Microsoft Surface Leak: Smaller, Cheaper Models & AI-Powered Features Revealed!

Microsoft is reportedly gearing up to unveil smaller, more affordable versions of its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop lines. Leaks from German website WinFuture, via Tom's Hardware, suggest the Redmond giant may announce these new devices during its Surface event today, May 6th. These aren't entirely new generations, but rather, compact versions of the existing Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7.

The leak highlights a 12-inch Surface Pro 11, a 2-in-1 tablet featuring a PixelSense Flow LCD touchscreen. It's rumored to pack a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. Battery life is estimated at 16 hours for local video playback and includes two USB-C ports.

Alongside it, a 13-inch Surface Laptop 7 is expected, joining the 13.8-inch and 15-inch models. This laptop reportedly features a PixelSense Flow LCD panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. Similar to the Pro, it's touted to use a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB RAM, and 256GB or 512GB of storage. The leak describes a familiar island-style keyboard, glass touchpad, and a fingerprint reader. It will also sport two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Interestingly, neither the Surface Pro 11 nor the Surface Laptop 7 are said to include a power brick, requiring users to provide their own USB-C charger with at least 27W of power.

While Microsoft is primarily known for its software, the company aims to display the strengths of a PC running its Windows operating system through the Surface line. Microsoft also introduced next-generation Copilot+ PCs that can run artificial intelligence models without using the internet. The new Surface Laptop starts at $899, $100 lower than last year's edition, and the latest base-model Surface Pro costs $799, $200 less than its predecessor.

Screen sizes are also reduced, with the Pro at 12 inches and the Laptop at 13 inches. Microsoft claims the new systems offer improved battery life, with the Surface Laptop achieving 16 hours of web browsing.

Microsoft asserts the new Surface Laptop outperforms Apple's 2024 MacBook Air, which features an M3 Arm-based chip. The devices also leverage the controversial Recall feature, enhanced file search, and various AI enhancements.

With Windows 11, those with Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs in the Windows Insider Program will be able to try an AI agent that can make settings changes with simple commands. Snipping Tool updates will also streamline screenshots.

Microsoft began accepting preorders for the new PCs on Tuesday, before their May 20 release date. They will come in platinum, ocean and violet.

What are your thoughts on these potentially smaller, more affordable Surface devices? Will the AI enhancements and improved battery life sway you to upgrade? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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• Snapdragon
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