Microsoft has expanded its business lineup to include both Arm-based and Intel-powered Surface Pro tablets and laptops, but with a significant price difference. Businesses can now choose between Qualcomm’s Arm-compatible Snapdragon X-series processors or Intel’s x86 Core Ultra Series 2 processors, with the latter option costing at least $400 more.
The new offerings come standard with a second-gen Core Ultra processor, 16 GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage, as well as an NPU capable of 40-48 TOPS for AI efficiency features. Intel-based Surfaces start at $1,499, while Qualcomm-based Surfaces start at $1,099.
While business customers can now choose between the two options, Microsoft’s consumer-focused machines remain only available with Qualcomm parts. The new PCs will be compatible with Microsoft’s AI-augmented mobile device management portal, which enters preview on February 24.
Additionally, Microsoft announced a new USB 4 Dock with support for dual 4K displays and 65 W of power pass-through, as well as the Surface Hub 3. This expanded business lineup aims to cater to the growing demand for powerful devices in the enterprise market.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/30/microsoft_surface_intel