Surface Devices Archives

Winsage

October 1, 2026

Microsoft Windows and Surface Event: What We Expect to See on Oct. 7

Microsoft will host its first dedicated laptop event in two years on Wednesday in San Francisco, focusing on innovations in Windows and Surface devices. Windows 12 will not be unveiled at the event. The event will discuss how local AI will influence the future of PCs, aligning with Microsoft's AI initiatives and partnerships with chip manufacturers like Qualcomm. Key figures, including CEO Satya Nadella and Pavan Davuluri, will speak. The potential launch of the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch model powered by Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip, is anticipated, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also attending. Earlier this month, Microsoft introduced new Surface laptops with Snapdragon Elite X2 chips at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit. The computer hardware industry is experiencing rising prices due to increased manufacturing costs and demand for advanced chips, compounded by recent Windows licensing fee hikes. The event will begin at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET and can be watched via livestream on YouTube.

Winsage

September 27, 2026

Copilot+ PCs are fading away just as Microsoft doubles down on Copilot

Microsoft has unveiled two new Surface PCs, the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch, which will not carry the Copilot+ branding. The redesigned Surface Mouse is set to launch later this month with a soft-touch finish and improved haptics. The decision to not label the new Surface devices as Copilot+ PCs reflects a shift in Microsoft's AI PC development strategy, influenced by feedback from manufacturers. Microsoft’s branding strategy has faced scrutiny due to the extensive use of the Copilot name across various products, leading to confusion among users. However, Microsoft clarified that the discontinuation of Copilot+ PCs does not indicate the end of the Copilot platform, which is set to evolve with significant enhancements.

Winsage

September 17, 2026

Microsoft Calls In NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang For Its Biggest Windows Event In Years

Microsoft will hold a Windows event on October 7 in San Francisco, marking its first major dedicated Windows gathering in over two years. The event will feature CEO Satya Nadella, Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, focusing on the impact of local AI on personal computing. A highlight will be the Surface Laptop Ultra, designed to compete with the MacBook Pro, featuring a custom NVIDIA RTX Spark SoC, an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, up to 128GB of RAM, and the ability to run complex AI models on-device. Microsoft has also introduced a Workload Profile Scheduling system for efficient task distribution across CPU cores and optimized its Prism emulation layer for legacy x86 applications on ARM systems. The event is not expected to announce Windows 12, as Microsoft will focus on enhancing Windows 11. Major hardware partners like Dell, Lenovo, and ASUS are also involved in the RTX Spark ecosystem.

Winsage

August 30, 2026

Windows 11 26H2 is almost here, but where is the flagship Surface to sell it?

Microsoft is set to release a significant update to Windows 11, version 26H2, in the Release Preview Channel, with a general rollout expected in a few weeks. The update includes a new user interface, such as the ability to reposition the Taskbar, and various enhancements. There is currently no new Surface device to showcase these changes, which is seen as a missed opportunity. Microsoft has integrated Windows 11 with Snapdragon technology, as shown by the Surface Pro 11, which highlights the potential of fanless, Snapdragon-powered PCs. However, marketing the new features of Windows 11 poses challenges, particularly for under-the-hood enhancements.

Winsage

August 30, 2026

Dear Microsoft, where is the Surface to showcase all these improvements to Windows 11?

Microsoft has introduced Windows 11 version 26H2 to the Release Preview Channel, signaling a broader rollout in the coming weeks. This update includes user interface enhancements such as the ability to reposition the Taskbar, resize the Start menu, and disable web and Store suggestions. Over 7,000 applications are now optimized for Arm architecture, indicating growing support for Windows on Arm. PowerToys has also updated with a feature called Window Hopper for easier window management. Despite challenges in communication and design consistency across its products, Microsoft is focusing on the advancements in Windows 11, particularly in relation to Snapdragon technology, which has encouraged the production of Snapdragon-powered laptops. There is currently no unified marketing strategy or event planned to showcase the upcoming changes in Windows 11.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Images of Microsoft’s Canceled Windows Surface Phone Have, Well… Surfaced

