Microsoft has set a date and price for the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch machine that starts at $2,599 and takes direct aim at the 16-inch MacBook Pro. According to Microsoft, it will arrive on October 16 and will focus on creative, development, and AI-related work. Just as Apple prepares a much lighter OLED MacBook Pro, a machine we expect to get a major refresh, Microsoft will offer up to $1,000 if you switch.
Plenty of power from Nvidia RTX Spark
The new Surface packs an Nvidia RTX Spark chip with a Blackwell GPU of up to 6,144 cores, a Grace CPU of up to 20 cores, and up to 128GB of unified memory. The mini-LED, touchscreen display can reach an HDR peak brightness that, according to Microsoft, is 25% higher than the MacBook Pro’s, although it hasn’t shared exact figures.
With three USB-C ports, one USB-A, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and Magnetic Connect, Microsoft’s version of MagSafe, we’re looking at the most powerful Surface yet. Microsoft, again without sharing exact numbers, claims that it weighs less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Up to $1,000.00 for your MacBook Pro
As part of a presentation surprisingly focused on comparing itself with Apple’s offering, Microsoft is offering up to $1,000 if you trade in an eligible MacBook Pro with the purchase of the Surface Laptop Ultra.
Waiting for Apple’s new laptop? Rumors point to a thinner, lighter OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen. And don’t forget the recent launch of the new Mac mini and Mac Studio. We’ll see where Microsoft’s offering stands when it’s compared with Apple’s new models.
