Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 12" Touch-Screen - Snapdragon X Plus - 16GB Memory - 256GB UFS - Device Only (Latest Model) - Platinum

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• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  A (nearly) Perfect Laptop/Tablet Hybrid!

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  It took about a week of adjusting to it, but for a travel business “laptop”, I’m completely sold on the Microsoft Surface Pro 12”. I look forward to using it – something I’ve rarely said about a computer. However, with the blurring of lines between a tablet and a full computer and the Windows operating system not quite being as friendly as it could be, it’s something to read more about before jumping into. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the Surface Pro 12”, being largely unfamiliar with its predecessors. I knew it was some type of tablet, but with Windows and that was about it. The big thing to get out of the way is that it’s NOT a tablet. It looks like a tablet and functions on a surface level like a tablet, but unlike my Pixel Tablet or the iPads I’ve used over the years, it’s definitely NOT a tablet. It took me a few days until I truly wrapped my head around it. What you have with the Surface is a laptop with the touchscreen and form factor of a tablet. The reason is simply the Windows operating system. There is nothing inherently wrong with the Windows operating system, but it’s not what I would consider optimized for a tablet environment. Comparatively with other tablets, everything is completely optimized for a touch-friendly experience from the operating system to the entirety of the apps allowed on it. They’re all made for touching and gesture-based navigation. Here, I found myself instinctively swiping things like I would my phone or other touchscreen devices to be met with anything but the desired and expected response. This isn’t a bad experience, per se, but something I had to work past a bit of a mental hurdle with. Once my brain finally understood that it’s a full Windows desktop experience but just in the appearance of a tablet, I was able to navigate my time with it far better. This was aided with the additional purchase of the keyboard and SlimPen add-ons. I’ve made a full review of those, but I consider the keyboard an essential component of the Surface Pro 12”. So essential I wouldn’t suggest that anyone even consider the purchase of a Surface Pro without it. The pen, while I do think works fantastically, is a bit more optional depending on your personal preferences. With the keyboard at hand, I can easily switch from more “computer” tasks, such as navigating my daily business emails, messages, and invoicing to more “tablet” activities, such as scrolling Reddit and social media. In essence, I’ve learned when to take advantage of the Surface Pro as a laptop replacement and when as a tablet replacement. In the box, however, there is no keyboard. You get the Surface Pro itself and a USB-C charging cable. I find the claim of lack of a wall adapter due to saving the environment slightly dubious, but the fact of the matter is you are likely to have a generic USB-C charger already. And if you don’t you can buy the official branded one or any other that pumps out 45W or more. There’s little in the box in terms of documentation – just a screen protector pointing out the buttons and ports. Turning it on for the first time was the same initial setup process as any other Windows based desktop or laptop. You must use a Microsoft account, and you will spend some time downloading updates and then more updates later, but it was an easy process. Physically, the Surface is a bit of a tech treat. It weighs a little over a pound, enough that it has a slight heft to it, but not enough that it felt uncomfortable to hold for extended periods. The screen is glossy, which may be a pro/con depending on if you’re using the SlimPen frequently and your preference and looks fantastic. The colors are bright and the touch screen is very responsive and it’s exactly what you want. There is a large bezel around all sides of the screen that, to me, feel like they aren’t in the way when holding it like a tablet, but when used as a laptop with the keyboard it makes me feel like I’m losing screen real estate. Looking around the device, you have just enough of everything. There’s only two inputs, but they’re USB-C and can be used for charging and even to connect to a monitor. There’s a front facing and a rear facing camera. I was able to have an extended zoom meeting with the front camera, and it looked great. Nothing amazing, but certainly nothing bad either. I’m not one to really take photos from a tablet, so I’ve little experience with the rear camera, but I’m also glad it’s there, too. Next to the rear camera is a slightly shallow recessed area meant for holding and charging the SlimPen attachment. On the top are buttons for power/standby and volume. The bottom has the connector for the keyboard. And the standout physical feature is the kickstand. I appreciate how solid it feels and that it runs the length of the entirety of the device. And, going backward 165-degrees, you’re really covered for whatever viewing angle you find best in the given moment. There are no fans on this device. This is by design, and I was cautious at first, but I have yet to have a situation to worry about it. With all the stress tests of daily use I put it through, including video calls, I never felt this the Surface Pro get above slightly warm to the touch. Color me impressed. Spec-wise, this isn’t a super high end computing machine, but for general use including office work, web browsing, and online video, you’ll be completely fine. You’re not really going to be doing gaming on here, but it’s a great opportunity to explore cloud gaming with XBOX. The 12” screen is a bit on the small side for a lot of work, but I couldn’t imagine holding it like a tablet with a screen any larger than that. 256GB of storage and 16GB is perfect for this device. If you’re doing a lot of graphic work on here, you may want to consider more storage. It’s important to note here that nothing about the Surface Pro is upgradable, so the only option for more local storage would be a USB-C connected external drive. The battery life on this has been fantastic. I’ve struggled to get the battery down low enough to necessitate needing to plug it in. This is definitely a giant pro worth mentioning as I could work the whole day on this and nearly all of the next business day without thinking about charging it. As for the computing experience itself, if you’ve used Windows then you’re set. There’s no difference here, for better or worse. I would have loved to see the option of going from a full desktop experience to one more tailored towards a touch-screen experience. Honestly, this is the biggest fault of the Surface Pro in my opinion. Windows seems just shy of being able to really do what you need it to in a tablet setting. The on-screen keyboard and its many options work just great… when it shows up. Too many times, I’ve clicked on an area where a text input is expected and just no keyboard shows up. This has been my experience with my other touch-screen Windows devices. However, getting past that quirk and my previous mentioned muscle memory from my phone touchscreen navigation, it’s as good as Windows always is. I wish Windows would let me customize all gesture actions, including edge swiping. It’s distracting having to navigate different gestures on different devices. Being a newer model, the Copilot and associated AI features are displayed in full force here. Copilot can answer questions, create images, translate things, and more. I’m impressed with these functions. I’ve only just scratched the surface (no pun intended) on how to truly take advantage of it all, but I like that it’s there. I’m curious to do more with the Recall feature, that basically can rewind your experience too early. As someone who may quickly and prematurely close out work at times, it’s nice to get back right to it. Knowing in advance the pros and cons of the Surface Pro as more of a laptop replacement in the size of a tablet will go a long way. It’s not going to replace my desktop for work, although you could easily use a dock to turn it into one, but in the living room, at the coffee shop or in other areas where I can work and play more casually but with a full desktop experience, the Surface Pro shines like no other.

