Apple is not planning to announce any new Macs in the remainder of this year, with all planned releases expected to take place in the first quarter of 2023, including updated versions of the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and the Mac Pro, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said today.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple has decided to wait until next year to announce new Macs, including MacBook Pros which were rumored to launch this month. "I'm told that Apple is aiming to introduce the upgraded models—including M2-based versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros—in the first quarter of calendar 2023," Gurman said today.
During the company's latest earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple's "product lineup is set" ahead of the holidays, possibly suggesting there will be no new product launches this year as Apple gears up for the holiday season. Apple's CFO, Luca Maestri, provided a more decisive confirmation saying, "we have a very challenging compare against last year, which had the benefit of the launch and associated channel fill of our newly redesigned MacBook Pro with M1," Gurman noted today in Power On.
As previously reported, Apple continues to test an Apple silicon Mac Pro with a configuration that includes 24 CPU cores (including 16 performance and eight efficiency cores), 76 graphics cores, and 192GB of memory. The Mac Pro is expected to be powered by the "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chips with at least twice or four times the performance as the M2 Max chip, expected to be announced alongside the updated MacBook Pros next year.
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Apple is planning to debut several new Macs over the next several months, including new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Mac Pro models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is continuing work on the first Apple silicon Mac Pro, with the company reportedly ramping up testing of the device internally. The high-end Mac desktop is said to...
Apple is working on a new Mac Pro with an M2 "Extreme" chip, according to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The Mac Pro is one of the last Intel-based Mac models still on sale, and a version with Apple silicon has been now anticipated for over two years. At its "Peek Performance" event earlier this year, Apple even teased the launch of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, saying "that's...
With this week's announcements of new iPad Pro, iPad, and Apple TV models out of the way, attention now turns to the Mac. Rumors suggest Apple plans to launch new high-end MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with M2 series chips later this year. In his newsletter this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the initial version of macOS Ventura launching on Monday, October 24 will include support for...
Tuesday October 18, 2022 1:54 pm PDT by Sami Fathi
While we saw the introduction of several new iPad and Apple TV models today, we've yet to get any of the Mac announcements we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Coincidentally, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were announced exactly one year ago today, featuring an entirely new design, the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, brand new displays, MagSafe 3, and more. The redesigned ...
Apple is working on a new base model Mac Pro with an "M2 Ultra" chip, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The Mac Pro is one of the last Intel-based Mac models still on sale, and a version with Apple silicon has now been anticipated for over two years. At its "Peek Performance" event earlier this year, Apple even teased the launch of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, saying "that's...
Monday February 21, 2022 1:24 am PST by Sami Fathi
Apple is preparing to launch at least one new Mac next month during an event rumored to be held on Tuesday, March 8, and that announcement will be followed by another round of new Macs around May or June, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said, "Apple is already gearing up for another round of Mac releases around May or June," following...
Sunday September 25, 2022 10:57 am PDT by Sami Fathi
As we approach the end of a busy product release season for Apple with only new iPads and Macs left to be announced over the next month or so, we're also setting our sights on 2023. Apple is rumored to have several major products in the pipeline for next year, including new Macs, a new HomePod, a VR/AR headset, and so much more. Other than new iPhones and Apple Watches, which are expected...
The iPhone 15 Pro models may feature solid-state volume and power buttons, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The Taptic Engine in the iPhone 6S – the first iPhone model to feature the component. In a tweet, Kuo explained that the volume and power buttons on next year's two high-end iPhone models may adopt a solid-state design, similar to the iPhone 7's home button, replacing a...
Today is the official launch day for the 10th-generation iPad and the M2 iPad Pro models that Apple announced last week, and we picked up one of each of the new tablets to give MacRumors readers a look at what's new. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The updated 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are not particularly exciting, as Apple has not introduced any design...
With the iOS 16.2 beta, Apple has introduced a new Sleep widget that can be added to the new iOS 16 Lock Screen alongside other widgets. The Sleep widget is the only new widget addition in iOS 16.2, and it draws from data stored in the Health app and collected by the Apple Watch or other sleep tracking devices. It provides information such as time spent in bed and sleep quality, with three...
