Microsoft Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 leaks, and more tech news today - Android

Your tech news digest, by way of the DGiT Daily newsletter, for Tuesday, April 21. 

1. Microsoft’s coming hardware leaks: Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2

The indications are pretty solid that Microsoft has new Surface hardware launching within a month. During May, say the leaks, we’ll see a new Surface Book 3, and a new Surface Go 2.

Reminder:

• The Surface Go was the successor to the original 2-in-1. It was launched in August 2018, and was the cheapest Surface laptop product. It was $399 at launch and is around $350 now at the lowest spec, depending on your retail options.
• The Surface Book 2 (favored by my colleagues, and pictured above) was set up as Microsoft’s high-end spec laptop, packed with performance specs. It came in 13.5-inch and 15-inch options, with dedicated graphics cards, latest Intel processors, and great battery life. The big Surface Book feature was the detachable-screen from the laptop body to offer massive tablet-hybrid.

Now the updated models look to be around the corner per leaks from Windows Central and WinFuture.

Surface Book 3: more power

• Indications are the new Surface Book 3 will feature Intel’s latest 10th Gen processors, up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, plus dedicated GPU.
• There’s even hints that 15-inch higher-end models will include Nvidia’s Quadro graphics chip line.
• Prices reported by WinFuture are not particularly cheap: starting at $1700 for the 13-inch i5 at 8GB/256GB, up to $2700 for 32GB/1TB.
• In the Pro 15-inch model, prices start at $2300 for a 10th-gen i7 chip with 16GB/256GB storage, up to $3400 for max specs.
• It’s not worth worrying about those prices too much given we’re a little way away from launch. We don’t know a huge number of other key specs, and Roland Quandt, the tech journo behind these leaks, notes more variants are swimming around so it’s a touch uncertain.
• The Quadro options will have a lot of professionals looking at this as a key alternative in the space, but Thunderbolt 3 support may be a key feature or key miss, if it’s not included.

Surface Go 2: Tinkering

• Over on the Surface Go 2, Windows Central reckons we’ll see the same size device but with a larger 10.5-inch display, as bezels are thinned, meaning existing accessories will work.
• The specs and pricing leaks are more comprehensive for now, with a $399 price tag for the entry-level model getting you an Intel Pentium GOLD processor, with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and Wi-Fi 6 support.
• High-spec models will offer an Intel Core M3, with 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and optional LTE connectivity.
• Microsoft’s other mobility line in the Surface Pro X is playing with ARM-based CPUs for longevity and low-power/low-heat, while also offering thin, light hardware. But reviewers haven’t been delighted with the expense and app compatibility.
• No pricing yet. More to come in this space!

2. Samsung wants to launch 600MP camera sensors. Yup, 600 megapixels. The first 1 gigapixel camera sensor before or after, say, 2023? (Android Authority).