The unboxing of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12 offers a first look into a device that aims to redefine the company’s approach to the hybrid tablet market. Unlike the flagship Surface Pro 11, the Pro 12 takes a clear turn toward greater portability and affordability, challenging Apple’s dominance in the premium tablet space with a truly fanless ARM-based Windows experience. For the Windows enthusiast, business user, or mobile professional, exploring how these choices play out in terms of hardware, performance, and day-to-day usability is essential before considering an investment in what is positioned as a new direction for Microsoft’s Windows tablets.
Opening the Surface Pro 12, users are greeted by an aesthetic familiar to anyone acquainted with recent Surface hardware. The device arrives in the expected minimalist packaging—though, notably, essentials like a charger are now absent, a trend in line with the broader tech industry push against “e-waste,” but a decision that remains contentious among buyers.
This review unit showcased a violet colorway, which Microsoft appears to be leaning into as a distinct branding move, setting it visually apart from the more austere metallic shades of previous Surface generations. Included were standard paperwork and a single USB-C cable. The fact that there’s no longer a Surface Connect port—and thus no proprietary magnetic charger—telegraphs a clear shift toward a one-port world built entirely on USB-C/Thunderbolt 4. Missing, too, is the once-standard charger, requiring users to either reuse an older charger or purchase one separately. In the box with this review were two must-have accessories (sold separately for the end user): the latest Surface Keyboard Cover and the Slim Pen 2.
However, balancing the device on your lap remains less ideal than on a traditional notebook, owing to the necessity of space behind for the kickstand and the lack of rigid support at the keyboard edge. Despite this, when compared with the iPad Pro paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, the Surface setup feels notably more stable—partly because the kickstand’s adjustability offers broader viewing angles and the magnetic grip remains rock solid.
Microsoft continues with a thick-bezel approach, especially compared to the almost borderless modern slabs from Samsung and Apple. Yet these bezels are purposeful: housing a Full HD front-facing camera, an array of microphones, Windows Hello IR sensors, and making accidental palm touches less likely.
Stereo speakers flank the top edges—delivering decent sound, but, as discussed later, not quite matching the competition in volume and depth.
The removal of the Surface Connect port is arguably a step backward for power users who have grown used to magnetic, quick-release charging. Now, only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports serve all connectivity and charging needs, both supporting 45-watt charging speeds. At the bottom, magnetic pogo pins provide a reliable, tactile connection for the optional keyboard.
The rear of the device is unmistakably Surface: plain, minimalist, and dominated by the Microsoft logo on the kickstand. Notably missing, however, is the tool-free M.2 SSD door present on the Pro 11, which means upgrades or repairs for storage now require either an expensive configuration upfront or professional servicing—a definite regression for those who valued field-upgradeable storage.
Maximum brightness is 400 nits—a specification that sounds average but plays above its weight due to strong contrast and vivid color calibration. Even in sunlit environments, such as train compartments, visibility holds up. However, the panel doesn’t dazzle like OLED alternatives; the newest Surface Pro 11 and Galaxy Tab S10+ displays both offer more punch, especially in HDR and in terms of energy efficiency.
Refresh rates are adjustable between 60 Hz and 90 Hz, but not variable. Users must manually choose: smooth scrolling or extended battery life, rather than enjoying automatic switching found on OLED competitors. This is a missed opportunity on an otherwise refined panel, as even mainstream laptops are increasingly adopting variable refresh rate (VRR) for energy savings.
In daily productivity tasks:
Benchmarks:
Geekbench results put single-core performance on par with the Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite), but multi-core scores lag by about 15%. GPU benchmarks show a more pronounced gap: the Pro 11 is about twice as fast as the Pro 12, and Intel Core Ultra laptops like Acer’s Swift 16 AI surpass it on both CPU and GPU scores. For gaming, graphics, and heavy creative work, this is a tangible limitation. Still, for mainstream, everyday productivity, Surface Pro 12 holds its own.
Lowering the resolution to 1920x1080p makes Counter-Strike 2 somewhat playable at 60 FPS, but switching display resolution each time one games is impractical. At its core, Surface Pro 12’s limitations stem not just from hardware but from software compatibility, as many Windows games are still not optimized—or even supported—on ARM chips.
