Microsoft Unveils Smaller, More Affordable Surface Devices Powered by Snapdragon X Plus

Microsoft has officially announced new additions to its Surface lineup: smaller, less powerful versions of the Surface Pro tablet and Surface Laptop. These devices are built around a more conservative iteration of Qualcomm’s power-efficient Snapdragon X Plus chip, marking a shift towards balancing performance and battery life in a more compact form factor.

However, smaller doesn’t automatically translate to cheaper. While initial reports suggested that both devices would feature 12-inch screens, the reality is slightly different. The new 13-inch Surface Laptop starts at $899, closely resembling the existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7, which surprisingly, can be found for as low as $799.99 with the same Snapdragon X Plus chip inside. Meanwhile, the smaller 12-inch Surface Pro will also be priced at a minimum of $799.99, the same cost as the existing 13-inch Surface Pro 11 equipped with a Snapdragon X Plus. The catch? You’re getting less for the same price.

What’s New?

The most obvious change is the reduced size, offering increased portability. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing new color options like Ocean and Violet for the Laptop, and a special Slate color for the Pro. The Surface Pro boasts a redesigned keyboard, while the Surface Laptop’s primary selling point is its extended battery life, promising up to 16 hours of use or 23 hours of video playback, which Microsoft claims is its longest yet.

Microsoft is leveraging these Copilot+ PCs and the X Plus chip’s 45 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) to showcase AI technologies such as Recall, Click to Do, and improved semantic search. The company also hints at future AI-powered features.

In a significant design change, Microsoft is phasing out the Surface Connect port, the magnetic power connector that has been a signature element of Surface devices for a decade. The new Surface devices will rely solely on USB-C ports for charging and expansion, although the Laptop includes an additional USB-A port for compatibility with older devices.

Pricing and Market Positioning

The pricing structure raises questions, especially considering the compromises made to achieve the smaller size. When questioned about the pricing, Microsoft executives avoided direct mention of tariffs, instead focusing on the target audience. Pavan Davuluri, Corporate Vice President for Windows and Devices, stated that the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptops are intended for customers who prioritize affordability. He acknowledged that tariffs are a "moving target" and that the company doesn’t yet have definitive information on their impact.

The new devices are designed to appeal to both commercial and consumer markets. While Microsoft plans to offer these devices to businesses in the future, the initial launch appears to be primarily focused on consumers. The inclusion of only Windows 10 Home, and not Windows 10 Pro, further suggests a consumer-oriented strategy. A Surface Laptop in Violet, for example, might be more suitable for a classroom environment than a corporate boardroom.

Surface Laptop Details

The 13-inch Surface Laptop is touted as Microsoft’s thinnest and lightest Surface Laptop to date, measuring 0.61 inches thick and weighing 2.7 pounds. It also boasts the longest battery life of any Surface Laptop. For comparison, the existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop, also powered by a Snapdragon X Plus chip, weighs 2.96 pounds, while the 15-inch Surface Laptop weighs 3.67 pounds. However, Microsoft has made certain compromises to achieve the smaller size and lower price point.

One key difference lies in the processor. The existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 utilizes a 10-core X Plus chip, while the new 13-inch Surface Laptop features an 8-core X Plus chip. This reduction in core count likely impacts performance.

Microsoft appears to be offering a single memory configuration with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. However, customers can choose between 256GB or 512GB of storage. Notably, only the 256GB SSD is removable. The 512GB model uses Universal Flash Storage (UFS), a lower-power storage option that appears to be soldered onto the motherboard.

The positioning of the new 13-inch Surface Laptop within Microsoft’s existing lineup is somewhat unclear. The Surface Laptop Go 3, with its 12.4-inch display, seemed to fade away in 2023. However, the spirit of that device, particularly its focus on affordability, lives on in the new 13-inch Surface Laptop. In fact, the new model even retains the fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, a feature previously found on the Surface Laptop Go.

The Surface Laptop Go 3 was criticized for its sub-1080p display. While the 13-inch Surface Laptop doesn’t go quite that far, it offers a 1920 x 1280 resolution display. This is adequate for the screen size, but its pixel density of 178 PPI is noticeably lower than the 2304 x 1536 (201 PPI) resolution of the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop. The larger Surface Laptop also boasts a brighter display with a rated brightness of 600 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The 13-inch model, on the other hand, offers 400 nits of brightness and a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

The two external USB-C ports support DisplayPort 1.4a and can drive up to two 4K displays at 60Hz. However, Microsoft stops short of explicitly labeling them as USB4 or Thunderbolt ports. The device also includes a USB-A (USB 3.1) port for legacy connections. As previously mentioned, the Surface Connector is absent, meaning that older Surface chargers will no longer be compatible. On the wireless front, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth Core 5.4.

Surface Pro Details

The revamped 12-inch Surface Pro presents an interesting proposition, especially considering that Microsoft currently sells (or did sell, as it’s currently listed as sold out on Microsoft’s website) the 13-inch Surface Pro with an LCD display, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for the same price of $799.99. Now, Microsoft is offering the 12-inch Surface Pro at the same minimum price point.

Similar to the Laptop, the new Surface Pro utilizes the downgraded processor. The 2196 x 1464 resolution display offers a lower pixel density (220 PPI vs 267 PPI) compared to the existing Surface Pro. The display is protected by "strengthened glass," but there is no mention of Gorilla Glass. As anticipated, the OLED display option has been removed. However, the refresh rate is 90Hz, which is a positive surprise given the lower price point.

The Surface Pro is configured with 16GB of LPDDR5X memory. Storage options include a removable 256GB SSD or a 512GB UFS storage module soldered down to the motherboard. The port selection mirrors the Surface Laptop, as do the wireless connectivity options.

The Surface Pro’s camera quality has been downgraded. The front-facing camera is now a standard 1080p option with Windows Hello support, replacing the previous 1440p camera. However, support for AI-powered Windows Studio Effects remains.

Microsoft has also redesigned the keyboard. While a 13-inch Surface Pro would have required its own keyboard, Microsoft opted not to incorporate the elaborate connectivity features of the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. Instead, the 12-inch Surface Pro keyboard folds completely flat against the tablet for easier inking and typing. It also features a "customizable precision touchpad with adaptive touch mode."

The new Surface Pro is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2, which can now be magnetically attached to the back of the tablet for charging.

Microsoft highlights the Surface Pro’s environmental credentials, noting that the enclosure contains 82.9% recycled content. It is also the first Surface Pro to incorporate 100% recycled cobalt in the battery cell.