Microsoft Dials Up Performance on Smaller Surface Devices

Microsoft has revamped its smaller Surface devices, updating the 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. The new processors deliver improved performance for graphics and local AI tasks.

The upgrade comes with a trade-off: higher starting prices. The 12-inch Surface Pro now starts at $1,149.99, up from $799.99 last year, while the 13-inch Surface Laptop begins at $1,199.99, compared to $899.99 previously.

Both devices now start with 16GB of RAM and can be configured with up to 24GB. The company has not detailed the benchmarks behind its performance claims but says the processor delivers up to 18% better battery efficiency, more than 60% faster graphics performance, and up to 95% faster local AI inferencing.

The refreshed Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will be available on October 13 in black, platinum silver, and violet. Black is returning as a color option for both models. Microsoft will sell the devices to commercial customers, with the 12-inch Surface Pro offered with optional 5G.