Surface Pro 12-inch: X2 Plus, Ink Canvas and Extra Costs

The smaller Surface Pro is trying to be a very useful little companion: 12 inches, full Windows, and now Snapdragon X2 Plus with a brighter 500-nit touchscreen. Microsoft’s September 23 announcement set an October 13 select-market release and US starting MSRP of $1,149.99. We can see the appeal. We also noticed the keyboard waiting just outside the base price, looking innocent.

Let’s price the setup, not just the tablet.

The pen and keyboard are separate purchases

Microsoft describes a fanless design, magnetic Slim Pen storage and a screen 25% brighter than the previous model. Slim Pen and the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard are separate purchases. Include those if your plans involve essays, document annotation or drawing. A magnetic home for the pen is sweet; it’s less useful until a pen actually comes home with you.

Microsoft Ink Canvas interface for drawing and notes — Microsoft Ink Canvas supports pen-led sketching and annotation; its AI tools have subscription requirements. Image: Microsoft. Source.

Ink Canvas provides sketching and annotation, with AI tools for image generation and text summarisation. Microsoft says the AI features need an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription and have usage limits. Check the terms against what you want to do, rather than giving every feature in the illustration a permanent place in your plans.

Now give it a day that isn’t a product photograph.

Small-tablet appeal, full Windows questions

If you can try one, open your own apps and files. Type a paragraph, move between notes and a reference page, and check whether the layout feels comfortable. Try the keyboard on your lap as well as a desk. A café daydream is lovely, but the tablet does eventually have to meet your knees. They may have questions.

We haven’t tested this model’s speed, battery endurance or app compatibility. Microsoft’s performance comparisons use its own specified benchmarks; they aren’t our results. Smooth behaviour in the software you need is more useful for a purchase decision than a large percentage without context.

Microsoft Surface Mouse shown in its official product photograph — The separately sold Surface Mouse was announced alongside the new PCs. Image: Microsoft. Source.

There’s a new Surface Mouse with haptic feedback, too, sold separately from US$79.99. You don’t have to adopt every matching accessory. They do look rather pleased together in the photographs, but we can admire the family resemblance without buying the whole family.

Where it fits

If Windows software and tablet input in one small device solve a real need, this is worth exploring. Compare it with our MSI Prestige convertible report and Lenovo Yoga tablet coverage, then price the complete setup around your work. I’m quite happy to be won over by a compact tablet. It just has to behave like a useful tool after I’ve finished admiring how neatly the pen attaches.

Hero image: Microsoft. Official image source.