The iOS 16.1 update that was released today introduces support for Live Activities, a new type of lingering Lock Screen notification that lets you track information in real time. Live Activities are visible primarily on the Lock Screen, but if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, they also show up in the Dynamic Island. Developers are beginning to implement support for Live Activities, and...
iPhone 15 Pro models will feature an increased 8GB of RAM, a USB-C port, and multiple camera improvements, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. In a press release today, TrendForce indicates that the iPhone 15 lineup will again consist of four models and that only the two Pro models will get Apple's latest processor, as was the case with the iPhone 14 lineup. Users can expect the ...
Update: Santa Monica Studio has shown as little of God of War Ragnarok as possible prior to release, so it’s a shame to see the game break street date and begin to leak. Subsequently, the developer has released a statement, pleading with fans to keep story information to themselves. It adds that it’s doing its best to “limit the exposure of unsanctioned footage” but admits it “cannot catch everything”.
The studio then goes on to suggest that players mute specific keywords or hashtags associated with the game until launch day. Obviously, it’s gutting that it’s come to this, but that’s just the way of the world we suppose.
Original Story: An idiotic reviewer had already spoiled some sections of God of War Ragnarok earlier in the month, but now things are about to get really wild, as retailers begin to break street date. Santa Monica Studio has been keeping its hotly anticipated sequel under wraps, and still very little is known about the title – even two weeks prior to its release.
However, with the game now in consumers’ hands, it’s going to be difficult to sidestep some of the spoilers that will inevitably come out. Cory Barlog, the director of the previous God of War, took to Twitter to express his displeasure, referencing the recent situation with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which only has 70MB of data on its Blu-ray:
Barlog continued: “Sorry to everyone that you have to dodge the spoilers if you want to play the game fresh. Completely f**king stupid you have to do this. This is not at all how any of us at Santa Monica Studio wanted things to go.”
To be honest, all we can really suggest is to go into this game as blind as you possibly can. That may mean reducing your time on social media and YouTube, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. Hopefully Sony can be vigilant in getting offending videos taken down prior to the game releasing, but as you no doubt know, once something is on the Internet it’s incredibly difficult to remove it forever.
Article From & Read More ( Santa Monica Studio Pleads for Minimal God of War Ragnarok Spoilers As Game Leaks - Push Square )
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Technology
The metaverse has been receiving more attention in recent events. Several projects have emerged due to the growing number of fans in the space.
However, some CEOs from tech companies have expressed less enthusiasm over the metaverse. For example, Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer and Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snap, disclosed not being big fans of the metaverse.
During a recent Wall Street Journal event, they revealed their nonchalant stance over the current form of the metaverse.
According to Spencer’s description, the metaverse currently portrays a system of poorly built video games. This is indicated by the bad graphics and the low-quality interface in its ecosystem.
Spencer highlighted the advantage of the gaming world over the metaverse, which includes the creation of multiple engaging virtual worlds. Also, he compared most of the metaverse projects to virtual room meetings.
Further explanation from the Microsoft gaming chief pointed out the unique ability of most video game creators. In addition, he noted that their projects offer compelling worlds with higher attraction for relaxation and entertainment. The chief stated that he would never be part of metaverse projects that resemble a meeting room.
For his part, Spiegel compared the experiences to residing within a computer. He noted that the iterations of the metaverse concept are currently on the primary level. So, for him, spending his time on such projects won’t create any excitement after a stressful working day.
Additionally, Spiegel stated that Snap had concentrated more on lowering the hardware in its service. Instead, it plans to swipe at the virtual reality (VR) hardware in line with the trend. This will help the project provide a fantastic experience in the real world through augmented reality (AR).
Impact Of VR And AR On Users
The virtual world is building an environment that will depict the real world and provide users with thrilling experiences. Virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive environment, while augmented reality (AR) augments a real-world setting. A user must have a headset device to access VR. However, that’s not the case for AR.
Also, VR users engage in a whole world of friction. But AR users still maintain full contact with the natural world through their engagement.
Metaverse As A Word With Broad Term
Some people have not yet come to terms with the full implication of the metaverse. According to the CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, the company decided not to use it as a term. He stated that the reason is that its a broad term they see as a storytelling invention for the coming generation.
On his part, the senior vice president of marketing for Apple, Greg Joswiak, revealed he would never use the metaverse. Instead, he said the firm prefers AR over VR.
