Microsoft’s New Surface Laptop & Pro Get Snapdragon X2, Start at $1,499
▼ Summary
– Microsoft unveiled new Surface Laptop (8) and Surface Pro (11) models with Snapdragon X2 chips, starting at $1,499.
– The Surface Pro offers up to 15.5 hours of battery life and a 53% graphics performance improvement, starting at $1,499 without keyboard or stylus.
– The Surface Laptop adds a Jade green color, two LCD display sizes (13.8-inch and 15-inch), up to 20 hours of battery life, and a haptic feedback trackpad, starting at $1,599.
– Both devices use 100% recycled aluminum and include a new Surface Repair Tool for guided repairs on components like the battery and display.
– Affinity software will be pre-loaded on both new Surface models.
Roughly two years after its previous generation hit the market, Microsoft is officially unveiling the next wave of its flagship devices. The new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro both receive a significant internal overhaul with the Snapdragon X2 processor, and pricing kicks off at $1,499.
Available starting today, the Surface Laptop (8th Gen) and Surface Pro (11th Gen) stick closely to their familiar design language. Externally, the shells and most core specs remain largely unchanged. The primary upgrade is the move to the Snapdragon X2 series chips, which represents a substantial leap in performance over the original Snapdragon X lineup.
The latest Surface Pro arrives in Platinum, Black, and Dune colorways, paired with a Flex keyboard. Microsoft claims up to 15.5 hours of battery life and a dramatic performance boost, particularly in graphics, where the company reports a 53% improvement. The base model starts at $1,499 with a Snapdragon X2 Plus processor and 16GB of RAM, though it does not include a keyboard or stylus. This price point sits just above the recent cost increases applied to its predecessor in April.
On the other hand, the new Surface Laptop introduces a few distinct enhancements. A fresh Jade green color joins the existing Platinum, Black, and Dune options. The device continues to offer two display sizes,13.8-inch and 15-inch,both still using LCD technology. Microsoft estimates battery life can reach up to 20 hours on the smaller model, while the Snapdragon X2 delivers comparable performance gains across the board.
Microsoft also highlights a refined trackpad that provides “subtle haptic feedback across Windows and the apps you use every day.” As an example, this haptic integration will be featured in Affinity, which Microsoft confirms will come pre-loaded on both the new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro.
The Surface Laptop starts at $1,599, also equipped with a Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and 16GB of RAM.
Both machines now feature a chassis made from 100% recycled aluminum. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a new Surface Repair Tool that “run tests on supported components (including the battery, display, or camera) and [walks] through guided repairs for eligible parts like the battery, display, touchpad or motherboard.”
(Source: 9to5google.com)