Microsoft recently concluded a major Windows and Surface keynote held in San Francisco. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Surface Laptop Ultra, a new laptop powered by Nvidia’s Arm-based RTX Spark chip. Priced at $2,599 for an 8-core CPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, the device is scheduled for release on October 16th. Notably, it features a built-in magnetic USB-C charging solution rather than the older proprietary Surface Connect port. Additionally, Microsoft announced that the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a developer-focused mini PC, is available for preorder at $5,999, with shipping expected in November.
Microsoft also provided further specifications for the Surface Laptop Ultra, confirming a starting price of $2,599. This configuration includes an 18-core CPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The laptop is equipped with a 15-inch HDR touchscreen capable of up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness, along with an enhanced haptic trackpad. Powered by Nvidia’s RTX Spark, an Arm processor with up to 128GB of unified memory, the device targets the high-end market for creative professionals, gamers, and users requiring local AI processing.
The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box features a unique flat, 3D-printed anodized aluminum chassis that doubles as a heatsink, resembling the top vents of an Xbox Series X. With a 100-watt thermal envelope and Tensor cores, it offers impressive potential for gaming. However, its primary focus is on developers, allowing for the testing and running of AI models exceeding 120B parameters directly on the device, including AI coding tools and agents.
To address charging convenience, Microsoft has implemented a magnetic USB-C connector on the right side of the Surface Laptop Ultra. Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s Windows and Surface chief, explained that the connection snaps into place when brought close. While the physical port remains USB-C for video and data, the magnetic locking mechanism itself is proprietary, a solution the company is calling Magnetic Connect.
During the event, Pavan Davuluri also announced that Meta’s AI agent will receive a native integration on the Windows platform, though a specific release timeline was not provided. This follows the launch of a Mac Muse app by Meta in September.
The event featured Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Pavan Davuluri in a discussion regarding how local AI capabilities will define the future of personal computing. The partnership between Microsoft and Nvidia on the RTX Spark platform aims to enhance local AI models, creative applications, and gaming experiences across their new portfolio.
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