Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it will launch a new laptop and tablet featuring Qualcomm chips at more affordable prices in order to make new AI capabilities accessible to a wider range of customers. The latest additions to the Surface lineup, a 13-inch laptop and a 12-inch tablet, will be available for purchase starting May 20. The laptop will be priced at $899 and the tablet at $799, both powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus chips. These prices position the devices competitively against Apple’s MacBook Air and iPads. Microsoft’s new offerings will be its most budget-friendly yet, incorporating the advanced “Copilot+” features introduced last year. These features enable users to interact with their devices more intuitively, such as by asking natural language questions to adjust settings or requesting an AI-generated first draft of a document. By setting chip performance requirements for the Copilot+ label, Microsoft aims to democratize access to AI capabilities, particularly targeting students and young professionals. Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president of Windows and Devices at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of affordability in making these advanced features more accessible to a broader audience.
