The Windows Central Podcast with our Executive Editor, Daniel Rubino and Senior Editor, Zac Bowden will be LIVE on today, Wednesday September 22 at 1PM ET for a special episode focused entirely on the announcements coming out of Microsoft's hardware event, which takes place a couple hours before at 11AM ET.

We'll be talking all about the new hardware, from the Surface Duo 2 to the new Surface Book 4 (likely called Surface Laptop Studio.) We're expecting up to five new Surface devices to be announced, and that's not even including the accessories! So, there will be lots to talk about, and we'll have all the info you need.

The show will be LIVE on YouTube at 1PM ET on Wednesday. You can tune in via the embedded video above, or head to the Windows Central YouTube channel to catch us when the show goes live. If you miss the show, don't worry, as we'll be making available a video on demand version and an audio-only version that will be published on podcasting platforms.

What you need to know

• Microsoft will hold a Surface hardware event on September 22, 2021 at 11 a.m. EST (8 a.m. PST).
• The company is expected to announce the Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, Surface Book 4, and several other Surface devices.
• The event will be streamed through Microsoft's website.

Microsoft's Surface hardware event kicks off at 11 a.m. EST (convert to your local time) today, September 22, 2021. The Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, and Surface Book 4 (which may go by a different name) are all expected to be announced at the event.

Microsoft will stream the event on its website. We've embedded the video below.

A refreshed Surface Pro X, a Surface Go 3, and a few Surface accessories are also expected at Microsoft's event.

Our senior editor Zac Bowden has broken down what we should expect from the 2021 Surface hardware event. Between leaks and information from sources, quite a bit is known about Microsoft's new hardware, but it's still worth watching the event live. Panos Panay and the Surface team are known for adding "one more thing" to their events.

It's also worth checking out the stream to see the first images of the Surface devices. While fan renders and leaks have given us glimpses of Microsoft's upcoming devices, we haven't seen any official photos or sizzler reels of the hardware.

Of the suspected devices, our readers are most excited about the Surface Duo 2. It looks to be a significant upgrade over the original Surface Duo in both design and specs. The Surface Book 4 also appeals to our readers thanks to its unique form factor. The device is said to be a non-detachable 2-in-1 with powerful internals.

Welcome to the eighth episode of Ask Windows Central, a show where we answer our communities most asked questions around Microsoft, Windows, Surface, Xbox, and the general tech industry. This week's episode features just one question that we've been asked countless times over the last few weeks: What are your expectations for this week's Surface event?

If you have a question you'd like us to answer on the show, be sure to submit them in the comments below, or email daniel@windowscentral.com with "Ask Windows Central" in the subject line! You can also join the Windows Central Discord and ask questions in the dedicated #ask-wc channel.

If you're on Twitter, you can tweet your question with the #AskWindowsCentral tag included, and make sure you tag either @daniel_rubino or @zacbowden so we can see it.

If you have any feedback about the show format, please let us know. We're building this show around you, so if there's something you don't like or think we should change, we're all ears. We hope you enjoy the episode, and look forward to getting back to your questions in the next one.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is holding a hardware event on September 22.
• We're expecting up to five new Surface devices, and accessories.
• Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro X, Surface Book, Surface Go, and Surface Duo are on the agenda for updates.

Microsoft has announced that its annual fall Surface hardware event will be taking place on September 22. This year, rumors suggest we're getting five new Surface devices, four of which are among the first PCs with Windows 11 out of the box.

Our sources say to expect updates to the Surface Duo, Surface Pro and Pro X, Surface Go, as well as an all-new flagship 2-in-1 Surface laptop design. Here's an overview of the new Surface devices being announced next week, with some obvious spoilers ahead.

Surface Duo 2 brings much-requested upgrades

The next Surface Duo is under some serious pressure to deliver. After a rough launch with the Surface Duo 1, which shipped with outdated hardware and buggy software, Microsoft has focused on making Surface Duo 2 a better phone right out of the gate. According to my sources, Surface Duo 2 will feature a Snapdragon 888 processor with 5G capabilities, 8GB RAM, a new camera system, better displays, and NFC.

Surface Duo 2 has two 5.8-inch displays on the inside, up from 5.6-inches on the first Surface Duo. This allows Microsoft to thin out the bezels, though not by much. Microsoft has also very slightly curved the displays towards the hinge, allowing for glanceable information to appear down the spine when the device is closed.

The displays will also have a higher refresh rate, although we're unsure if that means 90Hz or 120Hz. Surface Duo 2 has a total of four cameras too; a selfie shooter on the inside above the right display, and a wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lens housed in the rear camera bump.