Featured Image From Pixabay, Charts From Tradingview
Article From & Read More ( "Not Interested In Metaverse In The Current Scenario, Say Silicon Valley CEOs - Bitcoinist )
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Technology
In the year 2022 the iPhone lineup died for me. It’s a sad and tragic story of what it could’ve been, as I always felt enticed to switch to the bitten apple permanently. But that desire is no more.
And I will go out on a limb here and say that it really doesn’t matter whether you buy an iPhone 12, 13, or 14 - not only do these look the same but they do more or less the same things as well. And before you throw that Dynamic Island in my face, let me introduce you to the Pixel family and show you what real innovation is all about.
Innovation to add new skills to your repertoire, to allow you to do new things you weren’t able to before, and innovation that brings you new perspectives.You may also find interesting:
All of the above probably sounds a bit opinionated (and to some degree it is) but bear with me. iPhones have one key aspect that is both great and really annoying at the same time. They offer great continuity, so to speak, and users switching from several generations back feel at home when buying the latest and greatest - there’s little to no learning curve.
One of the BIG new (old) features in iOS 16 - battery percentage in the status bar... Hallelujah!
This applies both to hardware and software and here comes the “curse” part - it takes forever to add new features, some of us are still waiting to get back Touch ID in any shape or form, and widgets took forever to arrive on iOS. It took Apple several years to allow users delete preinstalled apps, and to make Siri work with third-party applications as well.
It took Apple several years just to allow users delete preinstalled apps
The same applies to notifications, translation features and instead of making something groundbreaking, Apple has been focusing on design improvements, animations, 3D emojis, and finally - Dynamic Island. Meanwhile, the Pixels are getting closer and closer to the personal communicator of the future, and to be more specific here’s why.
Photo Unblur beats Dynamic Island any day of the week
What would you rather have - a fancy animation around your selfie camera or better photos? With just a few taps you can turn your old or blurry photos into decent shots. The unblur uses the power of AI and you can control the effect with a simple slider.
What’s even better is that this tool works with photos taken with any camera on any phone. I would buy a Pixel just to fix my old photos dating way back to 2004 alone. Yes, there are third-party options, and with a little effort you probably can get a similar effect on any phone but that’s not the point.
I would buy a Pixel just to fix my old photos
Photo Unblur is just the latest example (Magic Eraser also comes to mind), there are other useful tools baked right into the core of the Pixel 7 (and other Pixels for that matter), and even though other brands might have similar things, Google's implementation is usually the best one (remember the Pixel 3 and its software camera magics?).
Live translation and transcription is out of this world
I was simply amazed by how good these features are on the Pixels. I’ve tried them on an Android device enrolled in the Beta program but they do work better on Google hardware. You can use Live Translate to transform Japanese gibberish to something you would understand practically in real time and inside your ear (with a pair of Pixel Buds).
Look, Ma! I can speak Japanese now!
The Pixel 7 also can automatically transcribe audio messages for you, straight on the device without the need to send data to servers and get back the transcribed result. You can dictate to Siri and transcribe messages on iOS but the end result is far from perfect. Which leads us to the next point.
Google Assistant beats Siri with one hand tied behind its back
Google Assistant is miles ahead of Siri when it comes to integration with third party applications and devices - there are thousands of smart home gadgets that work with Assistant, and only a handful that would make business with Siri.
But it she... really?
And when it comes to search queries, Assistant beats Siri every time - it’s Google’s forte after all. You can check the Annual IQ test that Loup Ventures performs on all virtual assistants and see for yourself. You can even ask Assistant to call and make an appointment for you - now that's what I call "assisting."
Virtual assistant done the right way
What's even more important is that Google Assistant will only get better - the open nature of Android and all the third-party developers working on connecting their own software and hardware gadgets to Google's helpful mastermind can only make it smarter.
Google (real) VPN beats Apple Private Relay
We all know how keen Apple is when it comes to security and protecting its users. That’s a strong point, despite all naysayers and skeptics bashing the company for serving the NSA and other government agencies.
When the company introduced Private Relay with iOS15 people praised it for adding an additional layer of security but failed to account for the fact that it’s not a VPN service. Private Relay is not a system-wide security feature and mostly works with Safari, alongside a small subset of apps.
