Microsoft Surface Pro 13-inch (12th Edition) review

Full review

The Surface Pro remains the benchmark for Windows tablets. The 12th Edition 13-inch model, launched in June 2026, moves to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Plus or X2 Elite chips, which Microsoft says bring a big jump in graphics speed, and their 80 TOPS NPU makes light work of Copilot+ features.

The 13-inch screen is sharp at 2880 x 1920 and runs at 120Hz; you can choose a standard LCD or a richer OLED. The 3:2 shape is taller than most laptops, which is great for documents and reading. Microsoft claims up to 15.5 hours of local video playback, though active web browsing is rated at 11.5 hours.

The important caveat is what you actually get. Like every Surface Pro, the 895 g tablet is sold on its own: the Pro Flex Keyboard and Slim Pen are optional extras, and together they add a substantial amount to the cost. The kickstand works brilliantly on a desk or train table but is wobbly on your knees, where a convertible like the Yoga is much better.

As it uses an Arm chip, check that any specialist apps or games you rely on are supported.