After a disappointing and concerning 2023, the Surface line of laptops might end up having an interesting year in 2024 after all.
According to the latest reports, there may already be a potential lineup for Microsoft Surface products set for 2024, with the first devices likely set to ship in April and June.
WalkingCat, a popular leaker on X (formerly Twitter), claims that the brand has updated versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptops expected to be unveiled around March 21 before being made available for purchase in April. There is no word on whether these models will be announced with an event or via a press release, but based on what’s coming, we can make some assumptions.
— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) January 17, 2024
The name sequence for the devices also remains up in the air, with Windows Central suggesting the models could be tagged the Surface Pro 9+ and Surface Laptop 5+. Since the devices are set for such an early-year launch, they are expected to run more current software, in particular, Windows 11 Moment 5. They will be coupled with commercial versions of its 14th-gen Intel chips.
Other prospective features on these models include an antireflective display, a new NFC reader, and support for Windows Studio Effects, according to the publication.
Microsoft is then expected to highlight the potential Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 in June, with features aimed at preparing the device to host the next version of Windows. The PCs will both feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip and be classified as true AI PCs, as per Microsoft’s standards.
The Qualcomm chip includes a next-gen neural processing unit (NPU), which is set to power AI features for the PCs at launch and to support future OS updates, including Windows Germanium, which is the code name for Windows 12. According to Born’s Tech and Windows World blog, it won’t be available to manufacturers until early April, meaning the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will also launch with Windows 11.
The similarly consumer-focused PCs have had rumors circulating about them since last year, with the Surface Pro 10 expected to feature an HDR display with 2160 x 1440 or 2880 x 1920 resolution options and an antiglare coating, rounded corners, and an updated Type Cover with a dedicated Windows Copilot button, according to Windows Central.
The Surface Laptop 6 is expected to come in 13.8-inch and 15-inch display models, with rounded corners and thin bezels, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a Surface Connect charging port, a haptic touchpad, and a keyboard with a button dedicated to Windows Copilot, the publication added.
Microsoft might have even more products to showcase later in the year as the next OS platform, presumably named Windows 12, is expected to be announced somewhere around that time. Many sources expect a June launch and suggest the brand could tease the software during the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 unveiling.
There is also word of a Surface Laptop Go 4 refresh and a consumer-centered Surface Go 4 model, which could launch in October, possibly making it eligible to run the new Windows system. However, not much else is known about those devices just yet.
Either way, Microsoft is clearly carefully prepping the launch of these new Surface devices, and even aligning them with big updates to Windows. These are the first examples of how Microsoft will be handling the brand in this new post-Panos Panay era.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.