Microsoft opens preorders for the $2,599+ Surface Laptop Ultra, shipping from October 16, with an RTX Spark and three USB-C ports; one is magnetic like MagSafe

The Surface Laptop Ultra launches with a USB-C port that detaches if tripped, a feature previously impossible on universal standards.

Microsoft has announced that pre-orders for its new Surface Laptop Ultra are now open, with devices set to ship starting October 16. The premium laptop begins at $2,599 and features a 15-inch mini-LED display, a large haptic trackpad, and three USB-C ports. Notably, one of these USB-C ports incorporates a breakaway magnetic design, similar to Apple's MagSafe, a feature previously only seen on proprietary connectors and now implemented on a universal USB-C standard. The base configuration includes an 18-core RTX Spark GPU with 5120 cores and 24GB of RAM, targeting demanding tasks such as video editing, photo creation, data analysis, light gaming, and 3D modeling. Higher-end configurations are designed to support intensive AI development workloads, including running large language models locally.

The Surface Laptop Ultra represents a significant step for Microsoft in offering high-performance hardware integrated with unique design features. Its $2,599 starting price positions it as a premium device, with configurations capable of advanced AI workloads, indicating a push towards empowering local AI development and complex agentic AI experiences on personal devices. The inclusion of a breakaway USB-C port, a world's first for a universal standard, suggests a broader industry trend towards enhanced user safety and convenience, potentially influencing future port designs across various manufacturers.

This launch signals a competitive landscape where premium laptops are increasingly tailored for specialized, demanding tasks beyond traditional productivity. Microsoft's focus on local AI capabilities, coupled with innovative hardware features like the magnetic USB-C port, suggests a strategy to capture a segment of users prioritizing advanced computing power and unique user experience. The success of these premium features and performance metrics will likely dictate future hardware iterations and consumer expectations for high-end laptops in the coming years.