Surface Pro 12-Inch Review: Cute But Compromised

The 12-inch Surface Pro is the most iPad-like hybrid tablet Microsoft has made yet, but to get there the company had to make plenty of compromises. Clocking in at 1.5 pounds, it weighs almost the same as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and its 7.8mm thickness also makes it the thinnest Surface ever. But it’s also running a slower processor than last year’s 13-inch Surface Pro, and is stuck with a far worse screen. Its keyboard, which is once again sold separately for $149, also doesn’t angle up for ergonomic typing.

Is it all worthwhile for a more streamlined $800 Surface Pro? That really depends on your needs. If you’ve been craving an extremely lightweight Windows tablet that can sometimes turn into a cute 12-inch laptop, then the Surface Pro succeeds. However, don’t set your expectations too high. Similar to
ASUS ZenBook A14
Its weight and slim profile stand out, but it’s also riddled with trade-offs.

What’s new in the 12-inch Surface Pro?

The Surface Pro 12-inch is basically a shrunken version of the 13-inch model: It’s a half-pound lighter and 1.5mm thinner. Hence, the iPad comparison. In your hands it feels a lot more like a genuine tablet, whereas previous Surface devices have always felt a bit clunky, as if they were laptops shoved into a slate-like case (which, admittedly, they were).

The primary engine of this redesigned model is Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon X Plus processor. Being an energy-efficient ARM chip, it enabled Microsoft to create a sleeker tablet instead of using the previous designs that needed to accommodate warmer Intel processors. Despite last year’s 13-inch Surface Pro, equipped with Qualcomm technology as well (such as the ten-core Snapdragon X Plus and twelve-core X Elite), not straying far from earlier versions driven by Intel chips.

Like the MacBook Air, the Surface Pro 12-inch lacks fans as well, potentially becoming problematic when used in warmer settings. While this ensures absolute silence during operation, I’ve rarely encountered significant fan noise from other contemporary ultrabooks. Typically, fan noise turns into an issue primarily for gaming systems and top-tier workstations; however, these tend to overheat too, making some level of fan sound unavoidable.

The aim to create a more compact and affordable version led Microsoft to reduce some features on this 12-inch Surface Pro. Unlike the 13-inch variant, it does not offer an OLED display; rather, it comes equipped with an LCD panel capped at a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz compared to the higher 120Hz found elsewhere. Additionally, the pixel count has been decreased to 2,196 x 1,464 (totaling around 3.2 million pixels at approximately 220 pixels per inch). This contrasts sharply with the larger device’s resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 (which amounts to about 5.5 million pixels at roughly 267ppi).
While the screen quality isn’t nearly up to par with Apple’s 264-ppi retina displays seen on their iPads, it manages to avoid looking low-grade despite these compromises. Images appear vibrant, and brightness remains sufficient even under direct sunlight conditions. However, professionals working extensively in photography or videography might find themselves constrained due to limitations in image detail caused partly by lower resolutions coupled with the reduced physical dimensions of the tablet itself.

Is another unexpected change here? The latest Surface Pro lacks a magnetic Surface Connect charging port. Rather, you’ll need to use one of its two USB-C ports for charging purposes. By the way, when it comes to charging, Microsoft provides just a USB-C cable with the device—so you must get an AC adapter separately. While you can opt for the pricey 45W Surface USB-C power brick priced at $70, I’d suggest considering some budget-friendly yet high-performing alternatives available from various manufacturers.
our fast charging guide
instead.

Lastly, Microsoft has introduced a fresh 12-inch Surface Pro keyboard. Despite the fact that it would typically come included with the Surface Pro (seriously, who wouldn’t get one with the device?!)—Microsoft insists on presenting this as giving customers more “options” by charging them an additional $150 for it.

Clearly, the firm aims to sell an $800 Surface Pro, which wouldn’t be feasible if the keyboard came included. However, this remains a misleading tactic from Microsoft, distinctly unfavorable for consumers and eventually damaging the reputation of the Surface series. The situation would differ if third-party manufacturers created compatible magnetic keyboards; Microsoft did not provide any insight when questioned about such possibilities.

Currently in use: A charming Surface ideal for fundamental tasks.

The 12-inch Surface Pro failed to impress me with the speed demonstrated by the 13-inch model powered by the Snapdragon X Ultra processor. Additionally, it did not wow me as much as the Apple M1-driven MacBook Pro does. Rather, the compact Surface performed adequately. My usual tasks—managing numerous browser tabs, using Evernote, playing music via Spotify, and doing some basic photo edits—were all manageable. However, based on its benchmark scores, I realized this device wasn’t built for heavy-duty use.

