Microsoft's Budget Surface PCs Get a Boost with New Snapdragon Chips

Microsoft has upgraded its most affordable Surface PCs, the Pro and Laptop models. The updates bring improved performance thanks to the Snapdragon X2 Plus chip, which runs at a higher clock speed than before (1.7GHz vs 1.25GHz). This new chip enables 'over 60%' faster graphics and AI processing, with up to 95% faster local AI processing.

The new Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch models now offer better battery life, with 'all-day' battery life promised (15.5 hours for the Pro and 22.5 hours for the Laptop). The displays are also brighter, at 500-nit, which is a 25% increase in brightness.

The Surface Pro adds a new feature called Ink Canvas, which uses AI to generate images and summaries from handwritten notes. This feature will be available on other devices as well, starting with the launch of the new Pro model. The Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $950, while the Surface Pro 12-inch begins at $1,150 (prices have increased due to climbing memory costs). Both models will be available on October 13.

Microsoft has also released a new Surface Mouse with haptic feedback, which allows users to feel tactile feedback when interacting with their computer. This feature is enabled in Windows 11 and provides a more immersive experience for users.