Microsoft reveals new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with big graphics upgrades from Snapdragon X2 CPUs but they're seriously pricey

Date:
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Microsoft's new Surface devices for consumers are on sale now, but they've been hit with major price hikes.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Microsoft has launched new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices They are built around the Snapdragon
X2 processor The OLED screen is back for the Surface Pro, but prices are steep, even at the entry-level Microsoft has revealed new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processor .

There's a new Surface Pro 13-inch, alongside fresh Surface Laptop 13.8-inch and 15-inch models, all of which pack the Arm -based Snapdragon X2, with a choice of the X2 Plus (10-core) and X2 Elite (12-core) CPUs. These consumer devices follow the launch of versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop targeted at businesses which were unveiled a month ago. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

The new Surface Laptop offers what Microsoft claims is up to 58% faster graphics performance than the previous generation of its notebook .

The company also tells us to expect up to 20 hours of battery life with the more compact 13.8-inch model, and up to 19 hours with the 15-inch laptop
(with local video playback). You may like Microsoft unveils new Surface for Business laptops and Surface Pro for Business 2 in 1 device Microsoft's next-gen Surface devices don't sound exciting going by rumors Rumor: Microsoft's next Surface devices could be very pricey and delayed

The Surface Laptop is available from today in platinum, black, and dune colorways, with the 13.8-inch offering a new color: jade. The device starts
at $1,599 in the US (around 1,190 / AU$2,260) for the 13.8-inch model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Pricing elsewhere is yet to be announced although outside of the US, it's worth noting that the entry-level storage will start at 256GB for the 13.8-inch device. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Microsoft) As for the Surface Pro 13-inch, it's a very similar bump
in graphics performance courtesy of the Snapdragon X2 processor, with a claimed 53% leap over its predecessor . You get up to 15.5 hours of battery life here based on Microsoft's internal testing (again for local video playback).

The new Surface Pro 13-inch is available from now in platinum, black, and
dune colors, with this hybrid starting at $1,499 in the US (around 1,120 / AU$2,120) for the configuration with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Other than the major move in upgrading the Snapdragon chips, there's one
other notable change to the core specs here, namely that Microsoft has
brought back an OLED option for the Surface Pro (so you can choose that as an option, or the basic LCD screen). What to read next I've been working on Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Pro 12th Gen for Business running Intel Core
Ultra Series 3, and am surprised by its speed and battery life, but oh that fan RAM crisis strikes again Microsoft Surface laptops just leapt in price Watch out, Apple Nvidia just unveiled its RTX Spark Arm 'superchip' to take on the M5 at Computex 2026

The OLED gives you vivid colors and deep blacks, as you'd expect, and a
better level of HDR peak luminance, boasting 900 nits of brightness versus
600 nits for the LCD. Analysis: Snappier but not happier? (Image credit: Microsoft) While the upgrades to the Snapdragon X2 chips are very welcome in terms of the additional performance for these Surface machines, the price
tags are eye-watering certainly if you compare them to the previous generation of these respective devices. If you recall, the previous Surface Laptop 13-inch started at not far off half the price tag we see here ($900 in the US, versus $1,599 now).

However, we knew this was coming because not so long ago, Microsoft announced some big price increases across the whole Surface range (and rumors insisted these would be applied to these new consumer offerings, which only made sense).

So, there's no surprise in seeing such major increases, but they remain disappointingly hefty compared to the hikes seen elsewhere from other laptop makers.

The Surface Laptop starting at $1,599 isn't easy to stomach, frankly,
although at least you're getting 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for that money (as opposed to 256GB, although there will be an international version
of the laptop that does drop to this level of SSD capacity).

The Surface Pro 13-inch kicking off at $1,499 with 256GB of storage is a real wallet worrier, too. There is, however, a sweetener of sorts for the
remainder of June in the US, whereby buyers get a free Surface Pro 13-inch Keyboard bundled by Microsoft (or there's a free Surface Arc Mouse with the new Surface Laptops).

While these Microsoft devices have generally been very well-received over the past few years, that wasn't quite so much the case for TechRadar when we reviewed both new models last year and with these prices hikes, the Surface is starting to look a dubious value proposition I'm afraid. Especially in light of Apple launching the MacBook Neo with a surprisingly affordable price tag in this RAM-starved climate. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us
as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget: Apple MacBook Neo 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best thin and light: Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 5. Best Ultrabook Asus Zenbook S 16



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows-laptops/microsoft-reveals-new-surf ace-pro-and-surface-laptop-with-big-graphics-upgrades-from-snapdragon-x2-cpus- but-theyre-seriously-pricey


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