Private Relay is NOT a real VPN
Google VPN on the other hand is a legit full-blown VPN service (Virtual Private Network) that works with your device and not only encrypts your IP and data but also uses something called traffic obfuscation - basically making encrypted traffic look more like normal one. This is far better for overcoming things like geolocation blocking and other restrictive measures.
Of course, the service is still offline and should arrive on the new Pixels sometime in December, and we have to test it in detail to see if it holds up to all its promises but chances are it will.
Private Relay traffic on the other hand is easily identifiable, and can be blocked if needed (Apple itself provides the necessary information and instructions to schools, businesses, and other entities of how to prepare their networks for Private Relay, and effectively identify the traffic).
But what about all the bugs?
This needs to be addressed - for sure. Sometimes Pixels seem like half-baked alpha prototypes, and when you’ve just coughed up several hundreds of dollars this is the last thing you’re looking for. iOS on the other hand is extremely polished and bugs are very, very rare.
Come on, now - it doesn't look that bad!
This is where you have to make a choice - connect to your inner adventurer and explorer, or play it safe. I know it’s a hard thing to ask but so many things are boring and mundane in our daily lives, why add another one?I could live with a bug or two, as long as the overall package keeps me excited and involved. And in a world where a simple animation around the punch hole is considered a groundbreaking feature, I think that leap of faith is more important than ever.
Steam’s Big Picture mode on PC will now adopt the specially designed Steam Deck UI.
Valve has announced that its newest update to Big Picture mode will bring the Steam Deck’s UI to PC and is available now for testing.
“We are preparing to update Big Picture mode with the new interface we designed for Steam Deck, and today we’re making it available for testing,” they revealed. “This update has been a long time coming, and we’re very excited to start gathering community feedback.”
The controller-first interface was designed especially for the Steam Deck, but its integration into Steam makes sense – providing greater brand recognition between the Steam Deck and the Steam library on PC.
And it happens to be a pretty decent interface, too.
“This controller-first interface was designed for Steam Deck in handheld and docked mode, and is perfect for all the scenarios Big Picture mode currently handles,” they confirmed.
The new Big Picture mode includes:
New Home Screen that highlights recent games and what’s news in your library.
New Universal Search that lets you search through your Library, Store, and Friends list.
New Controller Configurator that’s designed to let you choose new configurations and layouts with ease.
Optimised Stead Store for controller navigation.
Updated in-game overlay giving access to achievements and guides.
New System menu for quick navigation to different parts of the new UI.
New Quick Access Menu that lets you access notifications. Friends list, quick settings, and more.
According to Valve, the team is “still polishing rough edges” so the new version of Big Picture is currently offered through Steam’s beta program.
Instructions for trying out the new Big Picture mode can be found here.
IGN’S Steam Deck review gave it 7/10 and said: “When the Steam Deck is living up to its promises, it's absolutely incredible. Playing GTA 5, God of War, and other modern games on the go is an absolute joy, and the hardware and controls feel good to hold even though it’s a big chubby boy of a handheld. It seriously impressed me with how nice some demanding modern games look on its 7-inch screen. But those dizzying highs are all too often snapped away by insurmountable compatibility issues with SteamOS and installing Windows to get around those comes with its own set of problems. I’ve lost count of how often I’ve been left frustrated and annoyed to have to troubleshoot issues when trying to play a game for the first time.”
Elon Musk hasn’t wrapped up his purchase of Twitter yet, but he seems to be already gearing up for another battle.
In a pair of late-night Tweets, posted just four minutes apart, Musk expressed concerns about Apple’s business practices, specifically those surrounding Spotify and app store guidelines.
The first was a reply to Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s tweet highlighting a New York Timesstory about Apple’s three-time rejection of Spotify’s new app, as the streaming service adds audiobooks to its offerings. Apple says the new app violates its rules detailing how developers communicate with customers about online purchases.
Ek used the story as a launching pad to decry the policies, saying “I can’t be the only one who sees the absurdity.” Musk seemed to agree, replying “Concerning.”
Moments later, he voiced support for venture capitalist Bill Lee’s criticism of Apple’s 30% fee for in-app purchases, agreeing “30% is a lot.”
