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Microsoft’s latest Surface tablet promises to be a generational upgrade that goes beyond being simply faster, quieter and more efficient – all thanks to a change in the type of processor it’s powered by.
The Surface Pro 11 isn’t the first Microsoft machine to replace traditional Intel or AMD PC processors with Arm-based chips, similar to those found in smartphones 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 drastically improved Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipset that powers a new line of “PC Copilot+” from a number of different manufacturers, of which the Surface Pro 11 is one from Microsoft. But its move to Arm chips brings with it compromises in software and accessories that could be a deal-breaker for some.
Beyond the new chips, Microsoft has maintained 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 high-end model’s new 13-inch OLED display is the star of the show – one of the best on a PC or laptop, making watching HDR movies a pleasure.
But this is not, and never has been, a cheap PC. The new model starts at £1,049 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,899) and comes with an LCD and Snapdragon X Plus chip but no keyboard; the cheapest one costs £140 (€160/$140/AU$240). The high-end tablet with the new OLED screen and faster Snapdragon X Elite chip (as tested) starts at £1,549 (€1,799/$1,499/AU$2,699), making it an expensive proposition.
Without a keyboard, the Surface Pro works fine as a tablet, but it’s not as tactile or as good for media consumption as an iPad. In reality, the detachable keyboard is essential to getting the most out of the Surface as a laptop. Microsoft has a few options to choose from, including a new, high-end £339 (€410/$350/AU$600) Flex Keyboard. It has a new and improved haptic trackpad similar to that on high-end laptops, and unlike cheaper options, it can be used separate from the tablet via Bluetooth for added flexibility. The Flex is great, but £340 is a lot for a keyboard.
Specifications
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Screen: 13-inch LCD or OLED display, 2880 x 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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Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno
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OS: Windows 11 Startup
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Camera: 10.5 MP rear, 12.2 MP front, Windows Hello
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Connectivity: Wifi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 USB-4 ports, Surface Connect
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Dimensions: 287 x 209 x 9.3 mm
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Weight: 895 g (without keyboard)
Snapdragon Power
The move to the Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite has two big benefits over its predecessors’ x86-based Intel chips: efficiency and performance.
Tests indicate that its performance is on par with current high-end Intel laptop chips and Apple’s M3 in the MacBook Air, which is a big jump from previous Arm chips in Surface devices.
Overall, the Surface feels fast and responsive in daily use and the fans can only be heard under heavy use when gaming, so it’s effectively silent most of the time.
Battery life is similar to the Intel-based Surface Pro 9, at around 8 hours of operation with a mix of browsing, writing, and chat apps. It’s solid enough for a day of work, but not much more, which was a little disappointing. However, battery life is better compared to the Intel versions under heavier workloads, so those who do a lot of creative work should get more out of it than the equivalent Intel machine.
Application Compatibility
However, there is a major potential problem. While many apps have already been updated to work on Arm systems, Windows software is traditionally written for x86 PC chips. This means that some apps require a translation system to run on the new Surface’s chip.
Apps that require this translation system run much slower than those that have been updated. Performance is generally acceptable for programs like the Evernote notes app, which does not have an Arm-compatible version. But heavier programs, like Valve’s Steam gaming platform, are noticeably slower.
There are also Windows apps and games that simply refuse to run. If you don’t need them, it won’t be a problem, but the big issue for me is that Google Drive’s desktop software won’t run at all on the Surface Pro 11. To fix this, Google will either have to update its software for Windows on Arm, or I’ll have to change my file syncing service.
Aside from those that rely on older software, most apps will run just fine on Arm. Of the 14 non-Microsoft apps I regularly use, only five didn’t have Arm versions, and only Google Drive refused to run. The same can be said for using accessories like printers, as most things connect and work with drivers built into Windows. But those devices that need special drivers installed probably won’t work unless the manufacturer has written Arm-compatible versions.
Surface Pro 11 also features a handful of new Microsoft AI tools that are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. You have instant access to Copilot, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence chatbotbut the bot is confined to a web app, so it basically gives you the same experience you’d get using it in the browser on any system. It also lacks the controversial “Recall” feature that has been delayed outstanding privacy concerns.
The live caption system works like on most smartphones for videos and calls, with automatic translation if needed, though the accuracy of the captions is variable. The webcam also has new effects that can be applied to video calls. The auto-scroll and scan feature works well, but the lighting and blurring of portraits isn’t the best, and most video calling services already have something similar built in, making them hardly revolutionary.
More interesting is Paint’s Cocreator system, which animates your drawing with a text prompt to give it some direction, such as a subject or a description of the object you’re trying to draw. A slider lets you manually adjust how much creative freedom the AI is allowed. With a little practice, you can turn a rudimentary sketch of something into a fully formed work of art. The AI works locally, which makes it very fast, but it requires an internet connection to work because it checks a list of banned subjects in an attempt to prevent abuse.
Sustainability
The tablet is usually repairable, a service guide is available and a Removable SSD. He Out of warranty service fee The battery replacement costs £467.10 and the screen replacement costs £622.80 if repaired by Microsoft. The tablet received an award Eight out of ten in terms of repairability by iFixit specialists.
The tablet contains 72% recycled material, including aluminum and rare earth elements. Microsoft has recycling programs for older machines. It also publishes a company-wide sustainability report and a breakdown of the environmental impact of each product.
Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 starts at £1,049 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,899) with a Snapdragon X Plus and LCD display. The Snapdragon X Elite version with OLED display costs from £1,549 (€1,799/$1,499/AU$2,699).
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.
Verdict
Surface Pro 11 sets a new standard for ARM-based Windows tablets. It’s thin, light, quiet, and very powerful. But how well it performs depends entirely on the apps you use.
If all the software and accessories you need are already updated to work with the new Snapdragon X chip, then you’ll have a great experience. But if that program or device you rely on is only compatible with traditional Intel or AMD x86 systems, then your path may be complicated or completely blocked.
Performance may be excellent, but promised improvements in battery life haven’t materialized. The Surface can last an eight-hour workday, but that’s disappointingly similar to its Intel predecessors and can’t match the best that last twice as long.
The new OLED screen is excellent on the top-end model, as is the new Flex keyboard. But the price to get them is really quite high. You can get plenty of PCs or Macs elsewhere for around £1,900.
I’m not entirely convinced that Arm chips are the future of all Windows PCs, but for thin and light devices, the benefits are very clear. However, the AI part of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC initiative is not living up to expectations and, for now, is not a reason to buy a machine over an Intel or AMD one.
Advantages: Fantastic 120Hz OLED display, excellent performance, quiet operation, USB4, great stand, Windows Hello, great speakers, good camera, solid build, removable SSD, easier to repair.
Cons: Extremely expensive, no keyboard included, app and accessory compatibility issues with Arm chip, no USB-A port, no microSD card slot, no headphone jack, AI features are disappointing.
