Microsoft has officially launched Intel-powered versions of its Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, designed specifically for businesses. The new devices, available on February 18th, join the existing Qualcomm-powered variants, offering customers a choice between Intel and Qualcomm chips.

The Surface Laptop 7 for businesses will start at $1,499.99, a $500 premium over the Qualcomm variant. The device will be available in two screen sizes, 13.8-inch and 15-inch, and can be configured with Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 chips, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. Microsoft promises up to 14 hours of battery life on the 15-inch model and up to 12 hours on the 13.8-inch variant, only an hour behind the Qualcomm versions.

The Intel-powered Surface Laptop 7 features largely unchanged ports, with a USB-A 3.2 port instead of the USB-A 3.1 on the Qualcomm version. It also includes two USB-C 4/Thunderbolt 4 ports, the Surface Connect charging port, and a headphone jack. The device uses the same PixelSense displays as the Qualcomm version. An optional smart card reader will be available in certain markets, and a 5G version is planned for later this year.

The Surface Pro 11 for businesses is also largely identical to the Qualcomm version, starting at $1,499.99 instead of the $999.99 starting price of the Qualcomm version. Businesses can choose between a 13-inch LCD or OLED panel, with both displays the same as on the Qualcomm-powered Surface Pro 11. The device can be configured with Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage.

The Intel-powered Surface Pro 11 retains the same ports as the Qualcomm version, including two USB-C 4/Thunderbolt 4 ports and a Surface Connect for charging. The device also features a built-in NFC reader to support security keys like the YubiKey 5C NFC.

Both Intel-powered Surface devices come just months before Windows 10's end of support on October 14th. Microsoft is positioning these Copilot Plus PCs as upgrade devices for businesses transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11. As they include NPUs capable of Copilot Plus features, they'll be able to access the latest Windows AI features, including Recall and Microsoft's AI-powered Windows Search.

Microsoft is also launching a new USB 4 dock, priced at $199.99, designed to work with all Surface devices with a USB-C port. The dock supports two 4K displays at 60Hz, includes 65-watt passthrough charging, and offers up to 40Gb/s for data transfers. The dock features a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port and a USB-C 4 Gen 3 port on the front, with a single USB-C 4 Gen 3 port, an HDMI 2.1 port, an ethernet port, and a USB-C connector for the 100-watt power supply on the rear.

Business preorders for the Intel-powered Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 are now open, with both devices shipping on February 18th. This move is likely to appeal to businesses seeking to upgrade their fleets to Windows 11, taking advantage of the latest AI features and improved performance.

The introduction of Intel-powered Surface devices marks a significant expansion of Microsoft's business-focused offerings, providing customers with more choices and flexibility in their technology deployments. As the company continues to push its Copilot Plus PCs and AI-powered features, it will be interesting to see how these new devices impact the market and Microsoft's business strategy.