here is that Microsoft may use an AMD chip for some models of the device. The company is still exploring chipset options and is waiting for the silicon to materialize but it’s on the agenda to take a look at team red for a possible laptop upgrade.
Surface Studio is not expected to be updated next year. Instead, look for a significant update in 2020 that will utilize the ‘compute-module’ style design being pioneered with the new Surface Hub.
If you want a Surface monitor, this is as a close as you may get, an all-in-one PC with a swappable compute unit. I love this idea: monitors last much longer than CPUs and by being able to upgrade the ‘compute’ portion of the Surface Studio, this makes it easier to stretch the lifecycle of the product for the end-user.
Microsoft is working on a new ‘ambient’ device that it may launch in the spring of 2019. This device is said to work with a mobile phone and may help with text input and navigation; details are still a bit murky here but that’s what I’m hearing currently.
As for Andromeda, it’s growing up; look at Intel’s Tiger Rapids prototype, Microsoft is working on a Surface device of this style. So it’s not quite the pocketable design that we have been seeing in all of the patents but is a bit larger. Again, this device will ship when it’s ready and there is justification for it but the company sees it as a visionary device and it is currently slated for a Q4 release.
And the device that started the entire book, the Surface Pro will get heavily updated in Q4 of 2019 with thinner bezels, new color options, USB-C, and a few other enhancements.
If you have made it this far, you will like the rest of the content in the book, Beneath a Surface. It’s the inside story of how Microsoft built the powerhouse PC brand that led to the creation of this post.
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Conversation 51 comments
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shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#374961">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's a matter of opinion. OSX Mojave from all accounts I've heard is excellent & considered every bit as good as OSX Snow Leopard</p>
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#375396">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>and with a touchscreen and digitizer monitor that cannot be use properly on mac</p>
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#374892">In reply to MutualCore:</a></em></blockquote><p>if you want to waste your money … ah maybe you want install windows 10 on your mac mini to use that monitor properly</p>
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PeterC
<p>So thinner bezels for the surface pro – interesting. I wonder if bigger screen in same size enclosure or smaller enclose and same screen size? </p><p><br></p><p>>>Edit: and what about those cameras in the bezel? through screen or notch I wonder.</p><p><br></p><p>Whats an "ambient" device? that works with a mobile phone and helps text input and navigation? Curious.</p>
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PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#374941">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>that's interesting, so a smart speaker that maybe works with whichever OS/eco-system a person uses? or are MS pursuing another proprietary product?</p>
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shameermulji
<p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you want a Surface monitor, this is as a close as you may get, an all-in-one PC with a swappable compute unit."</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What's gonna be the difference between this and the Surface Studio?</span></p>
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#374929">In reply to shameermulji:</a></em></blockquote><p>this should be just a monitor (not a simple one of course)</p>
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shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#375005">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>In other words, it's gonna be MS' take on an upgradeable iMac?</p>
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shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#375005">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>I should've been more specific. What's the difference between this;</p><p><br></p><p>"If you want a Surface monitor, this is as a close as you may get, an all-in-one PC with a swappable compute unit."</p><p><br></p><p>And a modular Surface Studio that MS is planning. Kinda sound like the same thing.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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faustxd9
Premium Member<p>Thanks for the update and writing the book! When I first head about the Surface Hub compute module I imediately thought "hey they could use this in Surface Studio". Great to hear that they are giving that beast a longer life span. Plus it could save them money buy not having displays sitting around with the version of CPU that not many people wanted. </p>