I spent the last week on the beach enjoying the sunny skies of southern England (no sarcasm this time). While I was away, it was anything but bright for Microsoft Surface. Prices for the "current" generation are up, and that bodes poorly for the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8.

Microsoft is set to announce the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 soon, but also just raised the prices of current-gen Surface hardware.

With Microsoft's flagship operating system and flagship PCs straddling the fence, it's difficult to see a path forward for either.

It was already a terrible time to buy a Surface, but that is even more the case after the almost insulting price increases. At a time when Surface is losing the budget wars to Apple and the MacBook Neo, Microsoft is going in the wrong direction.

I've argued in previous editions of the Windows Wrap that Microsoft has finally read the room. I still believe that's largely the case, but there still seems to be some infighting.

If you take a look at the biggest stories from the past week, you'll see a mix of good news and bad news.

Biggest News Stories

Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8: What we know already

Microsoft’s MacBook Neo answer: a controller and some subscriptions

Windows 11 modders are thriving because Microsoft won’t listen

Windows 11 Start menu is finally getting faster and more flexible

Earning Microsoft Rewards points may get harder next month

Surface prices jump as RAM crisis hits every model

Surface without sizzle

Microsoft's Surface events used to be one of the most exciting times of the year for the Windows Central team. Our Slack channels filled with flurries of messages about whatever was announced, or what was not announced if that was a surprise.

We could always count on "one more thing" from Microsoft on stage. For years, I'd spend the weeks between Surface announcements and product launches researching the devices, scouring early looks and reviews, and prepping guides for our readers.

I doubt it will feel the same this year. Obviously, we'll cover all the devices and make sure you know everything about them. I just don't expect the buzz that used to be there.

A stripped-down lineup that's missing the most powerful chips from Intel and Qualcomm won't exactly move the needle. If the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 are too expensive, they could be dead-on-arrival in the eyes of many.

I hope I'm wrong. I want to be wowed this spring by Surface hardware. Fingers crossed that Microsoft has something hidden away.

Shopping with Sean

With Surface PCs going up in price and the next generation of Microsoft devices still on the horizon, you need to look elsewhere to find a worthwhile deal.

The ASUS Zenbook A16 remains a strong contender for laptop of the year. It's one of the first PCs with a Snapdragon X2 processor inside. Since the next wave of Surface PCs will not have Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme options, the Zenbook A16 will continue to stand out even after Microsoft unveils new hardware.

If you'd like to spend less on a laptop, the HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 is a great choice right now because of its $250 discount.

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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.