One of my favorite Surface Pro version 11 features is the ability to use the keyboard without physically connecting to the device, which is convenient in various situations. Surface Pro 12 loses this feature. The keyboard no longer has dedicated slots to store slim-surface pens, although it can still magnetize (and wirelessly charge) on the back of the tablet.

Some others downgraded to Surface Pro 12: It has a 1080p front webcam instead of a 1440p webcam with a slower port. There are only two USB-C ports, they are USB-C 3.2 instead of USB4. But perhaps the most disappointing feature is the lack of repairability. Surface Pro 11th Edition has made great strides in the area, allowing you to easily access internal content and upgrade storage via microSD card slots, even earning an 8/10 IFIXIT score. The Surface Pro 12 eliminates this trend and instead opt for sealed chassis and soldered components. This may be because it's fanless, but having a microSD slot will at least help.

Apples and oranges

Perhaps it is unfair to just compare the Surface Pro 12 to the larger model. After all, it's still much more expensive compared to the iPad Pro 11-inch. We should also remember to compare with Surface GO 4, which will appear in 2023. The cheap 10.5-inch model appears to be deactivated, meaning the Surface Pro 12 replaces it in many ways. Although the starting price of the Surface Go 4 is much lower, these configurations are less powerful, starting with just 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. There is only a $30 difference between the Surface GO 4 and the Surface Pro 12 at startup when scheduling the configuration. These low-level configurations have been cut as Microsoft needs to ensure that its surface devices are Copilot+ PCs.

The device itself has a lot to like. You can't find the 2-in-2 for the iPad Pro 11-inch iPad Pro. The design is impeccable and the keyboard and touchpad are used great. Palm stillness is plastic and no longer Alcantara fabric, although they are comfortable and stiff. Compared to the iPad, it's still reasonably priced even with an extra $70 power supply.

But it boils down to: As long as the Surface Pro 11th Edition is for $799 at Best Buy or other retailers, you should buy it. It has faster performance, higher rate screen, more ports and a better webcam, and is more serviceable. Yes, that's the included power supply. The 12-inch does make it portable, but until we see pricing changes, the bigger siblings are the ones to buy.