Microsoft upgrades entry-level Surface Laptop and Pro
Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are being updated with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Plus processor, launching October 13.
Microsoft is updating its most affordable computers, the 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro, with new Qualcomm processors. The company announced the new models on its blog in conjunction with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit.
Both devices will launch on October 13. The Surface Laptop will start at $1,199, while the Surface Pro starts at $1,149. These prices represent substantial increases over the launch prices of the previous versions, which started at $899 and $799 respectively.
Microsoft claims the new Snapdragon X2 Plus chip, which includes an 80 TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivers major improvements. According to the company, the systems are 17% faster in Microsoft Office workloads and offer up to 18% better battery efficiency. Graphics performance is said to be more than 60% faster, and AI inferencing on the NPU is up to 95% faster. All these figures are comparisons to the previous-generation Snapdragon X Plus processors.
Design and display updates
Both new models will be available in a new black color option. Their displays are also 25% brighter than the screens on the prior generation devices. For the 12-inch Surface Pro, optional 5G connectivity is being added, but this feature will be exclusive to enterprise versions of the tablet.
New software and accessory
The updated Surface Pro will come with a new preinstalled application called Ink Canvas, designed for sketching and annotating within Windows 11. Microsoft says the app will also be made available for other Surface devices and supported Windows 11 PCs through the Microsoft Store.
Separately, Microsoft announced a new Surface Mouse priced at $79.99. The mouse features haptic feedback, a technology previously reserved for some Surface notebooks. This allows it to use Windows 11 features that provide tactile responses for actions like hovering over buttons or resizing windows. Logitech's recently released MX Master 4 mouse also supports haptics.
The Microsoft pointer is designed for ambidextrous use, unlike the ergonomic MX Master 4. It connects via Bluetooth 6.0, is powered by two AAA batteries, and will come in black and platinum colors. The mouse is scheduled to launch on the same date as the new computers, October 13.
The upgrades mark a long-awaited refresh for Microsoft's entry-level Surface lineup. The focus is on integrating Qualcomm's latest silicon to boost performance, battery life, and AI capabilities, albeit at a higher cost to consumers.