Criticisms about Apple and its app store policies are nothing new, of course. Spotify has butted heads with Apple before, when it began offering podcasts. And Epic Games took Apple to court last year over the policies, resulting in a split decision where the judge upheld the app store’s structure as legal.
Musk loves a good fight, though, and this isn’t the first time he’s poked Apple. In May, he tweeted that “Apple’s store is like having a 30% tax on the internet. Definitely not ok,” following that up with “Literally 10 times higher than it should be.”
And in July 2021, during a Tesla earnings call, he discussed plans allowing competitors to use the company’s electric vehicle charging network, saying: "We do want to emphasize that our goal is to support the advent of sustainable energy. It is not to create a walled garden and use that to bludgeon our competitors which is used by some companies."
He then faked a cough and added “Apple.”
So do Musk’s new criticisms of Apple mean he’s reviving the (somewhat one-sided) feud? It’s possible. Tesla and Apple have lured employees from each other in the past—and Musk tried to speak with Apple about possibly buying Tesla in the automaker’s early days, but Tim Cook refused the meeting.
Apple, as it has in the past, did not respond publicly to Musk’s comments.
Article From & Read More ( Elon Musk isn’t even done buying Twitter, but he’s already picking a fight with Apple over Spotify and payment guidelines - Yahoo Finance )
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Technology
Nothing’s second attempt at wireless headphones come in a carry case that tries to combine a cosmetics packaging aesthetic with the glossy white, transparent style of its other devices so far. The Ear Stick, priced at $99, works best with the company’s phone (of course) but will happily work with any Android device or iPhone. The Nothing Ear 1 buds were eye-catching and surprisingly capable true wireless earbuds that offered tech like active noise cancellation (ANC) at a competitive price – although that’s since gone up.
While the Nothing Ear Stick is cheaper than its predecessor, these buds lack ANC. There are no silicone buds this time around, so you can expect more noise bleed-through, too, although some headphone wearers may find them a more comfortable fit. Nothing says it tested the new headphones with 100 pairs of ears. But I prefer silicone buds, so I’m looking forward to trying the Stick and forming my own opinion. The buds are still, thankfully, IP54 dust-, water- and sweat-resistant. One of the drawbacks of Nothing’s Ear 1 was occasionally patchy connectivity, both when pairing with your device and talking on calls. With the Ear Stick, the company has redesigned the antenna and shifted it further away from the face to reduce signal blockage.
Nothing
The company has also worked to improve sound quality, both listening and speaking. For the latter, there are now three high-definition mics (up from two mics on the Ear 1) that work with algorithms to filter out louder background noises and what it says is “wind-proof and crowd-proof.” Regarding audio quality, there’s a new 12.6mm custom dynamic driver inside each bud. A new feature called Bass Lock Technology will detect how much bass is lost during wear and adjust the equalizer automatically. You can also tweak the equalizer settings (with presets for different kinds of audio) from a new companion app. There are gesture controls on each headphone's tips, which can also be reassigned in the app.
Nothing says the Stick will offer up to seven hours of playback between charges, with 29 hours of total playback with the case. In a pinch, 10 minutes in the case should offer up to two hours of playback.
If you already own the see-thru Nothing Phone 1, many of these settings and features are already baked into the device, accessible by a widget in the Android phone’s drop-down menu. For other devices, a new Nothing X app will act as a settings hub for all of the company’s peripherals. The Ear stick will go on sale at 5:30 AM ET, on November 4th, directly from Nothing’s online store and other retailers, including Farfetch.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
Exceptional hardware is still marred by incompatibilities
Video calling.
After several days of using the Qualcomm-powered Surface Pro 9 as my daily driver for every task in my daily process, video calling has been, hands down, the best experience I’ve had on it. This device has a good webcam with some great features. But most other tasks you might need to do in a workday were frustratingly slow.
That is due — at least in part, I’m sure — to the fact that most of the apps I use are not running natively on Arm. These are not obscure apps, however. I chat with people, I watch video, and I game, and I tend to use the same programs that lots of other people use to do those things.
I will not go so far as to say that this laptop will be as slow for everyone as it was for me. This is just to illustrate the gamble that one is taking when purchasing the Arm version of the Surface Pro 9 — how heavily dependent the payoff will be on the makeup of the constellation of apps that comprises your online life.
