Two more Surface devices were announced this week, at least technically. The ongoing RAM crisis forced Microsoft to follow in the footsteps of Apple and Acer by making laptops with 8GB of RAM in 2026.
During a week full of deals through Amazon and other retailers, Microsoft took a different approach to make its Surface devices more affordable, at least for certain models. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch can now be bought with just 8GB of RAM.
Those versions with less memory start at $849 for the Surface Pro and $949 for the Surface Laptop. I’m happy to see more affordable options, but Microsoft’s timing was poor. Raising Surface prices during Prime Day meant better hardware was at or near the same pricing as the cheaper Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. And with other retailers dropping prices to compete with Amazon, the new Surfaces are a bad value.
Dell’s XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is still $999.99, which means better hardware is sitting only $50 above Microsoft’s new “affordable” Surface models.
Deals, discounts, and rising prices were the focus of this week, but we also saw Windows 10 support extended and Bill Gates weigh in on AI. Here are the biggest stories from the week.
Biggest News of the Week
Microsoft is in a no-win situation with pricing. RAM and other components continue to go up in price, so manufacturers have to adjust to match. Even Apple, which was more insulated than most due to stockpiles of components, had to increase the cost of MacBooks, iPads, and other devices.
As a result of shortages, Microsoft has had to raise the price of hardware. Since people still need laptops at somewhat reasonable prices, models with 8GB of RAM can fill that gap.
8GB of RAM is better than many assume on a Windows 11 PC. Our Cale Hunt said using a device with that amount of memory is “Not only viable but quite enjoyable.” Since that’s the case, more affordable Surface devices are good news.
But announcing a Surface Pro and a Surface Laptop with lower price tags in the same week as one of the biggest shopping events of the year is a strange strategy.
A Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Plus, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costs $949.99 through Microsoft’s website. The Dell XPS 13 (9345) with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for $999.99 through Dell.
Maybe Microsoft should have rolled out its cheaper Surface devices a bit earlier or held off until other sales ended.
Shopping with Sean
The best deal of the week is still up for grabs despite Prime Day ending, and it’s the laptop I just highlighted. Dell’s discount on the XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite drops that premium laptop to $999.99. That discounted price looks even better after Apple raised the prices of its MacBooks.
If you want something newer, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is $650 off. That gorgeous laptop is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite. I’m jealous of our Senior Editor Zac Bowden because he got to review it (the OmniBook 14 Ultra earned a perfect score in that review).
As portable as it gets, this iconic 13-inch XPS laptop features Qualcomm’s high-end, first-generation Snapdragon X processor for all-day battery life and a gorgeous (non-touch) OLED screen.
Also check out these coupons:
🎟️ Dell Outlet: Claim 14% off selected desktops with this voucher code
🎟️ Receive 5% off your first Dell Outlet purchase by joining the email list
🎟️ Dell Outlet sale: Enjoy up to 35% savings on chosen audio ordersView Deal
HP’s new OmniBook Ultra is the best Snapdragon X2 laptop we’ve tested yet, complete with a gorgeous design, incredible keyboard and trackpad, best-in-class touchscreen OLED display, and incredible battery life and performance.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
