As Microsoft watcher Zac Bowden previously reported, Microsoft has been working on two new Surface products – the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. Windows Latest has already posted benchmarks of the Surface Pro 10 with Snapdragon X Plus.

Thanks to new Geekbench listings, we know more about the Surface Laptop 6.

Laptop 6 benchmarks | Image Courtesy: WindowsLatest.com

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According to Geekbench listings, as many as four devices codenamed “OEMBR OEMBR” have been benchmarked. The device scored close to 14,100 in multi-thread tests and up to 2,745 in single-core tests, which is impressive. The device is running in a “balanced” state, and the numbers may go higher in performance mode.

Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite is as powerful as the Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro chip.

Here’s a table created by Windows Latest that compares the two devices:

The listings do not mention Microsoft or Surface branding for obvious anti-leak measures.

In fact, the device is shown as running “snapdragon 8cx gen 3 4012 MHz”, which doesn’t even exist.

That’s not the first time Microsoft has faked the CPU in the benchmarks, and it’s all part of the anti-leak measures. The benchmarked device in question is the Surface Laptop 6 running Snapdragon X Elite 12-core chip with 16GB of RAM, NPU, and Windows 11 version 24H2.

“OEMxx” is a codename typically used for all Surface products where the “xx” represents different Surface products:

• OEMBR – Surface Laptop with Qualcomm
• OEMMN – Surface Pro 10
• OEMSA – Surface Laptop SE
• OEMML – Surface Laptop

Microsoft doesn’t want you to know the specs of the Surface Laptop 6, so it even tried to fake the CPU information, which is why you’d see “Snapdragon 8cx gen 3 4012 MHz” in the above benchmark screenshots.

However, Microsoft’s benchmarked laptop uses Snapdragon X Elite (X1E80100, specifically), which also powers the Galaxy Book4 Edge.

How powerful is the Surface Laptop 6 ARM compared to the Intel edition?

The Snapdragon X Elite inside the Surface Laptop 6 is powerful and does a better job than the Intel Core i7 155h.

In our tests, we observed that Snapdragon completes 7-Zip File Compression task in 18.98 seconds, while the Intel chip takes slightly longer at 21.09 seconds. During the Visual Studio Code Compilation, the Snapdragon finishes compiling in 30.56 seconds, significantly quicker than Intel’s 68.14 seconds.

Here are our tests comparing the two processors:

As you can see above, for graphics performance, measured by the 3D Mark GPU Benchmark, the Snapdragon achieves 39.11 frames per second (FPS), outperforming Intel’s 33.98 FPS.

In the Speedometer 2.0 benchmark, which measures web application responsiveness, the Snapdragon scores 438 on Edge and 457 on Chrome, whereas the Intel scores 376 and 413, respectively.

You can expect even better performance when Windows 11 on ARM becomes stable on Surface Laptop 6 and other devices by September or October.

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As respected Microsoft watcher Zac Bowden previously reported, Microsoft has been working on two Snapdragon X products: the Surface Pro 10 with an OLED display and the Surface Laptop 6. Thanks to the new Geekbench listings we spotted, we now have more details, including possible information about the Surface Pro 10 with an X Plus chip.

Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus are similar processors, but there’s one big change: X Plus comes with 10 cores (6 performance and 4 efficiency) compared to 12 scores of Snapdragon X Elite. In other words, Snapdragon X Plus could be used in mid-range products, similar to how OEMs use Intel Core i5 and Core i7 in their lineup.

Surface Pro 10 with OLED, Snapdragon X Plus, NPU and more

According to a new Geekbench ML listing spotted by Windows Latest, a mysterious device codenamed “OEMMN OEMMN” has been benchmarked for “DirectML.”

Here’s a breakdown of the leaked benchmarks:

• Tested OS: Windows 11 24H2
• Model: OEMMN OEMMN / Surface Pro 10
• Power Plan: Balanced
• CPU: Snapdragon X Plus – X1P64100 – Qualcomm Oryon CPU
• Topology: 1 Processor, 10 Cores with base frequency at. The chip has two clusters: cluster 1 with 6 cores (performance focused) and cluster 2 with 4 cores (efficiency focused).
• RAM: 16GB.

