Next spring, Microsoft will announce a new Surface Pro and a new Surface Laptop. The American firm’s objective could not be clearer: to compete with Apple’s iPad Pro and MacBook Pro in terms of performance and efficiency, but also in terms of functionality thanks to the power of artificial intelligence. .
Very early this morning, we learned that Microsoft would soon no longer support Android applications in Windows 11. If this news seems to question more than one person about Microsoft’s strategy with its Windows branch, particularly following the departure of Panos Panay last September, the company led by Satya Nadella was preparing to unveil two new products strongly focused on AI: the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6.
Microsoft Surface: when AI comes to the party
At the end of 2024, Microsoft will release a major Windows 11 update which will mainly focus on artificial intelligence. Moreover, the American behemoth should offer us a first glimpse of the AI features coming to Windows in a few days. Next March 21, as confirmed to us by the site Windows CentralMicrosoft will lift the veil around its new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, considered to be the “ first AI PCs » of the brand, and will detail, at the same time, its ambitions in terms of artificial intelligence.
As previous rumors have suggested, the next models in Microsoft’s Surface range will be very AI-oriented. The Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will already be equipped to accommodate the AI features of Windows 11 expected for next fall. If the Copilot assistant will obviously occupy a central place, the AI will also allow users to benefit from real-time translation functionalities or even boost the graphics and framerate of games thanks to Auto super resolution.
A ” Built-in history and timeline function », called AI Explorer, should also appear. This looks very promising since it will be able to “ turn everything you do on your computer into a searchable moment in natural language “.
Acting as a advanced copilot », AI Explorer will allow you to quickly find files, conversations and web pages previously viewed on your device. For example, if the user indicates that they want to find a list of restaurants mentioned by one of their contacts, Windows will be able to display the exact conversation in which these restaurants were mentioned.
Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6: what to expect from Microsoft’s new computers?
In terms of design, the Surface Pro 10 should roughly resemble the Surface Pro 9, which has been on sale since the end of 2022. It will once again be equipped with an HDR compatible OLED screen, although this should benefit from better brightness as well as better anti-reflective treatment. Still according to information from Windows CentralMicrosoft’s 2-in-1 tablet will be equipped with an NFC reader and an ultra-wide-angle front camera powered by AI Studio Effects.
For its part, the Surface Laptop 6 will benefit from more notable design changes, starting with thinner rounded edges than in the past. Even more interesting, the laptop will benefit from a new haptic touchpad and will also welcome a key dedicated to Copilot. Finally, note the presence of two USB-C ports, a USB-A port and a Surface Connect port.
Do I need a laptop or a tablet? This is the kind of question we asked ourselves a few years ago, when the tablet market was booming. Today, there is no need to choose or buy two products! If the tablet market is largely dominated by Apple, PCs have changed by offering 2-in-1 hybrid models with a touch screen. A formula that has become more and more convincing over the years.
Read more
Both new product lines will come with Qualcomm’s Intel Core Ultra and Snapdragon X processors. However, if the Intel versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will be delivered in April, you will have to wait until June to get your hands on the ARM variants, which, as a reminder, will integrate a next generation neural processing unit.
If these new devices will be available for sale in a few weeks, remember that the functionalities based on artificial intelligence will not arrive until the publication of the 24H2 update of Windows 11, planned for fall 2024.
1299.95€
7
- Solid performance
- Concept still as effective and good detachable keyboard
- High level design and finishes
It gains in performance what it loses in autonomy. This is what we remember about the Surface Pro 9 compared to its predecessor, the main features of which it retains for the rest. Difficult in these conditions to clearly take the side of this new version which remains generally convincing, but without correcting what was the main fault of the previous model: endurance. By neglecting this point, in our opinion, Microsoft is missing the point.
We also regret that the firm is further reducing the already limited connectivity of its tablet, by removing for no reason a headphone jack that is still relevant in everyday life, and that the dynamic refreshing of the screen is not quite up to the level of what competition (notably at Apple). At this price level, Microsoft should offer better. There is no doubt that the American giant would make sure to do so if it faced fiercer competition in the world of convertible Windows tablets. However, for the moment, this is not the case.
It gains in performance what it loses in autonomy. This is what we remember about the Surface Pro 9 compared to its predecessor, the main features of which it retains for the rest. Difficult in these conditions to clearly take the side of this new version which remains generally convincing, but without correcting what was the main fault of the previous model: endurance. By neglecting this point, in our opinion, Microsoft is missing the point.
We also regret that the firm is further reducing the already limited connectivity of its tablet, by removing for no reason a headphone jack that is still relevant in everyday life, and that the dynamic refreshing of the screen is not quite up to the level of what competition (notably at Apple). At this price level, Microsoft should offer better. There is no doubt that the American giant would make sure to do so if it faced fiercer competition in the world of convertible Windows tablets. However, for the moment, this is not the case.
Source : Windows Central
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel)
laptop
release date: fourth quarter 2022
1