Microsoft and Nvidia Launch Surface Laptop Ultra: A $2,599 AI-Ready PC With RTX Spark Chip
48 Sources
[1]
Microsoft event debuts new AI-friendly hardware and Windows changes
In its first live event in two years, Microsoft today announced its newest Surface laptop, outlined a host of changes coming to Windows 11, and shared a vision of how local-AI and agentic workflows could reshape personal computing for those in the dev community as well as home enthusiasts. Surface
[2]
Microsoft releases new Nvidia-chip AI PCs with revamped Windows 11
Back in June, Nvidia announced that it had secured agreements with Microsoft and a host of other PC makers to develop AI- and agent-ready PCs for Windows based on its RTX Spark chip, but details on the machines were scant at the time. On Wednesday, at an event held in San Francisco during the
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The Surface Laptop Ultra Is Here: Microsoft and Nvidia Built a Premium Computer for the AI Age - CNET
Katelyn is a reporter with CNET covering artificial intelligence, including chatbots, image and video generators.... Read full bio After months of teasers, Microsoft officially gave the Surface Laptop Ultra the two things it needed: a release date and a price. You'll like one and hate the other.
[4]
How Microsoft built its MacBook Pro competitor
Before Microsoft releases a laptop to the public, it needs to put the device through its paces. That all happens inside a windowless, warehouse-like lab on the company's Redmond, Washington, campus, where the team developing Surface devices programs robots to press their buttons thousands of times,
[5]
With RTX Spark and 'Builder PCs,' Microsoft and Nvidia Usher Personal Computing Into Its Agentic Era
The Microsoft Surface event of Oct. 7 was, indeed, a rare spotting: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sharing the stage to unveil a joint vision for personal computing. Seeing the leaders of Microsoft and Nvidia together in one keynote is a singular event in itself, but what
[6]
Microsoft and Nvidia launch Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark -- RTX Spark preorders live now, coinciding with major Windows 11 changes for agentic AI
The company also highlighted "hundreds" of games, including Call of Duty. At an event in San Francisco, Microsoft and Nvidia teamed up to show off the RTX Spark chip, along with the Surface Laptop Ultra and new features in Windows 11 that use the new system-on-a-chip's capabilities. The device,
[7]
Microsoft N1Xes Intel in favor of Nvidia's shiny new SoCs in Surface Laptop Ultra
Look out, Intel! Microsoft released its first Surface notebook powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark system-on-chip (SoC) during an event in San Francisco on Wednesday. The Surface Laptop Ultra is one of several new Copilot+ PCs powered by the N1X chip that Microsoft says is aimed at "builders," which are
[8]
Microsoft, Nvidia CEOs to unveil new AI laptop at San Francisco event
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab will unveil on Wednesday a new laptop powered by Nvidia's (NVDA.O), opens new tab chips, seeking to turn Windows into a platform for AI agents to handle tasks such as writing code without having to access the cloud, analysts
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Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder for $5,999
Microsoft's Nvidia-powered Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder now directly, and slated to ship in November for just about $6,000. It's pricier than the DGX Spark mini PC Nvidia launched last year, but PC prices have been climbing due to shortages of RAM and other components. The
[10]
RTX Spark Laptop Preorders Begin, But They're Wildly Expensive
Microsoft is opening preorders for Nvidia-powered RTX Spark laptops today, with the first products scheduled to ship on Oct. 16. But expect some wild pricing, partly due to the memory shortage. The company mentioned the launch date at Microsoft's Surface-focused event in San Francisco. A few
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Here's what the $6,000 Surface RTX Spark Dev Box looks like - Engadget
The Surface Laptop Ultra may have been the highlight of Microsoft's AI-focused Windows event, but the company also showed off another intriguing piece of high-end hardware. The $6,000 Surface RTX Dev Box, a powerful desktop PC optimized for AI development. Microsoft offered a glimpse of the device
[12]
Nvidia and Microsoft say the "agentic PC" era starts with the Surface Laptop Ultra
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Ripple effect: When the likes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang are chatting onstage together, you're bound to get big-picture vision statements and bold claims. In the case
[13]
Microsoft rivals the MacBook Pro with an Nvidia chip and repairable design
This USB-C port is magnetic, so the power adapter cable slots right in and stays put Microsoft has just unveiled the most powerful laptop in its Surface range, and it's set to take on Apple's popular MacBook Pro for demanding work applications. If you're in the market for a higher-end machine,
[14]
Microsoft says new $2,599 laptop with Nvidia chip outperforms MacBooks