The Surface Pro 9 is nice-looking, nice-feeling, well-built, and portable, keeping all the traits that were excellent about the Surface Pro 8’s chassis. Unfortunately, it is also quite expensive. The cheapest SQ3 model is $1,579.98 including the keyboard and stylus (which, remember, are not included in the base price). My test unit (and it’s still not the most expensive Pro 9 you can get) is $1,879.98 with the keyboard and pen included. And for heavy users of many emulated apps, this device is too slow to be asking for well over $1,000 of your money.
Here’s the good news: the design department didn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken, and the Pro 9 is as portable, well-built, and nice-looking as the Pro 8 was. The keyboard deck is sturdy, the kickstand holds its shape, and the stylus is quite comfortable (with a very handy garage folded into the keyboard). The 2880 x 1920, 120Hz display is as smooth as ever. The Pro 9 is slightly lighter than the Pro 8, but it’s not noticeable.
The keyboard is sturdy and doesn’t slip around.
The little slot for the Surface Pen is quite convenient.
The keyboard pops off easily and snaps on effortlessly.
Remember, though, as you look at the prices: the keyboard is not included.
The only really visible change that’s been made to the chassis is the color scheme. Surface Pro 8 models only came in graphite (black) and platinum (silver) last year, and the only way to customize them further was to buy a funky-colored keyboard deck. The Pro 9 has added new colors to the full exterior, with options including Sapphire, Graphite, Forest (which is my personal favorite) and Platinum. (As of now, it looks like only Intel Core i7 models have this medley of color options; the SQ3 and Core i5 SKUs are platinum-only.)
There’s also a limited-edition floral design. I, however, was sent the plain-old platinum one, so that’s what you’ll see here. If you want to see the cuter colors, Verge editor Tom Warren got a look at them in Redmond earlier this month.
I am jealous of Tom.
In what’s likely to be a controversial move, Microsoft has also removed the headphone jack from the Pro 9. (There are otherwise two USB-C 3.2 ports, as well as the slot for the funky little Surface charger.) Power and volume buttons have been moved to the top. The design is now quite close to that of the once-niche Surface Pro X, with the latter a bit thinner and lighter.
Inside, the big news is 5G. This is a feature the Intel model doesn’t have and may partially explain why the Arm version is more expensive. I ended up purchasing a prepaid plan through Ubiqi, which runs on T-Mobile’s network in the US. (Getting this plan set up was a bit of a process that had me bouncing back and forth between Microsoft’s Mobile Plans app and Ubiqi’s website several times. The Mobile Plans app, speaking of which, was very slow and froze up at multiple points during the process.)
Once 5G was up and running, I was getting speeds of around 40mbps down and 55mbps up in The Verge’s Manhattan office. These would be fine LTE speeds, but it seems likely that Ubiqi is using T-Mobile’s low-band 5G network, at least where I’m located. Pages all loaded fine, but nothing was lightning-fast. (Also to note: 5G models appear to be capped at 16GB of RAM and come with LPDDR4x, while those without 5G can go up to 32GB and get LPDDR5).
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Arm) specs (as reviewed):
Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches (287 x 209 x 9.3mm)
Weight (not including Type Cover): 1.95lbs (883g)
Display: 13-inch touch display, 2880 x 1920 (267 PPI), up to 120Hz refresh rate, 3:2
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4x
Processor: Microsoft / Qualcomm SQ3
Removable SSD: 256GB
Battery life: claimed up to 19 hours of “typical device usage”
Ports: two USB-C 3.2, one Surface Connect port, one Surface Keyboard port, one nano SIM
Cameras: Front-facing Windows Hello camera with 1080p FHD video, 10MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k video
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E: 802. 11ax, Bluetooth 5.1, 5G, LTE, WCDMA
The other advantage Qualcomm has over the Intel model is its Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The idea behind this is that it handles some AI features directly, taking that load off of the Pro 9’s CPU. It powers some new camera features, including portrait background blur, automatic eye contact, and a Voice Focus feature that removes background sound.
