New details about the next version of Surface RT are starting to come out. First and foremost Microsoft is dropping the “RT” from the name and it’s simply calling the tablet “Surface 2” and it will look pretty much the same as its predecessor.
Under the hood Surface 2 is expected to be powered by a Tegra 4 CPU and 4GB of RAM, it will feature an adjustable two-position kickstand, and a 1080p (1920 x 1080) 10.6-inch multi-touch display. On the battery life department the new device will hold up to 8 hours. This is the same as the RT version, but you need to consider that the new version will have a higher resolution screen, so it’s an improvement.
SEE ALSO: Surface Pro 2 specs shows: Haswell, 8GB of RAM, and adjustable kickstand
Also Surface RT 2 weighs 1.5 pounds and is .37-inch thick (same as the RT). Other feature rumoring around is that the device might also come in white color. Of course the tablet will be loaded with Windows RT 8.1, and it will feature VaporMg chassis, ClearType Full HD display, dual camera, Wifi 802.11, Bluetooth ver 4, HD video output, Office 2013 for Windows RT including Outlook RT, and micro-SD slot.
No doubt that Surface 2 will be a huge upgrade comparde to Surface RT, but we cannot ignore that one of the biggest problem with the RT model released alongside Windows 8 back in October 2012, other than the marketing communication, was the price point. So it will be really interesting to see what the new price will be for the second generation. I do believe that if Microsoft keeps it at $349 instead of the original $499, Surface has a good chance on growing its market share.
The only downside, though, is that this device will not support the new Power Cover and dock station, accessories which will be available for the Surface Pro 2.
As for availability, there isn’t a specific launch date, but it’s likely that we will see the new Windows RT 8.1 device, just in time for Windows 8.1 General Availability, which is October 18th.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].