If you're a fan of Surface laptops but you're not so keen on the asking price, you're in luck. According to sources, Microsoft is planning to release a mid-range Surface laptop at a far more affordable price point.

The Details of the Mid-Range Surface Laptop

While Microsoft hasn't officially announced the specifications of this mystery laptop, it was revealed by a source that approached Windows Central with the news.

Typically, Surface laptops start around the $999 mark and go as high as $3000. This puts them out of reach for people on tight budgets.

However, according to the source, Microsoft is planning a cheaper Surface laptop. Codenamed "Sparti," this laptop will have a 12.5-inch screen, which is smaller than the Surface Laptop 3's 15-inch screen.

Sparti uses Windows 10 in S Mode, which restricts which apps you can use. Inside of the laptop, you'll find a 10th-generation i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a relatively tight 64GB of space.

However, by cutting down on these features, Microsoft can keep the price down. The company is expected to put Sparti on the market for around $500-600. Which would mean it's around half the price of the cheapest Surface laptop currently on the market.

Microsoft may have struck inspiration for this laptop after the success of its Surface Go tablet. The Surface Go sells for around $399, putting it at a cozy price point for those minding their budget.

As such, if Sparti is released, it'll fit snugly between the price of the Surface Go and the Surface Pro, which comes in at $749. This means you'll find a Surface device at every major price point.

It doesn't appear that Microsoft is simply making a quick buck off of Surface customers, either:

Sources who have had eyes on engineering prototypes say Sparti looks and feels like a typical Surface product, meaning Microsoft hasn't compromised on build quality to achieve a lower price. It's also very lightweight, and its smaller display means the overall device size is more compact, making it a great travel laptop.

Will Sparti Fill the Mid-Range Void?

While this news comes from an anonymous source, there's enough information to speculate on what a new entry-level Surface laptop will look like. We'll have to wait and see if Sparti is a stellar budget-friendly model, or if the reduced specifications make it a pain to use.

If you're interested in all things Microsoft Surface, you might want to read up about the Surface Duo.