Surface Laptop Ultra Preorders Open: RTX Spark, 128GB Memory and October 16 Shipping

The latest premium Surface is aimed less at someone who needs a laptop for spreadsheets and more at someone who wants to run demanding creative software and AI models without sending every task to a server. Microsoft opened preorders for the Surface Laptop Ultra on October 7, 2026, with shipping scheduled to begin October 16 in participating markets.

The U.S. starting price is approximately ₱162,977.77 (US$2,599.99) when converted at ₱62.684 per dollar. That peso figure is only an exchange-rate estimate. It is not an official Philippine suggested retail price, and it excludes any local taxes, shipping costs or retailer markup. We did not find a confirmed Philippine launch price in the sources checked.

What RTX Spark changes

Surface Laptop Ultra uses NVIDIA's RTX Spark Superchip, which combines an NVIDIA Grace CPU and Blackwell RTX graphics. Configurations support up to 128GB of unified memory, a design intended to let the CPU and GPU share a large memory pool. Microsoft positions the machine for 3D content creation, software development and local AI experimentation.

That does not mean every AI model will run well. Real performance depends on model size, quantization, memory bandwidth, software support and workload. Microsoft says some configurations can run local models up to 120 billion parameters under suitable conditions, but that is a capability claim rather than an independent speed benchmark.

A creator-focused screen and unusual charging port

The laptop has a 15-inch PixelSense Ultra touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR workflows. Microsoft also highlights a larger haptic touchpad and a cooling system designed to sustain high performance in a chassis under 18mm thick.

One of the more distinctive details is Magnetic Connect. The included cable attaches magnetically to a USB-C charging port and can detach if pulled, while the same port still supports ordinary USB-C uses. Microsoft lists three USB-C ports in total, plus USB-A, HDMI, an SD card reader and a headphone jack. User-removable storage is another practical point for creators managing large project files.

Should Philippine buyers consider importing?

For now, the confirmed figure is a U.S. preorder price, not a Philippine retail listing. Importing an expensive laptop adds questions about warranty coverage, keyboard layout, duties, delivery and repair support. Those costs can change the value proposition significantly, particularly when local creator laptops may have official service networks.

The hardware is interesting for people who want to develop with CUDA, experiment with local models or keep sensitive workloads closer to their own device. But if your main needs are web browsing, office apps and occasional editing, the entry price is difficult to justify without clear performance evidence.

Microsoft's October 7 announcement confirms the product, preorders and broad specifications. Independent battery, thermal and AI performance testing will matter more than launch claims when deciding whether it is worth buying.

Read the official Surface announcement

See the official Surface Laptop Ultra page