Microsoft releases Surface Laptop Ultra powered by RTX Spark
Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra and revealed the final configurations and pricing for the laptop.
Performance and memory
The Surface Laptop Ultra is built on the NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X platform, which combines an NVIDIA Grace processor based on the Arm architecture with integrated Blackwell RTX graphics. Two versions of the platform are available:
| Processor | Graphics | Unified memory | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-core NVIDIA Grace | 5120 Blackwell RTX cores | 24 or 32 GB LPDDR5x | $2599.99 |
| 20-core NVIDIA Grace | 6144 Blackwell RTX cores | 32, 48, 64, or 128 GB LPDDR5x | $3699.99 |
Memory is shared between the CPU and GPU and is dynamically allocated between them. However, the graphics processor cannot utilize the full 128 GB capacity.
The platform supports CUDA, and Microsoft claims up to 1 petaflop of performance in FP4 AI computing using sparsity. According to the company, the higher-end configurations are capable of running models with over 120 billion parameters locally. This refers to theoretical peak performance, not the result of independent testing.
The laptop is equipped with a removable SSD. The 512 GB version uses a PCIe Gen 4 drive, while the 1 TB and 2 TB variants use PCIe Gen 5. Configurations with 24 GB of unified memory ship with Windows 11 Home, while models with 32-128 GB come with Windows 11 Pro.
Display and chassis
The Surface Laptop Ultra features a 15-inch PixelSense Ultra mini-LED touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 262 pixels per inch. Typical maximum brightness in SDR reaches 1000 nits, with a peak brightness of HDR at 2000 nits. Support for Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen is absent, despite the touchscreen.
The chassis is less than 18 mm thick and weighs 2 kg. The laptop is available in Platinum and Nightfall colors, though color availability depends on the configuration and market.
The haptic touchpad is 30% larger compared to the Surface Laptop 8th Edition. Microsoft has also redesigned the cooling system: the new architecture is designed to handle thermal loads up to 2.5 times higher than current Surface Laptops.
Camera, ports, and connectivity
A Full HD 1080p camera is included for video calls. Wireless connectivity is provided by Wi-Fi 7, although the 6 GHz band is not available in all regions.
The chassis features three USB-C ports with USB4 support, HDMI 2.1b, USB-A 3.1, a full-size SD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The laptop can simultaneously support three external 4K monitors.
One of the USB-C ports on the right side supports Magnetic Connect. The included cable attaches magnetically and detaches if pulled, but the port itself remains a standard USB-C connector suitable for data transfer, video, and peripheral connection. A 140W USB-C power adapter is also included in the box.
Battery life
Microsoft claims up to 15 hours of local video playback and up to 12 hours of web browsing. These figures were obtained on a pre-production Surface Laptop Ultra with a 20-core RTX Spark N1X, 64 GB of memory, and a 1 TB SSD at a display brightness of 150 nits, so actual battery life will depend on workload and settings.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra are now open, with sales beginning on October 16. In the US, the laptop starts at $2599,99, and in Europe, it starts at €2899. Official prices vary by configuration:
| Processor | Memory and storage | USA | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 cores CPU / 5120 cores GPU | 24 GB / 512 GB | $2599,99 | €2899 |
| 18 cores CPU / 5120 cores GPU | 24 GB / 1 TB | $2999,99 | €3399 |
| 18 cores CPU / 5120 cores GPU | 32 GB / 1 TB | $3299,99 | €3759 |
| 20 cores CPU / 6144 cores GPU | 32 GB / 1 TB | $3699,99 | €4239 |
| 20 cores CPU / 6144 cores GPU | 48 GB / 1 TB | $3999,99 | — |
| 20 cores CPU / 6144 cores GPU | 64 GB / 1 TB | $4299,99 | €4959 |
| 20 cores CPU / 6144 cores GPU | 64 GB / 2 TB | $4699,99 | €5439 |
| 20 cores CPU / 6144 cores GPU | 128 GB / 1 TB | $5899,99 | €6879 |
The configuration with 48 GB of unified memory is not offered in the European Microsoft Store. There is also a difference in the package for European buyers: the 140W USB-C power adapter is not included in the standard kit, but it is added for free with pre-orders in Germany, France, and Austria until October 16.
