Microsoft bets on Nvidia’s RTX Spark with new Surface Laptop Ultra

Microsoft has announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch flagship laptop powered by Nvidia’s Arm-based RTX Spark superchip. The device is optimised for Windows 11 and represents a significant effort by the Redmond-based company to establish a foothold in the Arm-based PC market. Microsoft describes the laptop as its most powerful Surface to date, with availability expected this fall.

The RTX Spark chip, which is similar to the processor sold in Nvidia’s DGX Spark mini-PC for AI developers, features up to 20 CPU cores, 6,144 GPU cores, and up to 128GB of unified memory. While some versions will offer as little as 16GB, the high-end configuration supports up to 1 petaflop of AI compute. Microsoft claims the device delivers graphics performance roughly equivalent to an RTX 5070 laptop, alongside promises of all-day battery life.

The display is a 15-inch mini-LED touchscreen with 262 pixels per inch and 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness. Microsoft states this is the brightest display it has ever shipped. The chassis, available in dark grey and silver, weighs under 4.5 pounds and includes the largest haptic trackpad the company has ever produced for a Surface device. Connectivity options include a full-size SD card slot, a headphone jack, HDMI, and multiple USB-C and USB-A ports, though specific port speeds and versions remain undisclosed.

This announcement follows a long-standing collaboration between Microsoft and Nvidia to prepare Windows for Arm-based devices. The move stands in contrast to Microsoft’s previous attempt to use an Arm-based Nvidia chip in its original Surface portable, a venture that resulted in a $900 million write-off. Microsoft Surface boss Andrew Hill confirmed the company’s deep involvement in the success of the RTX Spark ecosystem, noting that the chip is now optimised for Windows 11 rather than just developer tools.

While the Surface Laptop Ultra is the first major consumer device to feature the RTX Spark, Microsoft indicated it is working closely with Nvidia to ensure developer support for Windows on Arm. The RTX Spark family is expected to expand to cover a range of price points, with other laptops and mini-PCs also anticipated this fall. Final specifications for all versions of the laptop and the retail price remain unknown.