Our verdict: worth it only if you need Nvidia's CUDA or want to run big AI models on a Windows laptop. The RTX Spark chip and up to 128GB of shared memory are unmatched on Windows. For everyone else, a 16-inch MacBook Pro has longer battery life, a faster CPU and no app headaches for about the same money.
Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop Ultra on October 7 and started shipping it October 16. It's the first Surface built on Nvidia's RTX Spark, an Arm chip with a real RTX graphics core, and it starts at $2,599.99. Reviews are in, and they agree on what it's great at and where it falls short.
RTX Spark
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro
The Surface Laptop Ultra in numbers
Prices and configurations
Starting price from Microsoft's product page; higher configurations as reported by PCWorld, TweakTown and Notebookcheck. Checked October 25, 2026.
| CPU / GPU | Memory | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-core / 5,120 CUDA cores | 24GB | 512GB | $2,599.99 |
| 20-core / 6,144 CUDA cores | 32GB | 1TB | $3,699.99 |
| 20-core / 6,144 CUDA cores | 48GB | 1TB | $3,999 |
| 20-core / 6,144 CUDA cores | 128GB | 1TB | $5,899.99 |
The base model is the one most people will see advertised, but 24GB is thin for the local-AI work this machine is built for. Running a 70B model comfortably means 64GB or more, which pushes the price past $4,000. Microsoft's trade-in offer of up to $1,000 runs through November 23.
What RTX Spark is good at
The CPU and GPU share one pool of memory, up to 128GB, linked at 600GB/s. That lets the Surface load AI models that won't fit on a gaming laptop's graphics card, and Microsoft says it runs models up to 120 billion parameters locally. Because it's an RTX GPU, it supports CUDA, DLSS and Reflex.
That makes it the first Windows laptop that competes with Apple's unified-memory Macs for local AI. If your tools are built on CUDA, it's the only thin laptop that runs them natively.
Where it falls short
- Battery. PCWorld measured 7 hours 57 minutes of 4K streaming and about 10 hours of office work. Windows Central called it "just okay."
- Arm apps. It runs Windows on Arm, so x64 apps go through Prism emulation. Adobe Premiere needed a beta to recognize the GPU, some anti-cheat games are still limited, and Call of Duty isn't due on RTX Spark until 2027.
- CPU feel. Reviewers found single-core speed behind Apple's, and Windows Central says the default power mode can cut performance by a quarter to a half.
- Stability. StorageReview's unit shut off three times under sustained heavy compute, and an earlier unit did the same. Neither Microsoft nor Nvidia has explained why.
Surface Laptop Ultra vs MacBook Pro 16
Prices and specs from Microsoft and apple.com, checked October 25, 2026. Battery figures are PCWorld's test for the Surface and Apple's claim for the Mac, so they aren't a like-for-like test.
| Feature | Surface Laptop Ultra | MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2,599.99 | $2,999 |
| Max memory | 128GB | 64GB (128GB on M5 Max) |
| Screen | 15-inch mini-LED, 120Hz, 2,000 nits HDR | 16.2-inch mini-LED, 120Hz, 1,600 nits HDR |
| Touchscreen | ✓ | ✗ |
| CUDA | ✓ | ✗ |
| Battery | About 8 hrs 4K video (PCWorld test) | Up to 24 hrs video (Apple) |
| Weight | Under 4.5 lb | 4.7 lb |
| USB-A and HDMI | ✓ Both | HDMI only |
| All apps run natively | Some need emulation | ✓ |
Apple's October 28 event may bring an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro, which would remove the Surface's touch advantage. See M6 MacBook Pro: wait or buy.
Should you buy it?
The verdict
The Surface Laptop Ultra is the best Windows laptop for local AI and CUDA work, and an expensive compromise for anything else. Buy the 48GB or larger model if those are your jobs; otherwise a MacBook Pro gives you more battery and fewer app surprises, and a gaming laptop gives you more frames for less. For more options, read best laptop for LLMs.
FAQ
How much is the Surface Laptop Ultra?
It starts at $2,599.99 with an 18-core CPU, 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Reported prices for higher configurations run to $3,699.99 for 32GB and 1TB and $5,899.99 for 128GB. Microsoft offers up to $1,000 back for a trade-in through November 23.
What chip is in the Surface Laptop Ultra?
Nvidia's RTX Spark, which pairs an Arm-based Grace CPU with up to 20 cores and a Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 CUDA cores, sharing up to 128GB of unified memory. Nvidia rates it at 1 petaflop of FP4 AI compute.
Is the Surface Laptop Ultra better than a MacBook Pro?
Only for Windows users who need CUDA or want to run large AI models locally. Reviewers found the MacBook Pro has longer battery life and stronger CPU performance, and it runs every Mac app natively, while the Surface relies on emulation for some Windows apps.
Can the Surface Laptop Ultra run games and Adobe apps?
Mostly, with caveats. It runs Windows on Arm, so x64 apps go through Microsoft's Prism emulation. PCWorld found Adobe Premiere needed a beta version, some anti-cheat games are still limited, and Call of Duty isn't expected on RTX Spark until 2027.
How long does the Surface Laptop Ultra battery last?
Microsoft's product page says all-day. In PCWorld's tests it lasted 7 hours 57 minutes streaming 4K video and 10 hours 3 minutes in an office workload, well short of Apple's 24-hour video claim for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.