Microsoft’s latest Surface tablet promises to be a generational upgrade that’s more than just faster, quieter, and more efficient. It’s all thanks to a change in the type of processor inside.
The Surface Pro 11 isn’t the first Microsoft machine to swap traditional Intel or AMD PC processors for Arm-based chips, similar to those inside your smartphone or Apple’s recent Macs and iPads. But it’s by far the most successful, leaving even recent editions like 2020’s Surface Pro X and last year’s Surface Pro 9 5G in the dust.
At the heart of the change is a set of dramatically improved Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips powering a new line of “Copilot+ PCs” from a variety of manufacturers, including the Surface Pro 11 from Microsoft. But their move to Arm chips comes with compromises in software and accessories that could be dealbreakers for some.
Beyond the new chips, Microsoft has stuck to the winning formula of its predecessors, including an excellent built-in kickstand, a quality aluminum frame, great speakers, and fast Windows Hello facial recognition. The new 13-inch OLED display on the high-end model is the star of the show – one of the best you’ll find on a PC or laptop, and makes watching HDR films a treat.
But this isn’t a cheap PC, and never has been. The new model starts at £1,049 (€1,199 / $999 / A$1,899) with an LCD screen and Snapdragon X Plus chip, but that excludes the keyboard, with the cheapest of which costing £140 (€160 / $140 / A$240). The more expensive tablet with the new OLED screen and faster Snapdragon X Elite chip – as tested – starts at £1,549 (€1,799 / $1,499 / A$2,699), making it a pricey proposition.
Without a keyboard, the Surface Pro works fine as a tablet, but it’s not as touch-friendly or as great for media consumption as an iPad. In truth, the detachable keyboard is essential for getting the most out of the Surface as a laptop. Microsoft has a few options to choose from, including a new top-of-the-range £339 (€410 / $350 / A$600) Flex Keyboard. It has a new, improved haptic trackpad that’s comparable to those found on high-end laptops and, unlike cheaper options, can be used separately from the tablet via Bluetooth for greater flexibility. The Flex is great, but £340 is a lot to pay for a keyboard.
Specifications
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Screen: 13 inch LCD or OLED 2880×1920 (267 PPI) 120 Hz
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Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite
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RAM: 16 or 32 GB
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Storage: 256, 512 GB or 1 TB
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Graphic: Qualcomm Adreno
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Operating system: Windows 11 Home Page
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Camera: 10.5MP rear, 12.2MP front, Windows Hello
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Connectivity: Wifi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2x USB-4, Surface Connect
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Dimensions: 287x209x9,3mm
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Weight: 895g (without keyboard)
Snapdragon power
The move to the Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite has two major advantages over the x86-based Intel chips of its predecessors: efficiency and performance.
Tests show performance comparable to current top Intel laptop chips, as well as Apple’s M3 in the MacBook Air. This is a huge leap forward from previous Arm chips in Surface devices.
The Surface feels generally fast and responsive in everyday use. The fans are only audible when you really push it hard while gaming. So the device is virtually silent all the time.
Battery life is similar to that of the Intel-powered Surface Pro 9, lasting around 8 hours when using a mix of browsing, writing, and chat apps. It’s solid enough for a day’s work, but not much more, which was a little disappointing. Battery life does compare better to the Intel versions under heavier workloads, though, so those doing a lot of creative work should be able to get longer out of it than they would with the equivalent Intel machine.
App Compatibility
There is one major potential problem, however. While many apps have already been updated to run on Arm systems, Windows software has traditionally been written for x86 PC chips. This means that some apps will need a translation system to run on the new Surface’s chip.
Apps that require this translation system run much slower than apps that have been updated. Performance is generally acceptable for programs like the note-taking app Evernote, which doesn’t have an ARM-compatible version. But heavier programs like Valve’s gaming platform Steam are noticeably slow.
