Microsoft Surface event scheduled for Sept. 23 as rumored Surface 2 specs emerge

Looks like September just became an even crazier month for mobile. Microsoft today sent out invitations to an event on Sept. 23, and as you can see in the one received by Engadget, the Redmond firm is making it pretty clear that its Surface brand of tablet hardware will be the focus. 

While Microsoft is making it clear that it'll be talking Surface at its Sept. 23 event, the company hasn't said much else about what it's got on tap. That's where the rumor mill comes in. Reports from Neowin and WinSuperSite claim to have some details on the new Windows RT-powered Surface model, which though Paul Thurrott of WinSuperSite says will be dubbed the "Surface 2." The device is expected to look largely similar to the existing Surface RT, though Thurrott claims to have seen a version of the device with a white body and black front bezels.

When it comes to the Surface 2's internals, the device is rumored to sport a quad-core Tegra 4 processor and 1080p display, both of which are significant upgrades from the Surface RT's Tegra 3 chip and 1366x768 screen. We're also told to expect a two-position kickstand, 4GB RAM, 64GB built-in storage, microSD slot, full-size USB 3.0 port and a pair of cameras. The new Surface 2 will purportedly be powered by Windows RT 8.1.

We'll have to wait until Sept. 23 rolls around before we find out exactly what Microsoft's got planned for its next round of Surface hardware, but so far the Surface 2 sounds like an evolutionary upgrade. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the internal upgrades that it's rumored to be getting are major. The original Surface models were fairly attractive pieces of hardware, and so I doubt many folks will be upset if the new models sport a similar look. One aesthetic change that would a welcome sight, though, is the addition of a white color option.

What do you think of the rumors surrounding Microsoft's Surface RT refresh? How do you think that Microsoft should price its new Surface 2 in order to give it the best chance at success?

Via Engadget, Neowin, WinSuperSite