Main points
- Surface Pro 10 and Business Laptop 6 were released with updates such as Intel Core Ultra chips and NFC readers.
- Consumer versions expected later this spring may include Qualcomm chips.
- There are also new adaptive accessories for Surface devices.
We finally know what the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will look like. Well, sort of. After not launching a successor to the Surface Pro 9 or Surface Laptop 5 in 2023, Microsoft launched the Surface Pro 10 Business Edition and Surface Laptop 6 Business Edition on Thursday, March 21, during a digital event for the company’s business customers and partners. , 2024.
While the new tablets or laptops may not be exactly the same as the consumer versions of the Surface Pro and laptops that Microsoft expects to launch ahead of its Build developer conference in May, they should still be a good indicator. Here’s what Microsoft showed off, when it will launch, and what else may be coming in the coming months.
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What Microsoft announced at its March event
Microsoft has largely chosen not to focus on features that are already running on Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. These “business” versions in particular don’t even betray the typical year-to-year design tweaks you might expect from a new batch of personal electronics, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t better.
Surface Pro 10 Business Edition
Surface Pro 10 still features a sleek kickstand, support for stylus input, and an optional Surface Keyboard for a more traditional laptop experience. This year’s tablets feature Intel’s Core Ultra chips, with both the Core Ultra 5 135U and 7 165U versions equipped with an AI Boost neural processing unit (NPU) for better on-device AI performance, and 8 to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM.
Not only does Microsoft claim the 13-inch touchscreen is 33% brighter, but its anti-reflective coating means it’s easier to use outdoors, too.
Launching Copilot is a better option, and Microsoft thinks you’ll invoke the feature more often via the dedicated Copilot key on the new Surface keyboard. Inside the Surface Pro 10, its parts are now labeled with “intent markers” indicating how many screws hold the component in place, as well as scannable QR code labels to pull up installation and repair guides.
Visually, the most obvious difference may be the new anti-reflective display Microsoft is using on the Pro 10. Not only does Microsoft claim the 13-inch touchscreen is 33% brighter, but its anti-reflective coating means it’s easier to operate outdoors, too. Paired with a new ultrawide studio camera that offers 1440p resolution, 114-degree field of view on video calls, and support for Windows Studio effects for blurring backgrounds or adjusting framing on the fly, it should make for better remote working overall experience.
If you use an NFC security key to log in at work, Surface Pro 10 Business has a built-in NFC reader.
Surface Laptop 6 Business Edition
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 6 still comes with a great keyboard and trackpad, but this year’s laptop gets many of the same updates as the Pro 10. These include Intel Core Ultra 5 135H or Intel Core Ultra 7 165H chips with AI Boost NPU, up to 64GB of memory, 13.5-inch or 16-inch touchscreen displays, and a new QR code inside the laptop that serves as a repair and installation guide shortcut. The new screen has the same anti-reflective coating as Microsoft’s tablet, but has lower maximum brightness and an improved 1080p webcam (the Surface Laptop 5 only has a 720p camera).
Like every other Windows 11 laptop launched this year, the Surface Laptop 6 has a Copilot key for easy access to Copilot. If you buy a Surface Laptop 6 in the US or Canada, you can get the 16-inch model with a dedicated smart card slot for added security.
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Microsoft Adaptive Accessories
Microsoft’s adaptive accessories include an add-on adaptive mouse, adaptive dual buttons, adaptive D-pad buttons, and even an adaptive joystick button that can be used in place of or in addition to a traditional keyboard and mouse, as the company The same as the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
They were previously available to regular customers, but now Microsoft is making them available to its business partners as well. The company also unveiled a new version of the Surface Keyboard with a bold set of keys (with bold fonts and brighter backlighting) that should be easier to read, making this key Surface Pro 10 accessory more accessible to a wider audience.
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Microsoft also announced that Diablo IV will be available on Game Pass next month.
When can Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 be available for purchase?
Microsoft said that the Surface Pro 10 Business Edition and Surface Laptop 6 Business Edition are now available for pre-order and will begin shipping to business customers on April 9.
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How is the consumer version different?
We probably won’t know all the differences until Microsoft Build 2024 in May, but it seems certain that there will be an option to buy a Surface Pro 10 or Surface Laptop 6 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip. Qualcomm has announced that it will work with partners such as Microsoft in 2023, and Microsoft has offered at least an Arm version of the Surface Pro for the past few years.
Windows Central previously reported that the Surface Laptop 6 may launch with smaller, more rounded bezels, and that both the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 may get a new AI feature called “AI Explorer” that will be used to call information about your actions on it. information about any operations done on your computer, but we don’t know if these will actually be introduced in the consumer version of the new Surface.