A recent leak has revealed images of a Microsoft smartphone prototype believed to date back to 2013 or 2014, speculated to be a Surface-branded Windows Phone that never reached the market. The images show a sleek phone with a silver metal frame, navigation keys beneath a 720p display, and a Microsoft logo on the back. The device operates on an early internal build of Windows Phone 8.1 from September 2013. Key specifications hinted at include an unidentified Qualcomm processor, a micro-USB port, a headphone jack, a SIM slot, volume controls, and a dedicated camera button. However, details such as the chipset model, RAM, storage capacity, battery size, or camera specifications are not disclosed. The design resembles Microsoft's early Surface devices, but there is no definitive evidence it was intended for commercial release. This leak follows Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business, which was announced in September 2013 and finalized in April 2014, potentially explaining the decision to shelve this smartphone design.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Windows is a drop in Microsoft’s ocean, no wonder it’s been ignored while Azure and LinkedIn eat the profit

Microsoft's fiscal year results for FY26 showed a 16% increase in stock price, adding nearly half a trillion dollars to its market value. The "More Personal Computing" segment reported billion in revenue with an operating income of .4 billion, reflecting a slight decline in revenue but an increase in operating income. Analysts estimate that Windows client revenue is just over 5% of Microsoft's total revenue, approximately billion for FY26, with an estimated income of around billion. The overall margin for the More Personal Computing category is about 27%. Azure has crossed the 0 billion revenue threshold, making it the largest product category within Microsoft. LinkedIn contributes an estimated billion to billion in income. Microsoft may prioritize investments in emerging technologies over Windows due to higher profits from other segments.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Best in Class: Stream PC Games and Study on the Same Laptop With GeForce NOW

GeForce NOW allows students to balance study and gaming by transforming everyday laptops into powerful gaming machines through cloud gaming. Members can access a library of thousands of supported PC games, including the newly added Halo: Campaign Evolved, which features high-definition visuals and enhanced gameplay. The service enables users to stream games they own from platforms like Steam and Xbox Game Pass without lengthy downloads or installations. The Ultimate membership offers advanced gaming performance with NVIDIA technologies. New titles available this week include Halo: Campaign Evolved, Mistfall Hunter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Sudden Attack Zero Point, The Ranchers, Corsair Cove, Funnel Runners, and Pathogenic.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Microsoft finally making much needed improvement to Windows 11 downloads and installs

A significant outage recently affected Microsoft, causing a temporary halt in Windows 11 updates through both the Windows Update channel and the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft is leveraging AI technology to identify vulnerabilities within its updates, addressing security challenges. Users often encounter inconsistencies with the Windows Update progress tracker, leading to uncertainty during the download and installation phases. Microsoft has confirmed improvements in the update management process with the latest Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Release Preview builds, including enhancements to the Orchestrator and Arbiter logging components. The update enhances the calculation of update progress in Windows Update Settings and introduces changes to the cleanup logic for improved system performance post-update. These enhancements could benefit users with less powerful PCs, addressing concerns about sluggishness after installations.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Windows 11 bloat proves too much for Microsoft’s new 8GB Surface Laptop

Microsoft introduced the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8, starting at 9, with lower-end specifications including an older Snapdragon chipset and 8GB of RAM. Reviews indicate that while these devices perform adequately for basic tasks, they struggle with more demanding activities, such as video calls on Microsoft Teams, leading to freezing and hanging issues. The device utilized approximately 6.7GB of its available 7.6GB of memory during typical usage, and even a reboot reduced memory consumption to around 4.2GB, which quickly increased with just a few Chrome tabs open. Users have expressed that 8GB of RAM is insufficient for reliable performance, despite Windows 11 having a minimum requirement of 4GB. Historically, Microsoft recommended 16GB of RAM for a seamless experience, but this recommendation has been omitted for the new 8GB devices, which are now described as suitable for everyday use. An additional 8GB is required to access Copilot+ AI features.