Surface Laptop Ultra review: So close to the perfect MacBook Pro alternative

windowscentral.com Oct 16, 2026

Surface Laptop Ultra review: So close to the perfect MacBook Pro alternative

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 16, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop Ultra, its most powerful Surface to date, featuring NVIDIA’s RTX Spark SoC, a 15‑inch Mini‑LED display, and a haptic trackpad. The base model starts at $2,599 with 24 GB RAM, while the top configuration reaches $5,899 with 128 GB RAM and a 20‑core RTX Spark. The laptop offers robust performance for creative and AI workloads but suffers from average battery life, a non‑class‑leading display, and a high price point. The device is positioned as a direct competitor to the MacBook Pro.

💡 Why It Matters

· The Ultra’s entry into the high‑end laptop market signals Microsoft’s serious push into powerful, AI‑ready Windows devices, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for creators and developers.

Read full article on windowscentral.com

I’m taking an RTX Spark PC on a 10-hour trip. Here’s what…

Lenovo’s Pro 9n, powered by NVIDIA’s RTX Spark GPU, is tested on a 10‑hour road trip to evaluate its dual role as a gaming and productivity machine. The reviewer examines battery drain with ray tracing, heat output, and the practicality of replacing a Steam Deck. The laptop’s 15.3‑inch OLED display showcases high‑quality visuals, but the 10% battery loss every ten minutes raises concerns about endurance. The test will inform whether the device can balance work tasks and AAA gaming without external power.

💡 Demonstrating a single laptop’s ability to handle both intensive gaming and professional workloads could reshape how travelers and mobile professionals choose portable devices, potentially reducing the need for multiple gadgets.

appleinsider.com · Oct 15

Apple’s M5 MacBook Air with 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD drops to $1,599

Amazon’s mid‑October sale offers a $200 discount on Apple’s 13‑inch MacBook Air M5, lowering the 24‑GB RAM, 1‑TB SSD configuration to $1,599. The Sky Blue finish is highlighted, and units are in stock with free expedited delivery for Prime members. The promotion also includes other MacBook Air models, such as 13‑inch M5 with 16‑GB RAM and 512‑GB SSD at $1,234, and 15‑inch M5 models with varying specs and discounts. The deal reflects Apple’s continued focus on high‑performance ultraportables.

💡 The discount makes a premium, high‑memory MacBook Air more accessible to professionals who need robust multitasking power, potentially shifting purchasing trends toward Apple’s M5 lineup.

9to5mac.com · Oct 15

Touchscreen MacBook Pro and more launching at Apple event on Oct 28

Apple will unveil a touchscreen MacBook Pro, an OLED iPad mini, and updated iMac and entry‑level MacBook Pro models at a Los Angeles event on October 28. The new MacBook Pro will feature a Dynamic Island, slimmer design, and be powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The iPad mini will relocate its FaceTime camera for landscape use and upgrade its speakers. The iMac and entry‑level MacBook Pro will retain current designs but receive chip upgrades. Invitations have already been sent to selected media.

💡 The introduction of a touchscreen MacBook Pro signals Apple’s push into hybrid laptop‑tablet functionality, potentially redefining the laptop market. The OLED iPad mini’s design changes could set new standards for compact tablets.

appleinsider.com · Oct 15

Touch-screen MacBook Pro will be unveiled on October 28

Apple is slated to hold an all‑day press briefing on October 28 in Los Angeles to unveil a new lineup of iPad and Mac products. The event is expected to feature an OLED‑touchscreen MacBook Pro, a refreshed iPad mini with an 8.4‑inch hybrid OLED panel, and the anticipated M6‑powered iMac. The company will likely open pre‑orders in early November, with shipping scheduled for mid‑to‑late November, positioning the releases for the holiday shopping season.

💡 The launch introduces Apple’s first touch‑screen MacBook, potentially reshaping the laptop market. It also supplies a new iMac ahead of the holiday rush, a critical revenue driver for Apple without a flagship iPhone release.

ign.com · Oct 13

For This Week Only, the Gigabyte A16 Pro 16″ RTX 5070 Ti…

Walmart is offering the Gigabyte A16 Pro 16‑inch gaming laptop for $1,449 with free shipping for one week, reviving a deal from the recent GeForce Week Event. The machine pairs an Intel Core i7‑1240H ten‑core processor (up to 5.2 GHz) with Nvidia’s mobile RTX 5070 Ti GPU, a 12 GB card running at 115 W TGP, delivering roughly 20‑30 % more performance than the RTX 5070 and matching RTX 4080 levels in DLSS 4.5‑enabled titles. It ships with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD, the RAM fixed but the SSD upgradeable. The 16‑inch 2560×1600 IPS panel refreshes at 165 Hz, while the chassis weighs about five pounds and tapers to 0.77 inch, unusually thin for a 16‑inch gaming notebook. Its battery life reaches eight hours under typical gaming workloads.

💡 At $1,449 the A16 Pro brings near‑flagship RTX 5080‑class power to a price point previously reserved for mid‑range rigs, forcing consumers to reconsider the cost barrier for premium mobile gaming.

9to5mac.com · Oct 13

M6 MacBook Pro: Three new upgrades launching later this month

Apple will launch a new M6 MacBook Pro later this month, featuring a 14‑inch display and the current chassis. The M6 chip introduces a Dual 16‑core Neural Engine, doubling peak AI compute versus earlier models, and a 12‑core CPU and GPU, up from 10 cores in the M5. For the first time, the base M6 includes super, performance, and efficiency cores, and it is built on a 2 nm process, promising higher performance and better power efficiency. The Mac mini already houses the M6, but the MacBook Pro will likely benefit from extended battery life.

💡 The M6’s dual neural engines and new core mix give mainstream MacBook users Pro‑level AI and performance gains, reshaping how developers and creatives leverage on‑device machine learning.