A practical annoyance: the device gets warm while charging, especially during simultaneous use, making palm-rejection and pen use less comfortable in certain scenarios.
Positives:
Two standout Windows Copilot+ features are worth highlighting:
Apple’s Magic Keyboard is bulkier and often less practical in real-world use, but Microsoft’s latest keyboard could have benefited from retaining the tilt function for ergonomics.
The Slim Pen 2, at $130, magnetically attaches and charges wirelessly via induction from the tablet’s rear. Haptics simulate a pen-on-paper feel; whether this added feedback is a “killer feature” depends on user preference. It remains compatible with previous-generation Surface Pens, should you prefer the classic rounder design. Pen accuracy and input lag are top-tier, making it equally suitable for note-taking or basic sketches, though any professional artist will miss the app support of iPad OS.
Compared to the Surface Pro Go, the Pro 12 is a genuine leap forward. It is also not a direct replacement for the Pro 11, which caters to power users willing to pay for maximum performance, more ports, and easier repairability.
Surface Pro 12 is a tablet that provides Windows professionals with unmatched flexibility and quality in a compact package, but—much like the original Surface concept a decade ago—it’s best understood not as a laptop replacement or an iPad killer, but as a forward-thinking experiment: one that gets a lot right, a few things wrong, and stands as a testament to Microsoft’s engineering ambition in the ARM Windows era.
Source: MyNextTablet Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Unboxing & Review: A Compact Windows Tablet
Surface Pro 12: Unboxing Experience
Opening the Surface Pro 12, users are greeted by an aesthetic familiar to anyone acquainted with recent Surface hardware. The device arrives in the expected minimalist packaging—though, notably, essentials like a charger are now absent, a trend in line with the broader tech industry push against “e-waste,” but a decision that remains contentious among buyers.This review unit showcased a violet colorway, which Microsoft appears to be leaning into as a distinct branding move, setting it visually apart from the more austere metallic shades of previous Surface generations. Included were standard paperwork and a single USB-C cable. The fact that there’s no longer a Surface Connect port—and thus no proprietary magnetic charger—telegraphs a clear shift toward a one-port world built entirely on USB-C/Thunderbolt 4. Missing, too, is the once-standard charger, requiring users to either reuse an older charger or purchase one separately. In the box with this review were two must-have accessories (sold separately for the end user): the latest Surface Keyboard Cover and the Slim Pen 2.
Design and Build: A Tablet-First Philosophy
A few weeks of real-world use, spanning work commutes, coffee shop sessions, and productivity on the couch, has revealed just how significant the Surface Pro 12’s design evolution is. Gone are the cooling vents and bulk associated with earlier Surface Pros—a direct result of adopting an ARM-based chip and ditching fans entirely. This means the device is uniformly thin, cool to the touch in typical use, and, thanks to the iconic kickstand, still incredibly flexible for propping up at any angle.However, balancing the device on your lap remains less ideal than on a traditional notebook, owing to the necessity of space behind for the kickstand and the lack of rigid support at the keyboard edge. Despite this, when compared with the iPad Pro paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, the Surface setup feels notably more stable—partly because the kickstand’s adjustability offers broader viewing angles and the magnetic grip remains rock solid.
Microsoft continues with a thick-bezel approach, especially compared to the almost borderless modern slabs from Samsung and Apple. Yet these bezels are purposeful: housing a Full HD front-facing camera, an array of microphones, Windows Hello IR sensors, and making accidental palm touches less likely.
Stereo speakers flank the top edges—delivering decent sound, but, as discussed later, not quite matching the competition in volume and depth.
The removal of the Surface Connect port is arguably a step backward for power users who have grown used to magnetic, quick-release charging. Now, only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports serve all connectivity and charging needs, both supporting 45-watt charging speeds. At the bottom, magnetic pogo pins provide a reliable, tactile connection for the optional keyboard.
The rear of the device is unmistakably Surface: plain, minimalist, and dominated by the Microsoft logo on the kickstand. Notably missing, however, is the tool-free M.2 SSD door present on the Pro 11, which means upgrades or repairs for storage now require either an expensive configuration upfront or professional servicing—a definite regression for those who valued field-upgradeable storage.
