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Microsoft’s new Surface Pro (left) and Surface Laptop Copilot+ PCs with Intel processors. (Microsoft Photo)
Microsoft announced new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices for businesses running on Intel Core Ultra series 2 processors — the first Surface Copilot+ PCs to use the chip maker’s “Lunar Lake” architecture.
It’s part of a larger effort by Microsoft to boost adoption of the AI-powered machines among business users. Intel’s chips use the traditional x86 architecture, promising better compatibility with legacy applications than the ARM-based Snapdragon processors used in Microsoft’s existing Surface Copilot+ PCs.
Intel’s Lunar Lake, introduced in September 2024, focuses on power efficiency and performance for laptops and mobile devices, aiming to rival ARM-based processors. The Surface devices also come with Microsoft’s Pluton security processor, and offer a series of enterprise management features and services for business users.
The Intel-powered Surface Laptop for Business and Surface Pro for Business will both be available starting Feb. 18, starting at $1,500, with prices going up from there for higher-end configurations. The Surface Laptop is offered in a 13.8-inch or 15-inch display, and the Surface Pro comes with a 13-inch display.
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Copilot+ PCs, introduced last year, use a neural processing unit (NPU) to complete AI tasks on-device. Fifteen percent of premium Windows laptops sold in the U.S. over the holidays were Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told analysts on the company’s earnings call Wednesday.
AI features currently in preview from Microsoft include Windows Recall, which takes snapshots of PC activity to let users query their history using artificial intelligence; and a related capability called Click to Do, which offers AI-powered actions on text and images within Recall snapshots
Microsoft is touting the features Copilot+ PCs as part of its effort to move stragglers to Windows 11 this year. Support for Windows 10, released nearly a decade ago, is scheduled to end in October 2025.
Overall revenue in Microsoft’s More Personal Computing division, which includes Windows, was flat in the December quarter at $14.7 billion.
However, revenue from copies of Windows pre-installed by computer and device makers increased 4%, ahead of expectations. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood attributed the trend to increases in commercial inventory in advance of the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline, and uncertainty about potential tariffs.
