The topic Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop finally has a privacy display is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Following a substantial price hike across its entire Surface line, Microsoft has revealed refreshes of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business.
The new Panther Lake Intel Core Ultra Series 3 business editions of Microsoft’s laptops and 2-in-1s are designed with AI business-focused use in mind, while still featuring the same portability and design quality the Surface line is known for. Though Microsoft hasn’t released specific pricing yet, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 chip will make its way to these Surface for Business devices later this year.
This is the reverse of how the last Surface refresh rolled out, when Microsoft announced the Arm-powered Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, then launched Intel variants roughly six months later.
All of Microsoft’s Surface PCs have been hit with prices increases
The new entry-level 13-inch Surface Laptop for Business (8th-generation) is powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips and available with 16GB or 24GB of RAM, starting at $1,500. Even with the ongoing RAMpocalypse in mind, this feels pretty pricey, but thankfully, Microsoft says a cheaper 8GB configuration is coming later this year, starting at $1,200. The Surface Laptop for Business 13-inch features Wi-Fi 7 and a removable Gen 4 SSD designed for enterprise use.
Microsoft has also released a higher-end 13.8-inch Surface Laptop for Business that features Intel’s Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage that starts at $1,950, a cost that’s nearly double the cost of the original Surface Laptop 7. Alongside the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop for Business is a larger 15-inch version with a higher-resolution display but the same 120Hz refresh rate.
These higher-end Surface Laptops feature an “advanced haptic touchpad” that creates a subtle pattern when hovering over certain Windows 11 UI elements, and an optional software-powered matte privacy screen that offers additional privacy when working in public spaces like airports or on public transit. The privacy filter can be turned on with a single key on the keyboard. Other features include a 1080p front-facing camera, one USB-A port, two USB-C ports, and a MicroSD card reader.
On the CPU side, Microsoft says that the higher-end Core Ultra X7-powered configurations offer a 35% power increase over the M5 MacBook Air and a 90% jump over the Surface Laptop 5.
Alongside its new Surface Laptops, Microsoft has revealed the Surface Pro for Business 13-inch, starting at $1,950. At the base level, the refreshed 2-in-1 features an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, alongside two USB-C ports.
While the base Surface Pro for Business features a 13-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, there’s an OLED screen option (the new Surface Laptop isn’t getting this option). Additionally, there’s a 5G-compatible version of the 2-in-1 (this was previously only available in the Qualcomm consumer model). There’s also an Intel Core Ultra 7 variant with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, topping out at a pricey $4,400.
Like the new Surface Laptops, the Surface Pro for Business looks identical to the Surface Pro 11 and includes the same two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support. Other key features include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a Surface Connect magnetic charging port, a 1440p Quad HD front-facing camera, and a 10-megapixel 4K rear-facing shooter.
Both the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business are available to order now. Microsoft will likely reveal the consumer version of its 2026 Surface lineup soon.