Outside of a couple of rumors and obvious expectations, there wasn't much to go off of going into today's Surface event. But Microsoft had quite the packed lineup in store, including refreshes to three Surfaces, the launch of the October 2018 Update, and a new accessory that no one saw coming. Here's a look at everything Microsoft announced.
Surface Pro 6
To kick things off, Microsoft unveiled its latest Surface Pro refresh, the Surface Pro 6. The biggest outward change here is that the Surface Pro 6 comes in new white and black models. But the device has amped up in terms of power as well, picking up Intel's latest 8th Gen processors.
And yes, despite the brief flirtation with ditching numbers on its last model, Microsoft has cozied back up to numerals with the Surface Pro 6.
Surface Pro 6 is available to preorder now starting at $899 and is expected to launch on October 16.
Surface Laptop 2
Switching gears to the more traditional laptop crowd, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop 2. Like the Surface Pro 6, the Surface Laptop 2 is also available in a sleek black finish, and it has cranked up the power as well.
Surface Laptop 2 is significantly speedier than its predecessor, with Microsoft claiming it's up to 85 percent faster than the original Surface Laptop. That's largely thanks to new 8th Gen Intel processors, no doubt. Other than the speed boost, the Surface Laptop 2 also packs a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, and the typing experience should now be quieter thanks to an improved keyboard.
Surface Laptop 2 is available to preorder now starting at $999 and is expected to launch on October 16.
Surface Studio 2
Going into today's event, a refreshed Surface Studio wasn't necessarily expected, but it seemed likely. And for fans of the unique all-in-one, Microsoft didn't disappoint in announcingthe Surface Studio 2.
All of the updates here are for the internals, with the Studio 2 keepingthe same design that was introduced with its prior incarnation. Graphics have seen a step up to NVIDIA's GTX 1070 chip, which is a big step up from the original's GTX 980M. The device's processing game has also seen a bump to Intel's 7th Gen 7820HQ processor.
According to Microsoft, the screen has been upgraded with a "new liquid crystal material" that should provide deeper blacks. Around back, you'll also find the addition of a USB-C port, but it's unclear as of now if it supports Thunderbolt 3.
Surface Studio 2 is available to preorder now starting at $3,499 and is expected to launch by November 15.
Surface Headphones
While one could resonably guess everything else Microsoft announced today, this one came totally out of left field. Complementing Microsoft's growing lineup of Surface accessories is a new pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones simply dubbed "Surface Headphones."
Though they look a little chunky, the headphones unmistakably fit into the Surface lineup. And they're packing some smarts, too, with Cortana integration, 4-beam forming mics, and different levels of noise cancellation that you can tweak as needed.
There's no release date yet for Surface Headphones, but, with the price set at $350, you'll be shelling out a pretty penny once they do arrive.
Surface All Access
If you're looking for a way to pay for all of this new Surface gear, Microsoft also introduced the new Surface All Access program. The financing program replaces the Surface Plus, which was abruptly retired in August, but it operates in a similar manner.
With prices starting at $25 per month, you can finance a Surface device over 24 months with a two-year subscription to Office 365. Unlike Surface Plus, it doesn't look like there's an option to upgrade to a new device after 18 months for accounts in good standing, but it's still a solid way to spread out your purchase over time.
And more
Today also marked the official launch of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, with Microsoft now allowing anyone who wants it to update now. The update will automatically begin rolling out for everyone starting on October 9.
Finally, Microsoft also teased a major new feature coming to the Your Phone app in a future update: phone mirroring. As the name implies, you'll soon be able to use Your Phone to mirror your phone's screen on a Windows 10 PC, letting you open and interact with apps and, well, do anything else you'd normally do with your phone in your hands.
