Microsoft offers MacBook Pro owners up to $1,000 to switch to Surface Laptop Ultra

Microsoft is ready to pay MacBook owners to switch to its new Surface Laptop Ultra. The company is offering MacBook Pro owners up to $1,000 in promotional cash back on top of their trade-in value when they preorder the new laptop.

The cash back is paid on top of the standard trade-in value rather than being deducted from the purchase price at checkout. To receive cash back, buyers must purchase a qualifying Surface Laptop Ultra and submit an online trade-in claim with proof of purchase. After Microsoft’s trade-in partner receives and evaluates the MacBook, the customer receives its trade-in value plus any promotional cash back they qualify for.

The deal runs through November 23 in the US and Canada. The MacBook must meet Microsoft’s condition requirements and be mailed within 15 days of completing the trade-in process. The promotional bonus varies based on the device and its trade-in value, up to the advertised $1,000 maximum.

The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599.99, making it the least expensive laptop in the RTX Spark lineup. Microsoft is positioning the machine as a high-performance option for power users, with Nvidia’s RTX Spark platform featuring an 18-core or 20-core CPU, an RTX GPU with up to 6,144 CUDA cores, and 24GB to 128GB of unified memory. Other highlights include a mini-LED display and a wide selection of ports, including a proprietary magnetic USB-C port.

The trade-in value itself varies depending on the MacBook Pro model and its condition. The source reports that the highest estimate it obtained from Microsoft’s website was $2,115 for a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2025 equipped with 128GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Adding the maximum $1,000 promotional bonus could bring the total value to $3,115, although the final amount depends on the device and its eligibility for the offer.

The offer is a clear attempt to attract customers from Apple's premium laptop lineup. Rather than competing only on hardware and performance, Microsoft is giving MacBook Pro owners a financial incentive to switch platforms.

Preorders for the Surface Laptop Ultra are available through Microsoft’s website and Best Buy, with shipments set to begin on October 16.