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  Posted 4 days ago by Eric

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Portable, quiet, unique and powerful

  • Tech Insider Network Member
  • Top 250 Contributor

  I have owned a few Windows based tablets in the past, but they really didn't perform well. I switched to an expensive iPad Pro, but it had battery issues and didn't support every app I needed. The Surface has none of these issues. I have been absolutely impressed by its performance. The Snapdragon processor and 16GB of RAM are a great combo for stutter-free multi-tasking on the go. I easily get 10 hours of battery life without any effort and can stretch it to around 15 hours in casual use. I also love using OneNote on a tablet and it works really well with the Surface. The Surface is lightweight, but very solid. The textured metal case and rounded corners makes it a joy to use in tablet mode, effortlessly portable without adding bulk. The built-in kickstand adjusts so you can position it at almost every angle and is very solid. The Surface also has a built-in inductive charger for the Surface pen if you decide to buy one. The sharp display is another standout feature, enhanced by the Night Light setting. Unlike traditional blue light filters, this one leans more toward a warm yellow hue, making evening use far easier on the eyes. I particularly appreciated the automatic sunset adjustment, which seamlessly transitioned the display for nighttime comfort. I was also impressed by the volume and range of the speakers. While they aren't for hard hitting bass, they are sharp and do not distort at max volume. I finally gave Copilot a try, and I can see everyday uses for this friendly AI! It’s been an absolute game-changer for me, helping with trip planning, math explanations for my high schooler, shopping lists, and even organizing my June vegetable garden. I primarily used the quick reply setting, which made conversations feel fast-paced yet surprisingly engaging, almost like a friendly banter. For more in-depth responses, Copilot also offers two additional modes, giving me even greater flexibility depending on what I need. The Surface has a NPU, which is another processor that handles AI related task, so things like Copilot, AI picture editing, and AI noise cancelling don't impact the main processor. The ventless design makes the Surface incredibly quiet, and it remains relatively cool during everyday use. However, when pushed to the limit, like during video rendering, the device holds its own but isn’t exactly thrilled about it. The top near the camera can reach 125°F, which is worth noting for intensive tasks. With only two USB-C ports, connectivity on the go can be a bit limited, so I suggest a small USB-C adapter and a USB-C dock. When connected to my USB-C dock the Surface has no problem extending it desktop to my 39" monitor. A charger is not included (only a USB-C cable), so getting a dock or adapter is a good idea if you don't already have one. The 256GB of storage fills up fast, so a cheap USB-C drive (or use cloud storage) is also on my list. It is also worth noting that this is just the Surface. You have to buy the Pen and Keyboard separately, but the combo is great and still a really good value compared to an iPad or a bulky laptop.