Display: 12 Inches of Good, Not Great
The Surface Pro 12 sports a 12-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2196 x 1464 pixels (220 PPI), closely matching iPad’s 3:2 aspect ratio, which most productivity users appreciate for its height and document-friendliness.Maximum brightness is 400 nits—a specification that sounds average but plays above its weight due to strong contrast and vivid color calibration. Even in sunlit environments, such as train compartments, visibility holds up. However, the panel doesn’t dazzle like OLED alternatives; the newest Surface Pro 11 and Galaxy Tab S10+ displays both offer more punch, especially in HDR and in terms of energy efficiency.
Refresh rates are adjustable between 60 Hz and 90 Hz, but not variable. Users must manually choose: smooth scrolling or extended battery life, rather than enjoying automatic switching found on OLED competitors. This is a missed opportunity on an otherwise refined panel, as even mainstream laptops are increasingly adopting variable refresh rate (VRR) for energy savings.
Audio: Adequate but Outclassed
Surface Pro 12’s stereo speakers support Dolby Atmos and deliver clarity sufficient for video calls, YouTube, and casual listening. However, compared with the iPad Pro or Surface Pro 13-inch, the audio lacks depth, power, and dynamic range. Where Apple and Samsung tablets create a near-room-filling effect with stereo separation and low-end presence, the Pro 12’s output comes off as flat and quieter. For business and productivity, the speakers will suffice—but audiophiles or multimedia fans will find themselves reaching for headphones.Internal Hardware and Everyday Performance
At the heart of the Surface Pro 12 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus—an eight-core ARM SoC, part of Microsoft’s broader bet on ARM Windows. The review unit includes 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and 512 GB of UFS storage, with configurations up to 1 TB and 24 GB RAM, though options will depend on regional availability.In daily productivity tasks:
- Microsoft Office apps
- Chrome with dozens of tabs
- Creative tools like Canva
all run smoothly and quickly. The transition to ARM chips, previously criticized for lagging Windows performance and software compatibility, shows significant improvement here.
Benchmarks:
Geekbench results put single-core performance on par with the Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite), but multi-core scores lag by about 15%. GPU benchmarks show a more pronounced gap: the Pro 11 is about twice as fast as the Pro 12, and Intel Core Ultra laptops like Acer’s Swift 16 AI surpass it on both CPU and GPU scores. For gaming, graphics, and heavy creative work, this is a tangible limitation. Still, for mainstream, everyday productivity, Surface Pro 12 holds its own.
Gaming: Not for Gamers
The Surface Pro 12 is not a gaming machine. Counter-Strike 2, running at 1900 x 1280 with minimum settings, averages just 34 FPS, plagued by stutters and freezing from emulation overhead. Lightweight games such as Terraria are playable, but even less demanding titles can exhibit graphic glitches due to the ARM translation layer.Lowering the resolution to 1920x1080p makes Counter-Strike 2 somewhat playable at 60 FPS, but switching display resolution each time one games is impractical. At its core, Surface Pro 12’s limitations stem not just from hardware but from software compatibility, as many Windows games are still not optimized—or even supported—on ARM chips.
Battery Life: Good but Not Class-Leading
Microsoft touts up to 16 hours of local video playback or 12 hours of web use. In standardized tests—YouTube video streaming at maximum brightness—the Pro 12 lasted close to 9.7 hours, beating the iPad Air M3 (5.5 hours) and Xiaomi Pad 7 (7.25 hours). Yet, compared to OLED competitors like the Galaxy Tab S10+ or Surface Pro 11, which last about 20% longer under identical conditions, it’s a tier below the best performers.A practical annoyance: the device gets warm while charging, especially during simultaneous use, making palm-rejection and pen use less comfortable in certain scenarios.
Software: Windows 11 on ARM Still Has Growing Pains
Windows 11 for ARM is a leap forward from earlier iterations, but it still trails x86 Windows in software breadth.Positives:
- Native Office suite support
- Improved reliability for emulated apps such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro
- Touch gestures such as three-finger drag to switch apps and auto-hiding taskbar
Two standout Windows Copilot+ features are worth highlighting:
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Quickly copy text from anywhere onscreen, remarkably accurate (even in less-than-ideal lighting), and a time-saver for researchers and business professionals.
- Natural File Search: Searching with phrases (“report with charts from March”) in File Explorer is intuitive, surfacing files even when specific keywords are missing from filenames—although currently limited to certain file formats.
