Microsoft is launching the Surface Pro 10 and two sizes of the Surface Laptop 6. What is striking is that these devices are only available to companies. The future of x86-Surface for consumers is uncertain.

Microsoft launches the Surface Pro 10 for business usealong with the Surface Laptop 6 for business use. Both computers are based on the concept of their respective predecessors. So don’t expect any major innovations, but definitely expect gradual improvements and a modernization of the interior. The full name of the two devices also suggests which market Microsoft is targeting. Both the hybrid laptop/tablet and the regular laptop are intended for professional customers only.

Surface Pro 10

The Surface Pro 10 is available with Intel Core Ultra 5 135U or Core Ultra 7 165U. You can configure the device with a minimum of eight and a maximum of 64 GB of RAM. When it comes to SSD storage, you can choose between 256GB, 512GB or 1TB. The size of the Windows tablet remains unchanged with a 13-inch (3:2) touchscreen with 2,880 x 1,920 pixels. The maximum brightness of the display increases to 600 nits.

The Intel Core Ultra has an NPU offering under the hood that accelerates a handful of applications today. Most of the features are reserved for a niche, but some things are also experienced by office workers. This allows the NPU to more efficiently blur the background or suppress noise during a video call. To make the most of this functionality, Microsoft is strengthening the Surface Pro 10’s webcam: you now get a resolution of 1440p.

Surface Laptop 6

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 comes to companies in two sizes: 13.5 inches and 15 inches. Both devices have touchscreens and a screen ratio of 3:2. The 15-inch notebook has slightly more pixels (2,496 x 1,664) than its little brother (2,256 x 1,504), but Microsoft ensures consistent quality thanks to the identical pixel density (201 pixels per inch).

The interior is similar. Under the hood, you can opt for the same specs as the Surface Pro 10. However, the laptops have slightly worse cameras with a maximum resolution of 1080p.

continuation

These devices are a continuation of the range. You can expect classics such as the necessary USB Type-C ports (USB 4 / Thunderblot 4), which you can also use to charge. Microsoft claims a battery life of more than eighteen hours for the Surface laptop and 19 hours for the Surface Pro 10 tablet. Traditionally, Microsoft markets this device as a hybrid laptop, but the keyboard is not included.

The three new devices will be available from April 9th. The Surface Laptop 6 for business use with a screen diagonal of 13.5 inches is available from 1,399 euros (including VAT) in the minimum configuration. The 15-inch version will cost you at least 1,639 euros. The Surface Pro 10 will cost you at least 1,399 euros, but you’re only buying half a laptop. The standard keyboard costs at least 159.99 euros.

What about consumers and ARM?

Microsoft couldn’t make it clearer: these laptops are intended for business users, although Microsoft doesn’t seem to be holding us back when we try to order the devices as consumers. If you want, you can definitely buy a Surface Pro 10 or a Surface Laptop 6. Microsoft only offers Windows 11 Pro (or optionally Windows 10 Pro), with no option for a Home license.

It’s unclear why Microsoft is targeting the enterprise market so heavily. According to The Verge, Microsoft is planning an additional Surface device announcement in May with a greater focus on consumers. A new ARM-based Surface would be central there. This device will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon X on board and this chip could finally compete with x86 processors (or Apple’s M series). Microsoft may want to push the ARM variant strongly without passing on the still rampant compatibility restrictions to business customers.