Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch (2026, Snapdragon X2 Plus) review

Full review

The 12-inch Surface Pro, refreshed with a Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and on sale from mid-October 2026, is the Surface for people who mainly want a tablet. At 686 g it is markedly lighter than the 13-inch model, and the 12-inch 3:2 screen is a comfortable size for reading, handwritten notes and video.

Microsoft has made some sensible design choices: the Slim Pen clips magnetically to the back of the tablet, where it also charges, and the matching 12-inch keyboard is a simpler, cheaper design than the 13-inch Flex Keyboard. Microsoft rates battery life at up to 15.5 hours of video and 13 hours of active browsing.

The screen is the main step down from its bigger sibling. It is a 90Hz LCD with 2196 x 1464 resolution and 500 nits brightness, which looks fine but lacks the contrast of OLED. The 6-core X2 Plus is plenty for office work and streaming, but heavier multitasking will feel slower.

As with all Surface Pros, the price on the shelf is for the tablet alone. Budget for the keyboard if you want to use it as a laptop.