We're told the battery size has increased by roughly 800-900mAh to accommodate 5G and the higher-refresh rate displays. Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC are also present on the device, finally opening the Duo up to mobile payments. Unfortunately, I'm told that wireless charging is not present. We're expecting Microsoft to ship white and black models, with 128GB and 256GB storage configurations.

The Surface Duo is the only Surface device being announced at the event that doesn't ship with Windows 11. Instead, it will ship with Android 11 out of the box.

Changes headed to Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X

Microsoft is also planning to unveil a new mainline Surface Pro device, likely dubbed the Surface Pro 8. I'm not expecting huge changes to this hardware, though we will see some external upgrades to the chassis. The display is said to be bigger compared to that on the Surface Pro 7, likely closer to the 13-inch display size found on the Surface Pro X, with thinner bezels.

I'm also expecting Microsoft to upgrade the Surface Pro 8 with support for the Surface Pro X Type Covers, finally dropping the classic Type Cover connection that Microsoft has been using since the first generation Surface Pro. Of course, this also means the Surface Pro 8 will finally have "official" support for the Surface Slim Pen.

A report from The Verge also claims that at least one Surface Pro 8 model will ship with Thunderbolt support, which would be a first for Microsoft. The device is also said to ship with Intel 11th-generation chips, just like the Surface Pro 7+ released earlier this year.

Other features that will likely be new to the Surface Pro 8 include "wake on touch" and "wake on approach," two new Windows 11 functionalities that Microsoft will want to highlight with its new hardware. Overall, sources have said to expect "modest" changes to the Surface Pro 8.

Surface Pro X is also set for a refresh this fall, though don't expect any significant changes to its external design or SoC. This fall will likely consist of a support for the aforementioned Windows 11 hardware functionalities, and I've also heard that Microsoft is planning to sell a Wi-Fi-only model of the Surface Pro X for the first time.

Finally, Microsoft is reportedly testing a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz on the display for both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X. Whether or not this feature ships will depend on if Microsoft was able to maintain acceptable battery life in testing.

Surface Book 4 is the star of the show

I've been hearing for a while now that Microsoft is planning to unveil a new flagship Surface "laptop" at this event. I'm told it'll feature a non-detachable 2-in-1 design, essentially combining the Surface Laptop with the Surface Pro form factor. The display can be pulled forward and laid flat over the keyboard deck for drawing or taking notes, similar to the HP Elite Folio.

I'm unsure whether Microsoft plans to call this device the "Surface Book 4" or if it'll ship under another name. Sources familiar with Microsoft's hardware plans have referred to this device as several different names, including Book 4, Laptop Pro, and Laptop Studio. For now, the name remains a mystery. This device will likely be the star of the show, as it's the only product with a new form factor and design within the Surface line that's being announced.

Other details include a larger trackpad compared to the Surface Book 3, a display size of around 14-inches with a dynamic refresh rate, and slim uniform bezels with rounded corners. The device has two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. I'm also told the device will ship with NVIDIA RTX graphics, though I am yet to hear of which series, specifically.

No word on what chips it will ship with, but given the new design, I'm hoping that that Microsoft will strive for more powerful 6 or 8-core chips to rival high-end devices like MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15. I'm also unsure if any of the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt enabled.

Minor revisions to Surface Go 3

Microsoft's budget Surface Go is likely to remain very similar to the Surface Go 2, with only chip updates expected. Geekbench results have revealed that the Surface Go 3 will likely ship with an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y in the low-end model and an Intel Core i3-10100Y in the higher-end LTE-enabled model.

I was told last year that Microsoft was playing with the idea of shipping a black Surface Go 2, though that never materialized. Perhaps we'll see a black Surface Go 3 ship instead.

More accessories to come...

We also expect Microsoft to announce a handful of new accessories, as with past events. A new Surface Pen with haptics tops the list, which Microsoft has announced will be required to leverage some Windows 11 pen features. I suspect the new pen takes on the same Slim Pen form factor that was introduced with the Surface Pro X.

We also expect Type Covers to be updated with the new Windows 11 logo on the Start key, and possibly new colors too. I'm unsure if we'll see a new pair of Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds, though both products are severely overdue at this point.

What not to expect

As is the case every year, there's a couple of Surface PCs that won't be getting an update this fall. These include the Surface Studio, Surface Laptop, and Surface Laptop Go. We also likely won't be seeing the Surface Neo given the fact that the Intel Lakefield chip inside has since been discontinued by Intel.

