Microsoft has increased the price of its Surface Book laptops in the United Kingdom, following the impact of the country’s decision to leave the European Union on the pound sterling (via TechCrunch).
Previously, the company had limited its cost adjustments to enterprise products, but the significant drop in the strength of the pound since the E.U. referendum last June has now seen Microsoft follow Apple’s lead and hike the prices of its consumer laptops.
The price rises mean the base model of the Surface Book in the U.K. now costs £150 more at £1,449 ($1,800), putting it at the same price as the base model of a 13-inch MacBook Pro sans Touch Bar.
The price changes, which came into effect today, only affect products and services purchased by individuals, or organizations without volume licensing contracts.
“In response to a recent review we are adjusting the British pound prices of some of our hardware and consumer software in order to align to market dynamics,” said a Microsoft spokeswoman.
Back in October, Apple raised sterling prices for its entire Mac line-up by around 25 percent. The cost of a 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro went from £999 to £1,249 overnight, despite being superseded by a brand new model starting at £1,449. Similar price increases were seen across aging Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro lines, while just last month, Apple also increased the price of iOS apps by the same percentage.
Microsoft has repeatedly positioned the Surface Book as an alternative laptop for newcomers and unsatisfied MacBook owners, with time-limited “trade-up” offers for disillusioned Mac owners and TV ads describing capabilities of the Surface Book as things a Mac “just can’t do”.
Tag: Microsoft Surface
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