The listing doesn’t reveal the Snapdragon X Plus key specs but confirms other details, such as the minimum cores and product name. According to our findings, here’s everything we know about about Snapdragon X Plus:

• It comes with an integrated Snapdragon X65 modem (2021), while Snapdragon X Elite PCs use an external modem.
• Snapdragon X Plus has 10 cores instead of 12. It may also have reduced NPU TOPS, but it won’t make a noticeable difference.

This benchmarked device will likely be the Surface Pro 10 with Snapdragon X Plus.

For those unaware, Microsoft has previously used similar codenames for its Surface lineup, such as the Surface Go, Surface Pro 10 for business, and more.

We also have the full list of the current and upcoming Surface product codenames. For example, OEMSA is Surface Laptop SE, OEMML is Surface Laptop, OEMBR is Surface Laptop 6 with Snapdragon X, and OEMMN is Surface Pro 10. These are the codenames for the upcoming Surface devices.

The leaked Geekbench listing suggests that Surface Pro 10 (OEMMN) could ship in two variants: Snapdragon X Elite (high-end) and Snapdragon X Plus (mid-range). At the same time, it’s possible that the Surface Pro 10 will ship with Snapdragon X Plus, and the Surface Laptop 6 will use the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite.

The base variant will have at least 16GB of RAM, as the tech giant appears to be ditching an 8GB base in its Surface lineup.

What about the other features of Surface Pro 10 with ARM? Windows Latest understands it will be similar to the Surface Pro 10 with Intel for businesses, but one of the most noticeable changes would be a new 13-inch display with an OLED panel, which is missing on the Intel variant.

You can choose between three storage options: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB. Similarly, memory options will be limited to 16GB and 32 GB. Other features include the Windows Copilot key, Thunderbolt 4, and Windows Studio Effects.

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The patent application detailed by Windows Latest shows off a new device with a “flexible display”. I think it’s somewhat similar to the Galaxy Z, but it uses a new spine cover plate mechanism, which is a component that protects the built-in hinge. Per the patent, the spine cover plates cover the structural element where the device folds and protects it.

So, what makes this patented phone unique? According to the patent, Microsoft is exploring a spine cover plate that smartly adjusts as and when you unfold or fold the phone. Unlike other foldable, which might leave gaps when folded or crease on display, Microsoft’s idea is to use the spine cover plate to reduce gaps where dust and water could sneak in.

This makes the phone more durable, and the use of a new flexible display could make the crease less visible. Then we’ve got springs inside the patented phone to help the cover glide smoothly to the right position every time.

Microsoft’s patented Surface phone is an interesting take on foldables with a spine cover plate idea

The spine cover plate isn’t a fixed component but a movable feature of the patented Surface phone. It is coupled to the hinge assembly to move relative to the folding structure based on the device’s holding and unfolding actions. In the patent application, Microsoft also explained how it plans to make the foldable phone thin.

Microsoft notes that the spine cover plate can pull itself closer to the device’s internal hinge mechanism when it is folded, which makes the whole device thinner and easier to hold. This also means the hinge, a critical part that lets the Surface phone fold, is better protected when the device is closed.

“By retracting the spine cover plate toward the central spine as the first display-supporting frame and the second display-supporting frame are rotated into a face-to-face orientation, the width of the folded computing device is reduced, thereby enabling easier and more comfortable handling of the device, such as with one hand,” Microsoft noted in the patent.

We also liked the idea of the “Block and Bump” mechanism. As shown in the above images, there’s a sliding part inside the hinge with a bump that fits into a groove.

As you fold the device, this bump slides along the groove, causing the spine cover plate to move in or out perpendicular to the hinge.

This clever use of shapes and movement helps control the plate’s position very precisely.

Microsoft also wants to use guide pins and apertures for movement control. The intention is to make sure that the spine cover plate moves in a straight line, avoiding any chance of it getting stuck or moving out of place.

That sounds like a pretty interesting idea, right? But we don’t know if another Surface phone will ever ship, especially after Panos Panay’s exit from Microsoft.

For now, Microsoft plans to focus on traditional devices, such as the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10.

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Surface Laptop 6 benchmark

As many as ten listings of Surface Laptop 6 have appeared on Geekbench, but I’ll focus on the best scores. It is also worth noting that Surface products generally follow the “OEMxx” naming convention in early Geekbench tests, which is why I believe these tests represent the next-gen models.