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  Posted 5 days ago by MGoose

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Powerful and Portable. Love it.

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  There's so much to love about the new Surface Pro Copilot+ PC 12". Everything from the premium materials to the battery life makes this one of the best PCs that I've used. Copilot: Can we have a heart to heart? Microsoft Copilot might be one of the greatest features in the history of computing and I don't think many people understand how useful it can be day-to-day. Think about how you would normally troubleshoot an issue with your computer. Typically, you would jump on the internet and possibly spend hours reading blogs, articles, or even watch videos searching for a solution. With Copilot, simply launch it from the task bar and type in the symptoms you're experiencing. Copilot not only will do all of the legwork but, like a personal tech support assistant, you can even prompt it to help walk you through the issue. Oh, and it does all of this in seconds. Not only are you getting a powerful computer but you're also getting a personal assistant. It's a game changer for productivity. Battery Life: I was honestly shocked by how long the battery lasted between charges on the 12" Surface Pro. This PC is rated for up to 16 hours - which might be a bit generous but I came close enough with mixed use to make me a believer. Thanks to the Snapdragon X Plus processor, I was able to land somewhere in the 12-14 hour range. As far as I'm concerned, that IS all-day battery life. Due note, you will want to pick up a charger or use one that you already have because this does not come with one - you will need a charger that is at least capable of 27W. Build Quality: Microsoft chose premium materials on this Surface Pro and it shows. The whole body is aluminum and it feels incredibly rigid while being one of the thinnest PCs I've personally used. The kickstand hinges are also confidence inspiring - allowing you to recline the PC however you see fit without movement while using it as a tablet. Screen: The screen, without getting too technical, is brilliant. Rich colors, HDR support, pin-point touch accuracy - I have zero complaints with the LCD on the Surface Pro. I do wish the screen was a tad larger but I typically connect my Surface Pro to an external display if I'm at home or in the office so it's not a deal breaker for me. Cons: There is only one major issue I have with this Surface Pro. CAN WE GET RID OF THE 256GB configuration?!?! Seriously, I understand that some will opt for cloud storage but 256GB is nothing in 2025. If Microsoft want's to lean into cloud storage, then they need to release a Surface Pro Cloud or something to that extent. There is nothing "Pro" about 256GB of storage in my opinion. The windows operating system takes up more storage than I would like. Expect to only have 200GB of usable storage after simply turning it on. The worst part is that you can't expand it. If you purchase this PC be prepared to use the cloud or have external drives at the ready. Summary: As a creative professional, the surface pro was able to handle all the creative software I use on a daily basis while staying cool and perfectly silent thanks to the fan-less design. You do still need to manage expectations with regard to tasks like video editing, but this really is a powerhouse on-the-go. I can't stress this enough - make sure you evaluate your storage needs when making your decision. I would highly recommend the Surface Pro to anyone from students to professionals.

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  Posted 1 week ago by KenE