Microsoft has brought Snapdragon X2 processors to its smallest Surface devices, upgrading the 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop. The move brings the compact machines into line with the larger 13-inch Surface Pro and the 13.8- and 15-inch Surface Laptops, which received the same second-generation Qualcomm chips a few months earlier.
According to Microsoft, the second-generation Qualcomm processors deliver a modest rise in application performance and battery life, a larger improvement in graphics performance and a substantial increase in local AI capabilities. Alongside the two refreshed Surface models, Microsoft also introduced a new Surface Mouse that offers haptic feedback, with the device designed to buzz and pulse against the palm.
12-inch Surface Pro (2nd Edition)
The new 12-inch Surface Pro keeps the same design as the first model but moves to a six-core Snapdragon X Plus X2P-42-100. That represents a drop of two cores from the previous Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100, though it gains a more advanced X2-45 integrated GPU and neural processing unit. The NPU is built for the integer maths required for AI tasks, and the Snapdragon X2’s NPU is capable of 80 trillion operations per second. That is nearly double the 45 TOPS of the first-generation Snapdragon X Plus.
Memory has also increased, with buyers now able to choose 16GB or 24GB of RAM, up from the earlier 8GB and 16GB options. Storage stays the same at 256GB or 512GB. The display is unchanged: a 12-inch PixelSense touch LCD with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a resolution of 2,196×1,464 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate. The one difference is that it is 25% brighter, with maximum brightness rising from 400 to 500 nits.
Colours, software and pricing
A new colour option joins the range. In addition to platinum and violet, the 12-inch Surface Pro is now available in black, while the bluish-grey ocean colour has been discontinued. The device comes preinstalled with Microsoft Ink Canvas, a new AI-powered app for sketching, annotating, generating images and summarising text directly on the screen using the Slim Pen.
The 12-inch Surface Pro (2nd Edition) will be available on 13 October, starting at around £850. As with all Surface Pro pricing, the starting figure does not include accessories, including the keyboard, which Microsoft charges for separately. Microsoft has not disclosed accessory pricing for the new model.
