Microsoft has officially unveiled the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch, two new additions to its Copilot+ PC lineup. While these devices bring some welcome refinements, they also signal a shift in Microsoft’s approach—one that might be less about innovation and more about cost-cutting.
A Smaller Surface Pro with a Familiar Look
The Surface Pro 12-inch is a direct successor to the Surface Pro 11, but with a few notable changes. The most obvious? It’s smaller. Microsoft has trimmed the screen down from 13 inches to 12 inches, making it more compact and lightweight. The bezels are now uniform, giving it a sleeker, more modern look.
But while the design is cleaner, some compromises have been made. The OLED display option is gone, replaced by a 2196 x 1464 LCD panel. The Thunderbolt 4 ports have been downgraded to USB 3.2, meaning slightly slower speeds and fewer high-end accessories.
The Death of the Surface Connect Port
One of the biggest changes is the removal of the proprietary Surface Connect port. Microsoft has finally ditched its magnetic charging port, opting instead for USB-C charging.
This could be a sign of things to come. Microsoft has been slowly moving away from proprietary ports, and this change suggests that future Surface devices might follow suit. While some users will miss the convenience of Surface Connect, USB-C is more universal and future-proof.
Microsoft is pushing its Copilot+ PC initiative, aiming to bring AI-powered Windows devices to more people. But to hit lower price points, it’s cutting corners.
- No OLED display on the Surface Pro 12-inch
- Downgraded USB-C ports instead of Thunderbolt 4
- Limited expandability—no removable SSDs
- No Surface Connect charging
These changes make the new Surface devices more affordable, but they also strip away some of the premium features that made Surface stand out.
A New Keyboard—With Less Alcantara
The Surface Pro 12-inch keyboard has also been redesigned. Unlike previous models, Alcantara fabric is now only on the outside, rather than covering the entire keyboard.
Microsoft has also tweaked the industrial design to improve lapability—a long-standing issue with Surface Pro devices. The keyboard now lays flat instead of angling upward, making it more stable when used on a lap.
Battery Life and Fan Removal
Microsoft is promising up to 16 hours of battery life on the Surface Pro 12-inch, thanks to its fanless design. The Snapdragon X Plus chip allows for passive cooling, meaning no noisy fans and a thinner chassis.
Surface Laptop vs Surface Laptop
Let’s talk about the Surface Laptop 13-inch display. It features a 13-inch touchscreen with a 1920 x 1280 resolution, making it crisp enough for everyday use but certainly not the most cutting-edge panel on the market. Unlike previous models, Microsoft has smoothed out the laptop’s edges, opting for a curved aluminum chassis instead of the sharper industrial design of its predecessors. The colors—Ocean, Violet, and Platinum—also give it a fresh feel.
Under the hood, it’s powered by Snapdragon X Plus (8-core) or Snapdragon X Elite (12-core) processors. While these chips promise AI-powered experiences and energy efficiency, they’re still a bit of an unknown in terms of real-world performance. Alongside 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, the device should hold up well for most users, but power users might still miss the traditional Intel or AMD options.
One of the biggest selling points here is battery life. Microsoft is claiming up to 23 hours of video playback, which is huge—but real-world usage will tell us whether that number holds up. Unlike the fanless Surface Pro 12-inch, the Surface Laptop 13-inch keeps its traditional cooling system, meaning performance might be a little more stable under heavy workloads.
The port selection is another big conversation point. Gone are the days of Surface-exclusive ports—Microsoft appears to be firmly in the USB-C era. The Surface Laptop 13-inch includes two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a headphone jack. No more Surface Connect, but honestly, it’s about time Microsoft ditched that outdated proprietary port.
One of the more controversial changes in the new Surface Laptop 13-inch is the removal of the IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition. Instead, Microsoft has opted for a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button—a move that feels eerily similar to Apple’s approach with the MacBook lineup.
For years, Windows Hello facial recognition was a standout feature of Surface devices, offering fast, hands-free login. But with the Surface Laptop 13-inch, Microsoft has decided to ditch the IR camera entirely, meaning users will now have to rely on fingerprint authentication.
This shift raises some questions. Is Microsoft cutting costs by removing the IR camera? Or is it simply following Apple’s lead, moving toward a more standardized biometric login experience? While fingerprint readers are reliable and secure, some users may miss the convenience of facial recognition, especially for quick logins.
This change, along with the removal of the Surface Connect port, suggests that Microsoft is streamlining its hardware—but at the cost of some longstanding Surface features.
Microsoft is clearly positioning this laptop as an alternative to the MacBook Air, offering similar portability with slightly better battery life and more ports. While it’s not exactly pushing innovation to the limits, it feels like a practical upgrade aimed at a wide audience.
Pricing & Base Configurations
- Surface Pro 12-inch starts at $799.
- Surface Laptop 13-inch is priced at $899.
- Both devices feature the Snapdragon X Plus processor (8-core), 16GB of RAM, and 256GB or 512GB SSD storage.
Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard Price
- The Surface Pro Keyboard is sold separately for $149.
- It features a flat design, backlit keys, and a 360-degree hinge for flexibility.
Both devices are available for pre-order now and will start shipping on May 20 for consumers, with business versions following on July 22
For years, Microsoft experimented with wacky hinges, detachable displays, and unique form factors. But lately, the company seems to be playing it safe.
The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch feel more like incremental refinements than bold innovations. Microsoft appears to be focusing on cost-cutting and efficiency, rather than pushing boundaries.
Is this shift to Apple-like refinement a good thing? On the one hand, it makes Surface devices more polished and reliable. On the other hand, it could be partly to blame for the stagnation of the product line—both in terms of customer enthusiasm and revenue.
Microsoft’s Surface revenue has been struggling, and it’s hard not to notice how that lines up with the company’s shift away from bold, experimental designs.
For years, Surface was known for pushing boundaries—whether it was the hinge on the Surface Book, the dual-screen Surface Duo, or the kickstand-first approach of the Surface Pro. These devices weren’t just functional; they were conversation starters. But lately, Microsoft has moved toward Apple-like refinement, focusing on incremental updates rather than groundbreaking new form factors.
This shift has coincided with a significant drop in Surface revenue. In FY23 Q3, Microsoft reported a 30% decline in Surface revenue, citing weak PC demand and excess inventory. The previous quarter was even worse, with a 39% drop. While the broader PC market has struggled, Microsoft’s lack of fresh, exciting designs hasn’t helped.
The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch are perfect examples of this trend. Instead of introducing new form factors, Microsoft has focused on cost-cutting—removing OLED displays, Thunderbolt ports, and Surface Connect charging. While these changes make Surface devices more affordable, they also strip away the premium appeal that once made them stand out.
At its peak, Surface was bringing in nearly $7 billion in revenue. But as Microsoft has moved away from bold innovation, that number has plummeted. The company now faces a tough decision: continue refining its existing lineup or take risks to reignite customer enthusiasm.
Microsoft’s latest Surface devices are solid, but they don’t feel exciting. And in a market where Apple and other competitors are constantly evolving, Microsoft may need to rethink its strategy if it wants Surface to remain relevant.
What do you think? Is Microsoft playing it too safe?
