Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra review: powerful, useful Magnetic Connect port, bright screen, but heavy, loud, and Windows doesn't take advantage of RTX Spark

The Windows on Arm platform now supports Nvidia's RTX Spark, but Windows software must catch up to unlock its AI potential.

Microsoft has launched the Surface Laptop Ultra, a premium Windows on Arm laptop featuring Nvidia's RTX Spark processor. The device boasts a beautiful design, a bright mini-LED screen, and a useful Magnetic Connect port. However, reviewers note it is heavy, can be loud due to fan noise, and has middling battery life. A key criticism is that the Windows operating system does not currently leverage the full capabilities of the RTX Spark, particularly for AI tasks, which is a primary selling point for the chip. The laptop is also positioned at a very high price point, starting at $2,599.99.

The Surface Laptop Ultra represents a significant step for Windows on Arm, marking a departure from Qualcomm's dominance with the integration of Nvidia's RTX Spark. This collaboration highlights a push towards more powerful, AI-centric computing in portable devices. The beauty and build quality are top-tier, suggesting a refined user experience for those who can justify the premium price. Its utility for AI model development is noted, positioning it as a potential tool for specific professional workflows.

However, the utility of the RTX Spark is currently bottlenecked by the Windows ecosystem's software support. This gap indicates that while hardware manufacturers are pushing advanced silicon, the software side needs to mature to fully exploit these new capabilities, especially in AI. The laptop's premium positioning and physical drawbacks like weight and noise suggest it's targeted at a niche audience willing to pay for cutting-edge hardware, even if the full software benefits are not yet realized.