Microsoft launched its Floor Laptop computer 7 earlier this yr with out Intel chips, in a bid to advertise Home windows on Arm and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips. Now, it appears like a Floor Laptop computer would possibly arrive subsequent yr with Intel’s newest Lunar Lake chips.
A Floor Laptop computer prototype has appeared in a since-deleted itemizing on Chinese language second-hand market Goofish, full with what appears like Intel’s Core Extremely 7 268V processor inside. Home windows Central noticed the itemizing, however it’s not clear if this can merely be a Floor Laptop computer 7 variant or a Floor Laptop computer 8.
Both approach, the prototype laptop computer is clearly marked as such with an enormous “prototype – not on the market” etching on the backside of the system. Whereas it’s simple to pretend the CPU itemizing inside Home windows, the looks of the prototype label confirms that is seemingly a real unreleased laptop computer from Microsoft. It’s uncommon for such units to leak, not to mention be bought on-line.
If Microsoft is contemplating Lunar Lake chips for its Floor Laptop computer line, it could guarantee there’s an Intel possibility for many who need Copilot Plus PC options. The Floor Professional 10 and Floor Laptop computer 6 each shipped with Intel’s Meteor Lake processors earlier this yr, however they didn’t embody an NPU highly effective sufficient for Microsoft’s Copilot Plus options. They have been as an alternative focused at companies, and lacked the refreshed designs discovered on the Floor Professional 11 and Floor Laptop computer 7.
The itemizing of this prototype Floor Laptop computer notes that the unannounced system ought to go on sale in some unspecified time in the future in 2025, which might level to a CES 2025 announcement if Microsoft is readying this for shoppers. The opposite risk is Microsoft as soon as once more limiting Intel-based Floor units to business prospects.
We’ve requested Microsoft to touch upon this leaked prototype, however the firm didn’t reply in time for publication.
