Microsoft is gearing up for the “Year of the AI PC” with two new Surface devices that won’t be sold directly to consumers. Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business both feature Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, Microsoft’s new Copilot key, and Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that accelerate existing and upcoming AI-powered features in Windows 11. It is equipped. These are the “first Surface AI PCs built specifically for business.”
Neither of these new Surface devices have been redesigned on the outside, so the Surface Pro 10 for Business looks almost identical to the Intel version of the Surface Pro 9. Surface Laptop 6 for Business has an additional USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port. It has an optional smart card reader, but the screen bezels and overall design are almost identical to the Surface Laptop 5. Both will begin shipping to commercial customers on April 9th.
Surface Pro 10 for business
Microsoft is typically slow to adopt the latest Intel chips in its Surface devices, but this time the company was one of the first to ship Intel’s new Core Ultra processors.
Surface Pro 10 for business comes in Core Ultra 5 135U and Core Ultra 7 165U options, with 8GB memory in the base spec configurable up to 64GB RAM. The base spec, priced at $1,199, also includes a 256GB Gen4 SSD. Surface Pro 10 for Business includes two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and Microsoft’s Surface Connect port for charging. Microsoft promises up to 19 hours of battery life with these new Intel chips.
Microsoft has improved the 13-inch display on the Surface Pro 10 for Business with a new anti-reflective coating and 33% more brightness. Despite false rumors that Microsoft will announce an OLED-equipped Surface Pro 10 today, the Surface Pro 10 for Business will ship with an LCD display.
We asked Microsoft about rumors of a Surface Pro 10 equipped with an OLED display. “We’re not announcing that product at this time,” Nancy Gaskill, general manager of the Surface business, said in an interview. The Verge. It certainly sounds like the product exists, so when I asked if it did, Gaskill replied, “That doesn’t corroborate the rumors that are circulating at this time. The Surface Pro 10 for Business will have an anti-reflective display. “I’m here,” he said.
Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans say the company will unveil a consumer version of the Surface Pro 10 with an OLED display at its hardware and AI event on May 20th.
Beyond the display, Surface Pro 10 for business also features a significantly improved front-facing camera. It has a 114-degree field of view and can also capture footage at 1440p resolution. “This will be the first camera with an ultra-wide field of view on his PC market today,” says Gaskill. Thanks to his NPU chip inside, you can also access his Windows Studio effects with background blur and auto-framing during video calls.
Microsoft is also equipping the Surface Pro 10 for Business with an NFC reader, making it easier for businesses to use devices like YubiKey NFC security keys for authentication. Microsoft is also planning a 5G option for the Surface Pro 10 for Business. “With the Surface Pro, he’s bringing 5G to Intel for the first time,” Gaskill explains. “We had the Surface Pro 8 LTE and the Surface Pro 7 Plus LTE, and previously he worked with Qualcomm to bring 5G to the Surface Pro 9.”
Last but not least, Microsoft is rolling out AI-powered features in Windows 11 by rolling out the Surface Pro keyboard with a new bold keyset with larger fonts, improved backlighting, and a new Copilot key. We are improving it.
Surface Laptop 6 for business
According to Gaskill, the Surface Laptop 6 for Business has been “completely redesigned.” Microsoft chose Intel’s Core Ultra H-series chips, designed to deliver desktop-grade performance, for his Laptop 6 for Business. Businesses can choose between the Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 165H, models with a base price of $1,199, with 8GB of RAM (configurable up to 64GB) and storage up to 1TB from a 256GB Gen4 SSD.
For the first time, the 15-inch model will feature two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports in addition to the usual USB-A, headphone jack, and Microsoft Surface Connect port for charging. The smaller 13.5-inch model has just one USB-C Thunderbolt 4 in addition to a headphone jack and Surface Connect port.
Microsoft hasn’t made any major changes to the Surface Laptop 6 for Business’s display, but it has added an anti-reflective coating. The front camera has also been upgraded to 1080p, but it doesn’t have a wide angle like the Surface Pro 10 for Business. However, you can access Windows Studio effects with background blur and auto frames during video calls.
Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop 6 for Business will be twice as fast as the Laptop 5 thanks to its Ultra H-series processors. There’s also an optional smart card reader in some markets, and Microsoft’s new Copilot key to access Windows 11’s AI-powered Copilot assistant.
Microsoft sells both of these devices only to businesses through its own channels and authorized resellers, so they’re not designed for consumers to buy at places like Best Buy. However, technically you can also buy it online at his Microsoft Business Store or through a reseller. “These products are made specifically for business, but that doesn’t mean we won’t make products for consumers in the future,” Gaskill said. “We’ll continue to work on that, but we’ll be announcing things that are specifically built for commercial purposes.”
Both devices are also Microsoft’s “easiest serviceable Surface devices ever,” according to Gaskill. Microsoft has placed his QR codes on both internal components, and the Surface Pro 10 for Business has internal markings to easily identify the type of screws and screwdrivers on certain components.
Microsoft isn’t yet ready to talk about the many AI features it’s adding to Windows later this year, but these two new devices will be able to handle them. Microsoft is currently scheduled to hold a special Windows and Surface AI event on May 20th, where Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will share the company’s “AI vision” for both software and hardware.
At the May 20th event, we expect to see consumer versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 announced, along with some big new AI features in Windows 11 that take advantage of NPU chips. Until then, both the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business will ship on April 9th, with prices starting at $1,199.
