Microsoft Surface Pro 12″ tablet and Surface Laptop 13″ with Snapdragon X2 Plus are here
While smartphone manufacturers flocked to the Snapdragon Summit to unveil phones with the new flagship chipsets, Microsoft chose a chip from earlier this year, the Snapdragon X2 Plus, to power two new Surface devices: The Microsoft Surface Pro 12” (2nd Edition) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13” (2nd Edition) are here.
Microsoft Surface Pro 12” (2nd Edition)
The Microsoft Surface Pro 12” (2nd Edition) is a highly portable 12-inch Windows-on-ARM tablet with a 2196 x 1464 pixel (3:2) PixelSense LCD display and a 90 Hz refresh rate. In addition to conventional touch input, it also supports the optional Surface Slim Pen, which recognizes 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Microsoft also introduced Ink Canvas, an AI-powered, pen-based app for sketching, planning, and designing. While AI typically generates images from text, Ink Canvas takes the opposite approach—it converts your sketch into text. The Microsoft Surface Pro 12″ naturally also supports a keyboard cover, but like the pen, it is sold separately.
The tablet is powered by a passively cooled Snapdragon X2 Plus with a 6-core CPU and an 80 TOPS NPU for integrated AI. Furthermore, the Microsoft Surface Pro 12” (2nd Edition) is available with 16 or 24 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of internal storage (UFS).
Microsoft states that the Snapdragon X2 Plus offers 17% faster Office productivity, 18% more efficient battery usage, 60% faster graphics, and a whopping 95% faster local AI inference compared to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 12″ (which used the original Snapdragon X Plus).
The integrated battery of the Microsoft Surface Pro 12″ allows for up to 15.5 hours of video playback or up to 11.5 hours of active internet use. It is charged via one of the two USB-C ports (both USB 3.2) with a charger up to 45W (a separate charger is not included). Thanks to DisplayPort 1.4a, two 4K monitors can be driven at 60Hz. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are available for wireless connectivity. The tablet weighs 686g (1.5 lbs) and is 7.8mm (0.3 inches) thick.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 12″ (2nd Edition) is available from $1,150 (€1,011) on Microsoft.com. The model with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage costs $1,250 (€1,099), and the model with 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage costs $1,450 (€1,275). It is available in three colors: Platinum, Black, and Purple.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13” (2nd Edition)
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13″ (2nd Edition) features an aluminum chassis with a color-matched keyboard and a next-generation trackpad with haptic feedback.
The slightly larger 13-inch display is a PixelSense LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels (3:2), a 60 Hz refresh rate, and touchscreen support. It offers a maximum brightness of 500 nits and is protected by reinforced glass. Like the Surface Pro, it also features a 1080p Surface Studio camera integrated into the display (the tablet also has a 10-megapixel rear camera).
The notebook is passively cooled, meaning it has no fan to cool the Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. Numerous configurations are available, ranging from 16/256 GB for $1,200 (€1,055) to 24/512 GB for $1,500 (€1,319).
The notebook weighs 1,225 g and is 17.5 mm thick when closed. It has a larger battery that allows for up to 22.5 hours of video playback.
For connectivity, the device offers two USB-C ports (USB 3.2), one USB-A port (also USB 3.2), and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It is charged using the included 45-watt USB-C power adapter.
Microsoft Surface Mouse
Microsoft has also unveiled a new Surface Mouse for $80 (€70). It will be available in select markets in black and platinum starting October 13. The mouse features haptic feedback that registers on-screen events such as a window snapping into place.
The mouse has been redesigned for ambidextrous use (making it suitable for both left- and right-handed users) and features a customizable action button for Copilot. The Microsoft Surface Mouse uses Bluetooth 6.0 and can be paired with multiple devices.
