At Computex 2026, Nvidia announced its new RTX Spark processor - an ARM-based chip with up to 1 petaflop of AI performance, a 20-core CPU, and up to 128GB of unified memory, roughly equivalent to a GeForce RTX 5070. Leading the charge is Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra, the flagship RTX Spark laptop that screams "I'm a developer, pro creator, or AI poweruser, and I have the credit score to prove it."
I went hands-on in Taipei, and it's a beast - smooth gaming, impressive video editing, all in the controlled, flattering lighting of a demo showfloor where no benchmarking or real-world testing has been performed yet. Microsoft was so confident that at Computex, none of the other new RTX Spark laptops were even allowed to be powered on. Only the Surface Ultra was running, powering every demo across every category. That's either supreme confidence or a very strict chaperone policy.
The physical build is solid, even if it resembles previous Surface laptops on the outside. The 15-inch mini-LED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen has 262ppi, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and up to 2000 nits of peak HDR brightness - exceptionally bright, resulting in visuals that make your eyes feel like they've just walked into a Las Vegas casino. It takes aesthetic inspiration from the MacBook (because what doesn't these days?), with recessed black chiclet keys, a stalwart aluminum body, edge-to-edge glass, and a responsive haptic touchpad. Ports include two USB-C, one USB-A, HDMI, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack - a full suite that says "we remember what 'creator-friendly' means."
The RTX Spark is the star: a "new class of GPU for AI" with up to 128GB of unified memory, designed to run large models and access datasets locally. All that compute is meant for AI-powered tasks like video upscaling and intelligent masking, plus running billions of parameters locally. Microsoft redesigned the cooling infrastructure to cope - the laptop is slightly raised off the desk for airflow, with a dual-fan, dual heat pipe setup. During demos of "Pragmata" and "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" - both graphically demanding - the units had been running for hours and were warm to the touch. Microsoft was so confident in the thermal system that it planned a smoke machine demo, but the machine malfunctioned. A bummer, but at least the fans at max power were surprisingly quiet.
Surprisingly, Microsoft also gave some attention to repairability: the backplate is removable, giving easy access to the SSD and battery, with internal parts tagged with QR codes for individual replacement. It's almost like they want you to fix it yourself instead of buying a new one.
The biggest unknowns: configuration and price. The RTX Spark supports up to 128GB unified memory, but minimum RAM is uncertain. 32GB seems the absolute lowest, 64GB more likely, which would put this laptop at $2,500-plus at the low end, with high-end loadouts potentially over $4,000. Battery efficiency is another open question - a 3,000-nit mini-LED display is going to demand power regardless of SoC efficiency. Availability? Also unknown. Pre-orders might open in late summer/early fall, with shipping sometime after that. Until then, we'll just have to admire the only RTX Spark laptop anyone was allowed to touch.