Microsoft continues to expand the Surface family. This time there are two smaller and lighter new devices on the stage. Introduced models, 12 -inch Surface Pro Tablet with a 13 -inch Surface Laptop. Both devices will not replace existing models; Instead, it will be presented as more portable alternatives.
Although new models seem to be a little shrink at first glance, they are actually seriously lightened. The 12 -inch Surface Pro is about half a pound lighter than the 13 -inch model. This means that the device has fallen around 680 grams. The 13 -inch Surface Laptop has become more suitable for daily transport with its weight approaching 1.2 kilograms.
Microsoft has sacrificed screen quality in the new Surface Pro and emphasized the compact design
The new 12 -inch version of Surface Pro uses LCD panels and offers 2196 x 1464 resolution. This screen works at 90Hz refreshing speed. In contrast, the current 13 -inch Surface Pro model has both higher resolution and OLED display option. This difference seems to affect users’ preferences, especially in terms of screen quality.
There is a similar table on the Surface laptop façade. The new 13 -inch model has a simple LCD display with a resolution of 1080p resolution and 60Hz refreshing rate. However, the 13.8 -inch model attracted attention of 2304 x 1536 resolution and 120Hz refreshing rate. For this reason, the new model gained portability and had to compromise the screen features.
On the processor side, Microsoft includes the Snapdragon X Plus chipset on both devices. This chip is supported by an NPU and Adreno GPU, which offers 45 Tops artificial intelligence performance. The 16 GB RAM capacity is presented as standard. Storage options are limited to 256 GB and 512 GB UFS.
Although UFS storage units offer a more compact and slight advantage than SSDs, the fact that it cannot be replaced by the user is an important restriction. In existing Surface models, SSDs could be easily replaced because they were modular. This flexibility has disappeared on new devices. This is a detail that needs to be considered for users planning long -term use.
Microsoft has stopped using the Surface Connect connection on these new models. It is now available only over the USB-C charging support. The Surface Pro model can charge 45W over two USB-C/USB 3.2. However, the adapter does not appear from the box; This means extra cost for users.
In addition to the USB-C connection, the Surface Laptop model continues to offer USB Type-A and headphone jack. The 45W charging adapter comes out of the box of this model. So Surface Laptop is a little more user -friendly in terms of port diversity. However, this model also has restrictions in some areas.
The 12 -inch Surface Pro will be available with a price tag starting from $ 800. The Surface keyboard is not included in this price and is provided separately for $ 149. Microsoft says it offers a specially redesigned keyboard for this model. This indicates that the spelling experience may be different.
The 13 -inch Surface Laptop will be on the shelves at a price starting from $ 900. Interestingly, the larger screen 13.8 -inch model is currently a discount and is sold for $ 800. This can make the large -screen model more attractive for some users. Nevertheless, lightness and compact design retain the charm of new models for priority users.