Microsoft is preparing for the "Year of AI Personal Computers" by launching two new Surface devices that will not be sold directly to consumers. The Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business are equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra processors, Microsoft's new Copilot key, and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to accelerate existing and future artificial intelligence features in Windows 11. Microsoft refers to them as the "first Surface AI personal computers designed for business."

These two new Surface devices do not undergo major changes in appearance, so the Surface Pro 10 for Business will look very similar to the Intel version of the Surface Pro 9. The Surface Laptop 6 for Business adds a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port and an optional smart card reader, but the screen bezels and overall design are very similar to the Surface Laptop 5. Both devices will start shipping to commercial customers on April 9.

Surface Pro 10 for Business

Microsoft is usually behind in adopting the latest Intel chips, but this time the company is one of the first to launch the new Core Ultra processors.

The Surface Pro 10 for Business offers two options: Core Ultra 5 135U and Core Ultra 7 165U. The base configuration includes 8GB of memory and can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM. The base configuration is priced at $1,199 and will also include a 256GB Gen4 SSD. The Surface Pro 10 for Business will be equipped with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and Microsoft's Surface Connect port for charging. Microsoft promises that these new Intel chips will provide up to 19 hours of battery life.

Microsoft has also improved the 13-inch display of the Surface Pro 10 for Business with a new anti-reflective coating, increasing brightness by 33%. Despite rumors incorrectly stating that Microsoft would release the Surface Pro 10 with an OLED screen today, the Surface Pro 10 for Business will feature an LCD display.

When asked about the rumors of the Surface Pro 10 featuring an OLED display, "We have not announced that product at this time," said Nancie Gaskill, Surface Business Manager. This sounds like the product does exist, and Gaskill said, "We are not confirming any external rumors at this time, the Surface Pro 10 for Business will feature an anti-reflective display."

Insiders familiar with Microsoft's plans say that the company will announce a consumer version of the Surface Pro 10 with an OLED display at the hardware and AI event on May 20.

In addition to the display, the front-facing camera of the Surface Pro 10 for Business has also been significantly improved. It has a 114-degree field of view and can even capture video at 1440p resolution. "This will be the first camera with an ultra-wide field of view in the PC market," said Gaskill. With the built-in NPU chip, users can also use Windows Studio Effects during video calls to achieve background blur and automatic framing.

Microsoft has also equipped the Surface Pro 10 for Business with an NFC reader, allowing businesses to easily use devices such as YubiKey NFC security keys for authentication. Microsoft also plans to offer a 5G option for the Surface Pro 10 for Business. "This is the first time we bring 5G functionality to Intel on the Surface Pro," explained Gaskill. "We previously introduced 5G functionality on the Surface Pro 8 LTE and Surface Pro 7 Plus LTE, but previously we brought it through Qualcomm on the Surface Pro 9."

Last but not least, Microsoft has improved the Surface Pro keyboard, introducing a new bold keycap design that includes larger fonts, improved backlighting, and the new Copilot key to activate its AI features in Windows 11.

Surface Laptop 6 for Business

According to Gaskill, the Surface Laptop 6 for Business has been "completely redesigned from the inside out." Microsoft has chosen Intel's Core Ultra H series chips for this enterprise-focused laptop, aiming to provide desktop-level performance. Businesses can choose between Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 165H, with the base model priced at $1,199 and equipped with 8GB of memory (configurable up to 64GB) and storage starting from 256GB Gen4 SSD, up to 1TB.

The 15-inch model will feature two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports for the first time, along with a regular USB-A port, a headphone jack, and the Microsoft Surface Connect port for charging. The smaller 13.5-inch model will only have one USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, along with a headphone jack and Surface Connect port.

Microsoft has not made significant changes to the display of the Surface Laptop 6 for Business, but has added an anti-reflective coating. The front-facing camera has also been upgraded to 1080p resolution, although it does not have the ultra-wide angle of the Surface Pro 10 for Business. However, users can still use Windows Studio Effects during video calls to achieve background blur and automatic framing.

Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop 6 for Business will have twice the speed of the Laptop 5 due to the use of Ultra H series processors. Additionally, in certain markets, there will be options for a smart card reader and Microsoft's newly introduced Copilot key to access the AI-driven Copilot assistant in Windows 11.

Microsoft will exclusively sell these two devices to businesses through its own channels and authorized distributors, so they are not designed for consumers to purchase at places like Best Buy. However, technically, consumers can still buy them through Microsoft's online business store or through distributors. Gaskill stated, "These products are designed for businesses, but that doesn't mean we won't continue to develop products for consumers. We are still committed to that, but the products we announced are specifically designed for business use."

According to Gaskill, these two devices are also the "most repairable Surface devices ever" by Microsoft. The company has placed QR codes on the internal components of both devices, and the Surface Pro 10 for Business also has internal markings to make it easier to identify screws and driver types for certain components.

Microsoft is still reluctant to discuss the many AI features that will be added to Windows later this year, but these two new devices are prepared for them. Microsoft now plans to hold a special Windows and Surface AI event on May 20, where CEO Satya Nadella will share the company's "AI vision" in software and hardware.

Consumer versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 are expected to be seen at the event on May 20, along with new AI features powered by the NPU chip for Windows 11. Prior to that, the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business will start shipping on April 9, with a starting price of $1,199.