Microsoft is working on a new Surface device featuring an ARM-based processor from AMD
Earlier this month, Microsoft launched two new ARM-powered Surface devices — the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch , both powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips. These additions brought more ARM-based options to the Surface lineup, which until now has mostly relied on Qualcomm for that architecture.
But that could change in the coming years.
According to a well-known hardware leaker, KeplerL2 , Microsoft is reportedly planning to use AMD’s upcoming ARM-based “Sound Wave” processors in its 2026 Surface lineup . Details are scarce, but early reports suggest the chip will feature six cores, RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, and a very low power draw — between 5W and 10W . That makes it ideal for compact, lightweight devices like tablets or entry-level laptops.
This would be a notable shift from current high-end ARM offerings like the Snapdragon X Elite, which has a TDP of up to 23W. A lower-power chip suggests Microsoft may be targeting more affordable or mobile-focused devices — possibly a next-gen Surface Go or Surface Laptop Go , which currently use Intel CPUs.
It also marks AMD’s potential return to the Surface line after an earlier unsuccessful attempt with Ryzen chips in the Surface Laptop 3 and 4 models. Microsoft eventually shifted focus back to Intel and later embraced Qualcomm for ARM-based designs.
Interestingly, AMD isn’t the only non-Apple company exploring ARM chips for Windows PCs. Rumors also point to Nvidia entering the space with its own ARM-based processor by 2026 — signaling a major shift in the PC industry and growing competition in the Windows on ARM space, which remained largely dormant until recent years.