According to the Geekbench result, Surface Laptop 6 (codenamed “OEMML”)’s Single-Core Score is 1464, which tells you the performance when using just one core, like running a simple task or a less resources-intensive process.

Then, the Multi-Core Score is 8633. The processor in these tests is Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, which has 14 cores in total, but they’re split up into different types to handle tasks more efficiently.

Four out of 14 are performance cores, with speeds up to 4.6 GHz for really demanding stuff. Then you’ve got the 10 Efficient cores, running up to 3.6 GHz for everyday tasks.

As we noticed, in this benchmark, Surface Laptop 6’s base frequency is 3.60 GHz. The benchmark numbers could be low because the laptop has been tested on Windows 11 Pro with a balanced power plan.

Surface Pro 10 benchmark

As shown in the above screenshot captured by Windows Latest, Surface Pro 10 (OEMHT) tests reveal a Single-Core Score of 1360 and a Multi-Core Score of 7158. This device runs a mid-range Core Ultra 5 135U processor and has support for an NPU chip, which could power features like Paint NPU with Live Canvas.

This chip has 12 cores: 2 high-performance cores and 10 efficiency cores. These two types of cores work together to optimize power and performance. The high-performance cores can run at speeds up to 4.4 GHz for intense tasks, while the efficiency cores run up to 3.6 GHz.

In the benchmark tests, the next-gen Surface Pro’s memory was 31.86 GB, which could be 32GB in production. The Pro 10 will ship with 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB RAM options.

I expect a similar configuration for the Surface Laptop 6, but we’ll learn more about the hardware at Microsoft’s March 21 event.

During the March 21 event, Microsoft could also announce new Copilot features for work and detail the forthcoming “AI Explorer” (not to be confused with File Explorer) as a new way to browse through your previous actions and interact using AI.

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Microsoft has invited the media to a special event in New York City on September 21. The company hasn’t shared what they will present, but certain hints confirm new Surface devices. Benchmarks show a new Surface Laptop Studio 2, and FCC filings suggest the arrival of Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4

First spotted by Windows Latest, the alleged Surface Go 4 appeared on FCC on September 1 with the placeholder name “C3K2029“, i.e. Portable Computing Device. Interestingly, some details in the FCC listing for C3K2029 have been removed, but in the meantime, we managed to learn more about the highly anticipated Surface Go 4.

Surface Go 4 retains the same design as its predecessor and comes with Intel’s N200 processor, which is a “mobile processor” from the Alder Lake-N lineup, and it has been designed for 2-in-1 or tablet form factors. While the performance depends on many factors, Surface Go 3 can boost up to 3.7 GHz, depending on the workload.

It has a DP of 6 W, and the Processor N200 does not consume massive energy, which means the device’s battery backup is likely to be better than the predecessor. The FCC filing also confirmed that Microsoft uses the popular AX Wi-Fi 6 module, which offers faster WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Surface Go 4 design

Microsoft’s 2023 Surface refresh does not update the design of the lineup. This means Surface Go 4 is a clone of Surface Go 3, which was a clone of the Surface Go 2. It’s the same device with a 10.5-inch screen surrounded by relatively thin bezels, but the key difference is the processor.

Microsoft is upgrading the lineup to Intel N200 from Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y.

The original Surface Go shipped with just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, which were the primary reasons for the slow performance of the affordable tablet. Microsoft wants to fix these ‘problems’ by offering the base model with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

You can buy the higher-end models in 128GB or 256GB of storage. In other words, you’ll have to spend more money to buy the tablet as Microsoft has dropped the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage option in favour of more performance-friendly variants.

The Surface Pen and the Surface Type Cover are sold separately.

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Microsoft has secured FCC certification for a “portable computing device”, which appears to be the much-awaited Surface Laptop Go 3. Microsoft has filed another FCC request for Surface Go 4. First spotted by Windows Latest, the upcoming Surface Laptop Go 3 passed through the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) on September 5.

The FCC listing doesn’t reveal anything about the device. In FCC filing, this new offering from Microsoft is labelled the “Microsoft Corporation Portable Computing Device”, identified with codes such as C3K-2067, C3K 2067, C3K2067, and C3K2O60.