Keyboard and Pen: Premium but Pricey Accessories
The latest Surface Keyboard, now $150, loses the ability to incline (angle upwards), which is a clear usability downgrade. Typing, though, remains satisfying—keys have low wobble, tactile travel, and the touchpad is smooth, if a bit on the small side.Apple’s Magic Keyboard is bulkier and often less practical in real-world use, but Microsoft’s latest keyboard could have benefited from retaining the tilt function for ergonomics.
The Slim Pen 2, at $130, magnetically attaches and charges wirelessly via induction from the tablet’s rear. Haptics simulate a pen-on-paper feel; whether this added feedback is a “killer feature” depends on user preference. It remains compatible with previous-generation Surface Pens, should you prefer the classic rounder design. Pen accuracy and input lag are top-tier, making it equally suitable for note-taking or basic sketches, though any professional artist will miss the app support of iPad OS.
Cameras: Good Enough for Work and Play
While tablet cameras rarely impress, the Surface Pro 12 delivers above-average results. The front-facing Full HD camera is more than sufficient for video conferencing—sharp, accurate color, and reliable even in dim lighting. The 12 MP rear camera surprises with its detail, color accuracy, and overall usability for quick scans, reference photos, or documentation. For fieldwork or hybrid work scenarios, this is a genuine strength.Strengths: Mobility, Windows, and Design
- Truly fanless design makes the Pro 12 ultra-quiet and cool in typical scenarios.
- Excellent mobility: At 12 inches and <800 grams, it is portable enough for travel, daily commuting, and coffee shop work.
- Solid accessory ecosystem: Keyboard and pen are well-engineered—probably the best third-party equivalents for Windows.
- Windows Hello facial recognition is fast, secure, and works in low light.
- Copilot+ AI tools (OCR and file search) can meaningfully improve productivity.
- Better-than-expected performance in everyday office environments.
Limitations and Risks
- High price, limited value:
$800 for the base tablet, plus $150 for the keyboard and $130 for the pen. A working kit starts just above $1,000—comparable to an iPad Pro 11 with Apple’s best accessories, but with weaker display, speakers, and app selection. - Software compatibility:
Many flagship creative apps and almost all AAA games do not have ARM versions. Emulation is better but remains a crutch, and some professional workflows will simply not run. - No bundled charger:
Requiring users to source their own is annoying at best, penny-pinching at worst. - No user-accessible SSD slot:
Unlike the Pro 11, storage upgrades now require a full device replacement or professional disassembly. - Underwhelming speakers:
Sufficient for business, inadequate for premium media consumption. - Fanless design means thermal throttling:
Under heavy loads (games, video rendering), performance drops—a compromise for silent and cool operation.
Competitive Analysis
When pitted against the iPad Pro 11-inch or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10+, the Surface Pro 12 matches up in portability, battery life, and general build quality—but falls short in display brilliance, media experience, and access to touch-optimized software. For hybrid professionals needing true Windows (and willing to pay extra for it), these weaknesses can be overlooked. For students, digital artists, or gamers, however, Apple’s or Samsung’s ecosystems are more enticing.Compared to the Surface Pro Go, the Pro 12 is a genuine leap forward. It is also not a direct replacement for the Pro 11, which caters to power users willing to pay for maximum performance, more ports, and easier repairability.
Verdict: Best for a Specific Audience
Surface Pro 12 is an impressive demonstration of how far Windows on ARM has come, and for business travelers, educators, or managers who demand a fully portable Windows device (and are willing to compromise for size and battery life), it’s a compelling, if expensive, solution. It is neither an all-rounder nor a crowd-pleaser:- Too pricey for educational and casual market segments
- Lacks software flexibility for creative pros and serious gamers
- Remains a niche device for enterprise, academia, or devoted Windows fans
Surface Pro 12 is a tablet that provides Windows professionals with unmatched flexibility and quality in a compact package, but—much like the original Surface concept a decade ago—it’s best understood not as a laptop replacement or an iPad killer, but as a forward-thinking experiment: one that gets a lot right, a few things wrong, and stands as a testament to Microsoft’s engineering ambition in the ARM Windows era.
Source: MyNextTablet Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Unboxing & Review: A Compact Windows Tablet
