Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Microsoft’s next Surface device could tackle Chromebooks directly

By

Microsoft might be fresh off the launch of high-end devices like the Surface Laptop Studio, but the company could have some bigger plans in the future. Turns out Microsoft might be releasing a new 11-inch education-first Surface Laptop device to better compete with Chromebooks, according to Windows Central.

Reportedly code-named Tenjin, it’s believed that this new Surface device could take on similar education-centered low-end PCs and Chromebooks from HP and Lenovo. The new laptop might possibly have an 11.6-inch display with a 1226 x 768 resolution, with 8GB of RAM under the hood. Other possibilities include the presence of a USB-A port, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a traditional barreled charger port.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Windows Central also reports that the new product could ship as “Laptop SE,” a reference to the Windows 11 version that could come installed on it. Pricing is unknown, but similar education-first PCs from HP (like the HP Stream) come in at around $350, so it won’t be too surprising if this device is under $500 when it eventually launches.

Recommended Videos

As for the details on Windows 11 SE, it could end up shaping up to be a lot like the current version of Windows 11 in S mode. It’s being reported that this version of Windows is built for classrooms with an emphasis on speed and other features for low-end hardware.

Of course, the performance of Windows 11 SE might end up depending on the processors powering the device, which is currently unknown. There are no rumors to support it, but chances are they could be lower-end Intel processors from the Celeron or Pentium lineup — as seen in current budget PCs. These processors have always been known to slow down Windows PCs, but they exceed in Chromebooks, and it will be interesting to see if the Windows 11 SE optimizations add any benefit.

Microsoft’s current budget PCs are targeted for general use outside of the classroom. The Surface Laptop Go is one of these budget systems, keeping some of the design features from the original Surface Laptop, but without premium features like support for the Surface Pen or a backlit keyboard. The Surface Go, meanwhile, keeps some of the design features from the Surface Pro lineup but has some toned-down internals as well as a lower-resolution screen.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Microsoft just kicked off a new era of PCs with Copilot+
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announces updates to the company's Copilot artificial intelligence (AI) tool.

Microsoft is introducing an entirely new category of PCs, and they're all centered around Copilot+. Amid bold claims of AI PCs from industry leaders like Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, Microsoft is kicking off the era of the AI PC with a new set of hardware requirements and software features that allow your PC to go beyond an AI chatbot.

The idea behind Copilot+ isn't to have a few AI features. Instead, the dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on a Copilot+ PC will run several language models in the background of Windows 11 -- all the time. The models will scan you through everything you do on your PC to provide context when you want to prompt Copilot properly. Microsoft calls the feature Recall and says it's like a "sensor for AI."

Read more
If you use a VPN, don’t skip this important Windows 11 update
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 rear view showing lid and logo.

It's not you; Windows is causing the issues this time. If the VPN on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer is having a hard time connecting, it is likely because of Microsoft's April security updates for Windows 11 (KB5036893 for) and Windows 10 (KB5036892), which have been reported to be the cause of the problems.

But there's good news. According to Microsoft, a patch is now available to fix the VPN problems users are experiencing.

Read more
A massive Windows 11 AI feature may launch next week despite privacy concerns
Privacy settings in Windows 11.

Windows 11 continues to build a large toolset of AI features, but the one rumored to soon launch may be the biggest change yet -- especially when it comes to your PC's privacy. Windows Latest reports that in Build 26212, the Windows 11 AI integration is named Recall and can be found on the Privacy & Security page in settings (via Albacore on X).

The concern is due to its privacy toggle. According to the latest build, you can record everything on your screen to help you better find something you were working on or searching for. The positive side is that it can help you find the report you edited when you can't remember where you saved it by accessing the timeline interface. It will also help users with their browsing history. For example, if you searched for how to use WhatsApp Web, but can't remember which browser you used or what site the information was on, AI Explorer (or Recall, as it may be named) can find the information for you.

Read more