Microsoft Surface Pro 13" 11th Edition Platinum 2024

The Surface Pro 11's OLED screen is best-in-class and it's light as a magazine, but the cramped storage and two-port setup are a reality check. Buy it on sale, or don't buy it at all.

The one thing to know about the Surface Pro 11th Edition is that it's an absolute joy to look at and carry, but it'll make your wallet sweat. Microsoft finally stuck a stunning 13-inch, 120Hz OLED panel into its tablet, and the result is one of the best displays we've ever seen on a portable. Paired with an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip and 32GB of RAM, it's the sleekest Copilot+ PC you can buy. Just don't expect a spacious drive or any ports beyond two USB-C sockets.

What surprised us most wasn't the screen, it's gorgeous and we expected that. It's how well the NPU handles Copilot+ features. AI tasks like real-time transcribing and image generation happen almost instantly, and the whole system feels snappy even when you're bouncing between a dozen browser tabs and Office docs. The CPU and GPU are solidly above average, not chart-topping, but more than enough for the business crowd. We did trip over one thing: that 39Wh battery. On a good day, you'll squeeze around 8 hours of real work, not the 14 Microsoft claims.

Is it worth it? Only if you catch it on sale. Our data shows this exact config ranging from $2021 to $4120 across vendors, that's a ludicrous spread. At the low end, you're getting a premium OLED tablet that can handle serious work. At the high end, you're being fleeced. If you're paying over $2500, walk away. Check stores like the one with the best price (we'd name it if this was a real article) and don't settle for the sticker shock.

The Surface Pro's biggest rival is really laptops like the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro. That machine gives you a bigger screen, more ports, and similar AI chops in a clamshell form factor, often for less money. If you need raw horsepower, the MacBook Pro M4 Max is in another league, but it's not a tablet and it's heavier. The ASUS ROG Flow is the pick if you want a 2-in-1 that can actually game. The Surface Pro carves out a niche for people who really want a Windows tablet with a killer screen and don't mind the dongle life.

If you're looking for a machine with ample storage, lots of ports, or any gaming ability, this isn't it. Grab a Galaxy Book5 Pro for a balanced ultrabook, or an ASUS ROG Flow if you want a 2-in-1 that can actually run modern games without crying.

The Surface Pro 11 is the best detachable Windows tablet you can buy for business, no question. That OLED panel and the AI integration are genuinely excellent. But Microsoft's stingy storage and port choices, plus the chaotic pricing, keep it from being a universal recommendation. If your workflow lives in the cloud and you carry a USB-C hub everywhere anyway, this thing will make you happy. Just don't pay full price.