Microsoft 13" Platinum Review

The new Surface Pro is a powerful, sleek tablet let down by its 'device-only' reality. The Snapdragon X Plus chip is a beast (95th percentile CPU), but you must buy the keyboard separately. Only worth it if you absolutely need Windows in a tablet and want to bet on AI features.

Microsoft's new Surface Pro is trying to be two things at once: a tablet and a laptop. It's powered by the new Snapdragon X Plus chip, which is built for the 'Copilot+' AI era. That means it's got serious CPU and GPU muscle for a device this thin, and it's packed with AI features like Recall and Live Captions.

But here's the thing. It's a device-only SKU, so you're buying just the tablet. The iconic keyboard with the kickstand? That's a separate, often pricey, purchase. You're looking at a premium starting point for a device that needs accessories to truly function as a laptop.

The raw specs are impressive. The Snapdragon X Plus CPU lands in the 95th percentile, and the GPU is in the 94th. In our database, that translates to buttery-smooth multitasking and enough graphics power for light creative work or media consumption on that sharp 120Hz screen. The catch is the 'Copilot+' AI features. They're the headline, but their real-world utility is still being figured out. And while battery life is marketed as 'all-day,' our percentile ranking puts it right in the middle of the pack at 49th, so don't expect miracles.

At $1200 for the device alone, the value proposition is tricky. You're paying a premium for cutting-edge ARM silicon and AI capabilities. If you compare it to a traditional laptop at this price, you'll get more ports, a keyboard included, and likely better battery life. The value here is in the unique hybrid form factor and the potential of the AI features. But you're essentially betting on that potential.

Stacked against its peers, it's a tale of ecosystems. The iPad Pro (M4) has a more mature app library and killer screen, but it's not a Windows machine. The more expensive Surface Pro with the X Elite chip offers more cores and RAM for heavier tasks. Compared to a compact Windows laptop like the GPD Pocket 4, you lose the built-in keyboard and some ports for a sleeker design and touchscreen. This Surface Pro sits in a niche: it's for someone who wants Windows in a tablet form, period.

Skip this if you're on a tight budget. The $1200 is just the start—add the keyboard and maybe a pen, and you're deep into premium laptop territory. Also, avoid it if you need rock-solid compatibility with every legacy Windows program or if you rely on lots of ports; its connectivity score is low. Get a traditional clamshell laptop instead.

Buy this if you're a mobile professional or creative who's all-in on the Microsoft ecosystem and you crave that specific tablet-laptop hybrid experience. You need to be okay with buying the keyboard separately, and you should be genuinely excited to experiment with the new AI tools. It's a powerful, beautiful device for a very specific user.