Windows Central Insider
The biggest week of the year just wrapped up for Microsoft and Windows 11, and it was full of good news for everyone from power users to shoppers on a budget.
The week kicked off with Computex, which served as a midyear showcase for the state of Windows 11 PCs and what's around the corner for personal computing. Laptop makers have now had time to respond to the MacBook Neo, and they did so with gusto.
Build conference also took place this past week, highlighting ways developers can improve their apps and AI agents.
The new Dell XPS 13 starts at $699 ($599 for students), placing it squarely against the MacBook Neo. On the other extreme of PC pricing, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a powerhouse PC packing the newly announced NVIDIA RTX Spark.
Here's a quick rundown of the biggest news from Computex, Build, and more.
As a reminder, Summer Game Fest also took place this week and the Xbox Games Showcase is set for tonight. I'll send you to our expert gaming team for coverage of that event.
It feels like the first time in a long time that Microsoft and Windows 11 are moving in the right direction. Chipmakers will provide options at every price range and for every workflow and Windows 11 is being improved each month.
Microsoft needs to build on the momentum and stick the landing. A few months moving in the right direction can fall apart quickly if the tech giant's leaders lose focus.
Biggest Windows 11 News
Microsoft and NVIDIA unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 128GB RAM beast with Blackwell graphics and a mini-LED display that redefines performance for Windows on Arm.
At Build 2026, Microsoft showed developers how to build modern, native Windows apps with WinUI 3. AI took center stage as a way to streamline app creation, modernization, and migration using specialized agents and tools.
Dell just unveiled a new XPS 13 for 2026 at Computex, and it's completely redesigned compared to previous models. Best part? It starts at just $599 for students, making it prime competition for the MacBook Neo.
Microsoft IQ and Scout connect to workspace data, allowing autonomous AI agents to handle repetitive tasks in the background.
Image credit: Microsoft
Coming later this year, Microsoft is shipping its first Surface branded mini PC, aimed solely at developers looking to adopt NVIDIA's new RTX Spark platform.
Image credit: NVIDIA
In an attempt to quell people's concerns around app compatibility with Windows on Arm, NVIDIA's CEO says that its new RTX Spark chips won't have any app compatibility problems.
I've been a rather verbal critic of how Microsoft has handled its Surface brand, accusing the tech giant of leaving Surface in the dust while it rebuilds XBOX and Windows 11.
Last month's Surface launch was so disappointing I regretted paying attention. I doubt I'd have tuned in if it weren't my job, and I'm sure many skipped it altogether. I still believe Microsoft left Surface stagnant for too long, but the May launch of the Surface Business devices makes a bit more sense.
Microsoft needed to wait for the NVIDIA RTX Spark to be announced to reveal the Surface Laptop Ultra.
Perhaps the staggered Surface launches are the price to pay for getting the latest chips inside Surface hardware. For years, new Surface devices were powered by already aging hardware. The shifted Surface strategy means brand-new chips but reveals beholden to chipmaker timelines.
I won't completely exonerate Microsoft though. The tech giant could still have announced its consumer-focused Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X2 chips last month, just with a longer lead time to hit store shelves.
Shopping with Sean
I'm very excited about the new PCs on the way, but they won't hit shelves for a while. Plus, we still need benchmarks and pricing on the RTX Spark chips before knowing if they're worth grabbing.
Until we get those key details, I'll hold off on any recommendations. Instead, I'll point you to an excellent gaming monitor that earned a perfect score in our review and is now on sale.
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 is great for gaming and was already one of the best bargains for under $1,000. For a limited time, it's discounted to $799.
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