There are also some Windows apps and games that simply refuse to run. If you don’t need them, that’s no problem, but the big sticking point for me is that Google Drive desktop software doesn’t run at all on the Surface Pro 11. To fix this, Google needs to update its software for Windows on Arm, or I need to change my file syncing service.
Outside of those who rely on older software, most will find that most apps run smoothly on Arm. Of the 14 non-Microsoft apps I use regularly, only five didn’t have an Arm version, and only Google Drive refused to actually run. The same can be said for using accessories like printers, with most things connecting and working with built-in drivers in Windows. However, those devices that require special drivers to be installed likely won’t work unless the manufacturer has written Arm-compatible versions.
The Surface Pro 11 also gets a handful of new AI tools from Microsoft that are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. It has direct access to Microsoft’s AI chatbot Copilot, but the bot is limited to a web app, so you’re essentially giving you the same experience as using it in a browser on any system. It’s also missing the controversial “Recall” feature, which has been delayed due to privacy concerns.
The live caption system works like most smartphones for video and calls, with automatic translation when needed, though the accuracy of the captions varies. The webcam also has new effects that can be applied to video calls. The automatic panning and scanning function works well, but the portrait lighting and blur aren’t the best, and most video calling services already have something similar built in, so they’re not revolutionary.
More interesting is Paint’s Cocreator system, which spruces up your drawing with a text prompt to give it some direction, such as a theme or description of the object you’re trying to draw. A slider lets you manually adjust how much creative freedom the AI is given. With a bit of practice, you can turn a rough sketch of something into a fully formed work of art. The AI runs locally, making it very fast, but it does require an internet connection to work as it checks a list of prohibited topics in an attempt to prevent abuse.
Sustainability
The tablet is generally repairable, with a service guide available and a removable SSD. Out-of-warranty servicing costs £467.10 for a battery replacement and £622.80 for a screen repair by Microsoft. The tablet received an eight out of 10 for repairability from the experts at iFixit.
The tablet contains 72% recycled materials, including aluminum and rare earth metals. Microsoft has recycling programs for old machines. It also publishes a company-wide sustainability report and a breakdown of each product’s environmental impact.
Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 starts at £1,049 (€1,199/$999/A$1,899) with a Snapdragon X Plus and LCD display. The Snapdragon X Elite version with an OLED display costs from £1,549 (€1,799/$1,499/A$2,699).
The keyboard options start at £139.99 (€159.99/$139.99/A$239.95) and go up to £339 (€409.99/$349.99/A$599.95) for the new Flex keyboard.
Pronunciation
The Surface Pro 11 sets a new standard for Arm-based Windows tablets. It’s thin, light, quiet, and very powerful. But how great it is depends entirely on the apps you use it for.
If all the software and accessories you need have already been updated to run on the new Snapdragon X chip, then you’ll have a great experience. But if that one program or device you rely on is only compatible with traditional x86 Intel or AMD systems, then you may be in for a bumpy ride—or a dead end.
Performance may be excellent, but the promised battery life gains haven’t been delivered. The Surface can last an eight-hour workday, but that’s disappointingly comparable to its Intel predecessors, and falls short of the best, which manage double that amount.
The new OLED screen is excellent on the high-end model, as is the new Flex keyboard. But the price to get them is very high indeed. You can get a whole bunch of PCs or Macs elsewhere for the best part of £1900.
I’m not entirely convinced that Arm chips are the future for all Windows PCs, but for thin and light devices the benefits are clear. The AI portion of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC initiative hasn’t lived up to expectations, however, and isn’t a reason to buy one over an Intel or AMD machine for the time being.
Advantages: Fantastic 120Hz OLED display, excellent performance, cool to use, USB4, excellent kickstand, Windows Hello, great speakers, good camera, solid construction, removable SSD, easier to repair.
Cons: Extremely expensive without an included keyboard, there are still app and accessory compatibility issues with the Arm chip, no USB-A port, no microSD card slot, no headphone jack, and the AI features are disappointing.