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A smaller Snapdragon-powered Surface Pro and Surface Laptop could debut this spring. Microsoft is gearing up to ship two new versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro that have smaller displays, designed to be lighter and more portable for people looking for a more travel-friendly PC. Both devices will be premium products, and feature display sizes roughly around 11- or 12-inches, my sources say. I first reported on Microsoft’s smaller Surface Pro way back in December 2023, and last month I was able to confirm that the company was also working on a smaller Surface Laptop as well. I hear both devices are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. I understand that Microsoft intends to begin shipping these smaller Surface PCs in the April/May timeframe. The company is already expected to unveil new Surface for Business hardware on January 30, but I'm unsure if that's when the smaller devices will be announced, or if they'll be saved for a more consumer-facing event. These smaller Surface devices are said to feature similar premium designs to their larger siblings. My sources say the smaller Surface Pro has been built as a direct competitor to the 11-inch iPad Pro, meaning it should have a high refresh rate display, support for pen input, and its own detachable keyboard accessory. I believe the smaller Surface Laptop is likely to replace the Surface Laptop Go, and will include a backlit keyboard, higher resolution touchscreen, and an all-metal chassis like its larger Surface Laptop sibling. I’m unsure if the smaller Surface Pro is supposed to replace the cheaper Surface Go. The Surface Laptop Go was small, but cut out too many features. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central) I'm told that the new smaller variants will be powered by Snapdragon X/Plus SoCs, which should allow Microsoft to price these devices competitively in the $800-$900 price range while still delivering good performance and battery life. Both devices will be sold alongside the current Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 lineup. Microsoft is also planning to launch Intel Lunar Lake variants of the Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 next month, but these are expected to be for business customers only and just available in the larger existing screen size configurations. The Intel-powered Surface Laptop 7 will be configurable with 5G for the first time. The company's current focus appears to be almost entirely on the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, its two most popular product lines. Microsoft will have refreshed both models three times within the span of 12 months this March, which is a crazy number of updates in such a short period of time. My sources say the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 are also currently in development and will be powered by the upcoming Snapdragon X2 SoC, which is expected to debut later this year. Microsoft officials declined to comment on these plans. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

It looks like Apple is not the only one having a hard time keeping their upcoming laptops under wraps. Following a quite massive leak of the next-gen M4-powered MacBook Pro, Microsoft is joining its rival with an unannounced Surface Laptop popping up for sale on a Chinese website. The device in question does not look very different from the current model, but it has one important difference under the hood: the processor. The current-gen Surface Laptop 7 is available exclusively with the Snapdragon X Plus or Elite processors. If you want an Intel chip, you have to settle for the Surface Laptop 6 for Business and its first-gen Intel Core Ultra chips. The leaked model, though, is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V, also known as Intel Lunar Lake. Besides Intel's latest chip, the prototype features 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, indicating a top-end model with a hefty price tag of 19,000 CNY (roughly $2,600). The buyer also claims that the device will only be available next year. For reference, the Surface Laptop 7 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage costs $1,999 for the 13.8-inch model and $2,099 for the 15-inch model. The seller is clearly inflating the price for exclusivity, especially considering the device has no quality issues and comes with the original package and a charger (still says "prototype"). Windows Central, citing unknown sources within Microsoft, says the company is indeed working on a Surface Laptop with Intel's Lunar Lake processors. However, it is unknown whether the device will launch in 2025 as the Surface Laptop 8 or the Surface Laptop 7. Microsoft has already confirmed that Copilot+ PC features, including Recall, are coming to devices with the latest Intel and AMD processors. Therefore, it makes sense to expand the current lineup with additional options for those who are not ready to switch to Windows on ARM, regardless of how well it works and how well its battery life is. It might also be Microsoft's next-gen Surface Laptop for Business, as suggested by the vPro tag, according to the person who spotted the listing. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of September): 4,292 news posts

The November 2023 firmware update is now available for the Surface Pro 8 and the Surface Laptop 5. It improves camera and audio stability, plus patches security vulnerabilities in Intel software. What is new in the Surface Pro 8 November 2023 firmware update? Here is the list of new drivers: Windows Update Name Windows Device Manager Dolby - Extension - 8.605.313.22 Dolby APO SVC Device - Extension Dolby - Software Component - 3.30508.581.0 Dolby APO SVC Device - Software components Intel – Camera - 60.22000.5.12796 Intel(R) TGL AVStream Camera - Cameras Intel – Extension - 60.22000.5.12796 Intel(R) TGL AVStream Camera - Extension Intel Corporation – System - 60.22000.5.12796 Surface Camera Rear - System devices Surface Camera Front - System devices Surface IR Camera Front - System devices Intel(R) Control Logic - System devices Intel(R) Imaging Signal Processor - System devices Surface - Extension - 60.22000.5.12796 Surface Camera Rear - Extension Surface Camera Front - Extension Surface IR Camera Front - Extension Here is extra information about the release: Supported Configurations Surface Pro 8 Supported Windows Versions Windows 10 version 21H2 and newer Windows 11 version 21H2 and newer How to get the update Windows Update Surface Support website (manual installation) Update Size 739MB (manual installation only) Additional Steps The update does not require extra steps before or after installation Known Issues The update does not contain known issues Microsoft will continue supporting the eight-generation Surface Pro until October 5, 2027. What is new in the Surface Laptop 5 November 2023 firmware update? Here is the list of new drivers: Windows Update Name Windows Device Manager Surface - Firmware - 1.27.2176.1 Surface ME - Firmware Intel - SoftwareComponent - 1.66.712.0 Intel(R) iCLS Client - Software components Intel - System - 2251.4.2.0 Intel(R) Management Engine Interface - System devices Surface - Firmware - 9.101.143.0 Surface UEFI - Firmware Here is extra information about the release: Supported Configurations Surface Laptop 5 Supported Windows Versions Windows 10 version 21H2 and newer Windows 11 version 22H2 and newer How to get the update Windows Update Surface Support website (manual installation) Update Size 659MB (manual installation only) Additional Steps The update does not require extra steps before or after installation Known Issues The update does not contain known issues Surface Laptop 5 is currently available with a 31% discount on Amazon. Announced in 2022, the computer will receive six years of support. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Source

