All articles tagged with #surface
Microsoft has opened preorders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-end mini PC priced at $5,999. The device, which ships in November, features 128GB of unified memory and is designed for running large local AI models. It is part of a broader launch of Nvidia-powered Surface devices aimed at developers and creators.
Microsoft and Qualcomm have officially discontinued the 'Copilot+ PC' branding for new hardware, acknowledging that the label failed to drive consumer demand. While the underlying AI capabilities remain, the industry is shifting away from explicit AI marketing as NPUs become ubiquitous.
Microsoft has officially dropped the 'Copilot+ PC' marketing label for its new Surface devices, despite them meeting the original hardware requirements. The decision follows a two-year campaign that struggled with consumer interest, security concerns over the Recall feature, and the rising ubiquity of AI chips. While the hardware specs remain, the branding is being replaced by more generic 'performance PC' terminology as the industry shifts focus away from on-device AI exclusivity.
Microsoft has officially retired the 'Copilot+ PC' branding for its latest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, despite these devices meeting the original hardware requirements. Surface Corporate Vice President Brett Ostrum confirmed the change, stating that the label was a transitional tool to define a specific category of AI-capable devices. As NPUs become ubiquitous, the brand is being dropped in favor of standard spec sheets. This move follows poor consumer reception of the Copilot AI assistant and the Recall feature, with Qualcomm's Kedar Kondap also agreeing that the branding is likely finished.
Microsoft and Qualcomm have effectively retired the 'Copilot Plus PC' brand, despite new Surface devices still meeting the original hardware requirements. The shift follows poor consumer reception of AI features and the ubiquity of NPUs in modern laptops.
Microsoft and Qualcomm have effectively abandoned the 'Copilot+ PC' marketing label. While the technical baseline for AI-capable devices remains, the brand is being dropped due to poor consumer reception, security concerns over the Recall feature, and the fact that NPUs are now ubiquitous in most laptops. New Surface devices and NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform will no longer use the moniker, though they still meet the original hardware requirements.
A new, smaller Microsoft Surface device codenamed 'Minos' is rumored to feature a 12-inch display, Nvidia RTX Spark silicon, and up to 32 GB of RAM. Leaker Roland Quandt suggests this compact laptop will complement the larger Surface Laptop Ultra at an October 7 event, though it may carry a premium price tag.
Microsoft will host a San Francisco event on October 7, 2026 to spotlight local AI shaping the PC, with Satya Nadella and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri in attendance alongside NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang. The show is expected to center on RTX Spark—the chip powering Surface Laptop Ultra and the RTX Spark Dev Box—while pricing and availability remain undisclosed, and it may also touch on Project Zenith, a developer-focused device family.
Microsoft has announced its first major Windows-focused event in two years, set for October 7, 2026 in San Francisco, to spotlight local AI in PCs; despite Windows branding, the company says Windows 12 is not on the agenda. Expect reveals around the Surface Laptop Ultra, powered by the NVIDIA RTX Spark chip, with up to 128GB unified memory and local AI models up to 120 billion parameters, plus a Surface RTX Spark Dev Box and related ecosystem tweaks for Windows 11 to support the hardware. Attendees include Satya Nadella, Jensen Huang, and Pavan Davuluri.
Microsoft has scheduled an October 7 Windows and Surface event in San Francisco to discuss how local AI will shape the PC, with Satya Nadella and Jensen Huang in attendance; RTX Spark PCs may be the highlight and Surface Laptop Ultra pricing could be announced, with The Verge covering the live event and no Windows 12 reveal expected.
Microsoft has quietly removed its guidance that 32 GB RAM was a safe target for Windows 11 builds, shifting emphasis to 8 GB devices optimized to run Windows 11 smoothly. The change follows ongoing Windows memory-efficiency efforts (lower memory overhead, WinUI 3 optimizations) and comes amid past criticism of high RAM baselines, with Microsoft noting that future memory optimizations will focus on 8 GB and above. The move signals a shift toward better performance on lower-spec systems, including Surface devices with 8 GB RAM, though questions about real-world performance and OEM expectations remain.
Microsoft quietly removed its Windows Learning Center guidance that 32GB RAM was ideal for Windows 11 gaming and Copilot+ PCs as RAM prices rise, and started selling 8GB RAM Surface devices. The company has promised memory-optimization updates to make Windows 11 faster on 8GB RAM by the end of 2026, while Copilot+ branding continues to reference 16GB minimum. The move reflects ongoing memory shortages and a broader push to keep Windows 11 lean while memory costs stay high.
Microsoft rolled out cheaper 12‑inch Surface Pro and 13‑inch Surface Laptop configurations with 8GB RAM (down from 16GB) and 256GB storage, starting at $849 and $949; they keep the same Snapdragon X Plus core but won’t support Copilot Plus due to RAM. Even with the cut, these 8GB devices are pricier than the $599 MacBook Neo, highlighting ongoing RAM‑driven pricing in laptops.
Microsoft rolled out six Surface devices this year via press releases rather than a launch event, including Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 for both business and consumer, plus Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, all with price increases of roughly $500–$600 over predecessors. The absence of a dedicated event and a confusing naming scheme has dampened buzz, though Microsoft is bundling a free keyboard with some orders to soften the price hike.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 ship with Snapdragon X2 Plus/Elite CPUs, promising faster graphics and longer battery life. The Pro arrives in a 13-inch form, the Laptop in 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes, with Jade and Dune colors for the Laptop and Dune for the Pro. Starting prices are $1,499 (Pro 12) and $1,599 (Laptop 8) with 16GB RAM and 256GB–512GB storage; commercial X2 models arrive later at higher prices. As with last-gen, the update is mainly a chip upgrade with limited design changes, and there’s no X2 Elite Extreme in this cycle.