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RAMageddon has come for Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop

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Why This Matters

The global RAM shortage has led Microsoft to significantly increase prices across its Surface device lineup, impacting affordability and competitiveness in the Windows laptop market. This price hike may influence consumer choices and pressure Microsoft to innovate or adjust pricing strategies amid rising costs. The move also intensifies competition with Apple's MacBook Neo, which offers a more budget-friendly alternative.

Key Takeaways

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

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Microsoft just raised the prices across its line of Surface devices amid the global RAM shortage. Now, the 13-inch Surface Pro 11 and the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 cost $500 more than their original starting price, going from $999 to $1,499, as reported earlier by Windows Central.

Last year, Microsoft stopped selling the $999 versions of the Surface Pro 11 and the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 in favor of the $1,199 models with more storage. At the time, it seemed like Microsoft was trying to make room for the cheaper 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop that launched last May. However, these newer devices aren’t safe from the price hikes, either, as the starting price for the 12-inch Surface Pro has gone up from $799 to $1,049, while the 13-inch Surface Laptop is jumping from $899 to $1,199.

Related The MacBook Neo is the best thing to happen to Windows in years

The 15-inch Surface Laptop now costs $1,599, up from its $1,299 starting price in 2024. As noted by Windows Central, a maxed-out version of the 15-inch Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite, 64GB RAM, and 1TB of storage now costs $3,649 — hundreds of dollars more than a 16-inch MacBook Pro with similar specs.

The price hikes also put Microsoft’s Surface devices in an even tougher spot against Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo, which is outperforming rival Windows laptops. Microsoft could reveal new Surface devices this spring or summer, according to Windows Central. That means upcoming additions to its lineup could be just as expensive as — or even more expensive than — its existing models.