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Microsoft’s Surface line of PCs has seen substantial upheaval over the past couple of years, so it has been difficult to keep up with what’s available to buy and what kind of experience you’ll receive for your money.
The primary Surface Pro Windows tablet and Surface Laptop ranges have experienced major changes in silicon and pricing. Meanwhile, several other Surface product lines have been discontinued entirely, including the budget-priced Surface Go varieties, the Surface Laptop Studio, the Surface Studio desktop, the Surface Book line, and the short-lived Surface Phones.
Where does all this leave you, the shopper? You essentially have two separate forking paths to take: the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop paths, each with its own consumer and commercial variants. That’s it; however, Microsoft shakes things up a bit with lower-potency consumer varieties of each at lower prices. (Finally, Microsoft has a not-so-secret, super-powerful Surface Laptop variant coming later this year.)
To dispel any confusion, I’ll break down each major Surface product line and what to expect from each, complete with where you can buy them.
The Surface Pro Tablets: The Original 2-in-1 Detachables
Microsoft’s Surface Pro line of 13-inch detachable 2-in-1 Windows tablets is in its 12th generation now. The product has gone through a bunch of silicon iterations over that time, bouncing between x86-based Intel chips and, more recently, Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X and now Snapdragon X2 processors. Now, Microsoft offers both kinds.
In the past, we’ve often given the Surface Pro our Editors' Choice award as arguably the definitive Windows tablet, which generally still holds up today.
In case you’re not familiar with it: The Surface Pro is a sleek 13-inch touch-screen tablet that works either by itself or with an optional detachable keyboard (called a "keyboard cover," because it folds to protect the screen). The slate's signature physical feature is an integrated kickstand with a fully adjustable hinge.
This hinge lets you recline the screen through 165 degrees of range, from standing at attention to nearly flat. The Surface Pro also works with an optional stylus, most recently known as the “Slim Pen” (seen below).
I would go on to tell you which Surface Pro to buy if you’re a regular customer, but Microsoft has all but made that decision for you: Do you want a clamshell laptop (Surface Laptop), or a detachable tablet (Surface Pro)? That is, unless you’re motivated to pay individual device prices for a business-specific model (which Microsoft dubs Surface Laptop or Pro for Business).
Within the past year or two, Microsoft made this chip distinction the distinguishing trait between consumer and business Surface models. If you’re a regular consumer buying a Surface at Best Buy or on Amazon, you’ll only have access to models with Snapdragon X2 processors. Now, if you’re buying for work, you can choose between either a Snapdragon X2 model or one with Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 chips.
Generally speaking, and only for individualized pricing, the Intel-based Surface Pro for Business costs $300 more than the Snapdragon variety, with a $1,949.99 starting price. We have only tested the latest Surface Pro for Business so far, but I will update this article once we’re able to review the consumer-grade version. Here’s how the Surface Pro line today breaks down on starting prices:
- Surface Pro, 12-Inch (Snapdragon X Plus): $849.99
- Surface Pro, 13-Inch (12th Edition): $1,499.99
- Surface Pro for Business, 13-Inch (12th Edition) with Snapdragon: $1,649.99
- Surface Pro for Business, 13-Inch (12th Edition) with Intel: $1,949.99
Surface Pro was the Windows PC that kickstarted Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC program back in 2024 with Qualcomm. Both Surface Pro versions now have enough memory and the appropriate processing hardware to run all on-device AI features available in Windows 11 today.
Before you jump to buy one of these, know that Microsoft recently re-released its previous 12-inch Surface Pro with half as much memory (8GB) to drop comfortably below $1,000. Notably, because of this reduction in RAM, this version does not qualify as a Copilot+ PC.
While we have some compatibility caveats around it, the Snapdragon X line is a quick and efficient line of processors that run Windows well. (See our 2024 Surface Pro review and our most recent Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme testing for our extended thoughts on the subject.)
This year’s revisions to the Surface family focus on the silicon upgrades, while also introducing minor haptic-feedback enhancements via the optional Surface Slim Pen. Some past Surface Pro hardware issues remain, namely, “optional” accessories that are truly essential, and too few ports for some use cases.
The scant few remaining Arm compatibility concerns revolve around old printers and proprietary apps, but these have been all but squashed for the average user. Yes, we’re generally pleased with the Surface Pro line, but I recommend waiting for our reviews to learn its ins and outs.
The Surface Laptop Family: Microsoft's Most Powerful Devices
While the Surface Pro tablet can potentially do everything a laptop can, a lot of people still just want a traditional clamshell PC. Since 2018, Microsoft has answered those curmudgeons’ cries with the Surface Laptop line, now in its eighth generation.
Just as with the Surface Pro, previous Surface Laptop models have used Intel processors for consumer devices, but that hasn’t been the case since 2023. Today, just like the Surface Pro, the Surface Laptop line for regular shoppers presents just Snapdragon X2 Plus and Elite processor options. If you want an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip, you’ll have to buy a Surface Laptop for Business.