These features did work, but their efficacy was slightly inconsistent. The one that worked well across the board was automatic eye contact; regardless of where my gaze was, co-workers consistently told me that it looked like I was staring directly at them. This actually seems like a very useful feature and something I’d have on all the time since my eyes tend to wander during calls, even when I’m paying attention. The blur effect was pretty good as well and did a fine job of differentiating me from my background. Automatic Framing generally followed me as the name promised, panning while I moved from side to side, but there were times here and there when it didn’t pick up that I was moving.
Voice Focus seemed to have some trouble. On a Zoom call with loud music playing behind me, my co-worker Umar Shakir told me that while he could consistently hear me, the tracks seemed to be fading in and out in the background. There were times when instrumental portions would be muted entirely, then lyrics would be clear when they came back in and then would fade out again. He could, however, consistently hear the same songs playing behind me on a Teams call and didn’t get the sense that anything at all was being done to suppress them (though he could still hear me).
Putting a super-smart camera on this device feels to me like putting fancy headlights on a car that can only go 15 miles an hour. I really wish that Microsoft had put these great features on the Intel models (or on the Surface Laptop 5) for reasons that will shortly become clear.
This is a video calling machine.
Agree to Continue: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The mandatory policies, for which agreement is required to use the laptop, are:
Microsoft Software License terms (Windows Operating System) and Manufacturer’s Limited Hardware Warranty and Agreement
In addition, there are a bunch of optional things to agree to:
Privacy settings including location, Find My Device, diagnostic data, inking and typing, tailored experiences, advertising ID
Sign up for a Microsoft 365 free trial
Sign up for an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate free trial
That’s two mandatory agreements and eight optional ones.
The Pro 8, with an Intel Core i7 inside, was fast. It’s unsurprising to me that Microsoft is continuing to sell an Intel model of the Pro 9 alongside this Qualcomm model because shifting away from Intel entirely would likely have been a dangerous bet. While Windows on Arm is no longer in 2020 territory where compatibility was an absolute disaster, it is far from where it needs to be worth $1,800.
My frustration with this computer wasn’t a workload thing. It didn’t start out fast and gradually slow down as I opened more things and started more processes. It was peppered with glitches and freezes from start to finish.
I’d have only Slack open, and switching between channels would still take almost three seconds (yes, I timed it on my phone). Spotify, also with nothing in the background, would take 11 seconds to open, then be frozen for another four seconds before I could finally press play. When I typed in Chrome, I often saw significant lag, which led to all kinds of typos (because my words weren’t coming out until well after I’d written them). I’d try to watch YouTube videos, and the video would freeze while the audio continued. I’d use the Surface Pen to annotate a PDF, and my strokes would either be frustratingly late or not show up at all. I’d try to open Lightroom, and it would freeze multiple times and then crash.
It quickly became clear that I should try to stick to apps that were running natively on Arm. Trust me, I tried. I switched from Chrome to Edge, and the latter was certainly faster than Chrome (even while I was using Google’s apps), but it was still a notch slower than what you’ll see from other high-end computers — including other Arm-based devices, such as those that a certain company in Cupertino makes. While the actual experience of calling on Teams was fine, the app was still a bit unresponsive and slow to load. I literally had to force quit the Settings app one time because it completely froze. OneNote was the only Arm app I used that felt totally zippy, with no hiccups. I guess Paint was also fine. (I let Microsoft know about these issues but didn’t hear back in time for publication.)
Underscoring all of this, though, is the fact that I can fairly easily swap my whole workload over to these few Arm-optimized apps. Many people don’t have that luxury or desire, which is what makes buying the Pro 9 a risk.
It’s a very pretty risk, though.
Generally, the deal with these mobile SoCs (this one is called the SQ3, and it’s based on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3) is that you’re giving up some power in exchange for long battery life. That’s a legitimate trade for many people, and the 10 hours of continuous use that I averaged from this device is more than I’ve seen from most Windows laptops this year. I was able to eke out 12 hours and 23 minutes by bumping the refresh rate down to 60Hz. Fine. I’m sure this is a longer lifespan than you’ll get out of the Intel model.
