14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is reportedly planning to host a new Surface event on September 30 or October 1, and one of the devices that could see daylight is a more affordable laptop.
Codenamed Surface Sparti, this model would be specifically focused on the price, albeit it would still boast the premium features that are typically offered on a Surface device.
With a 12.5-inch display and an Intel Core i5 processor (10th generation), the Surface Sparti could become one of the most affordable devices in the Surface lineup. The Surface Go will continue to be the cheapest device, however, but according to WinFuture, the new smaller Surface laptop would be available from $699.
While most people hoped Microsoft would price the device between $500 and $600, it looks like the Redmond-based software giant can’t push the final price so low, so theoretically, the new Surface would continue to be rather expensive.
Public or private event?
The goal with this Surface laptop is to provide a more affordable alternative to the premium lineup and, at the same time, target more categories of buyers that would otherwise go for Chromebooks and other cheaper products.
But with a $699 price tag, it remains to be seen if Microsoft’s plan succeeds, especially because for just a few dollars extra, you could end up getting an upgraded Surface.
For the time being, however, it’s important to keep in mind that everything is still in rumor stage, so it’ll take just one more week, until Microsoft releases an official announcement. Needless to say, the event will take place online because of obvious reasons, and we should start seeing invites sent to the press in just a few days.
At this point, it’s still not clear if Microsoft wants to make the event available for everybody online, but if it does, the company should release an official announcement any day now.