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Microsoft announces colorful new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Plus
Microsoft has new flagship AI PCs. The company today announced a 13-inch Surface Laptop and a 12-inch Surface Pro with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processors. These new Copilot+ PCs will be available starting May 20, while business versions will ship on July 22.
Both systems share similar specs, including 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage, though the Pro has a faster, higher-resolution display than the Laptop and also comes with Windows Hello support in the webcam, which the laptop relegates to a fingerprint reader.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0
Surface Pro, 12-inch
Surface Laptop, 13-inch
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core)
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core)
NPU
Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno (integrated)
Qualcomm Adreno (integrated)
Memory
16GB LPDDR5x
16GB LPDDR5x
Storage
256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB
Display
12-inch, 2196 x 1464, PixelSense, up to 90 Hz (60 Hz default), touchscreen
13-inch, 1920 x 1280, PixelSense, 60 Hz, touchscreen
Size
10.8 x 7.47 x 0.3 inches (274 x 190 x 7.8 mm) / 1.5 pounds (686 g) without keyboard
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 inches (285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6 mm) / 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg)
Webcam
1080p, Windows Hello 10MP rear-facing camera
1080p
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Wall Charger Included?
No
Yes
Release Date
May 20, 2025
May 20, 2025
Starting Price
$799 (without keyboard)
$899
The Surface Pro 11th Edition and Surface Laptop 7th Edition, which debuted last year with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus (10 Core) processors, each starting at $799.99 as of this writing. Unless the prices for those more powerful models go up, potential buyers may want to consider one of those more powerful systems if they don't care about having the thinnest, lightest designs. It's possible that these Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core) models are priced higher due to tariffs, but Microsoft hasn't commented.
Update: May 6, 10:04 a.m. ET: Microsoft's Surface Laptop 13.8 now starts at $999. The Surface Pro 11th Edition still starts at $799.99. The story continues below.
Surface Pro, 12-inch
This new Surface Pro is a smaller size than the existing 13-inch device and offers a fanless design. Microsoft claims it's the "thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC yet," and it seems to fill in the gap left by the Surface Go (the Surface Go 4 was only released for businesses).
This tablet is 1.5 pounds before adding the optional 0.27-pound keyboard. That keyboard, which will be a must-have accessory for many, will start at $149. The $129 Surface Slim pen is also sold separately. Microsoft says that the new keyboard lies flat "for a grounded and quiet typing experience," and that it folds back flat against the Surface Pro for when you want to write or draw.
The new Pro will come in three colors: the default platinum seen on so many Surface devices, a bold new violet, and a dark, blue-green color called "ocean."
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Perhaps the other biggest physical distinction is that this system won't have Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect port, instead relying entirely on USB Type-C for charging. In fact, the two USB Type-C 3.2 ports are the only I/O on the entire system.
The system will come with a USB Type-C cable for charging, but it won't include a wall charger in the box. It's possible this is a result of European Union rulings requiring USB-C charging on tablets, meaning that a charger isn't strictly required, like with phones. You'll need at least a 45W charger in order to fast charge the new Surface Pro.
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The Surface Pro has two cameras: a 1080p webcam with support for Windows Hello facial recognition, and a 10MP rear shooter for people who like to take pictures with tablets.
The Surface Pro starts at $799 in platinum with the Snapdragon X Plus (8 core), 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. For $899, you bump up to 512GB of storage and can also get the violent or ocean color options.
Surface Laptop, 13-inch
The new Surface Laptop, which Microsoft claims is the thinnest and lightest Surface Laptop to date, is a more straightforward update. It's smaller than the existing Surface Laptop, which comes in 13.8-inch and 15-inch screen sizes.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Like the Surface Pro, the new Laptop cuts the Surface Connect port and charges over USB-C. The Surface Laptop has a pair of USB-C 3.2 ports, a USB-A 3.1 port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Unlike the tablet, the Surface Laptop will come with a 45W USB-C wall charger in the box (though you need a 60W charger for fast charging).
The laptop's anodized aluminum casing will come in the same violet, ocean, and platinum colorways as the new Surface Pro.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
The Surface Laptop has a 1080p webcam like the Pro, but it doesn't support facial recognition. Instead, the Laptop has a fingerprint reader in the power button, similar to the MacBook Air.
Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop and its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (8 core) processor is "50% faster than Surface Laptop 5 and even outpaces the MacBook Air M3." While that might be what some users are upgrading from, the Surface Laptop 5 launched in 2022 with 12th Gen Intel processors, while the MacBook Air is now on its next iteration with the M4 chip.
Unlike the Surface Pro, Microsoft is using a fan here for improved sustained performance.
Like the Surface Pro, the $899 base model has the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and only comes in platinum. The $999 configuration that jumps to 512GB of storage also comes in violet or ocean.
Copilot+ and new feature
Alongside the new Surfaces, Microsoft is announcing a series of new Copilot+ features that will show up in Windows Insider builds over the next month.
These include an update to settings to let you use natural language to search for and change settings on your PC. There will also be a new AI-based Snipping Tool to perfectly crop screenshots, a sticker generator in Paint for chats or documents, and more updates to Narrator for better image descriptions.
A tool in photos called Relight will let you adjust light sources in photos. This will debut on Snapdragon X Series PCs and come to AMD and Intel later on.
Additionally, there will be a redesigned Start Menu that adds a sidebar showing recent activity from your phone, as well as AI actions in File Explorer.
Microsoft is continuing to push the Copilot+ as the future of the PC, especially with support for Windows 10 ending on Oct. 14, 2025.
The company has been slowly expanding Copilot+ features that run on the NPU, including launching Recall to find what you previously looked for and an improved Windows Search. AI PCs haven't been a huge boon for upgrades, and despite being called Copilot+, Microsoft's Copilot chatbot doesn't actually run on device. But the clock running out on Windows 10 may drive more sales as potential buyers look for the latest updates, features, and security patches.
Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and BlueSky @andrewfreedman.net.You can send him tips on Signal: andrewfreedman.01
I just want a Surface Go with an AMOLED or Mini-LED screen that can go brighter than 500 nits, and a modern x86 processor (Linux isn't happening any time soon on Qualcomm chips, as good as they are).
Or what about one of these 11 inch Android tablets but with an unlocked boot loader?
I have a robo and Kala (12 inch Qualcomm WIndows tablet) and 12 inches is too large for a tablet. Also windows is not an appropriate OS for a tablet.
I was going to feel bad about not realizing a new version of surface was released and just bought a surface pro 11 last night. The 12-core with an Oled screen. But this article made me feel better because the new version was a lesser cpu that was just thinner for the same price.
I want an 8" or smaller surface go with the option for a mobile connection.
If Microsoft is listening, I bet they aren't, what I'm really looking for is an high res <9" tablet, kinda like the Legion Go, except I don't need the detachable controllers. What I want is that 2560x1600, 8.8" screen and form factor that fits in the hand, you know, like how most books you'd bother to carry would be, not some A1 sized canvas for artists.
The OG SP was a 10.6" 1080p, and that was fantastic for portability. It had a lot of shortcomings, but I'm sick and tired of obesity taking over screens on a supposedly "portable device" and >12" becoming the norm.
I was going to feel bad about not realizing a new version of surface was released and just bought a surface pro 11 last night. The 12-core with an Oled screen. But this article made me feel better because the new version was a lesser cpu that was just thinner for the same price.
I want an 8" or smaller surface go with the option for a mobile connection.
Sounds like you want a Legion Go!
Notton said:
If Microsoft is listening, I bet they aren't, what I'm really looking for is an high res <9" tablet, kinda like the Legion Go, except I don't need the detachable controllers. What I want is that 2560x1600, 8.8" screen and form factor that fits in the hand, you know, like how most books you'd bother to carry would be, not some A1 sized canvas for artists.
The OG SP was a 10.6" 1080p, and that was fantastic for portability. It had a lot of shortcomings, but I'm sick and tired of obesity taking over screens on a supposedly "portable device" and >12" becoming the norm.
Ya, the OnexPlayer x1 or x1 mini is probably the closest thing to what we want, but despite being the right size diagonally, its too thick and too heavy (not to mention expensive). And for me, I'm too spoiled with AMOLED tablets and my macbook mini-LED screens. I also game & watch movies on an HDR TV; makes it hard to go back to devices with just 500 nits or less brightness.
Also lets be honest, Windows 11 sucks for tablets.
16GB/256GB really Microsoft, take about ripping off your customers, minimum is 32GB/1TB and agree an 8/9in design similar to a book size would be a great portable size.
If in the future somebody marries a book size ARM powered device to a colour E-ink, we finally could have the portable device we want, without paying for it with a spare kidney.
