News in Short

• Microsoft has launched the second-generation Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13.
• Both devices use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus platform.
• The Surface Pro 12 gets a 90Hz 12-inch PixelSense LCD and optional Slim Pen support.
• The Surface Laptop 13 features a 13-inch 3:2 touchscreen with a 60Hz refresh rate.
• Microsoft claims up to 95% faster local AI inferencing on the Surface Pro 12.

Microsoft has expanded its Surface lineup with two new Windows on ARM devices. The company has introduced the second-generation Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus.

Both devices use a passively cooled version of the processor. Microsoft is also highlighting improvements in productivity, graphics, battery efficiency and local AI performance over the previous Surface Pro 12.

Surface Pro 12 Gets 90Hz Display and Stylus Support

The Microsoft Surface Pro 12 features a 12-inch PixelSense LCD with a 2,196 x 1,464-pixel resolution. The 3:2 display also supports a 90Hz refresh rate and touch input.

Users can pair the tablet with Microsoft’s optional Surface Slim Pen. The stylus supports 4,096 levels of pressure, making the device suitable for sketching, writing and other pen-based tasks.

Microsoft has also introduced Ink Canvas for the Surface Pro 12. The AI-powered, pen-first application can turn sketches into text, offering a different approach to AI-assisted creation.

Snapdragon X2 Plus Brings Faster On-Device AI

The Surface Pro 12 uses a six-core Snapdragon X2 Plus processor with an 80 TOPS NPU. The chip is passively cooled, so the tablet does not need a conventional cooling fan.

The device comes with either 16GB or 24GB RAM. Storage options include 256GB and 512GB UFS storage.

Microsoft claims the new processor delivers 17% faster Office productivity compared with the previous Surface Pro 12. It also claims 18% better battery efficiency, 60% faster graphics and a 95% improvement in local AI inferencing.

Surface Pro 12 Promises 15.5 Hours of Playback

The Surface Pro 12 packs a battery rated for up to 15.5 hours of video playback. Microsoft also claims up to 11.5 hours of active web usage.

The tablet has two USB-C ports with USB 3.2 support. It supports charging at up to 45W, although the charger is sold separately.

The device can also drive two 4K displays at 60Hz through DisplayPort 1.4a. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

At 686g and 7.8mm thick, the Surface Pro 12 is designed around portability. It comes in Platinum, Black and Violet.

Surface Laptop 13 Offers Up to 22.5 Hours

The second-generation Surface Laptop 13 features an aluminium body with a colour-matched keyboard. It also gets a next-generation haptic feedback trackpad.

The laptop has a 13-inch PixelSense LCD with a 1,920 x 1,280-pixel resolution. The 3:2 touchscreen supports a 60Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 500 nits of brightness.

Like the Surface Pro 12, the Surface Laptop 13 uses a passively cooled Snapdragon X2 Plus processor. Configurations start with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the top model offers 24GB RAM and 512GB storage.

Microsoft claims up to 22.5 hours of video playback. The laptop weighs 1,225g and measures 17.5mm thick when closed.

Ports, Cameras and New Surface Mouse

The Surface Laptop 13 has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. It also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and comes with a 45W USB-C charger.

For video calls, the laptop has a 1080p Surface Studio Camera. The Surface Pro 12 also includes the same front camera, along with a 10MP rear camera.

Microsoft has also launched a new Surface Mouse priced at $80. It comes in Black and Platinum in select markets from October 13.

The mouse supports haptic feedback that can respond to on-screen events. It also has an ambidextrous design, Bluetooth 6.0 and a customisable Copilot action button that can be paired with multiple devices.

Surface Pro 12 and Laptop 13 Price

The Surface Pro 12 starts at $1,150 in the US for the base configuration. The 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model costs $1,250, while the 24GB and 512GB version costs $1,450.

The Surface Laptop 13 starts at $1,200 for the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. The top 24GB RAM and 512GB storage model costs $1,500.

The supplied information does not specify India pricing or an India sale date for either device.