Microsoft has refreshed its compact Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13 devices, now powered by the new Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. This processor promises significant performance boosts, including 60 percent better graphics, 95 percent faster on-device AI, and 18 percent improved battery efficiency compared to the previous generation. The devices also feature brighter 500-nit displays, which are 25 percent more luminous than before.

Design-wise, nothing has changed for either device. The Surface Pro 12 remains a 12-inch tablet with a kickstand, while the Surface Laptop 13 is a 13-inch notebook weighing 2.7 pounds. However, prices have increased due to memory cost hikes, with the Surface Pro 12 now starting at $1,150 and the Surface Laptop 13 at $1,199, up from under $1,000 last year.

Microsoft is also launching a new $80 Surface Mouse with haptic feedback, allowing users to feel Windows 11 interactions like window snapping. Additionally, the Surface Pro 12 will debut with Microsoft Ink Canvas, an AI-powered, pen-first app for sketching and annotating, available on the Microsoft Store on October 13th for other Surface devices.

All new Surface hardware, including the updated laptops and mouse, will be available starting October 13th. While the upgrades are compelling for new buyers, existing owners of last year's models may want to wait for a more significant refresh.