That lifespan and built-in cellular connectivity strengthen the SQ3 Pro’s case as a portable computer, but I don’t see it as quite enough to overcome the shortcomings in performance here. Charging was also on the slow side; as much as I like the Surface connector’s compact size and magnetic attachment, it only got the Pro up to 57 percent in an hour. 5G also wrecked the battery life — I only got six hours and 42 minutes of continuous 5G use.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 accessibility (as reviewed)
The letter keys are 0.6 x 0.6 inches with 0.1 inches between them. All keys are backlit apart from the power button. Fn and Caps Lock have indicator lights. The power button is 0.6 x 0.1 inches. The volume keys are 1.6 x 0.4 inches. The keys are grayish-blue with white text and take a small amount of dedicated force to depress.
The speakers reached an average of 75 decibels in my testing, which is a bit quieter than a standard external speaker.
The laptop weighs 1.95 pounds without the keyboard attached. The keyboard adds an additional 0.68 pounds.
The lid can be opened with one hand.
There is a touchscreen with a 1200:1 contrast ratio.
The touchpad is 4 x 2.25 inches.
Setup involves turning the device on and clicking through several menus.
The Pro supports facial logins but not fingerprint logins.
Windows 11
Windows 11 includes a dedicated accessibility menu.
Windows 11 includes a built-in screen reader (Narrator). It supports third-party screen readers, including NVDA from NV Access and Jaws from Freedom Scientific. A full list of compatible software can be found on Microsoft’s website.
Windows 11 supports voice typing (accessed by Windows + H) and speech recognition (toggled with Windows + Ctrl + S).
Color Filters, including inverted, grayscale, red-green, and blue-yellow, can be toggled with Windows + Ctrl + C. Contrast themes are toggled with Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen. Standard Dark Mode and custom colors are also available under Personalization.
Caption color and size can be customized and appear close to the bottom of the screen.
The keyboard can be remapped with Microsoft’s PowerToys. Sticky Keys is supported. An on-screen keyboard is available.
The cursor’s size and speed can be adjusted, and gestures can be remapped in Touchpad Settings.
Windows 11 supports eye control with external eye trackers.
Windows 11 includes a Snap Layout feature, accessed by hovering over the Maximize button on any open window.
With an extremely lightweight build, 5G support, and good battery life, the Surface Pro 9 could be the perfect on-the-go device. And that’s a goal Microsoft has been pushing toward for years. A fanless, beautiful tablet with a fancy camera that happens to also run a full desktop operating system. An iPad alternative for those who love Apple’s hardware but are fed up with the limitations of iPadOS.
Microsoft has that hardware part down to a science. But it still hasn’t figured out how to make Windows on Arm viable for the high-end mainstream. In the past several years, Apple has created a specialized chip architecture that revolutionized its product platform, along with an emulation layer that worked almost seamlessly on its first day of release. Microsoft has not yet achieved that seamless experience with its Arm devices.
I can only speculate as to how much of that is Microsoft’s fault and how much is Qualcomm’s fault, and I’m not sure my speculation is worth more than anyone else’s. But I’m reminded of former Verge editor Dieter Bohn’s review of the original Surface Pro X, the 2019 Arm device that started it all. “Windows itself runs quite well on the Surface Pro X,” Bohn wrote. “But like previous attempts, Microsoft hasn’t done enough to offset the compromises this aspirational computer asks of customers.” While that experience has improved in the past three years, the story I find myself telling about the SQ3 Surface Pro 9 is fundamentally the same. Windows on Arm, while functional, is not ready for the $2,000 big leagues.
I’ll go a step further: AMD, whose current processor line excels in both power and efficiency, was right there. Microsoft has dropped AMD from the Surface line this year (the Surface Laptop 5 is Intel-only) but has kept Snapdragon in. That, to me, is a miss.
Look, I understand that nobody is buying a Qualcomm-powered device and expecting the power of a Threadripper. I don’t want to discount battery life and build quality as selling points, and I know the 5G is convenient. I am prepared for this comments section to be full of complaints that my performance issues are solvable and that people should just suck it up and use Microsoft’s software 24/7.
But I am fairly confident that if you are someone who uses any of the emulated apps I mentioned even once a day, most other computers, regardless of their price will give you a better experience, whether it’s an iPad Pro or a Dell XPS or, hell, even an AMD Surface Laptop from the last generation. Windows on Arm is not ubiquitously unusable — but it is ubiquitously limited.
Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Correction: A previous version of this article included the Surface Pen twice in the review unit’s quoted price. We regret the error.
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