The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599.99 and Microsoft claims it returns local AI prompts twice as fast as an Apple MacBook Pro M5 and generates video six times quicker, two figures it has published no test methodology for, while the only measurement it does footnote is screen
[15]
Microsoft plays the Windows card in the AI game, with help from Nvidia
Microsoft is turning to an old friend and a familiar advantage in search of a new edge in AI. The company and its longtime partner Nvidia on Wednesday started taking orders for a new line of high-end Windows PCs built to run large AI models independent of the cloud. Microsoft also announced what
[16]
NVIDIA, Microsoft Kick Off a New Beginning for Windows PCs with RTX Spark and AI Agents
RTX Spark Preorders open today alongside a preview of NVIDIA DGX Station for Windows, the first deskside AI supercomputer built for the Windows enterprise desktop. At a Microsoft event in San Francisco on Wednesday, Jensen Huang and Satya Nadella outlined how NVIDIA and Microsoft are
[17]
Microsoft's MacBook Pro Rival Is Looking Even More Ridiculous
At this point, the writing has been on the wall for Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra for some time. The company has been parading the thing around all summer, heralding its AI capabilities and demonstrating its capacity to chew through demanding games with admirable ease. We've known since Computex
[18]
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark is finally here to take on the MacBook Pro
After months of teasing, Microsoft and Nvidia are finally ready to offer prices and release dates for the first RTX Spark PCs. Microsoft is starting by opening pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra ahead of its October 16 launch. The 15-inch portable workstation and gaming machine starts at
[19]
Microsoft's Surface RTX Spark Dev Box costs an eye-watering $6,000 - Engadget
Microsoft has opened up preorders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box and shared that the device will start shipping to customers in November. The company announced the desktop PC alongside the Surface Laptop Ultra in June, and like that computer we now know it'll come at a hefty premium:
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Microsoft Is Betting on Local AI, With Nvidia as Its Wingman. On Oct. 7 We'll See If It Pays Off
Rumors abound about what Microsoft will show at its big launch event this Wednesday. I'll be there to tell you firsthand, but before I go, I want to give you a heads-up on what I think is coming and why it's a very big deal. First things first: Microsoft is billing its Oct. 7 event as a Windows-
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Here are all the RTX Spark laptops available at launch, going up to $7,000
"Consumer" gets a bit of an asterisk there. While these Arm-based laptops are at least somewhat similar to Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon models we've seen for the last few years, there's nothing spare or affordable about them. With chips custom-tuned for "AI" at every level, tons of speedy, expensive
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Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,600, running Nvidia's RTX Spark chip
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Something to look forward to: Microsoft has just revealed the starting price and release date for its new ultra-tier Surface laptop, along with other notebooks powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark SoC. The
[23]
Microsoft and Nvidia CEOs to launch Surface Laptop Ultra on Wednesday
The launch extends a push Microsoft set out at its Build conference in June. At that event, it pitched Windows as a home for AI agents, software that performs tasks such as writing and testing code. Last month the company also bundled its agents into a new Copilot app. Running more of that work on
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Microsoft's RTX Spark Surface Laptop Ultra pre-orders open to challenge the MacBook Pro in local AI
Higher-memory and SSD configurations are available at a premium If you're looking for a powerful laptop that can handle demanding AI workloads without relying entirely on cloud services, Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is available to pre-order now. Aiming to be a MacBook Pro killer, it combines
[25]
Microsoft introduces Surface Laptop Ultra powerhouse with Nvidia Spark inside
Surface Laptop is among the first wave of laptops with Nvidia's Spark chip. Microsoft has just introduced its flagship laptop, the Surface Laptop Ultra, with Nvidia's RTX Spark silicon inside. The sleek laptop, which arrives as a spiritual successor to the Surface Laptop, is the company's most
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Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra preorders open at $2,599
The laptop carries an Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores, an Nvidia Grace CPU with up to 20 cores, and up to 128 gigabytes of unified memory, Microsoft said. It can deliver up to one petaflop of AI performance, allowing users to run large AI models locally without relying on cloud
[27]
Microsoft shows off new Windows software, revamped for agentic AI | Fortune
