Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips

Microsoft has revealed a new Surface Laptop aimed at consumers, featuring a significant shift under the hood. This iteration ditches Intel processors in favour of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite or Plus chips, directly challenging Apple's powerful M-series MacBooks.

The Surface Laptop boasts impressive specs from the get-go. The base model packs 16GB of RAM (a clear jab at Apple's base offering) and 256GB of SSD storage, powered by the Snapdragon X Plus chip. Both screen sizes (13.8-inch and 15-inch) offer upgrade options for storage (up to 1TB) and RAM (up to 32GB, with a limited-time preorder exclusive for 64GB). All models come equipped with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU for graphics processing.

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Microsoft Surface Pro rebooted: Faster, AI-ready, and now Qualcomm-powered

Microsoft unveiled the all-new Surface Pro, ditching numbers in favour of a fresh start. It's one of the first in a new generation of what Microsoft calls Copilot Plus PCs. This flagship device boasts the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors (Elite and Plus versions), promising a significant performance leap—up to 90% faster than its predecessor.

The Pro embraces the future with optional 5G connectivity and a long-lasting battery—up to 14 hours of video playback (though not quite reaching the Surface Laptop's 20 hours). It remains incredibly thin and light, maintaining its familiar size despite the internal overhaul.

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Microsoft to enter mobile gaming arena with cross-platform store launch

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Microsoft is shaking up the mobile gaming scene with its own online store, set to debut in July. This new competitor to Google Play and Apple's App Store will initially offer games from Microsoft's studios, including popular titles like Candy Crush, Minecraft mobile, and Call of Duty: Mobile. Third-party games will be added soon after launch.

Xbox President Sarah Bond, announcing the news at a Bloomberg tech conference, highlighted the long-term vision behind the project. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time," she said.

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Coca-Cola and Microsoft ink US$1.1 billion cloud and AI deal

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In a major push towards digitalization, Coca-Cola and Microsoft announced a five-year US$1.1 billion partnership. This strategic move focuses on integrating Microsoft's cloud and generative artificial intelligence solutions across Coca-Cola's global operations. The partnership signifies Coca-Cola's commitment to a "digital-first" approach. 

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