During yesterday’s presentation of new Microsoft Surface models the company also announced the Surface Studio 2+, an updated monoblock, the previous model of which was released four years ago.

As expected, the new monoblock has become significantly more productive: the Surface Studio 2+ has an 11th generation Intel H35 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 video card (vs. Intel Core i7 7820HQ and GeForce GTX 1060/1070 in the Surface Studio 2). But why Microsoft decided not to use 12th generation Intel hybrid processors in the new model is a bit unclear. Apparently, this is why the model is called “2+” and not “3”. It is also equipped with 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD.

In general, the novelty is not very different from its predecessor: Surface Studio 2+ received the same 28-inch PixelSense touchscreen with Surface Pen support and a very similar stand that allows you to change the height and angle of the screen. As before, all the hardware is hidden in a compact “base”. Among the rather important differences, we can note the appearance of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and the screen’s support for Dolby Vision HDR technology.

Microsoft claims that the Intel Core i7-11370H processor in the Surface Studio 2+ is 50% more efficient than its predecessor (and five times faster than the original 2017 model), and together with the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, the new monoblock will actually show decent performance. However, you still expect something more from a $4,500 computer.

Microsoft already accepts pre-orders for the Surface Studio 2+, the all-in-one will be available in select regions from October 25.