Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Is an Almost Perfect Tablet-Laptop Hybrid
We’ve now reached version 11 of the Microsoft Surface Pro: the tablet-laptop hybrid first launched in 2013, and since then we’ve seen a lot of tweaks and changes to the device. This latest 2024 version includes several notable interior updates and a familiar design.
Surface Pro 11 is the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor, which uses ARM architecture, which is not as widely supported as Intel’s x86 platform. Thanks to this chip, it’s also the first Surface Pro to have a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU), meaning much better built-in AI processing.
I’ve been using the new Surface Pro 11 for a couple of weeks now to see if the potential benefits of Qualcomm and ARM—higher power efficiency, lower heat output, better battery life—are actually realized in real-world testing. Here’s what I found and how to tell if the Surface Pro 11 is right for you.
Hardware and Design
While the move to Qualcomm chipsets is significant, there’s nothing new about the Surface Pro 11 on the outside: my review model features a 13-inch OLED touchscreen display with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels (LCD). version also available). As with previous Surface Pros, it’s a fantastic screen, bright and clear, and I’m personally a fan of the 3:2 aspect ratio as it works well for reading documents and websites.
If you’ve never used a Surface Pro before, they aren’t particularly thin and light tablets. This model is 9.3 mm (0.37 in) thick and weighs 895 g (1.97 lbs) – for comparison, the 13-inch iPad Pro released in 2024 weighs 5.1 mm (0 .2 in) and 582 g (1.28 lb). However, the iPad Pro has a built-in stand so you can easily use it for video calls and watching movies.
And, of course, it’s thin and light if you think of it as a laptop rather than a tablet, and provided you’re willing to pay another $140 for at least the attachable Surface Keyboard ($449 if you you need the latest version of Flex). keyboard and stylus). With a keyboard attached, it works great as a laptop, but you need a desk – it’s not easy to use on your lap due to the stand design, which can be annoying if you’re using it on the sofa or sitting down. at the airport or train station.
There are a variety of configurations available, and my review model came with a 12-core Snapdragon X processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. There’s no discrete GPU, but the Snapdragon chip has both the GPU and the aforementioned integrated NPU, and is generally very efficient. There are no cellular options yet, so there’s only Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Connectivity is provided by two USB-C ports with support for USB 4 and DisplayPort 1.4a, as well as a standard Surface charging port (though you can also charge via USB-C). There are two 2W stereo speakers that produce normal audio, two microphones that work in sync, a 10-megapixel camera on the back, and what Microsoft calls a Quad HD selfie camera for video calling and Windows Hello facial recognition.
This new Surface Pro follows its predecessors: it’s well built, made from premium materials, and has good durability. Typing on a device this size will inevitably feel a little cramped, but I had no problems using it for long periods of time (including typing several parts of this review).
Software and Performance
Windows 11 is Windows 11 and needs no introduction, except that it’s Windows 11 on ARM, so apps need to be written for a different architecture. Native software support is still in development, although the computer does a good job of emulating the x86 processor architecture for applications that need it. Programs like Google Chrome and Adobe Photoshop are now available in ARM versions, but it might be worth checking to see if your most important apps (including VPNs and messaging tools) will work.
Overall, I like what Microsoft has done with Windows 11 in recent years. It’s like a modern operating system, with configuration settings that are much easier to bypass than before, and plenty of help in terms of program management, personalization, and notification settings.
The Surface Pro 11’s performance is impressive for everyday computing tasks, but with the Snapdragon chip and thin-and-light form factor, there’s not enough power for serious graphics work or high-end gaming – However, if those are your priorities, you still won’t buy one devices like Surface Pro 11.
You can game on the Surface Pro 11, but not at any advanced level, but you don’t expect this slim tablet to match Nvidia’s bulky graphics card in terms of performance, especially with x86 emulation enabled. You can play older premium games at lower settings, as well as simpler, less demanding games (like puzzle games), but performance is an issue in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077.
There was very little lag or slowdown when switching between applications or managing multiple tabs in the web browser. For me, having access to a desktop operating system, and in particular a desktop browser that the iPad doesn’t have, makes a huge difference in terms of what I can do on the go. From Slack to Google Docs to Photoshop, I’d rather use a full desktop experience than the equivalent iPadOS apps.
In terms of battery life, I found that I regularly went about 12-13 hours between charges, although there are obviously a lot of variables that affect how bright the screen is and what demands you place on the processor. While this isn’t the best battery life for a tablet or laptop, it will allow you to comfortably get through a workday (and possibly more) without having to worry about charging.
AI capabilities
It’s a Copilot+ PC, which means you get built-in help from Microsoft’s AI assistant, as well as access to tools like Studio Effects and Cocreator. (There’s also Windows Recall , although it’s still in testing.) If you buy one of the new keyboard covers created by Microsoft, you’ll find that it also has a dedicated Copilot key.
Your experience will vary when it comes to these AI features, but I don’t find them particularly useful. Studio Effects adds some neat tricks to your video calls (like background blur), and Microsoft Paint’s Cocreator lets you create AI-generated images—and they work well; These are just not the features I need.
Copilot is the same AI assistant you get online, and while it does have some clever capabilities—like coming up with alternate movie endings or coming up with birthday party ideas—I can’t say I find myself using it often. . It’s no secret that AI hallucinates and makes mistakes, and I prefer to trust other sources of information. But if you’re an AI enthusiast, go for it.
Verdict
The 11th edition of the Surface Pro doesn’t really change who will enjoy the device. This is still very important for those people who want the flexibility of a tablet and laptop form factor, access to the powerful computing environment of a desktop computer, and performance that’s good enough to get most tasks done efficiently. If you just want a tablet or a lightweight laptop, there are better options.
However, if you’re in the Surface Pro’s target audience, this is the best combination of tablet and laptop benefits Microsoft has ever had. Performance is noticeably better; battery life is noticeably better; and the high build quality and excellent screen remain (as do minor annoyances, such as the inability to use it comfortably on your lap).
Prices start at $1,000 for the base Surface Pro 11 model, and they can quickly rise for higher-spec versions—and even more if you also buy a keyboard and stylus. It’s definitely not cheap, which unfortunately puts it out of the budget for many users. Perhaps Microsoft will try to change that with the Surface Pro 12.