Surface Studio review: impressive screen and design, old CPU and GPU a slight letdown, Dial needs more app support, but overall the device is good for artists
Tom Warren / The Verge :
Context & Ripple Effects
Microsoft's all-in-one arrived to strong early impressions — the hands-on coverage called it thinner than an iMac with a beautiful, light-adjusting display and a well-integrated Dial — so the review cycle was always going to hinge on whether the internals matched the hardware. The Verge's verdict lands on the split critics expected: a dream machine for artists, held back by a year-old CPU and GPU and a Dial that needs more app support.
That tension turned out to be structural rather than a one-generation stumble. Two years later the Surface Studio 2 review again praised a stunning screen while flagging an outdated CPU and no Thunderbolt 3, and by 2022 Microsoft was still selling the form factor as a premium play — the Studio 2+ launch priced at $4,299–$4,499 with refreshed graphics but the same design-first identity.
First-order effects
- Creative buyers get a genuinely differentiated device for drawing and studio work, but pay flagship prices for silicon that is already a generation behind at launch.
- Dial's usefulness right now depends on which apps integrate it — without broader third-party support it stays a novelty accessory rather than a reason to buy.
Second-order effects
- Apple's iMac remains the comparison point on both price and internals, forcing every Surface Studio generation to justify its premium on the display and hinge alone.
- The recurring internal-shortfall criticism pushes Microsoft into mid-cycle refreshes — GPU upgrades like the RTX 3060 in the Studio 2+ — rather than full redesigns.
Third-order effects
- If the pattern holds, the Surface Studio settles into a niche where Microsoft competes on industrial design and display quality while conceding the spec sheet, keeping the line premium-priced and artist-focused rather than mass-market.
The trend: Across three generations, Surface Studio reviews keep praising the display and design while flagging outdated internals, making silicon lag the defining trade-off of Microsoft's design-led desktop line.