The Surface Laptop Ultra starts at $2,599.99, and shipping begins October 16, 2026. Microsoft says the total is paid after your old laptop is received and evaluated, not applied at checkout, so the amount you receive is unknown when you buy.

Verdict

The offer pays off mainly for people already set on a $2,599.99-plus Windows laptop who own a recent, high-spec, fully working MacBook Pro. For owners of older machines the payout is hard to predict: Microsoft's table values them at tens of dollars (a 2018 MacBook Air is $40), and Microsoft does not publish the bonus per model, so they cannot tell the payout in advance.

What you get

  • Surface Laptop Ultra, 18-core CPU with 24GB memory: from $2,599.99
  • 20-core CPU with 32GB memory and 1TB storage: from $3,699.99
  • Top configuration, 128GB unified memory: $5,899.99
  • Trade-in bonus: up to $1,000 cash back on top of your trade-in value, for a MacBook Pro
  • Shipping begins October 16, 2026
  • Display: 15-inch mini-LED, up to 2,000 nits peak HDR brightness (Microsoft's product listing)

Why it matters

The $1,000 is a ceiling, not a fixed amount. Microsoft's terms say the cash back varies with the device you buy and the trade-in value. You must buy the laptop before you know your payout.

You also commit to a platform switch on the strength of an estimate. Microsoft's terms say trade-in value depends on the device's condition after inspection by Teladvance, and that trade-ins are "subject to Teladvance's sole discretion and approval." A device that fails eligibility is shipped back or recycled, and recycled devices get no cash back.

What Microsoft's trade-in table shows

Microsoft's configurator lists trade-in values for MacBooks in working condition. We checked only Microsoft's table for these figures:

  • MacBook Pro 16-inch (2025), M5 Max, 128GB and 4TB: $2,115
  • MacBook Pro 16-inch (2025), M5 Max, 128GB and 8TB: $2,222, the table's highest
  • MacBook Pro 16-inch (2025), M5 Pro, 24GB and 1TB: $1,024, the lowest 2025 16-inch entry
  • MacBook Air (2018), Core i5, 8GB and 128GB: $40

These are trade-in values before any bonus, and they vary hugely by model: tens of dollars for a 2018 MacBook Air, $1,024 to $2,222 for 2025 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations. The cash-back bonus is separate. It is up to $1,000 on MacBook Pro trade-ins, and Microsoft does not publish the amount for each model.

Eligibility and fine print

  • Available only through the Microsoft Store online in the United States and Canada. Preorders also open at retail partners such as Best Buy (per Windows Central), but a purchase outside the Microsoft Store does not qualify under these terms.
  • The offer window opens October 7, 2026, the day preorders opened (per Gadget Pilipinas and TechEBlog).
  • Purchases must fall between October 7 and November 23, 2026, per the offer terms.
  • You must also submit the online trade-in claim with proof of purchase during the promotion period, per Microsoft's offer terms. Buying in that window is not enough on its own.
  • The old device must power on, hold a charge without being plugged in, and be fully working, with no cracked screen, liquid damage or missing parts.
  • The device cannot be password-protected. Include the original chargers, accessories and drive.
  • To be eligible for the cash back, mail the trade-in device within 15 days of completing the online trade-in process.
  • One offer per customer. It cannot be combined with other offers, and all trade-ins are final.
  • Recycled devices are not eligible for cash back.

What Microsoft hasn't said

  • Microsoft does not publish the bonus for each MacBook model.
  • When the cash back is paid: Microsoft's offer terms don't state a payment date. The Microsoft Store configurator says payment comes within 15 days after you accept the final trade-in value, while the trade-in program page says 14 days after approval. The two pages differ, and we have not resolved which applies.