What are your thoughts?

That's everything I'm told we will and won't be announced on September 22nd. Of course, Microsoft is sometimes able to keep a few things a surprise, so maybe we'll see some addition things that we haven't heard about yet. Either way, the event is slated to commence at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT, with coverage to follow on Windows Central. Let us know what you're most excited about in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Polled Windows Central readers are most excited about the Surface Duo 2 from the upcoming Surface hardware lineup.
• Microsoft is set to announce several devices at the Surface hardware event on September 22, 2021.
• The Surface Book 4 earned the second most votes out of the suspected upcoming Surface devices.

Microsoft will announce several new Surface devices at an event on September 22, 2021. Anticipation is building among enthusiasts, and leaks are starting to appear. With only a few days left before Microsoft announces the Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, and other new hardware, we wanted to know which device people are most excited about.

Just over 33% of voters in our poll were most excited about the Surface Duo 2. Behind that, the Surface Book 4 (which may go by a different name) earned 27.06% of the votes. The Surface Pro 8 received over 21.42% of the votes, while the Surface Go 3 and updated Surface Pro X received less than 10% each. Lastly, 1.13% of polled participants were most excited about new Surface accessories, such as the new Surface Pen.

Keith Wallace, in the comments of our poll post, argued that the Surface Duo is trying to carve a new product category and that it should be the device people are most excited about:

There seem to be quite a few people anxious to see a mobile device from Microsoft. While the Surface Duo isn't a traditional smartphone, it is the first phone that Microsoft has made in years. The Surface Duo 2 looks to bring significantly improved specs compared to its predecessor, including a flagship processor, bigger screens, improved cameras, and support for NFC.

Microsoft is set to announce a bevy of Surface hardware next week. The company will likely unveil the Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, and several other devices on September 22, 2021. We want to know which device you're looking forward to the most.

Our senior editor Zac Bowden has a full breakdown of what to expect from Microsoft's fall 2021 Surface hardware event, but we'll run through the anticipated devices here as well.

The Surface Duo 2 looks to be a major step up from its predecessor. It's said to have flagship specs, bigger screens, improved cameras, and support for NFC. We also expect it to support 5G. Sources indicate that the Duo 2 will have a screen with a faster refresh rate as well. In short, the Surface Duo 2 looks to be an improvement across the board compared to its predecessor.

The Surface Pro 8 will probably be a minor update when it comes to external design. The display should be a bit bigger than that of the Surface Pro 7, but a design overhaul isn't likely. The Surface Pro 8 could ship with Thunderbolt support, which would be a first for Surface hardware. We do expect some new features in the Surface Pro 8, such as "wake on touch" and "wake to approach," both of which are Windows 11 features.

We predict a new Surface Pro X announced at the event, likely in a chip refresh capacity. It should also support Windows 11 features like "wake on touch." Both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X could support Dynamic Refresh Rate.

The Surface Book 4 may be the biggest announcement of the day. We aren't sure the device will be called the Surface Book 4. We believe that Microsoft will unveil a flagship laptop with a non-detachable 2-in-1 design. There's enough speculation about the Surface Book 4 that you should read up on our coverage of the device before voting here.

The Surface Go 3 will likely see a chip refresh as well. We may also see the smaller Surface in a new color.

Maybe you're happy with your main Surface hardware but are excited about some new accessories. We expect Microsoft to announce a new Surface Pen and Type Covers. We could also see new Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds, though Microsoft might not have new versions of these to unveil next week.

Tons of Surface news is forecast to drop next week. We'll cover all of it here and will even have a special edition of the Windows Central Podcast after the Surface hardware event.

While we wait for the event, please let us know your thoughts on the upcoming hardware. Which device are you most excited about? Vote in the poll above and share your opinions in the comments below.

What you need to know

• A designer created unofficial renders for what the Surface Book 4 could look like.
• The renders are based on recently filed patents from Microsoft that show a unique hinge for the device.
• A mock launch video illustrates what the patent design would look like in motion.

Microsoft could announce several Surface devices later this year in October. Among those devices could be the Surface Book 4. A patent from Microsoft shows off a laptop with a hinge that lets its display pop forward, somewhat like the HP Elite Folio and Acer ConceptID. A designer named David Breyer shared unofficial renders online of what the Surface Book 4 could look like.

Not much is known about the Surface Book 4. In fact, it may actually be called something along the lines of the Surface Laptop Studio. Until we see more details from Microsoft, the best we can do is look at the stunning renders from Breyer and the mock launch video.

