Microsoft raises Surface PC prices, discontinues budget models
▼ Summary
– Microsoft has significantly increased prices across its Surface PC lineup, eliminating all new devices under $1,000.
– The entry-level Surface Pro and Surface Laptop now cost $1,049 and $1,149, representing a $250 increase from their original launch prices.
– Higher-end 2024 models now start at $1,499, a $300 increase, as Microsoft discontinued their cheaper 256GB storage versions.
– The company attributes these price hikes to recent increases in memory and component costs.
– Industry-wide supply shortages for RAM and storage chips have been raising prices and disrupting product availability.
Consumers anticipating a wave of new Surface PCs powered by the latest chips will be disappointed. Microsoft has instead implemented a significant strategic shift for its hardware lineup, marked by substantial price increases and the elimination of its most affordable options. The company’s new pricing structure means the entry point for a new Surface device now sits firmly at $1,500, a stark contrast to models available for $1,000 just two years ago. The era of a sub-$1,000 Surface is officially over.
Specific models have seen dramatic jumps. The 12-inch Surface Pro, which originally debuted at $799, now starts at $1,049. Similarly, the 13-inch Surface Laptop has risen from its $899 launch price to $1,149. Both represent a $250 price increase for consumers. The situation is even more pronounced for higher-tier devices. The 2024 versions of the Surface Laptop and the 13-inch Surface Pro initially started at $999. After Microsoft discontinued their 256GB storage configurations in 2025, their starting prices climbed to $1,199. They now carry a $1,499 starting price, reflecting a total increase of $300 from their original launch.
According to industry reports, Microsoft attributes these price hikes to rising costs for memory and other key components. A persistent supply shortage for RAM and storage chips has created challenges across the consumer technology sector throughout this year. These constraints have led to product launch delays, depleted inventory for existing devices, and forced price adjustments for companies of all sizes, a trend now clearly reflected in Microsoft’s revised Surface pricing.
(Source: Ars Technica)
