The Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 are being developed to excel at AI tasks. Both Intel and Qualcomm would provide chips to Microsoft to make this happen, although ARM is set to be the focus.
According to Windows Central, the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 will be announced in the spring. In doing so, Microsoft will follow Intel’s lead in marketing emphasis on the AI capabilities of the new systems.
Tip: Microsoft presents powerful Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Laptop Studio 2
In 2023, Microsoft launched new variants of all other Surface products: Hub, Studio, Laptop Go and Go all received updates. However, new Pro and Laptop additions were missing from that line-up.
Qualcomm enthuses the most
Although Microsoft is partnering with both Intel and Qualcomm for the new “AI PCs,” Windows Central sources state that they are more excited about the Qualcomm offering. This fits into the existing premise that this chipmaker wants to shake up the PC market, with the Snapdragon X Elite as its primary asset for doing just that.
Tip: Qualcomm presents Snapdragon X Elite for Windows laptops
Since this involves an ARM chip, the new version of Windows should be more compatible with this architecture. That version is codenamed Hudson Valley, and will presumably launch as Windows 12.
The new Qualcomm chips are said to be competitive with Apple Silicon. Since the launch of the Apple M1 chip, it has been clear that ARM has much to offer Mac and Macbook users, with longer battery life and higher performance than the old Intel x86 processors. The same may be the case on the Windows front.
Variants
Windows Central further states that the Surface Laptop 6 will have a new, thinner design and that it will be available in two sizes (13.8 and 15 inches). Most notably, the Surface Pro 10 is said to get a better screen, including HDR support.
A resurgence of Windows on ARM
It is noteworthy, but not necessarily surprising, that Microsoft seems to be taking the ARM path. It will still continue to lean partly on Intel’s x86 chips within its Surface offerings, but its reliance on that old architecture is about to wane. Windows on ARM has been Microsoft’s project for some time but it has been unloved for years. Previously, we looked at the current state of the OS on ARM architecture.
Also read: Is Windows on Arm finally getting off the ground?
1 day ago
