Microsoft fixes Surface Laptop Ultra screen flicker and boot times
Microsoft has released a firmware update for the Surface Laptop Ultra to address screen flickering, slow boot times, and unexpected restarts. However, hardware-related issues like ghosting and poor local dimming remain unaddressed by the software patch.
Why it matters
This highlights the limitations of software-based fixes for hardware design flaws in premium consumer electronics.
ⓘ Notebookcheck Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Microsoft's first Surface Laptop Ultra firmware update has quietly patched the display and power management issues that dogged its launch. But the bigger complaints about its Mini-LED screen can't be addressed with software fixes. Daniel Zlatev , Published 10/26/2026 MS Surface Microsoft Software Laptop Nvidia 4 Reviews exclude selected types exclude selected tags Microsoft's answer to the Apple MacBook Pro , the Surface Laptop Ultra , comes with the novel Nvidia RTX Spark line of processors and an oddball display choice. Not that the Mini-LED panel of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra isn't bright and beautiful, as tested in our review , but it comes with issues like screen flicker, ghosting, lack of local dimming, or slow response times, and most of these can't be fixed with software.
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