To be honest, slow performance has consistently been an issue for 12-inch laptops, similar to
Apple’s last MacBook
You’re purchasing a small laptop for its charm and portability rather than speed, and in this aspect, the 12-inch Surface Pro excels. Alongside the 0.3-pound Surface Keyboard, the total weight of the Surface Pro setup comes out to about 1.8 pounds. This makes it lighter by approximately 0.2 pounds compared to just the body of the 13-inch model alone. It’s simple enough to slip the 12-inch Surface Pro into your messenger bag when working remotely; after some time, you hardly even notice it’s there.

Although I had low expectations for the new Surface Keyboard, I discovered that it was both comfortable and responsive to use. Initially concerned about potential key spacing issues compared to the 13-inch version, I found little discernible difference when typing. While a bigger touchpad would have been preferable, the 12-inch keyboard remains silky-smooth and precise. For those interested in using a stylus, consider purchasing the $130 Surface Slim Pen; this accessory attaches magnetically at the top of the device. Personally, I’m not particularly fond of tablet styli these days, yet the Surface Pen proved adequate for sketching and jotting handwritten notes on the 12-inch Surface Pro.

When used as a stand-alone tablet, the Surface Pro performs adequately; however, it’s limited by Windows’ tiny touch targets and overall unsuitability for slate devices. Unlike with an iPad, where browsing can be casual, I generally opt to utilize the Surface Pro in laptop mode first, only removing the keyboard later when I want to read extended pieces.

When it comes to these benchmark comparisons, similar to how the Zenbook A14 closely matched the Surface’s outcomes, this 12-inch tablet stands out as quite light. However, it does offer a slightly more affordable price point compared to the A14, even when you factor in the extra cost of the Surface Keyboard. On Geekbench 6 CPU and GPU tests, both devices achieved comparable scores; nevertheless, the Surface Pro demonstrated marginally better performance in single-core tasks. In terms of graphics capabilities, they’re not strong contenders either, registering among the weakest 3DMark Wildlife Extreme scores we have encountered over recent years.

Considering its dimensions and modest specs, I doubt anyone expects robust gaming performance from the 12-inch Surface Pro. For a device of this caliber, cloud streaming seems like the most suitable approach — during my testing, I managed to initiate
Halo Infinite
Through the Xbox app, you can do this in roughly 15 seconds, and the campaign streams seamlessly via Wi-Fi without any issues. While you might come across a few lightweight games compatible with the Surface Pro, its ARM architecture means popular titles like
Fortnite
and
Overwatch 2
It won’t even start up. (Not that I anticipated they would function particularly well, anyway.)

I encountered several unusual software issues when attempting to assess the Surface Pro’s battery using PCMark 10. Despite these hurdles, I managed to determine that the device retained 53% charge after approximately eight hours of benchmarking. Regarding everyday use, it still held onto about 30% of its battery at the end of a full working day. According to Microsoft, this particular model is supposed to sustain power for up to 16 hours. During our evaluation process, however, we found that the 13-inch version lasted through 12 hours and 15 minutes under similar conditions in PCMark 10 tests.

Is purchasing the 12-inch Surface Pro a good idea?

The 12-inch Surface Pro is an emotional purchase rather than a logical one. You might hear that the 13-inch version is significantly quicker and more versatile as a device. It’s worth noting that during sales, this bigger model costs only $800 at Best Buy—a full $200 below its usual starting cost. Yet all these facts become irrelevant when what you truly desire is simply a stylish Windows laptop that offers portability wherever you go.

I can understand why you might be puzzled by Microsoft’s pricing strategy, however. Recently, they took their most affordable 13-inch Surface Pro options out of their online store, causing speculation that the company had indeed raised Surface prices. Currently, we find ourselves in an unusual position where both the 12-inch and 13-inch versions are priced at $800.

As a result, one possibility is that Microsoft could merely be liquidating its current inventory of basic 13-inch models; consequently, the most affordable choice you may have will likely be the $1,400 configuration, which is presently discounted to $1,030.

Wrap-up

The Surface Pro is lightweight and slim, capable of handling many common work duties efficiently. Additionally, it boasts a charming design; thus, you might not notice its inferior performance and display quality compared to the 13-inch version as much. Microsoft has at last crafted a Surface device that closely mirrors the experience of using an iPad, making this unit appealing enough for certain individuals to consider purchasing solely based on that feature.