It's important to note that these renders don't necessarily reflect what the Surface Book 4 will look like. They're made based on patent filings from Microsoft, which are often more about concepts than exact designs. The renders do, however, give us a glimpse of what the device could look like in 3-D. They also show the benefit of a hinge that lets the screen of the Surface Book 4 pop forward.

That hinge could be the crux of the Surface Book 4. It would mean a major shift away from the detachable nature of previous Surface Books, which could be why the laptop may have a different name.

What do you think of the concept of a Surface Book 4? Would you purchase a laptop that has a screen that can pop forward into different positions? Let us know in the comments below.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Zac and Dan cover the latest beta of Windows 11 and some updated apps designed to leverage new features of the OS. They also talk about the global chip shortage, what we know about upcoming Surface devices, new foldables from Samsung, and the next-generation of haptic feedback trackpads.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on August 13th 2021.

Links:

• Windows 11 build 22000.132 is now out for Insiders in Dev and Beta channels | Windows Central
• Microsoft rolls out first updates to its Windows 11 apps | Windows Central
• Chip shortage wait times continue to grow, hampering new Windows 11 PCs | Windows Central
• Surface Book 4: Specs, features, and everything we know so far | Windows Central
• Surface Pro 8: Release date and everything we know so far | Windows Central
• Which unannounced Surface device are you most excited about? | Windows Central
• Microsoft and Samsung expand partnership with Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 | Windows Central
• Will you buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 or wait for the Surface Duo 2? | Windows Central
• Next-gen 'HD' haptic trackpads are coming to Windows in 2022 thanks to Boréas and Cirque | Windows Central

Subscribe to the podcast

• Download directly: Audio
• Listen via Spotify
• Listen via: Windows Central app Windows 10 | Android
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via RSS
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• Subscribe via Pocket Casts
• Watch the live stream video archive

Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

• Email: wcpodcast@windowscentral.com
• Twitter: @WindowsCentral with hashtag #wcpodcast

Each year, Microsoft holds a Surface event in October. And each year, the months leading up to the event have rumors and reports about upcoming devices. So far, reports have come out about the Surface Pro 8, Surface Book 4, and Surface Duo 2. With the hype for these devices ramping up, we wanted to know which unannounced Surface device has you most excited.

In our poll that ran over the weekend, over 36% of voters said they were most excited about the Surface Duo 2. The Surface Pro 8 came in second with just over 28% of the votes. The Surface Book 4 drew the least interest of the unannounced devices but still won 26% of the votes.

Interestingly, 9.2% of participants said that they weren't excited about any of the devices. Even with rumors of a major redesign of the Surface Book 4 and reports of a dramatically improved Surface Duo 2, almost one in ten voters aren't interested in Microsoft's unannounced hardware.

This poll was much closer than when we pit the Surface Duo 2 and Galaxy Fold 3 against each other. Perhaps the Galaxy Fold 3 shouldn't feel bad about losing because even rumors of a Surface Book 4 and Surface Pro 8 couldn't pull our readers from the Surface Duo 2.

In the comments section of our Surface poll, Ladydias said, "Cautiously looking forward to the Duo 2 and Pro 8. Just hoping that the former doesn't feel as awkward as the leaks make it look with that camera hump and the latter has an improved inking experience with less pen wobble."

Another commenter, leo74, shared excitement about a couple of devices while coming to terms with the Surface Neo, "Duo 2, followed closely by the Book 4. I was really hoping for the Neo, but it looks like that ship has sailed for good."

Several comments mention hopes of a Surface monitor with a design similar to that of the Surface Studio.

Do you agree with the voters about Surface hardware? We'll keep the poll open to see if it trends differently as weekday readers take a look.

This week we saw a trio of major Surface-related articles on our front page. Our executive editor kicked things off with an update to our piece on the Surface Pro 8. Soon after, unofficial renders of the Surface Duo 2 were shared online. Following that, our senior editor Zac Bowden shared a report on the upcoming Surface Book 4 (which may go by a different name). With all of this Surface news, we'd like to know which upcoming Microsoft device you're most excited about.

The Surface Pro 8 will likely have the least radical redesign of the new Surface devices. We expect the flagship 2-in-1 to feature new Intel 1th Gen U-series chips, a new Type Cover more like that of the Surface Pro X, and a larger display. While the display will be larger, we don't expect the footprint of the device to be any bigger. Microsoft will expand the screen of the Surface Pro 8 by thinning its bezels compared to its predecessor.

