In today’s market, the importance of a gadget’s price relative to its size is increasingly significant. Many companies, including Microsoft, are recognizing the demand for more affordable yet capable laptops. Microsoft recently unveiled details about its new 12-inch Surface Pro and thinner 13-inch Surface Laptop, which seem to offer a balance of aesthetics, price, and performance, starting at under $1,000, excluding the Surface Pro’s Flex Keyboard.
The 2025 Surface lineup features two well-known devices. The 13-inch Surface Laptop, priced at $900, features a traditional clamshell design with a touchscreen resolution of 1,920 x 1,280. The Surface Pro 12, at $800, is a highlight with its design as a Windows tablet that converts into a laptop-like device via a detachable keyboard. This year’s Surface Pro is $200 less expensive than the previous $1,000 11th-gen version but still requires a separate keyboard purchase. Notably, the display is smaller at 12 inches with a resolution of 2,196 x 1,464, yet it is lighter, weighing 1.5 pounds compared to the previous model’s two pounds.
Both new devices operate on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus chip, an eight-core, ARM-based CPU released in mid-2024. The prior Surface models included up to the Snapdragon X Elite chip, Qualcomm’s most powerful ARM-based processor. The upgraded Surface Pro and Surface Laptop come with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as standard.
Microsoft states this CPU provides a better starting price and an upgrade path for users of older devices like the 2022 Surface Laptop. The company claims the Snapdragon X Plus in the new Surface Laptop is 30% faster than the Intel Core i5-1235U in the 2022 model, and it may surpass the M3 MacBook Air in some benchmarks. However, such claims were not extended to the $1,000 MacBook Air M4, indicating a competitive pricing strategy among tech giants.
The new Surface models do not initially include x86-based Intel chips, although these could be introduced later, as seen with the previous year’s Surface Pro. Microsoft is committed to Qualcomm’s ARM chips due to their superior battery life, despite potential issues with software compatibility, especially in gaming or outdated drivers.
The design of the 12-inch Surface Pro remains consistent with previous hybrid tablet-laptop models, featuring a built-in kickstand. The device’s major update is a new slot for the Slim Pen at the back instead of the keyboard, which is no longer included with the device. This change could appeal to creators who prefer using the Surface as a tablet.
Another notable update is the removal of the Surface Connect port, replaced by USB-C with 45W fast charging support. Battery life is estimated at 12 hours for the Surface Pro and around 16 hours for the Surface Laptop.
The new models include color updates, introducing a violet option replacing last year’s blue. Both devices are also available in platinum and an “ocean” shade, which mirrors Apple’s “Sky Blue.”
While changes to the Surface series are minimal, some enhancements offer practicality. Microsoft will continue to sell previous models for those preferring the Surface Connect system. There remains uncertainty regarding potential price changes due to tariff fluctuations, with Microsoft noting that tariffs are unpredictable, leaving future pricing uncertain.
