Microsoft Corp. today announced a Sept. 22 event to reveal new Surface hardware along with an update on Windows 11.

Microsoft traditionally holds a reveal event in the fall. Reports heading into the event include the debut of the Surface Duo 2, a new Surface Pro 8 and the new Surface Go 3. There’s also the possibility that Microsoft may debut a new Surface Book as well.

Topping the list is the Surface Duo 2. Microsoft surprised observers coming into the same event last year with the debut of the foldable Surface Duo phone. The device differed from other foldable phones on the market with two 5.6-inch displays capable of functioning almost as if they’re separate devices.

The company has never disclosed exactly how many Surface Duos it has sold, but the overall Surface division itself has been a success for Microsoft. That Microsoft has heavily discounted the device this year might be indicative, however, that it has not been a significant seller.

Images of the Surface Duo 2 leaked in July and although the form factor is primarily the same, there are changes. The most prominent is the presence of a three-camera setup on the rear panel with a more prominent camera bump, suggesting that the Duo 2 will support more powerful sensors.

The new Surface Duo 2 is also expected to have a slightly more modern design and thinner bezels. Under the hood, the device is reported to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and includes 5G support and an NFC chip for contactless payments.

The possible specs for the Surface Go 3 are less known, but the device is expected to include an upgraded processor, possibly a Pentium Gold 6500Y or Pentium Gold 6500Y. The upgrade is known, since the device has appeared in Geekbench scores.

The Surface Pro 8, the big brother of the Surface Go 3, is also expected to see processor upgrades. According to Tech Advisor, Microsoft is expected to ditch the entry-level 4 gigabytes of RAM in favor of 8GB. There’s also a slim chance that it may also provide 5G support.

Whether both will debut with Windows 11 is also another consideration. The operating system is expected to be available in October, but its latest incarnation has not been without controversy because of its minimum technical requirements. Presumably, both would be running Windows 11, but the hardware specs on the Surface Go are at the lower end of the scale.

For those seeking to run Windows 11 on machines otherwise not capable, Microsoft announced last week that it would allow personal computers running older hardware to install Windows 11

Image: Microsoft