Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review 2024: powerful all-in-one PC

The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ was the most unexpected product to emerge out of the event that Microsoft held on October 12 for its Surface line. We say this not only due to the enormous size of the all-in-one computer, but also due to the fact that a new Studio device has not been released since the Surface Studio 2 was released in 2018. Even though there has been a gap of four years, the new Surface Studio’s design isn’t all that different from the previous one.

But thanks to upgraded internal components, this all-in-one computer is significantly more potent than its ancestors. The Surface Studio 2+ was designed to be a playground for creatives. It features a 28-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 4,500 by 3,000 pixels and a graphics processing unit (GPU) from Nvidia. Additionally, it appears that Microsoft will provide a Surface Pen stylus for the user, which is an essential accessory for a product of this nature.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus Specifications

The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ was the most unexpected product to emerge out of the event that Microsoft held on October 12 for its Surface line. Not only do I say this due to the enormous physical dimensions of the all-in-one computer.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: Design

Microsoft’s all-in-one computer, the Surface Studio 2+, is almost indistinguishable from earlier versions of the product. This is not a drawback at all due to the fact that its overall design is so well developed. It is only appropriate that an all-in-one device that can be used to make art also be a design masterpiece in and of itself. Images do not do justice to this incredible machine. It’s a design masterpiece in its own right.

Microsoft refers to the mounting mechanism that holds the 28-inch touch-screen display as a “zero gravity hinge.” The beautiful thing about its spring-assisted, dual-hinge stand is that it gives you the option to either place the screen in an upright position for more conventional desktop use or to completely lower it so that you can use the stylus and touch screen in a more comfortable manner. The second option is very helpful for artists since it enables them to place the gadget in a manner analogous to that of a drafting table.

The stand’s base is where you’ll find all of the Surface Studio 2+’s PC components stored away safely and securely for your convenience. The base, which is square in shape as in the past, has rounded edges and a rounded back end, which is where all of the computer’s ports are located. When you raise or lower the display, the base is stable enough to support the weight of the computer without moving.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: Display

The PixelSense display on the Surface Studio 2+ measures 28 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 4500 by 3000 pixels. It has an aspect ratio of 3:2. The attention of the viewer is unavoidably demanded by a screen of that size. I was only able to see the basic Windows 11 desktop on the screen of the model that was presented at the expo, but I can only image how spectacular content that is streamed will appear on a screen of that size.

Each display, similar to before, is colour calibrated before it is shipped, which means that the quality of the display is at its finest as soon as it is removed from the packaging. The default colour settings have been fine-tuned to work best with the sRGB, DCI-P3, and Vivid colour modes. The prior generation did not have any true HDR capabilities at all. Although it is unknown whether the Surface Studio 2+ offers true HDR, it should be feasible to operate a secondary display (through USB-C) that is capable of outputting video in an HDR-enabled format.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: Features

Instead of the 7th-gen Intel Core i7-7820HQ used in the Studio 2, the 11th-gen Core i7-11370H is used in the Surface Studio 2+. However, Microsoft has not included the most recent 12th-generation processor despite the fact that this is a laptop-class processor with a TDP of 35 watts. When asked about this, a Microsoft representative emphasised that the Studio 2+’s CPU is adequate for the tasks it will experience and highlighted the advantages of the GPU, in particular for creative users.

Mid-range GPU that can handle moderately demanding graphical programmes, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6GB of dedicated video memory. The Studio 2+’s base is about the same size as the non-display elements of a powerful laptop, so it seems reasonable that its specifications, which include 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, are comparable to those of a high-end laptop.

Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 replace their predecessors, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1, respectively, which both date back to 2018. However, that is no longer up to date because of the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi 6E, which adds support for the 6GHz frequency range to the previously supported 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Meanwhile, Bluetooth 5.3 is the cutting edge right now. In contrast to the Studio 2, the Studio 2+ does not include native compatibility for Xbox Wireless.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: Performance

With the release of the Surface Studio 2+, which has an 11th-generation Intel Core i7-11370H processor, Microsoft appears to have resolved this problem to a large extent. It is surprising that Microsoft did not employ the more modern 12th-generation Intel CPUs, especially considering that the most recent Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5 both have Alker Lake chips. This will provide a big improvement in performance, but it is also interesting that Microsoft did not use these processors.

According to Microsoft, the Surface Studio 2+ has a CPU speed that is twice as fast as its predecessor and is five times as powerful as the original Surface Studio. Because of these claims, the Surface Studio 2+ is the superior choice in terms of total performance.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: Ports

The Surface Studio 2+ comes equipped with a substantial number of ports that ought to meet all of your requirements. This features a 3.5mm headphone jack, an Ethernet port, three ports that are compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C, and two USB-A ports.

We expressed our dissatisfaction with the positioning of the ports in our review of the Surface Studio 2, which can be found here. The Surface Studio’s ports were difficult to reach and made it more difficult than usual to plug things in without looking, both of which were caused by the fact that all of the ports were located on the back of the machine, which had an unusually curved surface on the rear panel.

Price and availability

The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ for a starting price of $4,299. A 28-inch display, 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 laptop graphics processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of solid-state storage all included in the asking price.

Final Words

The Studio 2 has 16GB of RAM, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and an SD card port while the Studio 2+ has none of these. The solid chassis and 28-inch touchscreen display are carried over from the previous generation, and Thunderbolt 4 compatibility and faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 are welcome additions.

Is the new Surface Studio 2+ worth the money? The processor, GPU, and other enhancements definitely warrant the premium price tag, bringing this AIO practically up to date, which is great news if you’re a dedicated Windows user who likes the versatility and build quality of the Surface Studio series. However, we would have prefered to see a 12th-generation Core i7 CPU.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus review: The good and The bad