Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra, a 15-inch Windows laptop built on NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chip and aimed squarely at the MacBook Pro crowd. It starts at $2,599.99 and ships from October 16, 2026.
Microsoft's launch pages list US pricing only and name no Kenyan sales channel, so here is what the machine actually offers and what to buy in Nairobi today.
What Microsoft actually built
The Surface Laptop Ultra runs the NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip, which pairs an NVIDIA Grace CPU (up to 20 cores) with Blackwell RTX graphics. Memory is unified, so the CPU and GPU share one pool of up to 128GB, and storage goes up to 2TB. Microsoft says select configurations can run AI models of more than 120 billion parameters locally. TechRepublic reports a base model with 24GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, with the top configuration listed at $5,899.99.
The 15-inch PixelSense Ultra display is a 120Hz mini-LED touchscreen with 100% DCI-P3 colour. It is touch only, so it does not work with Surface Pen. The body is under 18mm thick and under 4.5 pounds, and Microsoft claims up to 2.5 times the thermal capacity of its 15-inch Surface Laptop (8th Edition).
Ports, storage and battery
- Three USB-C ports, one USB-A, HDMI, a full-size SD card reader and a headphone jack, plus magnetic USB-C charging.
- Platinum and Nightfall colours.
- Battery life: Microsoft publishes test conditions for video playback and web browsing but gives no runtime in hours on its product page, so treat any all-day claim as unproven until reviews land.
What it means in Kenya
Nothing Microsoft has published confirms a Kenyan launch, local pricing or warranty support. A top-spec Windows machine bought abroad and shipped in also means import duty and VAT on top of the USD price, and a warranty you may not be able to claim in Nairobi. For most buyers who need serious creative or development power this month, that is a lot of uncertainty.
The two laptops below are in stock at trewrld with local warranty support. The MacBook Pro M5 is the direct rival Microsoft is targeting, and the ThinkPad T14s is the lighter Windows option for people who live in Office, Teams and the browser. Pay by M-Pesa, card or bank transfer.
FAQ
Can I buy the Surface Laptop Ultra in Kenya?
Microsoft's launch material lists US dollar pricing and does not name Kenya or any East African market. Check with Microsoft before paying anyone for a pre-order.
Does the Surface Laptop Ultra work with a Surface Pen?
No. Microsoft's own materials describe the display as touch only, with no Surface Pen or Slim Pen support.
Which laptop should I buy in Nairobi right now?
If you want Apple's top mobile chip and a long-lived creative machine, the MacBook Pro M5 is the closest rival to what Microsoft is selling. If you want Windows with a business-grade keyboard and light weight, the ThinkPad T14s is the sensible pick.
trewrld | Queensway House, Kaunda Street, 2nd Floor Room 13, Nairobi | 0722 700 018 | @trewrldke
M-Pesa, Visa/Mastercard & Bank Transfer accepted | Same-day delivery in Nairobi, 1 to 4 days countrywide, and delivery across East Africa (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan)