Microsoft has used the “C3K” certification branding for many Surface products, but it’s mostly associated with the Surface Go and Surface Laptop lineup. Although the current FCC listing doesn’t offer specifics about this Surface product, benchmarks and leaks have hinted that next-gen Surface upgrades won’t change the lineup’s design.

Surface Laptop Go 3 is expected to ship with 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, and the entry-level model now comes with 8GB RAM. On the other hand, Surface Go 4 will be using an Intel N200 processor, and it won’t be any different from the original model in terms of design.

In addition to “Portable Computing Device”, Microsoft has also been approved for an Intel Wi-Fi 6 module AX201.

According to documents seen by Windows Latest, it looks like Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Laptop Go 3 is using Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 AX201D2W, which is known to support the 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 standard and the latest iteration of Bluetooth 5.

Surface Laptop Studio 2

In addition to Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4, Microsoft is also preparing to launch Surface Laptop Studio 2. According to the recent Surface Laptop Studio 2 benchmark on Geekbench, Microsoft may be excluding AMD hardware, as no references to AMD SKU have emerged either in benchmark analyses or in internal documentation.

Microsoft’s testing shows the device is equipped with the 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-11370H, powered by 64GB of RAM. A variant is speculated to integrate Intel’s Core i7 13800H (from the 13th generation), which pairs with the GeForce RTX 4060. This powerhouse will potentially sport 64GB of RAM and a storage capacity of up to 2TB SSD.

Microsoft might also debut a version integrating the 13th-Gen Core i7-13700H, specifically for its entry-level offerings.

Update: This FCC filing is for Surface Laptop Go 3 since Microsoft has filed another certification request for Surface Go 4.

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Benchmarks for the Surface Laptop Studio 2 on Geekbench, a popular benchmarking portal, have confirmed the device’s specs. Microsoft may skip Surface Laptop Studio 2 with AMD hardware this year, as we do not see a reference to the AMD SKU in benchmarks or internal documents.

Microsoft is testing the device with 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-11370H and 64GB of RAM, which provide a massive jump in overall hardware specs. One model may feature Intel’s powerful Core i7 13800H (13th gen) with GeForce RTX 4060, 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Similarly, Microsoft may use 13th-Gen Core i7-13700H in the lower-end models.

Based on the benchmarks and references, we believe this could be the possible lineup of Surface Laptop Studio 2, but it’s always subject to change:

• Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB storage.
• Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 2TB storage.
• Intel Core i7, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage.

Of course, these models will also feature Intel Iris Xe graphics, included in the 13th-gen lineup.

The benchmark of the high-end model confirmed a single-core score of 2,564 and a multi-core score of 12,463. The multi-core score is almost twice of the original Surface Laptop Studio, which has a multi-core score of around 6,000 and a single-core score of about 2,000.

Significant changes to the device’s design won’t exist as this update focuses on performance and configurations.

Microsoft won’t launch the Surface Duo 2 successor in 2023

While Surface Laptop Studio is getting its successor in 2023, Microsoft has no plans to update the popular Surface Duo lineup.

Microsoft has given up on the ‘dual-screen’ approach and plans to use a traditional foldable screen seen on Samsung, Honor, Xiaomi and other phones. The next Surface Android device will likely feature an internal foldable screen with an external cover display, all put together by a 180-degree hinge.

And yes, Microsoft has cancelled the Surface Duo 3.

Microsoft is exploring new Android hardware options. There are prototypes of traditional smartphones running Android and Microsoft’s Android experience. However, plans are subject to change, and Microsoft may not launch its phone anytime soon.

Microsoft is also working on deeper Android and Windows integration to differentiate its Android offering from other OEMs like Xiaomi and Samsung.

Update: This article has been refreshed with new details.

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I spotted the new patent over the weekend and took a closer look at 30 pages application to understand the plans of Microsoft. The company plans to improve the touchpad to better support Surface Pen for drawing directly on the touchpad, and you can switch between the main display and the touchpad while drawing.

There are multiple drawings and examples, but one example is pretty interesting. It talks about a Surface Book-like device with a trackpad that can be connected to the Surface Pen and used as a drawing pad. In some examples, the primary display and touchpad can be used with a pen to draw in apps.

Deep dive into Microsoft’s new patented Surface Book with a touchpad that could be used as a drawing pad

The patent application outlines a new version of the Surface Book or a similar device, including a trackpad that functions as a drawing pad when used with a Surface Pen. This feature is currently absent in Apple’s MacBook or Microsoft Surface, although Apple has previously tried extending the touchpad using Apple Pencil.