Microsoft's Windows operating system, the longstanding flagship of the company's software empire, is getting a revamp for the AI age. The company unveiled a variety of updates to Windows on Wednesday, including incorporating AI agents and other AI tools directly into the PC software, as Microsoft
[28]
The Surface Laptop Ultra is an AI monster with a laptop problem
Microsoft is banking on near-future AI developers and enthusiasts running local AI models and tools directly from their PC. If needed, they'll tap Microsoft's Copilot AI for more horsepower. Microsoft calls this "hybrid intelligence" and it's basically an acknowledgement that users won't
[29]
Now we know the prices of the new RTX Spark laptops and they're as expensive as I'm sure you feared
The launch is coming on October 16, is your bank account prepared? * RTX Spark laptops will range from $2,600 all the way up to $7,000. * Pre-orders open now. * Release date is October 16, 2026. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times to unveil a whole new line of agentic and local
[30]
Microsoft pushes AI vision with new, expensive Surface laptop
San Francisco (United States) (AFP) - Microsoft is pushing a "hybrid intelligence" future with a new Surface Ultra laptop that runs on Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) chips and will cost more than $2,500, the company announced Wednesday. The launch is part of a broader push by tech companies
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Microsoft brings Nvidia RTX graphics to its most expensive Surface Laptop
Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra looks ready for serious AI work * Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599 for professional users * Microsoft is targeting creators, developers, scientists and AI specialists * RTX Spark brings Nvidia's Blackwell graphics into Microsoft's
[32]
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra 128GB Model Sells Out as RTX Spark Demand Emerges
Microsoft's highest-capacity Surface Laptop Ultra configuration has become unavailable through the company's United States store. The affected model combines 128GB of unified memory with a 1TB SSD and carries a listed price of $5,899.99. Lower-memory configurations reportedly remain available. The
[33]
Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop Ultra AI PC starting at $2,600
Microsoft unveiled pricing and specifications for its Surface Laptop Ultra on Wednesday, starting at $2,600, and introduced a $6,000 Surface RTX Spark Dev Box workstation. The laptop comes in two base models, with the version using a more powerful chip starting at $3,700. Additional memory and
[34]
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Launched Alongside Surface RTX Spark Dev Box
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra has a new thermal architecture Microsoft launched its Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box devices in global markets at the special launch event on Wednesday in San fransicso. The new offerings feature Nvidia's latest RTX Spark superchip
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HP RTX Spark Laptop Prices Leak at $2,999.99 With 128GB Unified-Memory Options
HP's first RTX Spark notebooks may begin at $2,999.99, according to product information that briefly appeared on the manufacturer's website. The listings covered the 14-inch HP OmniBook X and 16-inch OmniBook Ultra, two systems introduced during IFA 2026 but not yet given official retail prices.
[36]
Surface Ultra laptop: Microsoft pushes AI vision with new, expensive Surface laptop
Microsoft is pushing a "hybrid intelligence" future with a new Surface Ultra laptop that runs on Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) chips and will cost more than $2,500, the company announced Wednesday. The new Surface Ultra will use Nvidia's state-of-the-art AI chip, RTX Spark, which the
[37]
NVIDIA's CUDA Moat Is Accelerating RTX Spark Laptop Sales, Higher 128GB Unified Memory Options Belonging To Surface Laptop Ultra Already Out Of Stock
Microsoft's product page for the Surface Laptop Ultra shows the RTX Spark, 128GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD configuration priced at $5,899.99 is already listed as out of stock. While the lower-tier options are up for grabs, it indicates that the sellout may partly reflect limited early supply, but
[38]
microsoft: Microsoft, Nvidia CEOs to unveil new AI laptop at San Francisco event
Microsoft is set to unveil a groundbreaking laptop featuring Nvidia's chips, aimed at bolstering local AI functionalities. This ambitious move intends to transfer previously cloud-dependent complex tasks to individual devices, streamlining operations. However, both Microsoft and Apple face hurdles
[39]
Microsoft Turns Windows PCs Into Command Centers for AI Agents | PYMNTS.com
The growing use of AI agents has raised the bar for compute, security and control, Pavan Davuluri, executive vice president, Windows + Devices at Microsoft, said in the post. "That's why we're building Windows as the home for hybrid intelligence: a platform where agents can run locally when it
[40]
RTX Spark Laptops Pave The Way To Running 284B AI Models Locally That Outperform GPT-5 In Coding And Reasoning Benchmarks, According To Microsoft Executive
