But surprisingly or not, this versatile new iPad Pro alternative with Copilot support isn't marketed as a Surface Pro 12 or 12th Gen Surface Pro, and the reason is pretty easy to understand. Instead of improving on the aforementioned Surface Pro (11th Edition) with a 13-inch panel, the 2025 Surface Pro 12-inch actually brings a few notable downgrades to the table in the name of affordability and portability.
Here's your bittersweet spec sheet
12-inch PixelSense LCD touchscreen with 2196 x 1464 pixel resolution and up to 90Hz dynamic refresh rate technology;
8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor;
16GB RAM;
256 and 512GB UFS storage options;
Up to 16 hours of battery life (local video playback);
Full HD front-facing Surface Studio camera;
10MP Ultra HD rear-facing camera;
2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos;
Two USB-C 3.2 ports;
Wi-Fi 7;
Bluetooth 5.4;
274 x 190 x 7.8mm dimensions;
686 grams weight.
Right off the bat, longtime fans of Surface Pro devices are likely to notice that this 12-inch model is limited to 90Hz display refresh rate support instead of going all the way up to the 120Hz ceiling of its bigger brother, as well as key rivals as Apple's 2024-released iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 13 or Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra.
The 12-inch Surface Pro looks somewhat familiar, but also very different from its 13-inch brother. | Image Credit -- Microsoft
Unlike the 13-inch Surface Pro (11th Gen), which is available in both LCD and OLED variants, the new 12-incher only comes with the inferior LCD panel technology. And then there's the Snapdragon X Plus chipset, which powers the cheapest 13-inch variants with 10 CPU cores while going down to just 8 on the smaller 2025 Surface Pro.
Unfortunately, more downgrades can be noticed in the front-facing camera and even the USB tech departments, but the Surface Pro 12-inch is significantly thinner and lighter than the 13-incher while also offering better battery life. That's right, the weight is reduced by around 200 grams (which is a lot!) and the thickness by exactly a millimeter and a half, and somehow, you're promised an extra couple of hours of endurance between charges as well (at least in uninterrupted video playback).
Is the Surface Pro 12-inch worth $799.99 and up?
That's obviously for you to decide after very carefully weighing all your best tablet options right now. $799.99, mind you, will get you an entry-level 12-inch configuration with 256 gigs of internal storage space, and alas, you'll have to settle for UFS (Universal Flash Storage) technology here rather than embracing one of the speedy SSD (solid-state drive) 13-inch variants.
At $899.99, meanwhile, you can pre-order a Surface Pro 12-inch with 512GB UFS and the same 16GB RAM count as the cheaper units ahead of a May 20 release. In terms of colorways, you can opt for Violet, Ocean, and Platinum flavors, and if you want to maximize your mobile productivity, you'll need to separately buy a new $150 keyboard that's not compatible with the 13-inch tablet.
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That's because the two products are simply too different to share the same optional accessories, and even the otherwise unchanged Surface Slim Pen attaches differently to the new Surface Pro, essentially taking a page from Samsung's Galaxy Tab playbook instead of sitting at the top of the keyboard.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, a 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Plus with a bundled stylus is pretty easy to find at a reduced price of $850 or even less these days, while Apple's hugely popular iPad Pro (2024) roster normally starts at $999.99 (frequent discounts notwithstanding). In other words, the Surface Pro 12-inch is... definitely an interesting device, providing a much-needed slimmer and lighter alternative to its larger brother, but a slightly lower starting price would make it even more compelling for a lot of Windows enthusiasts and tablet users in general.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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