Microsoft is updating its 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop devices with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X2 Plus chips. The smaller Surface devices retain the same design and hardware features from last year, with faster, more capable internal chips and higher prices (thanks RAMgeddon!). While the 12-inch Surface Pro started at $799.99 last year, it will debut on October 13 for a starting price of $1,149.99. Similarly, the 13-inch Surface Laptop was originally priced at $899.99, but this time it went up to $1,199.99. There is no 8GB base model this time around, causing some of the price increase as both devices launch with a minimum of 16GB of RAM and can be configured up to 24GB. Price aside, Microsoft promises that the six-core Snapdragon That’s a lot of percentages, but what it amounts to on these devices is better battery life and better performance. On the 12-inch Surface Pro, Second Edition, as Microsoft calls it, that’s an extra hour of web browsing (up to 13 hours total), and on the 13-inch Surface Laptop, Second Edition, that’s two extra hours of web browsing usage (up to 18 hours total). Microsoft is using similar displays in these models as last year, so the 12-inch Surface Pro has a 2196 x 1464 (220 PPI) LCD display that runs at up to 90 Hz. The 13-inch Surface Laptop still comes with a 1920 x 1280 (178 PPI) display that only runs at 60 Hz. However, both displays have been upgraded from 400 nits of brightness at 500 nits. The port selection also remains the same. Both devices include two USB-C 3.2 ports, and the 13-inch Surface Laptop also has a USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Both also support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. I’m surprised Microsoft hasn’t updated at least one of these smaller Surface devices with a haptic trackpad, particularly since Windows 11 now adds subtle haptic nudges and the Surface Laptop Ultra comes with haptic feedback. Microsoft is launching a second edition of its Surface Mouse with integrated haptics, and you can read all about it here. Microsoft is also bringing back the black color option for these two smaller Surface devices, with platinum silver or purple colors available as well. Both devices will also be sold to business customers and the 12-inch Surface Pro will be available in an optional 5G configuration.
