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Nvidia's RTX Spark chip is now shipping in laptops from multiple manufacturers, with prices starting at $2,599 for a 24GB Asus ProArt P14 at Best Buy. Configurations scale up to 128GB of unified memory, with models like the Asus ProArt P16 reaching nearly $7,000 and HP's OmniBook line topping out around $5,300. Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra with 48GB of memory is also among the initial retail offerings.
The first reviews of Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra have begun appearing, framing the device as a high-end competitor to Apple's MacBook Pro. Reviewers reportedly describe the laptop as promising but note its high price point as a key consideration for buyers.
Microsoft has launched the Surface Laptop Ultra, a new flagship Windows laptop built around Nvidia's new RTX Spark N1X 'superchip,' aimed at handling on-device AI, gaming and content creation in one machine. At 4.4 pounds, it's lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Pro but is the thickest among the new wave of N1X-powered laptops, including HP's OmniBook Ultra.
Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop Ultra, a high-end Windows laptop reviewed as a serious rival to Apple's MacBook Pro. The device emphasizes strong local processing power rather than relying primarily on cloud-based AI services.
Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra, built with an Nvidia RTX Spark N1X chip, starts at $2,599 and can be configured up to $5,899 depending on processor and memory. The base 24GB unified memory model ships with Windows 11 Home, while higher-tier configurations come with Windows 11 Pro and up to 64GB of memory. During a review briefing, Microsoft gave only a vague answer when asked whether the 24GB base model has enough memory for tasks like running AI models locally.
Tom's Hardware reviewed Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra, which uses Nvidia's RTX Spark mobile SoC instead of a Qualcomm chip, making it one of the first non-Qualcomm Windows on Arm laptops. The reviewer praises its design, display, and port selection, but notes the device is heavy, costly, and offers little extra benefit to users who don't run AI workloads.
The Verge's staff spent a week testing Nvidia's new Arm-based RTX Spark N1X processor across five laptops, including Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra, Asus's ProArt P16, Lenovo's Yoga 9n and HP's OmniBook Ultra. All units share the same 20-core CPU with 6,144 CUDA cores, though a cheaper 18-core variant with fewer CUDA cores also exists, with prices ranging from $2,599.99 to $6,999.99. The chip combines RTX Blackwell graphics with large unified memory pools of up to 128GB, aimed at running local AI models.
Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop Ultra, a premium Windows-on-Arm laptop built with Nvidia to showcase its new RTX Spark chips, which are designed to run AI models locally alongside demanding games and creative software. The top-spec model costs $5,900 and features a 15-inch 3:2 MicroLED touchscreen reaching 2,000 nits, an all-aluminum design, and a new Magnetic Connect charging port built into a USB-C port.
Apple unveiled HomeView, a $299 smart home hub with facial recognition and an AI-enhanced Siri. Amazon replaced its Fire tablet line with three new Alexa-branded tablets starting at $500 that emphasize voice control and on-screen intelligence features, while Microsoft introduced an AI-chip-powered Windows laptop priced from $2,599.
Tom's Hardware obtained an early unit of Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra equipped with Nvidia's new RTX Spark Superchip, featuring 20 CPU cores, 6144 CUDA cores, and 128GB of LPDDR5X-9400 RAM. The outlet compared its performance against a 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's M5 Max chip, though launch embargoes restricted disclosure of battery life, build quality, and display details until full reviews arrive later.
Walmart has discounted the Asus ROG Strix G16 (2025) gaming laptop by $600, bringing it down from $1,999 to $1,399. The 16-inch laptop features an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX processor, Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU with 8GB VRAM, 16GB DDR5 RAM, a 1TB Gen 4 SSD, and a 165Hz FHD+ display.
The FBI conducted searches at more than 40 residences across Texas and filed charges against American facilitators accused of helping North Korean workers secure remote US jobs using stolen or fabricated identities. Investigators say the scheme funneled millions of dollars in wages back to North Korea, with the Americans allegedly running 'laptop farms' to make it appear the workers were logging in from US locations.