Microsoft Surface Pro 13" 11th Ed 2024, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 256GB, Platinum

The Microsoft Surface Pro ZHX-00001 is a top-tier Windows 2-in-1 with a brilliant 120Hz display and class-leading Snapdragon X Plus performance. It's incredibly light and well-built, but battery life is just okay and the essential keyboard costs extra. If you need a real laptop replacement in tablet form, this is the one to get.

The Snapdragon X Plus 10-core chip puts this Surface Pro in the 99th percentile for CPU performance among tablets, and it shows. Apps open instantly, multitasking with a dozen browser tabs and Office apps feels effortless, and the fanless design stays cool under normal loads. The integrated Adreno GPU lands in the 97th percentile, so light photo editing and even some casual gaming are totally doable. Don't expect to play Cyberpunk at native resolution, but for a thin tablet, the graphics punch above their weight.

In our database, the 16GB of RAM sits in the 93rd percentile, which means you won't feel cramped for memory anytime soon. The 256GB SSD is more middle-of-the-pack at the 83rd percentile, so power users might want to lean on cloud storage or an external drive. The real-world takeaway is that this tablet handles productivity and creative work without breaking a sweat. It's one of the fastest Windows tablets we've tested, and the ARM architecture means it sips power compared to older Intel models, even if raw benchmark scores don't always tell the full compatibility story.

The Surface Pro's biggest rival is the Apple iPad Pro M5. The iPad has a slightly better screen and a massive app ecosystem optimized for its chip, but it's still running iPadOS, which can feel restrictive if you need desktop-class multitasking. The Surface runs full Windows 11, so you can install anything from Photoshop to niche enterprise software. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is another strong alternative, especially if you want an included S Pen and a gorgeous OLED display, but it runs Android and DeX, which isn't a true desktop OS for everyone.

On the more affordable side, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offer solid performance for less money, but they don't touch the Surface's CPU or GPU scores. The HOTWAV R9 Ultra 5G is a rugged outlier that's more about durability than raw power. If you need a no-compromises Windows tablet that can replace your laptop, the Surface Pro is the one to beat. If you're just taking notes and streaming video, you can save a lot of cash with a mid-range Android tablet.

Pricing on the Surface Pro ZHX-00001 is a bit of a rollercoaster. We've seen it listed anywhere from $818 to a frankly absurd $25,990 across different vendors, so you'll want to shop around. Best Buy is the retailer mentioned here, and they typically offer price match guarantees and in-store pickup, which helps. At the lower end of that range, you're getting a premium 2-in-1 with a top-tier processor and a gorgeous screen. At the higher end, you're being taken for a ride. Just remember that the keyboard and pen are extra, so factor in another $200 to $300 if you want the full laptop experience. Compared to an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard, the Surface can actually be a better value if you need full Windows and find a good deal.

The Microsoft Surface Pro ZHX-00001 is Microsoft's latest swing at the 2-in-1 category, and this time it's powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Plus chip. If you've been searching for a Windows tablet that actually feels like it belongs in 2025, this is a strong contender. The 13-inch PixelSense display runs at 2880x1920 with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and the whole package weighs just 894 grams. It's clearly aimed at students and professionals who want one device for note-taking, sketching, and getting real work done.

Microsoft is pushing the AI angle hard with this one, branding it a Copilot+ PC. The Snapdragon X Plus packs a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 45 trillion operations per second, which powers features like real-time captions and AI image generation. But beyond the marketing, the core specs are solid: 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 256GB SSD. Just know that the keyboard and Slim Pen are sold separately, so the base price isn't the whole story.

Build quality is what you'd expect from the Surface line. The kickstand is still the best in the business, letting you adjust the screen to almost any angle. You get a 10MP rear camera and an AI-enhanced front-facing camera with automatic framing, which is handy for video calls. Face unlock works instantly, and connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB-C with Thunderbolt. It's a thoughtfully designed machine, even if the ARM-based processor means some older apps might need to run through emulation.

This isn't the tablet for you if you're mainly reading ebooks or watching Netflix in bed. The 63.3 reading score reflects a device that's a bit heavy and wide for comfortable one-handed use, and the LCD screen, while sharp, can't match the contrast of an OLED for movies. If your needs are mostly content consumption, an iPad Air or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 will feel better in hand and cost less. Also, if you rely on specific legacy Windows software that hasn't been updated for ARM, you might run into frustrating compatibility issues.

The Microsoft Surface Pro ZHX-00001 is the best Windows tablet you can buy right now, period. The Snapdragon X Plus chip is a genuine leap forward, making this feel more like a real laptop than any ARM-based Surface before it. The display is excellent, the design is still iconic, and the AI features, while not essential, are genuinely useful in daily use. It's a productivity machine that happens to be a tablet, not the other way around.

Should you buy it? If you're a student or professional who wants one device for handwritten notes, sketching, and full desktop apps, this is a fantastic choice. Just budget for the keyboard and pen, and be aware that battery life isn't class-leading. If you mostly consume content and don't need Windows, an iPad or Galaxy Tab will serve you better for less. But for the right person, this Surface Pro is a knockout.