Surface Laptop Ultra review: a different kind of MacBook Pro
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Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra combines premium Surface hardware with Nvidia’s new Arm-based RTX Spark chips, aiming to compete with Apple’s MacBook Pro while showcasing Windows laptops that can run AI models locally. The review finds the machine compelling for technically minded users, but says making local AI useful can involve coding or substantial experimentation, limiting its appeal for others.
The reviewed configuration costs $5,900 and has a 15-inch 3:2 MicroLED touchscreen, with peak HDR brightness of 2,000 nits, plus an aluminium body and a large haptic trackpad. Its ports include three USB-C connections, USB-A, HDMI 2.1b, an SD card reader and a headphone jack; a USB-C port also supports magnetic charging. The reviewer praises the screen, finish and charging connector, while noting battery reporting problems and limited app support for trackpad feedback.
- Microsoft targets MacBook Pro users with a $5,900 Surface laptop.
- Its bright touchscreen and magnetic USB-C charging stand out.
- Local AI setup may demand coding or patient experimentation.
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Microsoft’s Surface range is a family of Windows computers, while Apple’s MacBook Pro is a high-end laptop used for demanding work such as video editing and software development. The new Surface model pairs Microsoft’s premium laptop design with graphics chips from Nvidia, a company best known for making processors used in gaming and artificial intelligence.
Those chips use Arm technology, which is designed to run efficiently in computers and phones, and are intended to handle some AI tasks directly on the laptop. Running AI locally can offer more control over data and avoid relying on remote services, but setting it up may require technical know-how. The wider question is whether this kind of computer can make local AI practical for everyday users as well as specialists.
More coverage
- Ars Technica — The Surface Laptop Ultra delivers on most of Microsoft's promises
- Wired — Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Review: The First Real AI PC