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Microsoft has officially unveiled its latest PCs with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
On Thursday, March 21st, Eastern Time, Microsoft launched two new PCs for the commercial market: the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6, with shipping set to begin on April 9th. These devices are touted as the “first batch of Surface AI PCs crafted for businesses.”
Targeted at enterprise customers, Microsoft will not sell the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 directly to individual consumers. Instead, these PCs will be available for purchase exclusively through Microsoft’s website or authorized commercial dealers, not through retail channels like Target or Best Buy.
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In January of this year, Microsoft announced the Copilot key, marking a significant keyboard innovation for Windows PCs, the first in nearly three decades. The Copilot key, alongside the Windows key, now forms the core of the PC keyboard. Pressing this new key activates the Copilot experience on Windows PCs, providing instant access to the AI assistant.
The commercial version of the Surface Pro 10 is powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, complemented by a dedicated Intel AI Boost neural processing unit. Customers can choose between the Core Ultra 5 135U or Core Ultra 7 165U processors, with memory options up to 64GB LPDDR5x and storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB for the PCIe Gen 4 removable solid-state drive.
Aesthetically, the Surface Pro 10 commercial version bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor, the Intel version of the Surface Pro 9. Internally, it offers a choice between two Core Ultra U series chips: the Ultra 5 135U CPU and the Ultra 7 165U CPU, with configurations up to 64GB LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB SSD. The base model comes with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD, priced at $1,199.
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While the external design continues the legacy of the previous generation, the Surface Pro 10 commercial version boasts several improvements. For example, the screen now features an anti-glare coating, and the peak brightness has been increased by 33%. The camera resolution has been upgraded to 1440p, offering a wider 114-degree field of view, ideal for group and remote meetings. Additionally, the Surface Pro 10 commercial version includes an NFC card reader in the top-left corner of the screen, supporting secure device login with NFC security keys. Notably, this is also the first Intel version of the Surface Pro to support 5G connectivity, though this variant will be released later in 2024.
The starting price for the Surface Laptop 6 commercial version is also $1,199. It features the Core Ultra 5 135H CPU and Ultra 7 165H CPU from the Core Ultra H series. The base configuration includes 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD, with options up to 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.
The front-facing camera of the Surface Laptop 6 commercial version has also been upgraded to 1080p. While it doesn’t offer the ultra-wide angle of the Surface Pro 10 commercial version’s camera, it does allow users to utilize Windows Studio effects with background blur and automatic framing during video calls.
Thanks to the more powerful H series chips, the Surface Laptop 6 commercial version is a better choice for users with more demanding tasks, as it offers twice the performance speed of its predecessor, the Laptop 5. In certain markets, customers purchasing the Surface Laptop 6 commercial version can opt for a smart card reader and the newly introduced Copilot key, which provides access to the AI assistant Copilot in Windows 11.
As of the close of business on March 21st, Microsoft’s stock price stood at $429.37, up 0.97%, with a market capitalization of $3.2 trillion.