Windows RT is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft. It is a version of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 built for the 32-bit ARM architecture (ARMv7). First unveiled in January 2011 at Consumer Electronics Show, the Windows RT 8 operating system was officially launched alongside Windows 8 on October 26, 2012, with the release of three Windows RT-based devices, including Microsoft's original Surface tablet. Unlike Windows 8, Windows RT is only available as preloaded software on devices specifically designed for the operating system by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Microsoft Surface is a series of touchscreen-based personal computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards designed and developed by Microsoft, most of them running the Windows operating system. They are designed to be premium devices that set examples for manufacturers of other Windows-compatible products. It comprises several generations of hybrid tablets, 2-in-1 detachable notebooks, a convertible desktop all-in-one, an interactive whiteboard, and various accessories, many with unique form factors. The majority of devices in the Surface lineup are based on Intel processors and compatible with Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Surface Mini is an unreleased tablet computer that Microsoft designed as the successor to the Surface 2 in the Microsoft Surface family. The device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and a 7.5-inch (19 cm) 4:3 aspect ratio touchscreen display that defaults to portrait mode. Like its predecessor, the Surface Mini runs Windows RT 8.1, a mobile operating system that was designed for the ARM architecture and has limitations including an inability to install Win32 applications; programs can only be installed from the Windows Store.
Surface 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable from the Microsoft Surface series, introduced by Microsoft in 2015. Unlike its predecessor, the Surface 2, Surface 3 utilizes an x86 Intel Atom system-on-chip architecture, or SoC, rather than a processor with ARM architecture such as the Nvidia Tegra that powered the Surface 2, and runs standard versions of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.
Windows 10 is a major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. It is the direct successor to Windows 8.1, which was released nearly two years earlier. It was released to manufacturing on July 15, 2015, and later to retail on July 29, 2015. Windows 10 was made available for download via MSDN and TechNet, as a free upgrade for retail copies of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users via the Microsoft Store, and to Windows 7 users via Windows Update. Windows 10 receives new builds on an ongoing basis, which are available at no additional cost to users, in addition to additional test builds of Windows 10, which are available to Windows Insiders. Devices in enterprise environments can receive these updates at a slower pace, or use long-term support milestones that only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their ten-year lifespan of extended support. In June 2021, Microsoft announced that support for Windows 10 editions which are not in the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) will end on October 14, 2025.
Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as Enterprise and Education are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.
The Surface Laptop 2 is a Surface-series laptop produced by Microsoft. Unveiled at an event in New York City on 2 October 2018, and alongside the Surface Pro 6 released on 16 October 2018, it succeeds the Surface Laptop, released in June 2017. While maintaining a design similar to the original design of its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 2 has improved hardware specifications compared to it, an increased number of storage options and a new matte black color.
The Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop computer developed by Microsoft. It is the third generation of Surface Laptop and was unveiled alongside the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X on an event on 2 October 2019. It succeeds the Surface Laptop 2 that was released in October 2018.
The Surface Pro 7 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft. It is the seventh generation of Surface Pro and was announced alongside the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro X at an event on 2 October 2019. An updated version of the device was introduced on 11 January 2021 called the Surface Pro 7+. Surface Pro 7 and 7+ maintain the same form and design as previous models but with the Mini DisplayPort receptacle replaced by a USB-C port. The display of the device is the same as the previous model with a 2736 x 1824 resolution touchscreen in 3:2 aspect ratio and 267 ppi. The Surface Pro 7 starts at $750 and goes up to $2,300. The Surface Pro 7+ for Business starts at $900 and goes up to $2,800.
The Surface Duo is a dual-touchscreen Android smartphone manufactured by Microsoft. Announced during a hardware-oriented event on October 2, 2019, and officially released on September 10, 2020, it is part of the Microsoft Surface series of touchscreen hardware devices, and the first device in the line that does not run Windows. It also marks Microsoft's first smartphone since the dissolution of Microsoft Mobile and the Windows Phone platform.
The Surface Neo is an unreleased dual-touchscreen 2-in-1 PC that was unveiled by Microsoft on October 2, 2019. Slated to be part of the Microsoft Surface family of devices, the Surface Neo was designed to be used in various "postures" for different use cases and multitasking scenarios involving its screens, and feature Windows 10X—a variant of Windows 10 designed exclusively for dual-screen devices. However, as of December 2023, over four years after the Surface Neo was announced, it is still unreleased, likely rendering it vaporware.
The Surface Go 2 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft. It is the second generation of Surface Go and was announced alongside the Surface Book 3 on May 6, 2020 online. It was available for purchase starting May 12, 2020. In October 2021, this has been superseded by the Surface Go 3.
The Surface Laptop 4 is a laptop computer made by Microsoft. It is the fourth generation of Surface Laptop which launched on 13 April 2021. It succeeds the Surface Laptop 3, which was released in 2019.
Windows 11 is the latest major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system, released on October 5, 2021. It succeeded Windows 10 (2015) and is available for free for any Windows 10 devices that meet the new Windows 11 system requirements.
The Surface Go 3 is the third generation model of the Surface Go series of devices, introduced as the successor to the Surface Go 2 by Microsoft at their Surface Event on September 22, 2021. It was announced by the company alongside the Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2 and many Surface accessories. The tablet has the same body, the same set of cameras and speakers, the same ports, and the same dimensions as its predecessor; the main enhancement is a range of more powerful processors. The tablet is powered by the Windows 11 operating system.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft to supersede the Surface Pro 7. It combines the form factor and exterior design of the Surface Pro X with internal Intel-based hardware of the Pro 7+. It was announced on September 22, 2021 alongside the Surface Go 3, updated Surface Pro X models, a new Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Duo 2, Surface Slim Pen 2, and several other accessories. The tablet is powered by the new Windows 11 operating system.
The Surface Duo 2 is a dual-touchscreen Android smartphone manufactured by Microsoft. Announced during a hardware-oriented event on September 22, 2021, it is the successor to the original Surface Duo.
The Surface Laptop Studio is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop developed by Microsoft. It was announced by the company alongside the Surface Go 3 and Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2 and several Surface accessories at their Surface Event on September 22, 2021. The device is a new form factor featuring a dual-pivoting screen that flips into tablet mode. The laptop shipped with Windows 11.
The Surface Laptop Go 2 is an upgrade to the Surface Laptop Go. It is a mid-range portable computer with adequate capabilities for everyday PC use that is part of the company's Surface line of personal computing devices. The newer 11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and slightly enhanced 128 GB basic storage will be the laptop's key highlights. Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Go 2 in a new Sage color on June 1, 2022.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft to supersede the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X, merging both brands. The device was announced on October 12, 2022 introducing two new colors and alongside the Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Studio 2+. The tablet is powered by the new Windows 11 operating system, and features 12th generation Intel Core processors or the ARM-based Microsoft SQ3 processor on 5G models.
