Nvidia RTX Spark Laptops Open Pre-Orders as MSI Pushes Local AI Mini PC

TechRadar reported that RTX Spark models will come from Microsoft, Asus, Lenovo, HP and Dell. It recommended Microsoft's 15-inch Surface Laptop Ultra as one of the least expensive ways to get the hardware, with pre-orders starting at $2,599.99 and up to 128GB of unified memory. For a small business exploring internal AI assistants, document analysis, coding tools and other modest local AI applications, TechRadar said the entry-level model is worth considering. HP's 16-inch laptop has a 3K OLED touchscreen and can be configured with up to 128GB of unified memory; its 24GB and 32GB versions use a smaller RTX Spark chip, while configurations with 48GB or more feature the full 20-core Grace CPU and 6,144-core Blackwell GPU. Asus's ProArt P16, with a 16-inch display, up to 128GB of unified memory and up to 2TB of storage, is aimed at businesses that combine AI development with creative work. Pre-orders are available through Best Buy and other manufacturers, according to TechRadar.

The RTX Spark platform pairs a Grace CPU with a Blackwell GPU. The full chip includes a 20-core CPU and a 6,144-core GPU, while the lower-end version has an 18-core CPU and a 5,120-core GPU, TechRadar reported. Memory is a key specification for local AI because larger models can require far more memory than conventional business applications, but TechRadar noted that memory capacity alone does not guarantee performance. Model size, precision, software compatibility and available GPU resources also affect how well a model runs. For businesses taking a first step into local AI, TechRadar pointed to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra; for those needing more memory for larger models, it suggested HP's OmniBook Ultra 16, particularly in 64GB and 128GB configurations; and for AI development alongside video editing and image generation, it highlighted the Asus ProArt P16.

In a review published the same day, TechRadar said the MSI Pro Max Edge AI+ is one of the most powerful mini workstations it has tested and a suitable tool for creative applications and running AI offline. The system uses AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395, Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, an AMD XDNA NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS, 128GB of LPDDR5X-8000 unified memory, up to 96GB maximum GPU memory allocation and a 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD. It runs Windows 11 Pro and includes Wi-Fi 7, 2.5Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a and multiple USB ports. The mini PC measures 197.5 x 188.4 x 94.5mm and weighs 2.9kg, with an integrated power supply.

TechRadar said the Pro Max Edge AI+ ran surprisingly large local AI models downloaded and managed within Lemonade. It sorted more than 2,600 images, generated images using Flux and Qwen3 Coder models through Visual Studio Code and several supporting apps, and generated a ten-page website, though that task required considerable prompting. In standard creative work, TechRadar said the machine handled batches of Sony RAW files in Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere Pro without issue, and edited 4K Canon EOS R5 C footage in Premiere Pro comfortably. The review listed drawbacks including the older CPU, memory that cannot be upgraded further, high power draw for a mini PC, slow 2.5GbE networking for a workstation of this level, and the need for considerable setup and experimentation to get the most from local AI. The MSI Pro Max Edge AI+ is available now from MSI's website and most online retailers, priced from $5,499 in the U.S., €5,299 in Europe and £5,999 in the U.K.