Following Microsoft’s recently announced new Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro models with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, new information has emerged about the company’s ARM-based product plans. According to the latest leak, Microsoft is working on the Surface Pro 13 model using Qualcomm’s new generation Snapdragon X2 Elite platform. The official announcement of the device is expected to be made on June 16.
According to leaked technical information, Surface Pro 13 will use the version of the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor with 12 Prime Orion cores. This chipset will be accompanied by 32 GB RAM. While it is stated that the memory will be soldered to the motherboard, PCIe 4.0 SSD will be preferred on the storage side. Users will be able to choose one of 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB storage options at the purchase stage. In addition, the replaceable structure of the SSD will offer the opportunity to increase capacity in the future.
It is stated that the new model will have a 13-inch OLED panel on the screen side. The digital pen experience offered by Microsoft in the Surface series will continue in this model, and it is stated that the device will optionally offer Surface Slim Pen support. In addition, the Flex Keyboard accessory developed for Surface Pro 13 will also be among the options. The keyboard will be able to provide laptop-like use by connecting directly to the device and also work via wireless connection.
It is known that Microsoft has recently increased its investments in artificial intelligence-supported computers. The Snapdragon X2 Elite platform, which will be included in the Surface Pro 13 model, will also come with a powerful artificial intelligence unit that supports this approach.
Snapdragon X2 Elite focuses on AI performance
According to the information in the leak, the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU on the device will be able to offer artificial intelligence performance up to 80 TOPS level in INT8 calculations. It is estimated that this capacity will be used for productive artificial intelligence applications and advanced Copilot+ PC features running on the device. Thanks to local artificial intelligence processing capabilities, some operations can be performed without the need for an internet connection.
On the connection options side, it is stated that the Surface Pro 13 will come with two USB-C 4.0 ports. Charging, data transfer and external display output will be possible through these connections. It is stated that the device, based on ARM architecture, will also support Windows’ x86 emulation technology. Thus, many Windows applications that do not have an ARM version can be run via the compatibility layer.
Battery capacity has not been announced yet. However, leak information shows that the device can offer up to 15.5 hours of video playback time on a single charge. If this value is confirmed, Surface Pro 13 can provide remarkable battery performance in mobile usage scenarios. While the color options include Black, Platinum and Dune, it is stated that the Flex Keyboard accessory will be offered with Alcantara coating in the same color tones.
For now, all this information is based on unofficial sources. The technical features are expected to be clarified in the announcement that Microsoft is expected to make on June 16. In addition, it is said that the company may be preparing not only Snapdragon X2 Elite but also alternative versions with Snapdragon X2 Plus processors with lower power consumption. The official launch event will more clearly reveal Microsoft’s road map for ARM-based Surface products.