Microsoft hosted its latest Surface event last night. The company detailed various new Surface products headed our way alongside a so-called “new era of AI PCs”. Here are the biggest announcements you likely missed.
Microsoft Launches Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft is launching a new category of PCs called Copilot Plus. These devices will be “AI-enhanced” and feature Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors from Qualcomm. Microsoft will certify these products and plans to include Intel and AMD models later down the line too.
The big focus for these Copilot Plus PCs is the inclusion of neural processing units (NPUs) designed to power AI features in Windows 11. Microsoft says these Copilot Plus PCs are 58% faster than the M3 MacBook Air.
PC brands are already working on Copilot Plus PCs. Brands include ASUS, Lenovo, Acer and HP.
New Microsoft Surface Pro With OLED
Microsoft’s new Surface Pro is getting some fancy new features. The company is ditching the Intel Core Ultra processor for a Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips from Qualcomm. The company says it is also 90% faster than the previous Surface Pro.
Buyers can also choose to get a top-of-the-range OLED panel on the Surface Pro. Microsoft is retailing the new Surface Pro starting at $999. It comes in four colours including blue, beige, black and platinum. It is also compatible with the new Surface Pro Flex Keyboard that can attach to the unit and also be used detached from the device.
Surface Pro Key Features
- 13″ 120hz IPS
- 13″ 120hz OLED Display
- Snapdragon X Plus | X Elite
- QHD front camera and 10.5mp rear camera
- 16/32gb ram & 256/512/1TB storage
- IPS model starts at $999
- OLED model starts at $1499
New Microsoft Surface Laptop is Faster Than a MacBook Air
The new Surface Laptop range is an all-in-one unit with an included attached keyboard. Microsoft has once again gone with Qualcomm for these devices and included Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips in them.
The new Surface Laptop range features thinner bezels and a haptic touchpad. The company says they are 80% faster than the previous generation and offer up to 22 hours of local video playback. You’ll be able to pick up the Surface Laptop in a 13.8-inch and 15-inch model.
Surface Laptop Key Features
- 13.8″ | 15″ PixelSense Flow 120hz Displays
- Snapdragon X Plus | X Elite (13.8″)
- Snapdragon X Elite (15″)
- 16/32 GB RAM and 256/512/1TB storage
- Up to 22 hours of battery life
- 2x USB C, Display Port & USB A
New Copilot Features For Windows 11
Outside of the new product announcements, Microsoft also shared updates headed to Windows 11 for Copilot. The AI assistant will provide suggestions within the settings menu, edit files within File Explorer and even write responses to notifications you receive through linked apps.
Microsoft is also adding an OpenAI ChatGPT-4o model to the assistant allowing the AI to answer questions based on what you see on your screen.
