Microsoft To Release New AI Surface Devices For Business Users, Challenges Apple Products

“We’ve been working closely with customers to evaluate and test these new devices, and the feedback has been incredible,” Microsoft GM Nancie Gaskill said in a blog post.

Microsoft will make several new Surface devices aimed at business users available this month, including the Surface Laptop 7th Edition, Surface Pro 11th Edition and Surface Pro 10 with 5G, all with integrated neural processing units (NPUs) and featuring Intel Core Ulta and Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors.

And slated for Oct. 3 are new Surface keyboards with a Copilot key and expanded keyset with “call mute,” “snip and sketch” and other commonly used Windows 11 productivity actions mapped to buttons. With 48 percent of commercial Surface devices connected to additional monitors, the larger keyboard that become available in October could stand out among these users, according to Microsoft.

“We’ve been working closely with customers to evaluate and test these new devices, and the feedback has been incredible,” Nancie Gaskill, general manager of Microsoft’s Surface business, said in a blog post Wednesday. “Customers are seeing the value not only in fundamentals like performance and battery life but also in the new opportunities unlocked by 5G connectivity and AI experiences that can be unlocked with the Neural Processing Unit.”

Microsoft Surface Devices

CRN has reached out to Microsoft for comment. The vendor has more than 400,000 partners worldwide.

The laptop and Pro 11th edition – which fall under the new Copilot+ PC category – will become available Sept. 10, according to the Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant. The Pro 10 with 5G and a Surface Pro 11th Edition with 5G will become available Sept. 26.

The two Copilot+ PCs are powered by Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors with Windows 11 Pro, according to Microsoft. The vendor also promises more performance and AI acceleration compared to Apple’s MacBook Air M3s.

Microsoft’s first batch of Copilot+ PCs aimed at AI users hit the market in June. A recent reportfrom investment firm Bernstein said that “PC OEMs are increasingly positive on the impact of AI on the PC market and have noted growth in adoption of AI-tagged PCs, potentially driving incremental PC replacements, albeit from a low base.”

New AI-tagged Copilot+ PCs are on average about 20 percent more expensive than non-AI equivalents, according to Bernstein, which could create an average selling price (ASP) “and premiumization tailwind.”

A Bernstein survey of CIOs also suggested “a willingness to trade up to richer configurations” due to “increasingly demanding workloads being run on PCs.”

In July, IDC reported that PC sales through distribution returned to growth in the second quarter of 2024, with PC sales reaching $3.9 billion for the quarter, 9.9 percent growth year over year.

AI PCs generated about 20 percent of PC revenue in the quarter, up 33 percent quarter over quarter, according to IDC.

“Apple and Microsoft have experienced successful adoption of AI PCs with their revenue mixes at 75% and 32% respectively,” according to IDC. “But Lenovo and HP still held the first and second spots for total PC sales even with lower AI PC product mixes for the quarter. AI PCs featuring Neural Processing Unit (NPU) technologies are expected to continue ramping up over the coming quarters.”

“While IDC believes the commercial market has the biggest short-term upside for AI in the PC industry, the consumer story has yet to be told in full,” according to the research firm.

Gartner said in July that even with the introduction of the first Arm-based Windows AI PCs in the second quarter, “the demand for AI PCs has been slow, as the product is still in the early introduction stage, and the real benefits of owning such a device are not yet clear to most buyers.”

Microsoft Copilot+ PCs

The Microsoft devices will allow for AI capabilities such as live captions, powered by Windows Copilot Runtime on NPUs. Copilot Runtime includes more than 40 on-device AI models. Those models range from higher level application programming interface (APIs) accessed through settings toggles to machine learning models users bring. Users can expect more features and experiences in future updates, according to Microsoft.

On the security side, the two Copilot+ PCs promise to protect sensitive data with Microsoft Pluton security built in the Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors.

The laptop’s improvements over past iterations include brighter displays, more ports, enhanced Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and up to 22 hours of battery life, according to Microsoft. Users have the option of a 13.8-inch display and 15-inch version.

The Surface Laptop 7th Edition has a new haptic touchpad for greater feedback and inclusivity.

The Surface Pro 11th Edition is aimed at a remote, traveling workforce and offers AI-accelerated power plus an optional organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

The Pro 11th Edition Wi-Fi only model becomes available Sept. 10, The 5G model is available Sept. 26.

Microsoft bills the Pro 11th Edition’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors promise up to 20 percent more AI processing power than Apple’s iPad Pro M4, according to the vendor. The device also has up to 14 hours of battery life.

The Pro 11th Edition will enable Windows Studio Effects for touch-ups during video calls, according to Microsoft. The device also allows for AI-enabled automatic framing and NPU-powered background noise elimination.

The devices have integrated near-field communication (NFC) readers that work with YubiKey and other security keys for passwordless authentication.

Surface Pro 10 With 5G

The Surface Pro 10 with 5G for Business is powered by Intel Ultra Core processors, has tablet portability, anti-reflective displays and all-day battery life.

The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard adds more flexibility, backlit keys, a large trackpad and is detachable for users who go between laptop and tablet modes, according to Microsoft.

The devices promise to enable high bandwidth and secure access to critical data and collaboration tools. And a partnership between Microsoft and T-Mobile will give business users a credit of up to $400 on Surface Pro with 5G devices through the T-Mobile Partner Plus program.