NVIDIA claimed during its RTX Spark presentation that laptops equipped with this SoC could run 120-billion-parameter models with a one-million Context Window. During the Surface Laptop Ultra announcement, a Microsoft executive had an even better surprise for those who'll upgrade to the top-end
[41]
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box announced
Microsoft has announced the Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, two new Surface devices aimed at creators, developers, AI builders, AI engineers, and technical teams. The two devices are part of Microsoft's broader Windows vision for hybrid intelligence, bringing together PC and
[42]
Microsoft Announces RTX Spark-Powered Surface Laptop Ultra, Starting At $2,599 And Shipping On October 16
Microsoft has unveiled the pricing for the RTX Spark-based Surface laptops and the shipping date. Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark Starts at $2,599, Undercutting HP's RTX Spark Laptops Microsoft has officially opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra, its first laptop powered
[43]
Microsoft Brings AI Agents to PCs with New Coding, Security Tools
Microsoft is taking its AI push beyond the cloud and deeper into personal computers. The company introduced a new coding model that can run locally. It also features stronger controls for AI agents and high-performance Windows devices. The aim is to handle demanding AI workloads. .Microsoft Bets
[44]
Microsoft's RTX Spark-Powered Surface Laptop Ultra Price For The Base Configuration Featuring An 18-Core CPU & 24GB Unified RAM Won't Be For The Faint-Hearted
* 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources * 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain * 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence * 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence * 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources A new product launch is expected to happen a few hours from now, with
[45]
Microsoft wants AI to run on your laptop, not in the cloud
STORY: :: Stephen Nellis, Technology Correspondent :: San Francisco, California / October 7, 2026 :: Microsoft "Stephen Nellis here with Reuters in San Francisco, where we've just wrapped up an event with the CEOs of Microsoft and Nvidia to talk about powerful AI agents coming to a laptop near
[46]
Microsoft steps up local AI on Windows to take on Apple
Microsoft wants to turn Windows PCs into platforms capable of running artificial intelligence models and agents directly, reducing their reliance on the cloud. The group introduced new local models, dedicated security technology and the Nvidia-powered Surface Laptop Ultra, aiming to compete with
[47]
Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia chip, hybrid intelligence for Windows, all you need to know
Windows hybrid intelligence will allow AI agents and Copilot to intelligently use local and cloud resources. Microsoft has opened pre-orders for its new Surface Laptop Ultra. Alongside the device, the company detailed its AI roadmap for hybrid intelligence for Windows. The Laptop Ultra utilises
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Microsoft and NVIDIA's new RTX Spark laptops cost Rs 300000, and they can run 120B+ parameter models locally
Microsoft Execution Containers aim to give autonomous AI agents tighter controls over files, networks and system access. The AI PC has spent the past couple of years largely being defined by NPUs and the TOPS that can be churned out by the CPU, GPU and NPU put together. That's a lot of marketing
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Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip at its first live event in two years. Starting at $2,599, the laptop features up to 128GB unified memory and runs local AI models. The company also introduced the $5,999 RTX Spark Dev Box and announced major Windows 11 updates including Microsoft Execution Containers for AI agent security.
Microsoft AI and Nvidia Reshape Computing With Surface Laptop Ultra
Microsoft held its first live event in two years, unveiling the Surface Laptop Ultra alongside significant Windows 11 updates that signal a major shift toward local AI computing
1
. The event featured a rare joint appearance by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, underscoring the strategic partnership between the two companies5
. Originally teased in May 2026, the Surface Laptop Ultra represents Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Pro, bringing AI-friendly hardware capabilities to Windows users who need serious computing power4
.Nvidia RTX Spark Powers Premium Computer for the AI Age
The Surface Laptop Ultra is Microsoft's first device built around Nvidia's RTX Spark SoC, marking Nvidia's entrance into Arm-based PC chips
4
. Starting at $2,599, the laptop comes in multiple configurations featuring either a 5,120-core or 6,144-core Blackwell GPU with up to 128GB of LPDDR5x unified memory1
. The base model with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD starts at $2,600, while the top-tier 128GB model reaches $5,9003
. Pre-orders opened immediately, with shipping beginning October 162
.Brett Ostrum, corporate vice president of Surface at Microsoft, explained that while the company's 2024 Copilot Plus PC initiative targeted MacBook Air users, "we knew that was not going to reach MacBook Pro-level compute."