We also expect the Surface Pro 8 to have a removable SSD and to have a refined design, though it will be similar to the Surface Pro 7.

In contrast, the Surface Book 4 will likely be a dramatic shift from the Surface Book 3. In fact, it may not even be called the Surface Book 4. For the sake of simplicity, we'll call it that for now.

The Surface Book 4 could look like a mixture of the Surface Studio and the Surface Laptop. It will likely run on a more powerful processor as well. The current Surface Book maxes out at only four cores. Many of the best Windows laptops run on processors with six or even eight cores. Sources also suggest that the Surface Book 4 will have RTX graphics, a bigger trackpad, and a panel with a high refresh rate.

We still haven't heard any official word on the Surface Duo 2, but a designer created unofficial renders of the device based on leaks and suspected details about the device. We expect the Surface Duo 2 to have a camera bump and a more refined design than the previous generation.

Which Surface device are you most excited about? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Windows 11 has achieved Beta status! We also have Surface Duo 2 leaks, Surface Book 4 speculation, and Dan's review of the HP Elite Folio.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on July 30h 2021.

Links:

• Windows 11 preview bits are now available in the Insider Beta Channel | Windows Central
• Images of Microsoft's upcoming 'Surface Duo 2' leak revealing triple camera setup | Windows Central
• Microsoft's next Surface Book could radically redesign what a 2-in-1 is supposed to be like | Windows Central
• Microsoft Q4 2021 earnings: $46.2 billion in revenue, beating expectations | Windows Central
• HP Elite Folio review: The future of ultra-light convertible PCs should look like this | Windows Central

Subscribe to the podcast

• Download directly: Audio
• Listen via Spotify
• Listen via: Windows Central app Windows 10 | Android
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via RSS
• Subscribe via Google Play Music
• Subscribe via Pocket Casts
• Watch the live stream video archive

Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

• Email: wcpodcast@windowscentral.com
• Twitter: @WindowsCentral with hashtag #wcpodcast

What you need to know

• A Microsoft patent shows a new kickstand design that could be used in a new Surface device, possibly Surface Book 4.
• The patent would allow the display to rest at different angles, similar to Apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad.
• The design would also allow the display of the device to pop forward at an angle while still allowing a person to access its trackpad.

A Microsoft patent could indicate that a significant redesign to the Surface Book is on the way. The patent was spotted by WindowsUnited, shows a different style of display design from Surface Book 3 or Surface Laptop.

As is the case with all patents, this design may never be implemented in a product released to the public and Microsoft doesn't mention any specific device by name in the included documents.

"A hinge of a computing device includes a primary support connecting a display to a stand," says the patent's abstract. "As the display rotates about the stand, the primary support slides along a friction strip, which stabilizes the display with respect to the stand. A stabilizer may connect the stand to the base or the stand to the display."

At first glance, the drawings from the patent look a bit like Apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad. Based on the figure labeled 7-2, it looks like the design allows the display to rest at different angles, thanks to a stabilizing part (item 728).

The designs also have a lot in common with the HP Elite Folio. That convertible 2-in-1 can pop its screen down for easy viewing while still showing the trackpad.

Future of Surface Book 4?

Questions remain about Microsoft's ambitions with a Surface Book 4. Rumors have been circulating that the company may be rethinking the current Surface Book concept of a detachable display that doesn't seem to get much use these days.

Currently, the Surface Book's processor is limited to that of Ultrabooks due to it being behind the display instead of the base of the computer like all other laptops. With this new redesign, Microsoft could finally make a much more powerful Surface Book while retaining its 2-in-1 roots.

We wrote about these issues back in 2020, calling for Microsoft to effectively make a "Surface Laptop Pro." That looks like it could be happening now as the Surface Book hasn't been redesign since its initial release in 2015.

In our experience with HP's Elite Folio, the pull-it-forward display lets you transform the PC from a full laptop to a presentation mode and a tablet without having to lift the device off your lap. It's a clever design that is easily better than the current Surface Book.

The concept of a pull-it-forward display is not new, either, as Acer has been employing it for years and most recently with its imaginative ConceptD 3 Ezels, but goes back to 2013 with the Acer Aspire R7.

As to when we could see such a device from Microsoft, due to current chip shortages, it seems unlikely this would release in 2021 and, instead, be on the table for 2022. However, Microsoft is good at maintaining secrets, so anything is possible.

Do you think Microsoft should go with this design for Surface Book 4? Let us know in the comments!