Microsoft has officially unveiled a new product that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) functionality into personal computers (PCs) for the first time.
On Thursday, March 21st Eastern Time, Microsoft launched two PC Surface Pro 10 commercial versions and Surface Laptop 6 commercial versions, which will be shipped on April 9th. They are referred to by Microsoft as the "first batch of Surface AI PCs specifically designed for enterprises.".
As a computer for businesses, Microsoft does not directly sell the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 to individual consumers. In other words, these two PCs cannot be purchased through retail channels such as Target or Best Buy, and can only be purchased through Microsoft's website or commercial distributors.
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In January of this year, when Microsoft announced the Copilot key, it was the first major keyboard revolution in nearly thirty years for Windows PCs, marking the beginning of the era of AI empowering Windows PCs. The Copilot key and the Windows key together become the core of a PC keyboard. When the user presses this new key, they will start the Copilot experience on Windows PC, in other words, one click direct access to the AI assistant.
The Surface Pro 10 commercial version uses Intel's latest Core Ultra processor, complemented by a dedicated Intel AI Boost neural processing unit. Users can choose between Core Ultra 5 135U or Core Ultra 7 165U processors, with up to 64GB of LPDDR5x memory and 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 removable solid-state drives for storage.
On the outside, the commercial version of Surface Pro 10 is very similar to the previous generation of Intel's Surface Pro 9. Internally, it has two optional configurations of Core Ultra U series chips: Core Ultra 5 135U CPU and Ultra 7 165U CPU. It can be equipped with up to 64GB LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB SSD solid-state hardware. The basic configuration includes 8GB RAM memory and 256GB SSD, priced at $1199, which is equivalent to a starting price of $1199.
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Although the exterior design continues from the previous generation of products, the Surface Pro 10 commercial version has made many improvements in details. For example, the screen is covered with anti glare coating, and the peak brightness has also increased by 33%. In terms of cameras, the resolution has been upgraded to 1440p and has a wider 114 degree viewing angle, making it convenient for multiple people and remote meetings. In addition, the Surface Pro 10 commercial version has also added an NFC card reader in the upper left corner of the screen, supporting the use of NFC security keys to log in to devices. It is worth mentioning that this is also the first Intel version of Surface Pro to support 5G connectivity, but this version will be released slightly later in 2024.
The starting price for the commercial version of Surface Laptop 6 is also $1199. It is equipped with two types of Core Ultra H series chips, namely the Core Ultra 5 135H CPU and the Ultra 7 165H CPU. The basic model is equipped with 8GB RAM memory and 256GB SSD, with a maximum of 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
The front facing camera of the Surface Laptop 6 commercial version has also been upgraded to 1080p, but it does not have the ultra wide angle as the Surface Pro 10 commercial version camera. However, users can use Windows Studio effects with background blur and automatic framing during video calls.
Due to the stronger functionality of the H-series chips compared to the U-series, it is a better choice than the Surface Pro 10 commercial version if users want to complete higher demanding tasks.
The commercial version of Surface Laptop 6 has added an anti reflective coating to its display screen, with two sizes available: 13.5 inches and 15 inches.
The 15 inch display version is equipped with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports for the first time, as well as a regular USB-A, a headphone jack, and a Microsoft Surface Connect port for charging. The 13.5-inch version also has a headphone jack and a Surface Connect interface, but only one USB-C interface.
Microsoft claims that due to the use of Core Ultra H series chips, the commercial version of Surface Laptop 6 will run at twice the speed of its predecessor Laptop 5. Users who purchase the commercial version of Surface Laptop 6 in some markets also have an optional smart card reader and Microsoft's newly launched Copilot key, which is used to access the AI assistant Copilot for Windows 11.
As of the close of March 21st local time, Microsoft reported a price of $429.37, an increase of 0.97%, with a market value of $3.2 trillion.
