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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.
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.
Microsoft introduced Magnetic Connect, a magnetic charging solution for its new Surface Laptop Ultra that pairs a Power Delivery USB-C port with a magnetic cable using a funnel-shaped tip for easy alignment. Unlike Apple's proprietary MagSafe port, the underlying port remains standard USB-C, meaning it can be used for monitors, keyboards, phones or other peripherals when not charging. The Surface Laptop Ultra also includes two more USB-C ports, HDMI, USB-A, an SD card reader and a headphone jack.
Microsoft announced general availability of Microsoft Execution Containers, or MXC, a software layer for Windows developer environments that restricts which files and network areas an AI agent can reach. CEO Satya Nadella revealed the rollout during the company's Surface Laptop Ultra event, offering three access levels: Recommended, Locked Down, and Unprotected.
During a recent event, Nvidia and Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra alongside new Windows PCs powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip. They described this as the start of the 'agentic PC' era, emphasizing enhanced processing capabilities driven by Windows updates, Nvidia's latest chips, and AI advancements. This development suggests a shift toward more powerful, AI-enabled devices capable of handling tasks traditionally reserved for cloud-based systems.
Microsoft announced the upcoming release of its Surface Laptop Ultra, set for October 18, with a base price of $2,599. The device features a 15-inch HDR display, Nvidia RTX Spark processor, up to 128GB of memory, and a sleek aluminum design, emphasizing its focus on AI and creative workflows. The launch was highlighted at a San Francisco event attended by top executives from Microsoft and Nvidia.
Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, featuring Nvidia's new RTX Spark SoC with up to 6144-core GPU and 128GB memory, available from October 16. Alongside, the company revealed the RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-performance AI development machine with 128GB memory and a custom Windows 11 build, capable of delivering one petaflop of AI compute power. These products aim to enhance AI and gaming capabilities for developers and enthusiasts alike.
Microsoft announced the release of the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch device equipped with Nvidia’s RTX Spark platform, available for preorder on October 7 and shipping from October 16. The laptop targets developers and creators needing high-performance hardware, with configurations ranging from $2,600 to $5,900 based on memory and storage options. It features a magnetic USB-C charging port and is designed for demanding AI and GPU-intensive tasks.
Pre-orders for Nvidia's RTX Spark devices are now available from brands including Asus, Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, and Dell, with shipping starting October 16. The lineup features various configurations, such as the Surface Laptop Ultra with up to 48GB of memory priced at $3,999, and other models like the Asus ProArt P16 and HP OmniBook series supporting up to 128GB of memory. Pricing varies widely depending on specifications and brand.
Microsoft announced two new Surface products during San Francisco’s Tech Week: the Surface Laptop Ultra, starting at $2,600, and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, priced from $6,000. Both are equipped with Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip to enable on-device AI processing and feature a redesigned Windows 11 with 'Execution Containers' for better AI agent sandboxing. The devices target developers and AI professionals, with Microsoft offering discounts up to $1,000.