Microsoft releases first firmware update for Surface Laptop Ultra
Just six days after the Surface Laptop Ultra powered by the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform began shipping, Microsoft has released its first major firmware update. The move follows reports from reviewers regarding display glitches and system instability.
What does the update cover?
According to official documentation, the update, identified as Microsoft Corporation System Hardware Update (200.0.7.0), is being distributed via Windows Update. It includes updated Surface TCON firmware, UEFI firmware, Surface Integration components, and a new panel driver. Microsoft also claims general performance improvements and unspecified bug fixes.
The primary focus of this patch is to address issues reported by testers, specifically screen flickering, unusually long reboot times, and random system restarts.
Unresolved hardware concerns
While the firmware targets stability, several critical hardware-related complaints remain unaddressed. Testing by Notebookcheck revealed that the 15-inch, 120Hz Mini-LED panel suffers from slow pixel response times and visible ghosting. Additionally, despite reaching brightness levels exceeding 2,000 nits in HDR, the display lacks functional local dimming, which results in elevated black levels and reduced contrast.
Other issues highlighted by The Verge and Windows Central include:
- Occasional interface lag;
- Loud popping noises from the speakers (which reportedly vanish after a restart);
- Limited battery life (dropping to 4.4 hours at maximum SDR brightness);
- Compatibility limitations for certain applications and games on the NVIDIA RTX Spark Arm platform.
It is important to note that issues like slow pixel response are inherent hardware characteristics of the panel and cannot be fully corrected via firmware. As of now, Microsoft has not announced any fixes for the reported lack of local dimming or the display's response times.
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