Microsoft and Nvidia unveil Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark chips
Microsoft and Nvidia introduced the Surface Laptop Ultra, an AI-focused PC starting at $2,599 with on-device model capabilities, alongside Windows Hybrid Intelligence features at a San Francisco event.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Windows and Devices chief Pavan Davuluri at an event in San Francisco on October 7, 2026, to unveil the Surface Laptop Ultra. Powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark platform, the high-end PC starts at $2,599 for an 18-core CPU model with 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of storage. Pre-orders have opened ahead of general shipping on October 16, 2026.[2][1][7][9][12]
The Surface Laptop Ultra is designed to execute AI models and agents locally without relying strictly on cloud compute. Hardware options include 18 or 20 CPU cores, up to 6,144 GPU cores, up to 1 petaflop of AI compute, and up to 128GB of unified memory. The device features a 15-inch MiniLED touchscreen reaching 2,000 nits peak brightness, comes in at under 18mm thick, and introduces built-in magnetic USB-C charging. Microsoft also unveiled a Surface RTX Spark Dev Box with 128GB of memory priced at $5,999.[6][7][11][13]
Directly targeting Apple's MacBook Pro, Microsoft claims the laptop processes local AI prompts twice as fast and generates video six times faster than a comparable MacBook Pro M5, though The Next Web noted Microsoft has not published benchmark test data. Alongside the laptop, Microsoft announced Windows Hybrid Intelligence, a capability entering testing that lets Copilot access local PC files and execute system actions, while dynamically routing tasks between local models and the cloud.[3][4][5][8][10][14]
Key facts
- Microsoft and Nvidia launched the Surface Laptop Ultra powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark platform at an event in San Francisco on October 7, 2026.
- The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599 for a base model with an 18-core CPU, 24GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage, with shipping beginning October 16, 2026.
- Hardware configurations scale up to 20 CPU cores, 6,144 GPU cores, 128GB unified memory, and up to 1 petaflop of AI compute.
- Microsoft announced a Surface RTX Spark Dev Box with 128GB of memory available for pre-order at $5,999.
- Microsoft claims the machine runs local AI prompts twice as fast and generates video six times faster than a comparable MacBook Pro M5, though supporting benchmark data was not published.
- Microsoft introduced Windows Hybrid Intelligence, upgrading Copilot to interact with local files, run local models, and take OS-level actions.
Sources · 14 sources
- TH
Tom's Hardware@tomshardwarePost on X ·
Microsoft and Nvidia launch Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark https://t.co/BoFVggpZlt
Open source - EN
Engadget@engadgetPost on X ·
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang join Windows and Devices chief Pavan Davuluri at the company's San Francisco event today. https://t.co/dwtHL62PLu
Open source - �A
🚨 AI News | TestingCatalog@testingcatalogPost on X ·
MICROSOFT 🔥: Copilot for Windows is getting Hybrid intelligence through local context from your Windows PC and local models that power Copilot tasks. > "With intelligent routing, powerful local models, and a performant runtime, Windows lets work run in the right place for each task — local or cloud. We’re bringing frontier-class capabilities to local PCs and enabling services like GitHub to route intelligently on Windows." > "With your permission, Copilot will be able to use local context from your PC, take action on your behalf, and tap into local models, bringing you more capability while helping your tokens go further." Windows testing time! 👀 https://t.co/Xrvmaoy5cP
Open source - TN
TNW@thenextwebPost on X ·
Microsoft undercut Apple by $400. NVIDIA built the chip. Microsoft claims 2x MacBook Pro AI speed without publishing its tests https://t.co/9mpzi1SmZH https://t.co/iRsT6657NA
Open source - CB
Crypto Briefing@Crypto_BriefingPost on X ·
💻NEW: Microsoft unveils its Nvidia powered Surface Laptop Ultra starting at $2,599. Microsoft says the laptop runs local AI prompts 2x faster than a comparable MacBook Pro M5 and generates video 6x faster. https://t.co/pGwjvGOwf8
Open source - DI
Digit@digitindiaPost on X ·
