Microsoft is gearing up for its annual Floor fall occasion, with this yr being a particular milestone as the corporate celebrates the tenth anniversary of Floor. As we at all times do right here at Home windows Central, right here’s a roundup of all the pieces we’re listening to and anticipating to see Microsoft announce at this yr’s Floor occasion.
The occasion is going down on October 12 at 10 am ET. The occasion shall be streamed dwell, although it is at the moment unclear if the occasion can have in-person attendance or be digital solely.
Floor Laptop computer
First on the agenda is the subsequent Floor Laptop computer, which is effectively overdue for an replace, because it’s been a yr and a half for the reason that Floor Laptop computer 4. I do know the least about this new Floor Laptop computer, so we’re going off respected stories from different distributors.
In line with current stories, the subsequent Floor Laptop computer will solely be out there with Intel Twelfth-gen U sequence chips, with no AMD Ryzen choices.
This might be the primary time for the reason that Floor Laptop computer 3 that Microsoft has shipped a Floor Laptop computer with out AMD choices. That is maybe as a result of ongoing part scarcity. My sources inform me that internally, Microsoft has designed new Floor Laptops with AMD Ryzen 6000 sequence chips, however we’ll have to attend and see if these find yourself transport this fall.
I count on Floor Laptop computer to ship in the identical 13-inch and 15-inch sizes as final time and in the identical colours. However we can also see the brand new Sage inexperienced colorway as was seen on the Floor Laptop computer Go 2 earlier this yr.
There also needs to be Thunderbolt 4 within the Floor Laptop computer sequence for the primary time.
Listed here are the SKUs I’m anticipating to see ship:
13.5-inch:
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
15-inch:
- Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Floor Professional 9
I’m additionally anticipating a brand new Floor Professional this fall, with vital adjustments coming to the product line within the silicon division. In line with my sources, Microsoft is planning to merge the Floor Professional X with the mainline Floor Professional model this fall, that means the Floor Professional “9” shall be out there to order with both Intel or Qualcomm chips.
The Qualcomm variant (codenamed Arcata) is anticipated to function the Microsoft SQ3, a custom-made Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 SoC that can considerably improve efficiency over the prevailing Floor Professional X. The Intel mannequin (codenamed Zaca) will ship with Twelfth-gen chips, although I am not sure if this shall be of the P-series or U-series selection.
P-series within the Floor Professional line could be enormous, as it will supply a giant efficiency improve over the Floor Professional 8 and place it head-to-head with Apple’s iPad Professional. That stated, P-series chips run scorching and are much less vitality environment friendly in comparison with U-series chips, so maybe U-series makes extra sense for a tool like Floor Professional.
One other headlining function for the brand new Floor Professional would be the inclusion of 5G LTE for the primary time in a Floor PC, particularly for the ARM fashions (which simply handed via the FCC). I don’t count on there to be any main exterior design adjustments over the present Floor Professional design, besides for brand spanking new gadget colours and, presumably, new Sort Cowl patterns.
Listed here are the SKUs I’m anticipating to see ship for each Intel and ARM fashions.
Floor Professional 9:
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Floor Professional 9 with 5G
- Microsoft SQ3, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
- Microsoft SQ3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Microsoft SQ3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Microsoft SQ3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Floor Studio 3
I’m additionally anticipating to see Microsoft lastly ship a brand new Floor Studio (codenamed Chehalis), that includes modest updates to its design and extra up-to-date specs underneath the hood. We’ve already checked out its refreshed equipment, which function an up to date colorway and a barely new design on the Floor Pen.
Notably, the pen design is of the thicker selection and never an up to date Slim Pen design. This means the Floor Studio 3 received’t have a devoted wi-fi charging bay for the Slim Pen 2, as some had anticipated. It’s price noting that the Floor Pen and Floor Slim Pen are two completely different product traces, with one not being a substitute or successor to the opposite.
Like earlier Floor Studios, I am informed this gadget shall be powered by an Intel chip, although I’ve not been in a position to confidently affirm whether or not that shall be Eleventh-generation or Twelfth-generation sequence. I had heard over a yr in the past that the Floor Studio 3 would ship with a Tiger Lake processor, however hopefully, the gadget has been up to date since then.
I count on just one SKU of the Floor Studio 3 to ship, although it might be purchasable with no keyboard, mouse, and pen for industrial clients.
What’s believed to be Floor Studio 3 has simply been filed via the FCC.
- Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Undertaking Volterra
Undertaking Volterra (codenamed Black Rock) was introduced earlier this yr, however I count on Microsoft shall be gearing as much as ship the primary models across the similar time as the opposite new Floor gadgets. Undertaking Volterra encompasses a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 underneath the hood and is Microsoft’s first mini-desktop PC, although the corporate solely plans to promote it as a developer equipment.
Enjoyable truth: Undertaking Volterra was constructed by the Floor staff and is a Floor product in all the pieces however its identify. So despite the fact that it is not branded as a Floor, it is nonetheless a Floor at coronary heart.
Equipment
This is a primary have a look at the refreshed Floor Keyboard and Floor Pen, which I assume are being up to date for the upcoming Floor Studio 3 this fall pic.twitter.com/RJs8qYrkarAugust 31, 2022
As is the case yearly, we’re additionally anticipating to see a handful of latest equipment launch alongside new Floor PCs. Refreshed variations of the Floor Keyboard, Floor Pen, and Floor Mouse are anticipated, which can doubtless be included in-box with the Floor Studio 3 but in addition purchasable standalone for individuals who do not need to fork out over $3500+ for a pc.
We can also lastly see Microsoft’s new Adaptive Equipment start transport. These had been introduced earlier this yr however have not but gone on sale, and so they did not too long ago cross via the FCC, so their launch ought to be imminent.
There may be additionally an opportunity Microsoft might announce the new Android 12L replace for Floor Duo and Floor Duo 2.
Lastly, I’ve heard that we could also be getting a second-generation pair of Floor Earbuds (codenamed Ella). Sadly, I do not know what is going on to be new with them. Nonetheless, it has been over two years for the reason that first Floor Earbuds launched, so we’re effectively overdue a refresh.
What to not count on
There’s at all times a listing of Floor gadgets we do not count on to make an look this fall. This yr, these embrace:
- Floor Laptop computer Studio 2
- Floor Go 4
- Floor Duo 3
- Floor Neo
- Floor Laptop computer SE 2
- Floor Laptop computer Go 3
- Floor Headphones 3
In fact, there could also be one or two surprises, however I am assured we can’t see a successor or new variations of the Floor Laptop computer Studio, Floor Go, or Floor Duo this fall.
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