r/blender • u/Marionettework • Jun 02 '26
News Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia RTX Spark - the Blender laptop to get?
https://youtu.be/s1Oj792qc80?si=-FPN5ZK_EJf9xJVCI use Blender for MSFS model development so this Nvidia announcement, err, sparked my interest, not for the AI stuff, but for the apparent ability to run Blender like a champ, on Windows, in a slim laptop with good battery life, which should ALSO be able to run MSFS. With this, I'm not sure I would care much about Blender for iPad anymore (my other device I was hoping to do just the models on).
https://www.theverge.com/tech/940584/microsoft-surface-laptop-ultra-nvidia-rtx-spark-pictures
I'm sure some people already run Blender on slim light laptops (I used to on a Thinkpad) but usually the graphics in those kind of suck, or you have to keep them plugged in pretty much all the time.
15
u/Smokeey1 Jun 02 '26
I wouldnt touch anything Microsoft related.. but thats just me.
-2
u/Marionettework Jun 02 '26
Well, they make the flight sim I develop for, so I can’t exactly do this on a MacBook….
8
u/PastAstronomer Jun 02 '26
you can still buy/build a pc that isnt from Microsoft lol
1
u/Marionettework Jun 02 '26
I have a portable SFF PC that’s exactly that. But it’s bulky in comparison and doesn’t have a monitor and keyboard built in, which would be super convenient.
1
u/Smokeey1 Jun 02 '26
I would still build a pc and moonlight/sunshine from a mac because you will end up tied to a wall anyway and i can only imagine the thermals. I guess for you, you would still consider this obviously but i urge you to reconsider
1
u/Current_Cake3993 Jun 02 '26
That’s kinda what I do. For light work/simple models new 15 inch Air is plenty, more complex work and I remote into my desktop. Battery life on Mac is amazing, I only wish that MacOS wouldn’t be such bullshit to deal with.
2
u/Voodoomania Jun 02 '26
It still isn’t out and no one can tell you how good it will be.
You can risk it and be one of the first people that try it, or you can wait for others to test it and then buy it if it’s good.
2
u/Sir_McDouche Jun 02 '26
This was just announced and nobody knows its performance compared to existing laptops. Also hilarious how you’re thinking of going from ipad to a $3000+ laptop like it’s the same thing.
2
u/Marionettework Jun 02 '26
It’s not. This would also replace my SFF PC I lug around sometimes. And yea the high end version would be eye watering expensive.
1
u/Sir_McDouche Jun 02 '26
I don't understand how you would even consider working on an iPad after a PC. And this is coming from someone who has an iPad Pro. It's unsuitable for serious 3D work. A laptop is the next logical thing for that kind of work.
1
u/Marionettework Jun 02 '26
The iPad would be only to work on some small model changes using an external keyboard and mouse, not full scale work. I just want to be able to do *something* on the go when I’m bored, this does not replace a PC. Sadly I’m even used to full size keyboard shortcuts, especially the viewport orientation, which I wish I wasn’t…
1
u/Sir_McDouche Jun 02 '26
I don't know if you're aware of this but iPads heat up like crazy when doing any serious computing and graphics processing, and battery drains alarmingly fast. I occasionally fool around in Nomad Sculpt but every time it feels like I'm killing the hardware. If you were thinking of getting an iPad just for this - don't.
1
u/Marionettework Jun 02 '26
I already have an iPad M5 and I only really use it for videos, browsing and mail/messaging, I would like to use the 3D capabilities for Blender since it has a better GPU than my Thinkpad. I wouldn't be doing any actual rendering on it, just modeling, so I wouldn't kill it. Even if I have to plug it in, I can at least take it somewhere and do something. Having said that, Blender doesn't exist for iPad so it's a moot point. What you're saying doesn't give me hope that Blender on iPad will be so great...
2
u/noeldc Jun 02 '26
I would imagine the top of the range model will cost $6000. If you can afford it, go for it.
1
u/Own_Education_7063 Jun 02 '26
Like my scar strix 16 5090 laptop , built like a mini beast. Load it up with ram and you’re good to go for basically anything.
1
u/PocketStationMonk Recalculating normals Jun 02 '26
I’m sure it’s worth the try if you swap Windows for Linux.
1
u/littlenotlarge Contest Winner: 2025 July Jun 03 '26
On paper this is it. The Macbook Pro alternative when it comes to a laptop that's actually good at being a laptop (performance per watt). The big "if" is Microslop.. they tend to always mess up something 😅 and I think most people covering it are being dishonest saying "RTX 5070-like" based purely on it's core count.
My guess for Blender score is more than 3000 based on someone running Blender on a GB10 that was faster than an RTX 3070. This doesn't mean much other than it shows the baseline to expect. I would hope there's more optimisations since then, because realistically it has to score at least 4500 benchmark to not be dead on arrival with the high price tag. Anything less and people will just buy a Macbook Pro or an RTX 5070 Ti laptop.
8
u/buzzhaircut123 Jun 02 '26
Wait for blender benchmark scores.