Microsoft has introduced the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13, two Windows on ARM systems powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus processor. Both use passive cooling and include an NPU rated at 80 TOPS for on-device AI workloads, extending Microsoft’s ARM-based Surface strategy.
The Surface Pro 12 is a 7.8 mm tablet weighing 686 g, with a 12-inch PixelSense LCD running at 2,196 x 1,464 pixels, a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 90 Hz refresh rate. Microsoft claims improvements over the prior Snapdragon X Plus-based model of 17% in Office, 60% in graphics performance and up to 95% in local AI inference.
| Feature | Surface Pro 12 | Surface Laptop 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor and cooling | Snapdragon X2 Plus; passive cooling | Snapdragon X2 Plus; passive cooling |
| Display | 12-inch PixelSense LCD; 2,196 x 1,464; 3:2; 90 Hz | 13-inch PixelSense display; 1,920 x 1,280; 60 Hz; up to 500 nits |
| Memory and storage | 16 GB or 24 GB RAM; 256 GB or 512 GB UFS storage | 16 GB or 24 GB RAM; 256 GB or 512 GB storage |
| Ports | Two USB-C 3.2 ports; DisplayPort 1.4a | Two USB-C ports; USB-A; 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Claimed video playback battery life | Up to 15.5 hours | Up to 22.5 hours |
Surface Pro 12 also supports the separately sold Surface Slim Pen, with 4,096 pressure levels, and a detachable keyboard. Microsoft is adding an Ink Canvas app for drawing, sketching and planning; it can convert stylus-written notes into text. The tablet supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, while its USB-C ports can drive two 4K displays at 60 Hz through DisplayPort 1.4a. Microsoft rates web use at up to 11.5 hours.
The aluminum Surface Laptop 13 adds a color-matched keyboard and a haptic trackpad. Its 13-inch display is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate, but the laptop offers more legacy connectivity than the tablet through its USB-A port and headphone jack.
Pricing and accessory
- Surface Pro 12 with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage: from $1,150.
- Surface Pro 12 with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage: $1,250.
- Surface Pro 12 with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB storage: $1,450.
- Surface Laptop 13 with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage: from $1,200.
- Surface Laptop 13 with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB storage: $1,500.
Microsoft also announced an $80 Surface Mouse with haptic feedback, an ambidextrous design, Bluetooth 6.0 and a configurable Copilot button. Release timing and regional availability were not specified in the supplied announcement details.
