Where to preorder Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro

  News, Rassegna Stampa
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It feels like forever ago that we got new Surface laptops, but Microsoft has taken the wraps off a handful of 2024 refreshes at its hardware event on Monday. We’re getting consumer-centric versions of the newest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, both starting at $999.99 and launching June 18th. Microsoft calls the Copilot Plus PCs “the most powerful Windows PCs ever built.” They’ll be first in line to benefit from Windows 11’s next-gen AI features, which we expect to hear about during Microsoft’s annual Build conference this week.

Microsoft announced business-oriented versions of both laptops in March, each sporting an Intel Core Ultra CPU. The consumer versions come with Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X chipsets, which have a dedicated AI processing unit and are said to balance performance and power efficiency in a way that should help them rival Apple’s M-series chips. They also boast the new dedicated Copilot key.

We’re set to get both 13.8-inch and 15-inch variants of the Surface Laptop, which is the traditional clamshell and clearly built to take aim at Apple’s MacBook lineup. The hybridized tablet / laptop Surface Pro, meanwhile, still only comes in one 13-inch configuration that is largely similar to the Surface Pro 9 from a build perspective but is meant to be paired with the improved Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. We’ve dropped more details below, including where and how you can preorder the new devices.

Microsoft’s latest Surface Laptop comes in 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes, but aside from the display differences, they’re mostly identical. The most notable changes from the Surface Laptop 5 include shrunken bezels, an upgraded 1080p webcam, and a haptic trackpad. That said, the 13.8-inch model only comes with a single Thunderbolt 4 port, while the 15-inch version features a pair in addition to a USB-A port. Both have a Surface Connect port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

As for availability, you can preorder the base 13.8-inch model at the Microsoft Store and Best Buy with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD starting at $999.99. You can also grab it with 512GB and 1TB storage for $1,199.99 and $1,399.99, respectively, or with a Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage starting at $1,399.99. It’s currently available in blue, beige, black, and platinum color options.

The 15-inch Surface Laptop, meanwhile, is only available for preorder from the Microsoft Store and Best Buy starting at $1,299.99 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can also step up to 64GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $2,499.99, though, for now, it seems you can only get it in black or platinum.

If you’re looking for added incentives, Best Buy seems to be offering the better deal right now, as My Best Buy Plus and Total members will get a free TV when purchasing select Copilot Plus PCs. If you add a Surface Laptop to your cart, Best Buy will automatically add a 50-inch Insignia F30 to your cart for no additional cost. A Plus membership costs $49.99 a year and a Total membership $179.99 a year, though, a free TV certainly makes it worth the trouble of signing up if you haven’t already.

$1000

The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop is the most affordable of Microsoft’s 2024 Copilot Plus models. The MacBook rival uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chipsets — which are said to offer substantial performance and battery life improvements — and its keyboard is the first with a dedicated Copilot key.

$1300

The 15-inch Surface Laptop offers more connectivity options than the smaller 13.8-inch model. It gains a second Thunderbolt 4 port and a USB-A port but touts the same AI-ready Snapdragon X Elite chipset, a Copilot key, and design tweaks to minimize display bezels.

It’ll take more than a quick glance to notice the differences between the new Surface Pro and its predecessor. The machines are largely the same build-wise, but the new Snapdragon X Elite inside should make a world of difference for the overall user experience. You can also now upgrade the 13-inch display to an OLED option and, later this summer, opt for a version with 5G connectivity.