Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra is being reviewed as a high-end Windows laptop that targets power users rather than simply competing with Apple’s MacBook Pro. Reviewers highlight that it delivers local compute performance aimed at an “AI era,” positioning it as more than a direct spec-for-spec alternative.
Across outlets, the laptop’s design is repeatedly described as MacBook Pro-like, and its screen is a central talking point. CNET notes the display’s unusual brightness, going as far as to say reviewers may need sunglasses in use, while The Verge similarly emphasizes spending time simply observing the device and calling out the display rather than only the hardware under the hood.
The Verge also frames the main question as practical value: after initial impressions, reviewers focus on what they would actually do with a very expensive laptop priced around $5,900. CNET ties the laptop to early designs using Nvidia RTX Spark-based configurations, reinforcing that the Ultra is part of a new wave of premium mobile hardware. Gizmodo concludes that the machine feels compelling even if it brings complexity, with reviewers largely agreeing it is “worth getting stuck in” for those seeking top-tier local performance.
