Earlier this week, Microsoft made headlines by unveiling its new lineup of Surface devices. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that the starting prices of the newly launched lower-end devices, such as the 12-inch Surface Pro priced at $799 and the 13-inch Surface Laptop starting at $899, are not significantly lower than the older models from last spring, which started at $999. To address this pricing dilemma, Microsoft has taken a decisive step by discontinuing the 256GB versions of the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 and the 13-inch Surface Pro 11.
Microsoft's retail pages now exclusively feature the 512GB and 1TB configurations for both the Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11, with their prices starting at $1,199. While this move is not technically a price increase—since the 512GB versions were already priced at $1,199 previously—it effectively raises the price for last year's Surface hardware. This is particularly notable considering that both devices allow for user-replaceable storage, which can typically be upgraded for less than the $200 Microsoft charged for the 256GB-to-512GB upgrade.
The net effect of these changes is that the new Surface PCs now present a more appealing option compared to their predecessors, at least in relative terms. However, this improved perception comes at the cost of a higher price tag for the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 compared to the previous models. Meanwhile, the 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 7 still offers a 256GB configuration, starting at $1,299, but these models are currently out of stock.
While the prices for the Surface Pro and Laptop have seen these indirect hikes, some Surface accessories have experienced direct price increases. For instance, the Surface USB-C Travel Hub now retails for $120, up from $100, and the Surface Arc Mouse has risen to $90 from $80. Additionally, various replacement parts have also seen price hikes, as evidenced by recent snapshots from the Internet Wayback Machine. Thankfully, the pricing for Surface Pen accessories and Surface Pro keyboard covers remains unchanged.
It's worth noting that Microsoft also raised prices on its Xbox consoles earlier this month, warning that some video game prices could rise to $80 for certain releases later this year. For consumers still interested in the discontinued 256GB Surface devices, there are opportunities to find them at third-party retailers. For example, Best Buy is currently selling a Surface Laptop 7 with a 256GB SSD for $799, which is $100 less than the newly announced 13-inch Surface Laptop.
The rationale behind these recent price adjustments could be linked to increased import tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. Although PCs and smartphones are currently exempt from the most severe tariffs, the complexities of global supply chains and shipping costs can still indirectly contribute to rising expenses for Microsoft. Discontinuing the old 256GB models appears to be a strategy aimed at positioning the new 12-inch Pro and 13-inch Laptop as better deals than they initially seemed, enhancing clarity in the product lineup at the expense of consumer pricing.
