October is heating up now that Microsoft has invited everyone to its Fall 2022 broadcast on October 12 where the company will “talk about hardware” starting at 10AM ET / 7AM Pacific.
Of course, we also expect an event in October from Apple during which the company may reveal new iPads and MacBooks along with the late launch of iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura. Now that Microsoft just announced a hardware-focused press event in the same month, October 2022 is suddenly shaping up to be a very exciting month for gadget fanatics.
So, what do you think Microsoft wants to show us in October? Other than the mention of “hardware” in the invitation and the slightest hint of leaves in the accompanying graphic (most likely a reference to the fall season), we don’t know for sure – but we have a few good ideas based on what we’ve seen and heard from reliable sources over the past year.
While we can’t say for sure until we’re finished on October 12th, here’s what we expect Microsoft to show off during their big Fall 2022 event.
How to watch Microsoft Fall 2022
The event will be streamed live via Microsoft’s event website (Opens in a new tab) On October 12th. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 10AM EDT / 7AM PT, and will likely go live on Microsoft YouTube channel At the same time.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
More than anything else, we expect to see Microsoft unveil the Surface Pro 9 during the October 2022 event. The Surface Pro 8 was released in September 2021, and as of September 2022 Microsoft hasn’t said anything about a successor – but earlier this month correspondents (Opens in a new tab) FCC spotted deposit (Opens in a new tab) In September 2022, which revealed that a device believed to be the Surface Pro 9 has been certified under FCC guidelines.
If true, the Surface Pro 9 could be on sale in October 2022, making it a prime candidate for unveiling at Microsoft’s October event.
In terms of what we expect such a device to look like, odds are it won’t be a huge departure from the design of the Surface Pro 8. We expect the Surface Pro 9 to come with Windows 11 and have the same 13-inch (2880 x 1,920) display as its predecessor, Although it will likely pack the latest Intel 12th Gen processors instead of the 11th generation chips in last year’s model.
However, we have heard a believable report that Microsoft will do just that It is said merge (Opens in a new tab) The Surface Pro X line of 2-in-1 ultraportable laptops pairs with the Surface Pro lineup by offering the Surface Pro 9 with Intel or Qualcomm chipsets inside. If that proves to be true, the end of the Surface Pro X will be illustrated, which were effectively Windows tablets with detachable keyboards (sold separately) running Microsoft-branded versions of Qualcomm SoC (System on a Chip) processors.
On the plus side, if true, it also means we’ll see a Surface Pro 9 on sale later this year with 5G connectivity and a Qualcomm SoC (likely Microsoft SQ3) inside.
Surface Laptop 5
Microsoft’s hardware-focused event in October will likely be about the company’s Surface lineup of devices, and one branch of that family that hasn’t shown much life lately is the Surface Laptop line. Microsoft released the Surface Laptop 4 in April 2021, and since then we’ve been hearing a peep about when (or if) we should expect the Surface Laptop 5.
This is a bit surprising given how effective a portable Surface Laptop can be for work and school. In our Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review, it called it one of the best Windows laptops on the market, praising its comfortable keyboard, great speaker setup, and decent battery life (11+ hours tested). It’s also very powerful thanks to the 11th generation Intel chips, but there’s plenty of room for improvement.
That’s why I wouldn’t be too upset to see the Surface Laptop 5 unveiled during Microsoft’s October 2022 event. With each iteration, Microsoft is getting closer to making Windows the perfect ultraportable, and it’d be nice to see the company kick it out of the park the next time it steps up where to painting. The Surface Laptop 4 is very good and comes in both AMD and Intel, but both the 13-inch and 15-inch models lack a decent array of ports, a good webcam, and discrete GPU graphic muscle. Now that Apple has done a good job designing a powerful and elegant macOS laptop with the 2021 MacBook Pro, it would be good to see Microsoft offer something similar for Windows 11.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
I haven’t heard anything yet about the capabilities of the Surface Laptop Studio 2, so don’t get your hopes up about seeing one revealed during Microsoft’s event in October. The original Surface Laptop Studio was released in September of 2021 alongside the Surface Pro 8, and since Microsoft has been regularly running for two years or more between iterations of new Surface devices, it’s entirely possible that even if it’s running on the Surface Laptop Studio, it might not I see it this year.
But if the company is considering launching a Surface Pro 9 or a Surface Laptop 5, it only makes sense to seriously consider pursuing the Surface Laptop Studio as it is the perfect Windows 11 device for creators. In fact, it’s the only Surface device Microsoft has released in recent memory that truly feels like a flagship for Microsoft’s software — and Windows 11 in particular, given its renewed focus on touch input and ease of use as a tablet operating system.
In our original review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, I named it the Windows 11 laptop because it’s powerful, well-designed, and has a unique 14.4-inch 120Hz gliding touchscreen that can slide over the keyboard like a stand or sit flat like a tablet. . When paired with the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2, it’s a great laptop for creating artwork or taking notes by hand, and the discrete GPU on board gives it enough power to play games well.
The speakers aren’t bad either, but the Surface Laptop Studio has a few flaws that keep it from being a great laptop. That’s why I hope Microsoft deals with this sooner rather than later.
Microsoft event 2022 predictions
Mark your calendars: October is the month when new laptops from Microsoft and Apple drop. Sure, neither of them have confirmed it yet, but all signs point to the announcement of the slate of new Surface devices on October 12, and whenever Apple holds its event, we’ll likely get a new MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro and possibly the new iPad Pro 2022, if to be believed. The latest leaks.
Of course, there’s only one way to know for sure – stay tuned!