Microsoft is stepping up its competition with Apple in AI-powered personal computers with a new flagship Surface laptop powered by an Nvidia chip.
The company has announced pricing and availability for the Surface Laptop Ultra, claiming that the new Windows machine can outperform Apple’s MacBook Pro M5 on some AI workloads.
Microsoft executives made the performance claims during an event in San Francisco on Wednesday.
What Happened?
According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop Ultra can generate responses from locally running AI models about twice as fast as a comparable MacBook Pro with Apple’s M5 chip.
The company also said the new Surface laptop can generate videos up to six times faster than the comparable Apple machine.
These figures were presented by Microsoft during the event and have not been independently verified.
The Surface Laptop Ultra will start at $2,599, which Microsoft says is about $400 less than the entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Nvidia Chip Powers the New Surface Laptop
One of the biggest changes with the new Surface device is its use of an Nvidia chip designed for Windows laptops.
The chip is intended to handle both traditional computing workloads and AI processing on the device.
The move gives Nvidia a larger role in the PC processor market, where companies such as Intel and AMD have traditionally been major players.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang appeared on stage alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during the event to discuss the development of the new chip.
Other Windows PC manufacturers, including Dell and HP, are also developing computers based on Nvidia’s new technology.
Microsoft Wants More AI Work to Run Locally
Microsoft is also making a broader argument for running AI applications directly on PCs instead of relying entirely on cloud computing.
Running AI models locally can potentially reduce cloud computing costs and keep some data on the user’s device.
Microsoft also highlighted Windows security features designed to help monitor and control AI agents as these systems become more capable of performing tasks on behalf of users.
Nadella said the future will likely involve AI applications using a combination of local computing power and cloud services.
Microsoft’s AI PC Strategy
Microsoft has been pushing the idea of AI-focused PCs for several years.
In 2024, the company worked with chipmakers and PC manufacturers to promote computers designed to run AI features directly on the device.
Those efforts included Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC initiative, which relied heavily on more powerful processors and dedicated AI capabilities.
However, the company’s AI PC push has also faced challenges. One of Microsoft’s earlier AI features, designed to help users retrieve activities performed on their computers, raised privacy concerns and received significant scrutiny.
AI PC Market Faces Challenges
The growth of AI-powered PCs could also be affected by rising hardware costs.
Gartner has previously warned that higher memory prices could slow the adoption of AI PCs and potentially delay them becoming the majority of PC shipments until 2028.
That creates a challenging environment for manufacturers trying to persuade consumers and businesses to upgrade their computers specifically for AI capabilities.
Why It Matters
The Surface Laptop Ultra represents Microsoft’s latest attempt to make Windows PCs more attractive for users who increasingly rely on AI applications.
Apple’s Mac computers have gained attention for their ability to efficiently run AI models locally, while Nvidia has become one of the most important companies in AI computing.
By combining Windows with Nvidia hardware, Microsoft is positioning its latest Surface device as an alternative for developers and other users who want to run demanding AI workloads directly on a laptop.
The real test will be whether the claimed performance advantages translate into meaningful benefits for everyday users and developers.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Ultra brings Nvidia’s AI-focused computing technology into a flagship Windows laptop and gives the company another way to compete with Apple’s MacBook lineup.
Microsoft says the device can outperform the MacBook Pro M5 on certain AI tasks while also offering a lower starting price than Apple’s comparable 16-inch model.
As AI workloads increasingly move onto personal computers, the competition between Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Intel and AMD could become an important part of the next generation of PCs.