Microsoft Follows Apple By Hiking Price of Surface Book Laptops in the U.K. - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Microsoft Follows Apple By Hiking Price of Surface Book Laptops in the U.K.

by

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.

surface book vs new macbook pro
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 The cost of a 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro went from £999 to £1,249 overnight, despite being superseded by a brand new model starting at £1,449.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".

Top Rated Comments

JaySoul Avatar
127 months ago
...and we haven't even left the EU yet.

The pain is only beginning.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Paul Dawkins Avatar
127 months ago
...and we haven't even left the EU yet.

The pain is only beginning.
And the EU is not going to let us leave easy and rightfully so.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
127 months ago
Both are overpriced for what they do - you can buy a refurbed Dell Latitude 7470 with i7 sky lake, 16GB of DDR4, 256GB SSD, 2560x1440 screen for $850 USD, $1000 less than what they're asking for - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitude-E7470-14-I7-6600U-16Gb-DDR4-256Gb-SSD-QHD-Touchscreen-Win10-Pro-/262845163402?hash=item3d32cae78a:g:eZwAAOSwopRYbVh-
1) Manufacturer refurbished.
2) US pricing, not UK.
3) Thick, bulky, and terrible battery life. There's more to a laptop specification than just CPU/RAM/SSD.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
127 months ago
...but anybody with investments in the stock market and a half-decent financial planner has been doing very nicely: as sterling falls, the sterling value of US/Internationally traded companies goes up, and the uncertainty is doing wonders for gold/mining prices...

So, yeah, vote Brexit and strike a blow for ordinary people against the elite establishment (said a bunch of ex-stockbrokers and wealthy right-wing politicians who think "ordinary people" are those with portfolios of less than £10m).
You've just reminded me of the one good thing the weaker £ has brought me, a slight boost in foreign share holdings. Thanks. Every cloud and all that...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/11/mark-carney-signals-bank-of-england-may-raise-forecast-for-uk-economy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/11/eu-has-lose-hard-brexit-uk-mark-carney-says/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4110066/Time-say-sorry-Mr-Carney-Bank-England-governor-FINALLY-admits-Brexit-NOT-biggest-risk-UK-s-economy.html

http://news.sky.com/story/bank-of-england-raises-uk-growth-forecast-again-to-2-for-2017-10753130

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/02/bank-of-england-uk-growth-forecast-economy-brexit

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/03/pound-smashes-123-ahead-of-brexit-high-court-verdict-and-bank-of/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/01/31/ftse-100-edges-higher-pound-dips-125-investors-eye-eurozone/

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-sterling-idUKKBN15F0VD
Ah, all this I knew. You sold me "boom". These are revisions upward.


As I said, price gouging... if you look at the last reports, the pound had its strongest January against the dollar since 2011 this year, and yet all the prices are going up... :rolleyes:
Since the vote the pound has nose dived, simple facts. I and others have posted the graphs. Yet you're talking about January. January is a step up, Brexit caused a fall down a whole flight of stairs.

I imagine if you had a US company that dealt in the UK you would've just absorbed the 15-25% increased cost of dealing in sterling. :rolleyes:

The best example is Apples App Store, it's now increased its pricing so 1 pound equals 1 dollar, even though the pound is worth more. And how does that work out anyway because it's not like they import apps into the UK......
1 dollar plus tax, which varies depending on state. Whereas the pound figure includes VAT of 20%.

microsoft apple hikes price surface book uk image

These are basic mistakes that lots of people make when comparing UK to US prices.

Well considering none of the doom and gloom predicted by financial experts has happened, I'll believe my facts thank you, considering it was all over the national press.
Not happened? Weekly shops more expensive, imported goods more expensive, Unleaded price per litre Jan 2016 = 102.3p, Jan 2017 = 115.0p, interest rates cut to all time lows (which makes savings accounts even more useless). It goes on and on.

The doom and gloom has already set in for me. And like I said earlier there's very little I can see changing that. But I hope things do improve.

Oh an we're still in the EU at the moment.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Paul Dawkins Avatar
127 months ago
Both are overpriced for what they do - you can buy a refurbed Dell Latitude 7470 with i7 sky lake, 16GB of DDR4, 256GB SSD, 2560x1440 screen for $850 USD, $1000 less than what they're asking for - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitude-E7470-14-I7-6600U-16Gb-DDR4-256Gb-SSD-QHD-Touchscreen-Win10-Pro-/262845163402?hash=item3d32cae78a:g:eZwAAOSwopRYbVh-
Overpriced for you maybe. Some will see some value you can't see. Also you example is poor, it loses on build quality, materials and support. Not exactly apples to apples comparison.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
127 months ago
Dumb question, but can people in the UK purchase Apple products from a U.S. store or person and use it as normal?

We get nice discounts off their overpriced products from big box retailers and they keep screwing you guys by increasing the price even more.
Sure you can. When you enter the UK, you pay your 20% VAT, and at that point the price is the same, but you have no consumer rights whatsoever since you didn't buy in Europe. If there is a fault after 12 months and one day, the Apple Store in the UK can tell you to please take your Mac to the store in the USA where you bought it.
[doublepost=1487256327][/doublepost]
I didn't say they were making bad products. Apple level: popularity
[doublepost=1487168475][/doublepost]
It is pricing gouging but ms don't need to follow that route. Apple is pulling this joke on their customers because of name brand. Ms don't need to follow that route.
Both Apple and Microsoft do this because the pound crashed. With the price changes and currency changes, Apple gets the same money from a Mac bought in the UK as a year before. Same for Microsoft.
[doublepost=1487256465][/doublepost]
Cannot wait to be out of the EU.
You know you can leave the EU right now, if any country outside the EU is willing to take you. Think about it. Instead of migrants taking your job away, you could be a migrant and take their job away.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by
While the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...
Pinched iPad Mini

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by
In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...
Latest Stories
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
15 hours ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
15 hours ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
15 hours ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
17 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
18 hours ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
1 day ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
1 day ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
1 day ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
1 day ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
1 day ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
1 day ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
2 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
2 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
2 days ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
2 days ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
2 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
2 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
2 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
2 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
2 days ago
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
2 days ago
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
2 days ago
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
2 days ago
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors