Microsoft launches Nvidia RTX Spark-powered Surface laptop for on-device AI
In short
Microsoft launched a high-end Surface laptop powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip at an event in San Francisco on Oct. 7, attended by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The laptop is designed to run AI models and workloads on the device and starts at about $2,600. CNET reported that preorders are open and shipping begins Oct. 16.
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Microsoft launched a high-end Windows laptop powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip at an event in San Francisco on Oct. 7. Axios reported that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and former White House AI official Sriram Krishnan were on hand. Axios named the device Microsoft Surface Ultra, while CNET called it the Surface Laptop Ultra. MarketWatch reported that the laptop is designed to run AI models and workloads directly on the device. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Axios put the starting price at $2,599. CNET reported that the base model, with 24GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a lower-end RTX Spark N1X processor with an 18-core CPU and a 5,120-core GPU, starts at $2,600. According to CNET, a 32GB model with a 1TB SSD costs $3,300 and the most expensive model, with 128GB of RAM, costs $5,900 before shipping and taxes. CNET reported that the laptop is available for preorder and will begin shipping on Friday, Oct. 16. [ 2 , 4 ]
CNET described the device as a 15-inch laptop aimed at developers, creators and others who need high performance for AI-intensive or GPU-intensive work, and said it comes with a magnetic USB-C charging cord, which is new for Microsoft. "We built it for developers and creators pushing the limits of performance, who want portability with exceptional craft," Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's Windows chief, said at the event, according to CNET. [ 4 ]
Axios reported that Microsoft is trying to carve out a high-end laptop category for people who want to run demanding AI workloads locally rather than rely entirely on the cloud. According to Axios, Microsoft's pitch is that developers' appetite for AI exceeds what their companies' AI budgets can afford, and that the ideal is to use frontier models in the cloud together with local models where they are effective. [ 2 ]
Axios noted that Microsoft's first push into AI-powered Windows machines, known as Copilot+ PCs, got off to a rocky start after the delay of its signature Recall feature. CNET reported that Microsoft first showed the device this spring at Computex and that it later appeared at Microsoft's Build conference and at IFA before the Oct. 7 event gave it a price and release date. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Axios reported that Microsoft is trying to carve out a high-end laptop category for people who want to run demanding AI workloads locally rather than rely entirely on the cloud. Axios noted that Microsoft's earlier push into AI-powered Windows machines, Copilot+ PCs, got off to a rocky start after the delay of its Recall feature.
Key facts
- Microsoft launched a new laptop powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The launch took place at an event in San Francisco attended by the CEOs of Microsoft and Nvidia. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Axios put the starting price at $2,599; CNET put it at $2,600 for a base model with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. [ 2 , 4 ]
- CNET reported a 32GB model with a 1TB SSD at $3,300 and a top model with 128GB of RAM at $5,900, before shipping and taxes. [ 4 ]
- The laptop is designed to run AI models and workloads directly on the device. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- CNET reported that the laptop is available for preorder and will begin shipping on Friday, Oct. 16. [ 4 ]
- CNET described it as a 15-inch laptop with a magnetic USB-C charging cord, which it said is new for Microsoft. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Microsoft and Nvidia jointly presented a new AI laptop. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The laptop is powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The event was held in San Francisco with the Microsoft and Nvidia CEOs present. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The starting price is about $2,600. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The laptop is meant to run AI workloads locally on the device. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The product's exact name. Axios calls it Microsoft Surface Ultra, while CNET calls it the Surface Laptop Ultra.
- The exact starting price. Axios reports $2,599 and CNET reports $2,600.
- Preorder availability, the Oct. 16 shipping date and the full price range. Only CNET reports these details.
- Sriram Krishnan's role at the event. Only Axios reports that the former White House AI official was present, and it does not say what he did there.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Reuters reports that the Microsoft and Nvidia CEOs will unveil a new AI laptop at a San Francisco event. [ 1 ]
- Axios reports that Microsoft has launched the Nvidia-powered laptop in San Francisco. [ 2 ]
- MarketWatch reports on the RTX Spark-powered laptop built to run AI models on the device. [ 3 ]
- CNET publishes pricing, configurations and the Oct. 16 shipping date. [ 4 ]