Microsoft's new Surface devices put the focus on business

As expected, Microsoft today unveiled the new Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business. But what sets the new Surface devices apart from previous models is that they're laptops that actually feel like they were designed with business in mind. The Surface Pro 10 is also perfect if you want to enjoy the spring sun.

Microsoft is taking orders for both devices today, with shipments to begin on April 9. Pricing in krone has not yet been revealed, but starts at $1,199 in North America. Consumer versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will likely be unveiled in May. Microsoft has scheduled another Surface presentation just before the Build conference, with additional Surface hardware and AI improvements for Copilot and Windows on the cards.

The Surface devices unveiled today feature new features that will clearly benefit businesses, such as the use of an Intel Core Ultra processor, the potential addition of 5G to the Intel-based Surface, a new business keyboard, and NFC (on the Surface Pro 10). And a smart card reader (on Surface Laptop 6).

Microsoft also showed off other upgrades in the new Surface devices that I expect will be a preview of what we'll see in the consumer versions. They include a brighter but more anti-reflective display and better webcams, including a new wide-angle camera on the Surface Pro 10 that will likely be used to pan and zoom using AI. And of course there's the new Copilot key that will launch Microsoft's AI service.

Otherwise, the new Surface Pro 10 for Business is the same 13-inch tablet you've seen before, and the Surface Laptop 6 comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch versions. Unfortunately, you'll still have to purchase the almost mandatory new Surface Pro Keyboard or the optional Surface Slim Pen 2 separately.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

So what's new in Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 for Business?

Artificial intelligence is of course the big keyword. Both Surface devices will include the dedicated Copilot key Microsoft revealed, but with a note: If Copilot isn't available in your region, the key will open the standard Windows search instead. Copilot can also choose between a “work” and personal account, allowing Copilot to access the user's work environment. While the Microsoft Windows app gives Mac users access to Windows Cloud PC, enterprise Windows users can use it for Windows 365 and other cloud tools.

Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business will be the first Surface devices to use Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) chipsets, which include a dedicated AI neural processor. Windows 11 uses Neural Processing for what it calls Windows Studio Effects, which includes automatic zooming and panning, as well as noise filtering for audio.

Some laptops, including the Surface Pro 9, used a custom Movidius AI card to achieve the same effects. Now both the hardware and the processor are closely adapted for AI-enhanced video conferencing. The upcoming consumer versions of the Pro 10 and Laptop 6 are instead expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

In a video, Microsoft showed how Copilot can be used as an assistant in an app like Onenote. AI can help organize and clean notes, but also reshape them. Microsoft demonstrated how handwritten notes can be converted into a text spreadsheet, simply by asking Copilot.

Microsoft also announced a new Surface Pro keyboard with a “fat” key design – the letters on the keys are brighter and more clearly defined. Microsoft is also making its adaptive accessories available to enterprise customers.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

It looks like the most significant upgrades have been reserved for the Surface Pro 10 for Business.

Windows Studio Effects is likely the reason we get the Ultrawide Studio Camera that now appears on the Surface Pro 10. It has a wider 114-degree field of view, which wouldn't normally be useful if the camera was focusing on a single person. .

The Ultrawide Studio camera now has a resolution of 1440p, compared to the 1080p webcams of the previous generation. Microsoft will likely use the extra resolution as an option to crop or zoom in on your face, and do the same if you move from left to right. However, Microsoft has given the Surface Laptop 6 for Business a more popular 1080p camera.

Tablet for external use?

If you don't want to spend all day in the office, Microsoft has also made the Pro 10 for Business a great tablet for outdoor use.

The display on the Surface Pro 9 was just 443 nits per square meter, still well above the 260 nits we consider adequate for working in a well-lit room. But the display on the Surface Pro 10 for Business can reach up to 600 nits, making it ideal for “working” from a swing. Contrast also increased slightly, from 1200:1 to 1300:1.

Both the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 include an anti-reflective display that promises to reduce reflections by 50 percent, while hopefully having no negative impact. The displays of both devices also include adaptive color technology developed to compensate for changes in lighting.

Finally, the Surface Pro 10 will also later include a dedicated 5G radio, a first for the Intel-based Surface platform. “Surface Pro 10 for Business with 5G will be available later this year in select markets,” a Microsoft representative announced in an email.

All of this will make it easier for you to take your Surface outside next spring.

In addition to the features mentioned above, the biggest changes coming to the Surface Pro 10 for Business are a significant increase in memory, in terms of capacity, with a 64GB option and the use of the faster LPDD5X memory standard. The rear webcam is now 10.5MP, up from 10MP. Microsoft still allows a “skilled technician” to repair Surface devices, and now there are “qr codes” built into the device to help.

Otherwise, the Surface Pro 10 for Business has the same dimensions, including weight, as its predecessor, the Surface Pro 9.

Although many other laptops now offer higher-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays, the Surface Laptop 6 for Business still comes with the standard 60Hz and 400 nits of the Surface Laptop 5. However, memory options have improved And storage. , in line with what the Surface Pro 10 offers.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Interestingly, the 13.5-inch model includes a 39W charger, and the 15-inch model includes a 65W charger.

The article was translated by Christian Kask. Originally published on PC World.