Microsoft has introduced two new Surface devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. The lineup includes a second-generation Surface Pro 12” and Surface Laptop 13”. The Surface Pro 12” (2nd edition) is a compact Windows on ARM tablet. It features a 12” PixelSense LCD with a 2,196 x 1,464px resolution. The display uses a 3:2 aspect ratio and supports a 90Hz refresh rate.
Touch input comes standard, while the optional Surface Slim Pen adds support for 4,096 pressure levels. Microsoft also introduced Ink Canvas, an AI-powered app designed for sketching, planning, and design. Instead of creating images from text, it can turn sketches into text.
The Surface Pro 12” also supports a detachable keyboard cover. However, both the keyboard and Surface Slim Pen are sold separately. The tablet uses a passively cooled Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. It has a 6-core CPU and an 80 TOPS NPU for on-device AI tasks. Buyers can choose between 16GB or 24GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS storage.
Microsoft says the new chip brings several performance gains over the previous Surface Pro 12”. Office productivity is 17% faster, while battery efficiency improves by 18%. Graphics performance is also 60% faster, according to Microsoft. Local AI inferencing sees the biggest improvement, with performance increasing by 95%.
Battery life is rated at up to 15.5 hours of video playback. Microsoft also claims up to 11.5 hours of active web usage. Charging is handled through either of the two USB-C ports. Both ports support USB 3.2, while charging supports up to 45W. A charger is not included, so buyers will need to provide their own.
The tablet also supports DisplayPort 1.4a and can power two 4K displays at 60Hz. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The Surface Pro 12” weighs 686g (1.5lbs) and measures 7.8mm (0.3”) thick. It starts at $1,150 through Microsoft.com, while the 16/512GB version costs $1,250.
The 24/512GB configuration costs $1,450. Microsoft will offer the tablet in Platinum, Black, and Violet color options. Microsoft has also updated its Surface Laptop lineup with the 13” (2nd edition). The laptop features an aluminum body, a matching keyboard, and a redesigned haptic trackpad.
Its 13” PixelSense LCD offers a 1,920 x 1,280px resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The panel runs at 60Hz and supports touch input, with up to 500 nits of brightness. The display is protected by strengthened glass and includes a 1080p Surface Studio Camera. The Surface Pro 12” also gets the same 1080p camera, along with a 10MP rear camera.
Like the tablet, the Surface Laptop 13” uses passive cooling. This means there is no fan to cool the Snapdragon X2 Plus processor. Microsoft offers several memory and storage configurations for the laptop. Prices range from $1,200 for the 16/256GB model to $1,500 for the 24/512GB version.
The laptop weighs 1,225g (2.96lbs) and measures 17.5mm (0.69”) when closed. Its larger battery provides up to 22.5 hours of video playback. Connectivity includes two USB-C ports with USB 3.2 support. There is also one USB-A port with USB 3.2 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Charging is handled through the included 45W USB-C adapter. This gives the laptop a straightforward setup for everyday use. Alongside the two computers, Microsoft has announced a new Surface Mouse priced at $80. It will launch in select markets on October 13 in Black and Platinum.
The Surface Mouse adds haptic feedback that can respond to on-screen actions. For example, users can feel feedback when a window snaps into place. Microsoft has also redesigned the mouse for both left- and right-handed users. It includes a customizable action button that can be assigned to Copilot. The mouse connects through Bluetooth 6.0 and can be paired with multiple devices.
