Microsoft needs to license its abandoned Surface hardware, starting with the Surface Studio — but with a twist

Microsoft plans to announce new Surface hardware soon, but it's unlikely to be a new Surface Studio. Some of the most iconic Surface devices now lie in the Microsoft Graveyard. I have a plan to fix that, and it will make Microsoft money instead of costing the tech giant.

I outlined 4 steps to save the Surface brand last month, but I've since thought of one more: Microsoft should license its abandoned designs to other OEMs. And the first design that another manufacturer should adopt is the Surface Studio, but as a monitor, not an All-in-One.

Surface is not the same as it used to be. Once an experimental family of devices that pushed hardware limits and tried new form factors, the Surface devices still being made hardly stick out. By licensing the Surface brand and select Surface designs out, Microsoft can keep the legacy going while relying on the expertise of another manufacturer.

The "wow factor" has diminished in part because Surface accomplished one of its goals. The Surface Pro lineup inspired wave after wave of 2-in-1s. The Surface Laptop showcased what a premium Windows laptop could be.

I get why Microsoft changed its plans; I just don't like it. The Surface Hub is dead. The Surface Pro X was merged with the main Surface Pro line, which is a downright shame. We're well past the days of the Surface Studio, Surface Book, or Surface Laptop Studio.

But a streamlined Surface lineup doesn't have to mean the end of innovative and useful hardware.

A gorgeous but flawed device

I've never used a device that captivated me more than the original Surface Studio. Almost 10 years ago, I was spoiled at a job that allocated me a Surface Studio as my main PC. I used to sit in awe of the glorious, thin display that felt like it was floating.

But despite its beauty and unique design, the Surface Studio was flawed. One of the reasons I could use that specific model was that I worked at a creative company, and the specs of the Surface Studio were lackluster at launch and aged poorly.

Microsoft refreshed the Surface Studio a couple of times over the years, ending with the Surface Studio 2+. That All-in-One cost $4,699 at launch and shipped day one with out-of-date internals.

But the Surface Studio was never about the internals. I genuinely think Microsoft failed to see what it created with the Surface Studio. The PC was marketed as an All-in-One, but what many cared about most was the display.

That's why it deserves a second life, even if Microsoft won't build it.

Resurrecting the Surface Studio

I'm far from the first person to ask for a Surface Studio monitor. A quick Google search shows several threads either asking why there never was a Surface Studio monitor or in which the top comment says there should have been one.

The Surface Studio was incredibly expensive, and it definitely wasn't because of its internals. I think it's safe to assume that a large portion of its cost was due to its monitor and unique hinge. That would mean a Surface Studio monitor would be expensive as well.

Comment from r/microsoft

Microsoft already licenses hardware designs and branding when it makes business sense. Surface should be no different.

Microsoft may not want to take the risk of finding that niche market, but another OEM could.

Manufacturers are always looking for halo products that stand out in a crowded space. The Surface Studio monitor fits that perfectly.

The risk would also be smaller for the right buyer. Surface devices are iconic, but Surface is a boutique brand with bespoke hardware purchased on a small scale. The right OEM could spend less while making the same hardware.

The concept of "Designed by Microsoft" products already exists. Several Microsoft-branded accessories are now licensed by Incase. Ironically, Microsoft moved away from those designs to prioritize the Surface brand.

While not the same situation, Microsoft has featured iconic brands on hardware made by other companies before, such as the Xbox ROG Ally X.

Microsoft could, and should, find a suitor to resurrect Surface designs. The Surface Studio's display would need to be refreshed with thinner bezels to meet expectations in 2026. Of course, it would also need to be made into a monitor rather than just the display of an All-in-One.

A Surface Studio monitor with a built-in Thunderbolt dock would allow people to connect their PCs easily to a gorgeous display. Anything from a powerful desktop PC to the next Surface Pro could connect to the Surface Studio monitor, bypassing the limits of outdated hardware inside the Surface Studio.

The OEM that licenses the Surface Studio design would be able to sell a unique, premium product without having to go through the design process or costs. The Surface Studio monitor could also be sold as part of an ecosystem of premium products from that manufacturer.

A bring your own PC approach would allow the Surface Studio monitor to shine as a display without being held back by dated internals that drive up the cost without adding value.

A licensed Surface Studio monitor wouldn’t fix the entire Surface brand, but it would prove there’s still value in the ideas Microsoft walked away from.

If Microsoft won’t build this hardware anymore, it should at least let someone else do it. The Surface Studio design deserves a second life, and licensing it out is the simplest way to keep Surface’s best work from fading into the graveyard.

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