Microsoft is reportedly working on the next generation of Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models, which should feature refreshed designs and improved hardware.
This leaked information comes from Windows Central whose sources claim that the company is developing the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 right now. What’s interesting about these two is that there will be multiple versions of both, housing either an Intel Meteor Lake CPU or a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor. The latter has Windows Central sources “particularly excited” that laptops with that CPU will use the multitude of AI-powered features that Microsoft plans to add to the 2024 Windows update. It’s not entirely clear if this will be the rumored Windows 12, although it’s possible. Additionally, Microsoft aims to build the custom Snapdragon X chip as a worthy rival to Apple Silicon “with similar battery life, performance, and security.”
It is unknown if the Meteor Lake versions will have special capabilities beyond using a “next-generation NPU (neural processing unit)” to improve performance. The leak doesn’t go into much detail on that front.
Individual changes
Individually, both devices will see changes, with the Surface Laptop 6 offering a more drastic update.
The report claims that it will have thinner bezels around the display, rounded corners, and additional ports. It’s unknown how many ports there will be in total, but there will be at least two USB-C inputs and one USB-A port along with a “Surface Connect magnetic charger.” [plug].” This computer will be available in two different sizes (13.8 inches and 15 inches), according to Windows Central. What’s more, Microsoft plans to add a haptic touchpad plus a dedicated button to quickly launch the Windows Copilot AI assistant.
The Surface Pro 10, on the other hand, will apparently stick to the design of previous models with the “most significant changes coming” to the display. Windows Central claims the screen will be made brighter, support HDR content, and will be covered with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. The report goes on to say that Microsoft is testing a mid-range version of the Pro 10 with a Quad HD (2160 x 1440 pixels) resolution display. The more expensive version will retain the 2,880 x 1,920 pixel resolution display the series is known for.
Other notable features include an NFC reader for business users, a webcam with wider FoV (field of view), and a dedicated Copilot button.
Neither source reveals when these computers will be released, other than that they will be released later this year; possibly around the same time as the Windows 2024 patch. It is also unknown how much each will cost.
Future plans
Everything so far covers Microsoft’s Surface plans for 2024, however, there will be more coming next year.
Windows Central claims that in late 2025, Surface Pro tablets will see a “more significant design refresh,” as well as a new 11-inch model. They then claim that the company is also working on the Surface Laptop Studio 3. Details are scarce at the moment, although the company may offer the Studio 3 in a Meteor Lake and Snapdragon X CPU configuration, similar to the Surface Pro 10.
2023 was an interesting year for Microsoft. It wasn’t the best for the tech giant, but you could argue that it was a year where the company took the time to lay the groundwork for what’s to come in 2024. If you want to know more about our thoughts, check out Microsoft’s review of TechRadar in 2023.