In layman’s terms, the patent explains that users can use a Surface Pen to interact with the main touchscreen of the 2-in-1 hardware. The stylus can control the device in various ways, like directly touching the surface of the display or hovering close to it.

The patent describes how a computing device, like the Surface Book, can connect with a separate device, such as a stylus. This connection forms a channel where one device can send data to another.

For instance, a physical button on the stylus can command the computing device to open a particular application. Similarly, the stylus can provide touch or hover inputs to the touch-sensitive display to interact with apps like Photoshop or draw lines and shapes.

The patent emphasizes that the Surface Book and Pen are paired, ensuring that inputs from the stylus affect only the paired computing device and not any other nearby devices.

It further discusses a scenario where you may want to use the same peripheral device, like a stylus, with another device simultaneously. For instance, you may want to use a stylus with your personal Surface Book, a coworker’s device or a shared office device. In such situations, you may prefer to use similar settings across devices or want different settings depending on their current host device.

The patent acknowledges the need to establish the connection between the devices quickly to ensure the user’s preferred settings are applied promptly and to avoid any control inputs affecting an unintended device.

Finally, the patent highlights that while the active stylus is one example of a “separate peripheral device,” the system can work with various other peripheral devices.

In conclusion, this patent suggests that Microsoft is making the Surface Book a multi-device for creators that could redefine the experience. However, it’s important to note that a patent doesn’t necessarily guarantee that such features will appear in a final product.

We have also spotted Surface Duo 3 patents featuring a Galaxy Fold-like device, but we’re yet to see a similar device from Microsoft.

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While we still don’t have a release date for a possible Surface Duo 3, it is set to arrive in 2023.

We don’t have a confirmation that a foldable Microsoft phone even is in the works, but reports previously suggested that a Surface Duo 3 is indeed in the works. Now, we’ve spotted a new patent application that is further proof that Microsoft is very interested in joining the growing market for foldable phones.

The patent application ‘FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE‘ is focused on foldable devices, suggesting that the design could apply to Surface Duo 3. The application was filed in 2021 and it was published earlier this year, and it details a very promising handheld foldable phone.

As you’re probably aware, Surface Duo features two screens with a hinge in the middle that enables rotation. Microsoft is working on its successor which is believed to be a single-screen phone. In this patent application, Microsoft has discussed a single foldable panel that can go from zero to 360 degrees.

The picture in the patent application shows the foldable phone can switch between a seamless tablet and a one-handed smartphone. This could idea could be rather radical only if Microsoft is able to create a new user interface optimized for such a form factor. Per the filing, a foldable phone’s display can bend both inwards and outwards.

This is interesting as phones from companies like Samsung only support inward folding where the second display is on the top. Microsoft’s idea allows the Surface Duo 3 to bend both inwards as well as outwards, which hasn’t been attempted by an Android manufacturer so far.

Of course, patents don’t necessarily mean that the Surface Duo 3 with this design is imminent or even likely. However, the patent gives us a better look at what the company’s thinking and there’s a chance a similar design will be used for Surface Duo 3 or future devices.

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There’s no word on Surface Studio or Surface Laptop Studio refresh yet, but we’ve spotted a new document published earlier this week by the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) details a mysterious Surface-branded product called “Desktop Computer” (C3K2043).

This is likely to be the Surface Studio as Surface Go/Pro/Laptop/Book or even Duo fall under the “Portable Computer” category in Microsoft’s FCC filing. As you’re probably aware, any device capable of wireless communication must pass through the FCC and Surface Studio is no exception.

The alleged Surface Studio 3 has cleared FCC certification and passed through its network and quality control tests, before being sold in the US.

Microsoft has been granted short-term confidentiality on the documents and important test attachments until February 28, 2023. However, we can look closely at the available documents and make some educated guesses. For example, the smaller details on the applications, such as the network chipset confirmed the device will ship with Intel CPU.

As per one of the documents, the alleged Surface Studio 3 uses Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 compatible 802.11ax chip. This chip operates in both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz ranges, creating more available channels.

Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about the pricing, hardware specs and other features of the next-generation Surface Studio. However, Microsoft is believed to be working on new accessories for the desktop computer,

This is a developing story…

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