Microsoft’s next generation of Surface Laptops could finally be getting a solid display upgrade. New reports reveal that OLED options may soon become a possibility. In a vacuum, it sounds like something that the Surface lineup needs, but I’m already wincing at what that might do to the price.
What’s coming on the new Surface Laptops?
According to a Windows Central report, the company is preparing a refresh for its Surface Laptop and Surface Pro models later this year. These are expected to bring new chips, upgraded displays, and a two-stage rollout for Intel and Snapdragon variants this summer. While the Surface models across the board will benefit from newer chips, the biggest hook on premium Surface Laptops is with the display.
Microsoft is reportedly planning on offering OLED variants of the Surface Laptop for the first time, while the entry-level configurations retain IPS panels. Certain models may even get higher-resolution screens that will help them better rival MacBooks. OLED is an easy upgrade to get excited about on a premium laptop, especially for a line that has always leaned heavily on design and general polish.
Why these upgrades could be bad news for consumers
The issue is that Microsoft has already made Surface hardware much harder to defend on price. Just recently, the company dropped big price hikes for its existing Surface PCs, with some models going up by $500. With the report also claiming a starting configuration of 16GB, going up to 64GB, it’s almost likely that the upcoming Surface Laptops will get more expensive—unless Microsoft does something miraculous.
What could make matters worse are the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and Snapdragon X2 series chips. These are expected to be a part of the refresh, along with upgraded haptics. All of this suggests that these devices will firmly sit in the premium and ultra-premium categories, with no low-cost Surface Laptop to rival Apple’s MacBook Neo in sight.
So an OLED Surface Laptop sounds overdue and genuinely appealing. But if the report is accurate, the new and improved Surface Laptop might arrive right as it becomes even harder to afford.