4
The RTX Spark chip changes that equation entirely, enabling the Surface Laptop Ultra to handle compressed 280 billion-parameter AI models running locally—models that required cloud computing just a year ago4
.RTX Spark Dev Box Targets Frontier Developers
Alongside the laptop, Microsoft introduced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a $5,999 anodized aluminum workstation designed for serious AI development
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. The Dev Box ships with 128GB unified memory and claims one petaflop—1,000 teraflops—of AI compute performance1
. Its sleek design resembles a game console more than a traditional PC, with 1,000 chassis air vents as a nod to its 1,000 teraflops of AI performance1
. The system comes pre-configured with developer tools including VS Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, WSL, and PowerShell 72
.Local AI Models Drive New Computing Paradigm
The unified memory architecture distinguishes these AI-ready PCs from traditional systems. By using large, high-bandwidth pools of unified memory rather than dedicated VRAM, the Surface Laptop Ultra and similar Builder PCs bypass traditional bottlenecks that limit model size and context windows
5
. This approach allows multi-billion-parameter models to run locally without sending data to cloud data centers, addressing both security and cost concerns for businesses worried about "AI tokenmaxxing" employees3
.Microsoft demonstrated the system's versatility by running Gears of War: E-Day on the Surface Laptop Ultra, proving that even without a traditional gaming GPU, AAA titles remain viable thanks to unified memory allocation
1
. The game ran smoothly even when transitioning between plugged-in and battery operation4
.Revamped Windows 11 Embraces Agentic Era
Microsoft announced substantial Windows 11 updates arriving this fall, with OS builds on the Surface Ultra and Spark Box featuring an updated software suite supporting local model testing out of the box
1
. Copilot receives a major overhaul with three distinct tabs: Home for LLM interactions, Code for users with no coding experience to develop widgets and applications through prompts, and Autopilot for managing AI agents1
.The new Windows Search Experience enables users to execute system-level tasks directly from the search bar by describing desired actions rather than navigating through Control Panel
1
. These changes reflect what Microsoft calls "Hybrid Intelligence," a shift from cloud-backed AI solutions toward local ones with native support for frameworks like llama.cpp and models from Deepseek and Nvidia Nemotron families1
.Related Stories
Microsoft Execution Containers Address Security Concerns
Recognizing user concerns about AI agents accessing sensitive data, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC), a security framework that confines agent activities to sandboxes
1
. Available to developers now and rolling out to all Windows 11 users, MXC allows system administrators to monitor active agents and set specific guardrails controlling what each agent can access2
.MXC functions as a policy layer directing compute traffic to appropriate isolation backends, shifting between process containers, session containers, WSL containers, or experimental hardware-backed MicroVM isolation depending on workload requirements
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. Nadella explained that "just having a model doesn't do much for anything. You really do need to orchestrate, and you need to have memory outside of the model."2
MacBook Pro Competitor Targets Developer Migration
Microsoft is aggressively pursuing developers who have gravitated toward Macs for AI work, offering up to $1,000 off for MacBook Pro trade-ins
2
. Lead designer Jit Hirani emphasized the premium positioning: "It is built for us. We come to work to build a product for ourselves."4
The laptop features CNC-machined aluminum construction, a large trackpad, chicklet keys, multiple ports including HDMI and SD card slots, and a high-resolution touchscreen4
.Microsoft also focused on repairability, with no glued components and clearly marked disassembly instructions and QR codes throughout
4
. The company reworked its magnetic Surface Connect charging port through 300 iterations to create a magnetic USB-C solution that doesn't sacrifice a standard port4
.Three-Tier Hardware Market Emerges
The PC market is splitting into distinct categories based on AI capabilities. Consumer AI PCs with 40-to-50-TOPS NPUs and 16GB to 32GB RAM handle lightweight tasks like summarization and noise cancellation. Traditional workstations and gaming laptops bring dedicated GPUs but remain limited by VRAM pools of 12GB to 24GB. Builder PCs like the Surface Laptop Ultra, Apple M-series Macs, and other RTX Spark systems use large unified memory pools up to 128GB, eliminating traditional bottlenecks
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.Dell also announced its Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition PC powered by RTX Spark, available for pre-order at Best Buy for $3,800 with October delivery
2
. This broader manufacturer adoption suggests the agentic era of computing is moving from niche to mainstream, with AI agents becoming inseparable from personal computing workflows.References
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