- Rumors have emerged about the next-generation Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models
- They will be relatively minor updates, although it is worth noting that an OLED option should be added to the Surface Laptop
- Intel CPUs could be implemented in both ranges, even in the basic models, but prices are a concern here.
Microsoft has apparently updated the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models due this year, some of which should arrive soon, although a new rumor suggests any changes will be mostly minor and there’s a lot of concern surrounding potential pricing.
Windows Central got the scoop here, and sources revealed a lot of information about the new Surface laptops, which will come in two versions: one with Intel Core Ultra 3 (Panther Lake) processors and the other will be Arm-based, built with chips from Qualcomm.
We’re told the latter will be Snapdragon X2 Plus and X2 Elite CPUs, but there won’t be a model with the flagship Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. Similarly, Intel’s Panther Lake chips won’t extend to Core Ultra 9 processors: the new Surface products will be built with Core Ultra 5 and 7 silicon.
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Unusually, we’re told that Surface devices with Intel chips will be first, launching in the spring in the US, which effectively means they’re about to debut, possibly within the next month, followed by the Snapdragon models in the summer (June to August).
As noted, don’t expect any major changes from Microsoft, as the design of both the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop remains very similar to the current incarnations (although we’ll be getting some new colors).
The most notable change will be the introduction of an OLED version for higher-end Surface Laptop configurations, complete with improved screen resolution (and the Surface Pro will once again offer OLED).
For the lower-end models of these Surface devices, the biggest move will apparently be that Microsoft will offer a selection of Intel CPUs and Snapdragon chips, rather than reserving Intel silicon for (more expensive) models aimed at businesses. Note that the current generation of Surface Pro and consumer Surface Laptop run exclusively on Snapdragon CPUs (the latter is our highest-rated Windows 11 laptop, by the way).
Early retail listings have already given us an idea of the memory and storage specs of these devices, which are rumored to start at 16GB and 256GB respectively and go up to 64GB and 2TB at the top end, which sounds perfectly plausible.
Remember, add seasoning to all of this as this is just vine talk, albeit from a trusted source for all things Microsoft.
Analysis: Price is an obvious concern
So the upgrades on offer are not particularly attractive, although it is common practice for some generations of hardware to be more discrete (usually a new CPU and trimmings). The only major move is the addition of an OLED option to the Surface Laptop range (matching the Surface Pro in that regard).
I say that, but the processor changes are important too, and in fact, the apparent decision to use Intel chips once again in consumer models is a big change for Microsoft.
With the current generation of these Surface devices, Microsoft has championed Arm silicon for the consumer due to the huge battery life benefits offered by Snapdragon chips. However, something recently changed on the Intel front, namely that Panther Lake has also proven to offer telling battery endurance, so perhaps this will influence the decision here.
Perhaps more to the point, Windows Central notes that supply of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips supposedly seems unstable, and that could be why Microsoft is launching Intel versions of the Surface devices first and then the Arm models. And that would make sense as to why Intel silicon should be used across the range, perhaps.
Of course, there’s likely another major difference with the Surface Pro and the next-gen Surface Laptop, and that’s the price. While no price as such is rumored, Microsoft just raised the price of its Surface line considerably, and that must surely reflect how much the new models will cost.
With the 13-inch Surface Laptop getting a $300 price increase on the Microsoft Store, and other models getting increases of up to $500 on their price tags (really nasty), the stage is fully set for more expensive hardware with the next-gen range in 2026.
There’s really no two ways about it, and in the online reaction to Microsoft’s move, people are already taking this for granted. One Redditor’s comment on the rumored incoming Surface models was: “What a boring launch. And disappointed that they don’t offer the high-spec Snapdragon. For its crazy new price, it should have been included.”
That “crazy” price is only theoretical, of course, although we are all adequately prepared for a shock. And as noted in the answers, the Snapdragon
In any case, there is a general air of doom and gloom surrounding the Surface range at the moment, and how with the new price increase, it can’t compete with Apple’s MacBooks, which are hardly considered value champion laptops. Except for the new MacBook Neo, of course, and it’s also notable that Microsoft has no intention of launching a Surface to fight the Neo on more wallet-friendly ground (yet).
That said, Microsoft hasn’t had much time to react to the initial popularity of the MacBook Neo, although it appears to have added some urgency to the ongoing campaign to improve Windows 11.
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