Microsoft Gears Up for Surface Hardware Event on March 21st: Report

According to reports, Microsoft is set to host a Surface hardware event on the 21st of March, where it plans to unveil new Surface Laptop and OLED Surface Pro models with a strong emphasis on AI processing capabilities. As Intel doubles down on the AI PC ahead of Microsoft's planned Windows 11 AI update, the tech giant intends to launch tablet and laptop models that could potentially rival Apple's latest MacBook Air offerings and rumoured next-generation iPad Pro devices.

Windows Central reports that the lineup will include a new OLED Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6. Both devices will be available in Intel Core Ultra and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite variants, boasting on-device AI processing with NPUs (Neural Processing Units). While the Surface Pro has previously been offered with an ARM-based Qualcomm chip, the Surface Laptop 6 will mark the first time such an option is available for the laptop range.

The new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipsets are a significant development, as they are based on technology developed by Nuvia, a startup founded by Gerard Williams, the former chief architect for Apple's processors. Qualcomm acquired Nuvia a couple of years ago and has integrated its team and work into these new chips. At the Snapdragon summit, Williams boldly claimed that the new Snapdragon processors for PCs outperform Apple's M2 line of Mac processors.

Similarly, Intel's Meteor Lake chipsets have garnered positive reviews, ushering in the dawn of the AI PC with substantial performance gains in CPU, GPU, and AI processing while significantly enhancing battery life – a key weakness of Intel silicon. Intel touts these new processors as the biggest change to the x86 architecture in 40 years, incorporating the Intel 4 node and new chiplet packaging techniques that integrate elements manufactured on different nodes by various manufacturers.

The Surface Pro 10 is expected to retain a similar design to the Surface Pro 9 but will feature an anti-reflective OLED screen that's brighter and supports HDR content. It will also boast an ultra-wide front-facing web camera with enhanced AI studio effects and a built-in NFC reader.

As for the Surface Laptop 6, a significant redesign is anticipated, with thinner bezels and rounded corners. It will also feature a Haptic Touchpad, a dedicated 'Copilot' key on the keyboard, and an updated selection of ports, including twin USB Type-C and USB-A on the left-hand side, and a magnetic Surface connector on the right.

Initially, these devices will be offered with the Intel Core Ultra chip based on the Meteor Lake architecture in April, while the Qualcomm-based models will start shipping in June. The Snapdragon X Elite chip in the Surface Pro 10 could also be tailored for Microsoft, much like the Snapdragon 8CX Gen 3 on the Surface Pro 9 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Samsung's latest flagship phones.

These will be the first devices to run the new Windows 11 AI experiences, which include Copilot functionality, real-time live captions and translation features, video game upscaling and frame rate smoothing, enhanced Windows Studio effects, and a new feature called AI Explorer.

AI Explorer will be an advanced new Copilot with a built-in history timeline feature that turns everything on your computer into a searchable moment using natural language. It will work across apps and allow users to search for previously opened conversations, documents, web pages, and images.

These features are expected to be part of the Windows 11 24H2 update, meaning PCs launching over the summer may not have this functionality initially. It remains to be seen if Microsoft will provide further details on these AI-powered experiences during their March 21st event.