After several leaks and last-minute spoilers, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Go 2, a sequel to the original Surface Laptop Go from 2020. The new model has a price tag of $599, and it will be available on June 7, with preorders starting now. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is now slightly more expensive than its predecessor. It went up by $50, but Microsoft compensates for that with better storage. The company now offers 128GB of storage instead of the miserable 64GB in the original Surface Laptop Go base configuration. Microsoft also swapped the 10th gen Intel Core i5 with the newer 11th gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 and introduced a new version with 16GB of RAM. Another change is that the Surface Laptop Go 2 provides four color options: Ice Blue, Sandstone, Platinum, and the new Sage. Microsoft promises up to 13.5 hours of use, an improved HD camera (still 720p), and better thermals that make the laptop less noisy. Other aspects of the computer remain unchanged, which means users have to deal with only 4GB of RAM in the base configuration and no backlit keyboard. On the upside, Microsoft says the Surface Laptop Go 2 is better in terms of sustainability. Replaceable components now include not just SSD but also the keyboard, trackpad, display, battery, and the Surflink cable. Memory, unfortunately, is non-replaceable. Display CPU RAM Storage Fingerprint Ports Price Touchscreen 12.4-inch 3:2 PixelSense 1536 x 1024 Intel Core i5-1135G7 4GB 128GB No 1x USB-A 1x USB-C 3.5 mm Surface Connect $599 8GB 128GB Yes $699 256GB $799 16GB $1099 Would you consider the Surface Laptop Go 2 if you were shopping in its price range? Share your thoughts about Microsoft's latest Surface device in the comment section. Microsoft announces $599 Surface Laptop Go 2

A Korean retailer has seemingly spilled the beans on the upcoming sequel to the Surface Laptop Go. If the early listing is accurate, Microsoft will announce the "Surface Laptop Go 2" in the coming days, with pre-orders starting on June 2. The Surface Laptop Go 2 will be an uninspiring update of the fairly uninspiring computer. It is a medium-priced laptop with powerful enough specs for daily PC work. The existing model starts at $549 for the base configuration with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage (all models and configs are out of stock in the Microsoft Store). The upcoming version will not bring many notable changes to the exterior or features. The main highlight of the update will be the newer 11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and a slightly upgraded 128GB base storage. Rumors also claim that Microsoft will offer the Surface Laptop Go 2 in a new Sage color, and the Korean retailer mentions an "improved HD camera". Microsoft's new entry-level clamshell will offer the same 12.4-inch display, a modest number of ports (1 USB-A, 1 USB-C, and a 3.5 mm audio), and specs up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Like all modern Surface computers, the Laptop Go 2 will ship with Windows 11 by default. Battery-wise, the Surface Laptop Go 2 should offer up to 13.5 hours of use. Unfortunately, there are no signs of a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint sensor will not be present on the base model. Many will consider that a severe limitation of a 12.4-inch laptop with a price tag of $650, according to a report from WinFuture. Korean retailer leaks details of the upcoming Surface Laptop Go 2

The next-generation Surface Laptop with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors inside is finally here. Microsoft unveiled its next-gen laptop at the special May 20 event, promising that the device "isn't even close" in terms of performance when compared to the previous generations. The new Surface Laptop (yep, just "Surface Laptop" or "Copilot Plus Surface Laptop") is available in two sizes: 13.8-inch and 15-inch. Both variants use 3:4 IPS touchscreen displays with a resolution of 2,304 x 1,536 pixels and 2,496 x 1,664 pixels. The refresh rate has been bumped to 120Hz, plus the Surface Laptop now supports HDR. And yes, screen corners are now rounded to match Windows 11's aesthetics. Powered by Qualcomm's latest chips, the Surface Laptop is 86% faster than the Intel-powered Surface Laptop 5. You will be able to spec the 13.8-inch variant with either the Snapdragon X Elite or Plus, while the larger variant will only be available with the Snapdragon X Elite. Memory-wise, you get to choose from 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Other "Copilot Plus PCs" will also come with a minimum of 16GB—that is a new baseline. Besides boosting performance, the new processors significantly improve battery life. The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop can play video for up to 20 hours, while the 15-inch variant can last up to 22 hours. As for ports, you get two USB-C/USB4 ports that can charge your Surface Laptop, transfer data, power external displays (up to three 4K displays), and connect accessories. There is also one USB-A 3.1 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and the good old Surface Connect port. The 15-inch variant also has a microSDXC card reader. Other changes in the new Surface Laptop include a haptic trackpad, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support, a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello and Windows Studio effects, two Dolby Atmos speakers, and Studio microphones with voice focus. The new Surface Laptop is now available for preorder in the Microsoft Store. The 13.8-inch variant starts at $999 and tops at $2,399. The larger model starts at $1,299 and goes all the way up to $2,499. Color options include Sapphire (blue), Dune (gold), Platinum, and Black. Source