Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 2 hrs ago
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra targets MacBook Pro users, with battery-life limits
Microsoft has launched the Surface Laptop Ultra, its most powerful Surface PC, as a high-end Windows laptop.
It was developed with Nvidia and is the first Surface to use the company’s RTX Spark chips, which are designed to run demanding work, including AI models, on the device.
The laptop is aimed at people who create content, develop software, play games or want to use local AI, rather than everyone who needs a computer.
Reviewers praise its premium build, keyboard, haptic trackpad and bright screen, but say battery life is only okay and some popular games are not supported yet.
Prices start at $2,599 and reach $5,899 for a top configuration, putting it in direct competition with Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Reviewers differ on how well its screen compares with top rivals, and one says its CPU performance is underwhelming.
Its appeal will depend on whether buyers need its specialized power and are willing to pay a premium, while Microsoft and Nvidia’s new Windows-on-Arm platform develops further.
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra is a high-end Windows laptop designed to compete with Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Reviews published on October 16 praised its build quality, keyboard, trackpad and sound, but raised concerns about battery life, price and performance.
The laptop is Microsoft’s first Surface model to use Nvidia’s RTX Spark chips and its first to offer magnetic USB-C charging.
Reviewers described its display differently: The Verge highlighted its brightness, while Windows Central said the panel was not class-leading.
The Verge said getting the most from local AI features may require coding experience or patience with experimentation.
- Who
- Microsoft made the Surface Laptop Ultra, using Nvidia’s RTX Spark chips.
- What
- The laptop is Microsoft’s high-end Windows competitor to Apple’s MacBook Pro.
- When
- Reviews were published on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Microsoft designed it for demanding work including creative tasks, software development, gaming and running AI models locally.
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- Starting price
- $2,599, according to Windows Central and The Verge
- Highest-priced configuration
- $5,899, according to Windows Central
- Maximum memory
- 128GB RAM
- Display brightness
- Up to 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness, according to The Verge
- Charging feature
- Magnetic USB-C charging
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What people are saying
I just wish it had the battery life to truly keep up with the MacBook Pro.
But with just okay battery life, a less than class leading display panel, and a high price tag to boot, this isn't the laptop for everybody.
Getting the most out of the Surface Laptop Ultra, especially my top-of-the-line model, requires coding experience or the patience to experiment with models and AI agents until you find something that works.
Microsoft promises one machine for dev, AI, and gaming, and mostly gets there.