Exactly two years after launching Arm-powered Surface devices, Microsoft has refreshed its tablet and laptop lineup with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Models powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 chips are expected to arrive later this year.

The Surface Pro 12, officially named Surface Pro for Business 12th Edition, starts at $1,949.99 for the base configuration featuring a Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage.

Businesses looking for higher-end specifications with a Core Ultra 7 chip, up to 64GB RAM and 1TB storage will have to pay as much as $4,399.99.

Microsoft is also offering OLED display and 5G connectivity options. The 5G-enabled Surface Pro 12 starts at $2,249.99.

In terms of design, the Surface Pro 12 remains largely unchanged from its predecessor. The device still includes dual USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support and Microsoft’s familiar magnetic Surface Connect charging port.

Notable upgrades include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a Quad HD 1440p front-facing camera and a 10MP 4K rear camera.

Surface Laptop 8 introduces new business-focused features

For the laptop lineup, Microsoft unveiled the eighth-generation Surface Laptop in two display sizes: 13.8 inches and 15 inches. The company also introduced a smaller model called the Surface Laptop for Business 13-inch, marking its first generation.

The 13.8-inch model starts at $1,949.99, nearly double the launch price of the previous Surface Laptop 7 generation. Rising component costs appear to be affecting Microsoft significantly, as even current consumer models have increased by around $500 compared to their original launch prices.

One of the biggest additions to the Surface Laptop 8 is its advanced haptic touchpad. The touchpad can provide subtle vibration feedback when users move the cursor near window controls or perform gestures such as dragging, zooming and rotating objects. Windows 11 includes built-in support for the technology.

For the first time, the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 8 also offers an integrated privacy display option that can be activated with a dedicated key to block unwanted viewing angles.

However, the Laptop 8 lineup still lacks OLED display options like those available on the Surface Pro 12. Instead, the 15-inch version receives a resolution upgrade from 201 PPI to 262 PPI with a resolution of 3270 x 2180 and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The new 13-inch Surface Laptop for Business starts at a more accessible $1,499.99. Microsoft also plans to launch an 8GB RAM configuration later this year starting at $1,299.99 to lower the entry barrier.

The high pricing of these enterprise-focused devices suggests that upcoming consumer versions may also arrive with premium price tags.

Microsoft is expected to unveil consumer-oriented Surface models in June, with rumors pointing to a Surface Laptop variant featuring an OLED display.

Du Lam