Published in AI

Microsoft jacks AI under the bonnet of new laptops

by on29 December 2023


Ready in 2024

Microsoft is gearing up to launch its new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop lines, which it claims will be its first true next-gen AI PCs.

According to Windows Central, the new devices will be announced in the spring and will be ready for the next version of Windows, codenamed Hudson Valley, coming in 2024.

For the first time, both Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will come in Intel and Arm versions and will have next-gen NPU (neural processing unit) chips. Sources say the Arm models will be powered by a custom version of Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Series chips.

Microsoft calls these ARM devices "CADMUS" PCs and says they will clean Apple's clock with battery life, performance, and security.

The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are expected to be some of the first CADMUS PCs to hit the market next year.

Sources say this new Surface Laptop will finally have a unique design with thinner bezels, rounded display corners, and more ports. This will be the first time that Microsoft's Surface Laptop line is getting a makeover, which is long overdue.

The Surface Laptop 6 will still come in two sizes, but the smaller one will have a slightly bigger 13.8-inch display, up from 13.5 inches on the Surface Laptop 5. The bigger one will stay at 15-inches.

Sources say the Surface Laptop 6 will have more ports, including two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, plus the magnetic Surface Connect charging port. Microsoft is also adding a haptic touchpad (probably with Sensel technology) and a special Copilot button on the keyboard for quick access to Windows Copilot.

The next Surface Pro is also getting a big update, but more minor than the Surface Laptop 6. Sources say the main changes coming to Surface Pro 10 are primarily about its display, which is now brighter with support for HDR content, has a new anti-glare coating, and has rounded display corners.

Microsoft is also testing a version of Surface Pro 10 with a lower-resolution 2160 x 1440 display, down from the 2880 x 1920 screen on previous Surface Pro models. But this lower-resolution screen will only be for cheaper models, while the pricier ones will still have the higher-resolution screen.

Microsoft is giving the next Surface Pro an NFC reader for business customers and a wider FoV webcam, which will be improved with Windows Studio Effects. It should also come in new colours. We might get a new Type Cover accessory with a Copilot button to access Windows Copilot quickly.

 

Last modified on 03 January 2024
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