Nvidia RTX Spark chips could boost Windows laptops, but prices may rise

In short: Nvidia is entering the Windows laptop chip market with RTX Spark, which could improve performance and battery life, but the first laptops may cost a lot.

What happened

Nvidia says it will power a new wave of Windows laptops with its new RTX Spark chip, with the first models expected in fall 2026. A computer chip is the main “brain” of a laptop, and this one combines processing, graphics, and memory in a single package.

Nvidia describes RTX Spark as a “superchip,” and Microsoft says a Spark version of its upcoming Surface Laptop Ultra will be the most powerful Surface it has made. Nvidia has shared headline specs like 20 CPU cores, 6,144 GPU CUDA cores (graphics math units), and up to 128GB of unified memory (a shared pool of memory for both the main processor and graphics, like one big pantry instead of separate cupboards). Nvidia has not shown traditional performance test results yet.

Several laptop makers have announced Spark models for later this year, including Microsoft, Dell, Asus, Lenovo, MSI, and HP. The Verge notes that similar high-end laptops often start around $2,000 to $2,500, and models with very large amounts of memory can cost $3,000 or more.

Why it matters

For everyday buyers, this could mean Windows laptops that feel faster for creative work, games, and on-device AI features, while still lasting longer on battery. The catch is price. If the best Spark laptops launch mostly in premium machines, many people may not feel the benefits soon, especially at a time when laptop prices are already rising due to higher memory costs.

Source: The Verge AI