Microsoft's New $2,600 Laptop Runs Powerful AI Without the Cloud
This laptop lets you run huge AI models offline — but it costs as much as a used car.
Microsoft opened preorders for the Surface Laptop Ultra on Oct. 7, with prices starting at $2,599.99 and availability beginning Oct.
16. Built around Nvidia's new RTX Spark platform, it can be configured with up to 128GB of unified memory and is designed to run large AI models directly on the device — Microsoft says the platform can run AI models with more than 120 billion parameters locally.
The $5,899.99 configuration pairs a 20-core CPU and 6,144-core GPU with 128GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD. Microsoft is positioning the laptop for people who want workstation-class AI power without giving up portability, though for most everyday business users, its less expensive Surface hardware will likely provide more computing power than they need.
- The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599 and can run huge AI models offline, no cloud needed.
- Top model costs $5,899 with 128GB memory — enough for AI with 120 billion parameters.
- It's aimed at developers and creators, not casual users, and lacks stylus support.
Why It Matters
This laptop brings powerful AI to your desk, making it faster and more private, but at a high cost.