Microsoft's new 12-inch Surface Pro is a small computer we have been waiting for

Indian Express

07-05-2025

Microsoft has unveiled a 12-inch Surface Pro, marking the return of tiny computers to the market after years of being overlooked. This is also the first time in years that consumers will have the option to buy a compact personal computer that is not only modern by today's standards but also easy on the pocket.
After a long period during which tiny laptops were virtually non-existent, the 12-inch Surface Pro feels like a breath of fresh air. Starting at $799, it offers a mainstream alternative to other 2-in-1s and laptops on the market. Microsoft had previously attempted to revive small computers with the 10.5-inch Surface Go, but that device was underpowered and primarily aimed at students. In contrast, the new 12-inch Surface Pro is a proper Windows 2-in-1—a form factor Microsoft pioneered with the original Surface and continues to evolve.
While the design of the 12-inch Surface Pro closely resembles that of the 13-inch Surface Pro—which Microsoft continues to sell, including a built-in kickstand that opens almost flat—it introduces several design tweaks. Although the 12-inch Surface still supports the Slim Pen, the keyboard no longer includes a built-in storage slot. Instead, there's now a magnet on the back of the device for attaching the pen.
The new Surface Pro features a pair of USB-C ports, each supporting 10 Gbps USB 3.2 speeds, though not full USB 4. The Surface Connect port has been removed, and due to the smaller form factor, the new hybrid device is not compatible with any of the keyboard accessories made for previous Surface Pro or Surface Go models. However, Microsoft will sell a new keyboard specifically for this device at $149. Interestingly, the fundamental design of the keyboard case hasn't changed in over a decade.
This fanless device ships with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus chip, featuring eight cores, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It's a mid-range chip from Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X series, designed to lower the cost of Windows laptops while maintaining performance. Unlike the standard X Elite, which includes 10 cores, this variant includes eight. Microsoft claims the device offers around 12 hours of battery life during active web use.
Since its inception, the Surface line has always been pitched as a dual-purpose computer—a 2-in-1 form factor that allows users to switch between laptop and tablet modes. However, the 12-inch Surface Pro leans more toward the tablet end of the spectrum due to its smaller size. The compromise here is the use of an LCD panel instead of OLED, although it still supports a 90Hz high refresh rate display.
The keyboard is not included in the package and is sold separately. (Image credit: Microsoft)
The new 12-inch Surface Pro isn't a downgrade by any means, but it's also not the most powerful Windows PC either. The good news is that Microsoft has managed to keep the device lightweight and compact without compromising too much on performance.
The late 1990s and 2000s—up until the debut of the 11-inch MacBook Air in 2008—were the peak era for compact laptops, when brands actively experimented with tiny computers from the likes of Sony and Toshiba. Since then, larger screen sizes have become the norm, driven by growing demand for content consumption on laptops. Bigger displays also allow for larger batteries and more connectivity ports, both of which are added advantages.
The launch of the 12-inch Surface Pro may or may not change the fate of compact computers, but it reintroduces a choice that hasn't been available to consumers in years: a 2-in-1 computer that's small in size yet powerful on the inside. Whether other brands will follow Microsoft's footsteps remains to be seen. But the timing feels right—especially now that ARM-powered processors offer reasonably good performance, run completely fanless, and deliver long battery life.