Official Launch: New Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Intel Power

Microsoft is rolling out its latest additions to the Surface lineup today with the introduction of the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, both now featuring the powerful Intel Lunar Lake processors. These devices are the company’s first Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, tailored specifically for business users in need of the cutting-edge Surface gear, but who also require an x86 processor for their operations.

Here’s a little look into what the Surface Laptop 7 with Intel brings to the table: it starts at $1,499.99 and operates on Windows 11 Pro. You can choose between Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 processors, complemented by an Intel Arc GPU. The device sports 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and offers storage options up to 1TB. It flaunts a 13.8-inch or a 15-inch IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, promising an anti-reflective finish to minimize glare. Battery sizes vary with a 54Whr for the 13.8-inch and 66Whr for the 15-inch model. Connectivity options are modern, too, with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and, excitingly, a 5G variant coming soon. The port selection offers versatility with USB4 and USB 3.2 slots plus other useful inputs.

These new Intel models are designed to sit alongside the already popular Snapdragon-powered options. However, the Intel versions will be exclusively available through Microsoft’s business storefronts, so don’t expect to find them on Amazon or at your local Best Buy. They’re targeting a more commercial audience, which explains why these models are absent from mainstream retail shelves.

Under the hood, both the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 can be tailored with either Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 series processors. Memory configurations range from 16GB to 32GB, and storage from 256GB up to a spacious 1TB SSD. Both machines include an NPU, with performance scales of 40 TOPS for the Ultra 5 and 48 TOPS for the Ultra 7, ensuring they’re fully capable of supporting Copilot+ features.

On the outside, these devices don’t stray far from their Snapdragon counterparts, but they do include some nice tweaks. The Intel variants boast an anti-reflective screen, improving usability in various lighting conditions. Notably, there’s a new card-reader version of the Surface Laptop 7 available, along with NFC integration in the Surface Pro 11.

Ahead of its release later this year, the Surface Laptop 7 is getting a 5G variant – a first for this model. Historically, only the Surface Pro lineup provided a 5G option. More details about the 5G Laptop will be shared in the upcoming months.

And how about the Surface Pro 11 with Intel? It, too, starts at a competitive $1,499.99, with Windows 11 Pro as its OS. It houses a similar processor and GPU setup as the Laptop 7, alongside similar memory and storage options. Its 13-inch display offers a 2880×1920 resolution in a 3:2 ratio, making it perfect for media consumption and productive tasks. For connectivity, it also embraces Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

If you’re in it for color variety, it’s worth noting that the Intel models come only in Platinum and Black. Those after more vibrant options will need to turn to the Snapdragon versions. As for budgeting, there’s a notable $400 price jump for the Intel models over the Snapdragon starting points, but for that extra investment, you benefit from features like anti-reflective screens and native x86 compatibility.

This release wave represents the second lineup from Microsoft geared towards their business-centric patrons, following up on the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 series. These refreshed iterations bring forward the sleek design of the Snapdragon models combined with the might of Intel processors, providing a robust option for those seeking more from their enterprise devices.

Accompanying this high-tech launch, Microsoft is also unveiling a new Surface dock – the “Surface USB4 Dock.” This newcomer trims down the port offerings for a more compact form, and at $199, it’s a more affordable choice compared to last year’s Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock.

Both the Intel-powered Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 are ready for pre-order, each starting at a price point of $1,499. Shipping is slated to kick off on February 18.