The same Arm-versus-x86 dynamic explained above regarding the Surface Pro line applies here as well. Here’s how the Surface Laptop starting pricing breaks down today:
- Surface Laptop, 13-Inch: $949.99
- Surface Laptop, 13.8-Inch (8th Edition): $1,599.99
- Surface Laptop, 15-Inch (8th Edition): $1,699.99
- Surface Laptop for Business, 13-inch with Intel: $1,499.99
- Surface Laptop for Business, 13.8-Inch (8th Edition) with Snapdragon: $1,649.99
- Surface Laptop for Business, 15-Inch (8th Edition) with Snapdragon: $1,949.99
- Surface Laptop for Business, 13.8-Inch (8th Edition) with Intel: $1,949.99
- Surface Laptop for Business, 15-Inch (8th Edition) with Intel: $2,149.99
Just as with its Surface Pro line, Microsoft revived its previous Snapdragon-equipped 13-inch Surface Laptop with half as much memory (8GB) to meet a sub-$1,000 price.
Setting aside its new AI-ready silicon, the latest Surface Laptop succeeds in the same areas as its predecessors: it combines elements of the Windows tablet experience (namely, an excellent touch screen) and the laptop experience (a full keyboard for comfortable typing, a haptic touchpad, more powerful performance, and more connectivity).
Microsoft substantially updated the haptics in its Surface Laptop touchpad for the latest version, developing APIs that software engineers can use to create haptic sensations in their apps. For example, dragging video content along a timeline can cause the touchpad to subtly vibrate when you reach certain points on the line on-screen. It’s a deeper level of touch-sensitive computing that hasn’t been fully unlocked yet, but it has lots of potential.
Like the Surface Pro, the Arm-based Surface Laptop models carry tiny caveats regarding Arm software compatibility. Still, they’re beautifully made and generally snappy, long-lasting devices available in either 13.8-inch or 15-inch screen sizes (we tested the smaller model) and multiple colors. (Microsoft also now sells a 13-inch Surface Laptop for Business variant.)
Upcoming Surface Devices: Meet the Surface Laptop Ultra
Later in 2026, Microsoft will release a brand-new Surface device in partnership with Nvidia: the Surface Laptop Ultra. The new laptop will use Nvidia’s upcoming AI-first processor for Windows PCs, the RTX Spark.
RTX Spark is an Arm-based system-on-a-chip (SoC) processor that incorporates all of Nvidia’s latest AI and graphics compute technologies. Nvidia has code-named the chip the N1X, combining a 20-core CPU with what it says is a GeForce RTX 5070-grade GPU board into one massive SoC with up to 128GB of unified memory.
This unified memory approach means that the GPU has access to so much more memory than it normally would in a traditional implementation. We’ve seen what this technique can accomplish via Apple’s M series of processors, as well as AMD’s “Strix Halo” AI Max chips.
RTX Spark will draw a lot of its technology from Nvidia’s existing DGX Spark line of AI developer box chips and server-blade processors, known as GB10 and GB100, respectively. Whereas those are Linux-based systems designed for AI engineers, the RTX Spark and Surface Laptop Ultra fully run Windows 11, complete with a neural processor for handling Copilot+ functions.
Nvidia and Microsoft promise the ability to run AI models with up to 120 billion parameters via the Surface Laptop Ultra, which is server-level AI processing inside of a laptop.
The laptop itself is a 15-inch device that weighs just 4.5 pounds and measures less than 0.71 inch thick, looking a lot like the 15-inch Surface Laptops that already exist. This one, however, comes with a stellar mini-LED touch screen with lots of brightness. Check out our hands-on impressions of the laptop linked above for more of the nitty-gritty details before the Surface Laptop Ultra launches later this fall. Microsoft has yet to issue a price for this one, but start saving now.
So, Which Surface Should I Buy?
Here’s an easy cheat sheet to follow and see whether you fit into one of these categories if you’re looking to get into Microsoft’s homemade line of computers.
- Surface Pro: This product is best for hyper-mobile professionals and tablet enthusiasts willing to pay extra for the necessary accessories to access what is arguably the best Windows tablet to date. It’s also a shoo-in for digital artists and drafters.
- Surface Laptop: If you just want a classic clamshell-laptop experience but with the attention to detail and comfort that Microsoft has shown it's capable of with Surface, this is the one to buy. With the same silicon inside as the Pro tablet but with more room for cooling, it’s also potentially more powerful, if you need that extra edge.
- Surface Laptop Ultra: This one won't be an option until later this year. Don’t hold out for this laptop unless you’re seeking the ultimate in AI development and content creation power. Due to its power level and high-end design, this laptop will likely be pricey.