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with NVIDIA RTX Spark and up to 128GB unified memory announced. ⚡ Plus, Windows will get hybrid intelligence for local and cloud AI computing with agentic experiences. 👀 Details: 👇 - https://t.co/pgWkI8sYbx #SurfaceLaptopUltra #Microsoft #AI
Open source - AG
AGTP@AGTPinsightsPost on X ·
Microsoft and NVIDIA just unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark today. Here's what you need to know. The event was held in San Francisco on October 7, starting at 10:00 AM PT. Microsoft's most powerful Surface runs NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chip. It's built to run AI agents and coding models locally, without relying on the cloud. Satya Nadella said Windows is bringing "unmetered intelligence" to every desk and home. Pricing and dates. The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599 for the base model: an 18-core CPU, 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Pre-orders are open now and shipping begins October 16. Other RTX Spark PCs launch the same day. A Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is also up for pre-order at $5,999. No UK or euro pricing has been announced. The hardware. It has a 15-inch MiniLED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen with 2,000 nits peak brightness. It's under 18mm thin and weighs under 4.5 lb. It has the most ports ever on a Surface. Charging is a first, too. Microsoft calls it the world's first built-in magnetic USB-C charging. The new Magnetic Connect replaces the old Surface Connect port, and it's similar to Apple's MagSafe. Key numbers: - Price: from $2,599 - Dev Box: $5,999 - Release: October 16 - CPU: 18 or 20 cores - GPU: 5,120 or 6,144 cores - AI compute: up to 1 petaflop - Memory: 24, 32, 64 or 128GB unified - Storage: 512GB, 1TB or 2TB Windows is getting software upgrades too. Windows 11 gets a new AI-powered Search, built natively in WinUI instead of WebView. It can change PC settings like dark mode without opening Settings. It arrives later this year. Microsoft also announced MAI-Code-1.1 Flash, a 137B-parameter coding model with a 256K context window. Other items include GitHub Copilot HydraFusion, llama.cpp on Windows ML, and MXC reaching general availability. NVIDIA also announced DGX Station for Windows, with GB300 AI infrastructure for the enterprise desktop. The Surface Laptop Ultra is Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Pro, and it ships October 16.
Open source - EV
Evan@StockMKTNewzPost on X ·
Microsoft $MSFT CEO Satya Nadella just posted this: “We’re supercharging Copilot on Windows with Hybrid Intelligence. With your permission, Copilot can tap into the context on your PC, take action for you, and use local models when it makes sense” https://t.co/bfIFPSTr96
Open source - WC
Wccftech@wccftechPost on X ·
Microsoft announces RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra, starting at $2,599 and shipping on October 16. 🔗 https://t.co/mr1efaF3lT https://t.co/85kUDxkszZ
Open source - ㆅ
ㆅ@howfxrPost on X ·
Microsoft is positioning Windows as a platform for “hybrid intelligence,” combining local and cloud AI while adding security and management features for AI agents. 🧵 https://t.co/Z0KQ11X0K5
Open source - VC
VideoCardz.com@VideoCardzPost on X ·
Microsoft announces $6,000 price for Surface RTX Spark Dev Box with 128GB memory, $2000 more than AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo 🔗https://t.co/slfGFD6CAE https://t.co/BPqzy9lc69
Open source - RE
Reuters@ReutersPost on X ·
Microsoft unveils its Surface laptop called Ultra, a high-end laptop powered by Nvidia chips and built to run AI agents on the device instead of in the cloud https://t.co/8tofSYB2J3 https://t.co/ayKE7jqvoC
Open source - QU
Quartz@qzPost on X ·
Microsoft and Nvidia Just Redefined the AI Laptop Microsoft and Nvidia have unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a machine built to run powerful AI workloads entirely on-device rather than through the cloud https://t.co/TO5zX2QLcb #SurfaceLaptopUltra #NvidiaRTXSpark #AIComputing https://t.co/a9GJVsoKDW
Open source - CB
Crypto BriefingArticle ·
Microsoft gives Copilot access to your local files and control of Windows Microsoft unveiled a Copilot upgrade with local file access and OS-level actions under its new Hybrid Intelligence strategy at its Windows event. The post Microsoft gives Copilot access to your local files and control of Windows appeared first on Crypto Briefing .
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