Microsoft’s Surface Pro X is tipped to signal a new chapter for Qualcomm’s foray into Windows PCs and tablets, one in which battery life is no longer the only selling point. To its credit, the new, semi-custom Microsoft SQ1 chip (based on Snapdragon 8cx) delivers improvements in graphics and performance. We also appreciate the arrival of USB-C and a superbly crafted pen.
But, in a bit of a chain of events, the Surface Pro X ran out of battery. Meanwhile, the app compatibility, and the issues that are, frankly a pity for Snapdragon-powered PCs, still hang around. Maybe it could be endured on something like the Samsung Galaxy Book 2, which claims 18 hours of battery life. But not the Surface Pro X, with just 8 to 10 hours. That tired little mantra of This is a new architecture, take a moment, no more flying. And when a bug or another problem pops up it can be really painful.
Specifications
Display: 13-inch (2880×1920) PixelSense display, multi-touch
Processor: 3GHz Microsoft SQ1
Graphics: Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685
Memory: 8GB/16GB (8GB as tested)
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB SSD (128GB in testing)
Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 Surface Connect, 1 nanoSIM, Surface Keyboard Connector
Camera: 5MP/1080p (user-facing); 10MP autofocus with 1080p/4K video options
Battery: 38.9Wh (reported)
Wireless: Wi-Fi5/ 802.11ac; Bluetooth 5; Snapdragon X24 LTE modem with nanoSIM or eSIM
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Dimensions (inches): 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28
Weight: 1.72 pounds; 2.37 with keyboard and pen); 2.99 with charger
Black
Nice physical design
A little change from our first impressions of the Surface Pro X: It’s a Surface Pro tablet, enhanced for a new generation of tablet users. Interest in tablets has waned somewhat, due to the lack of third-party Windows tablets we’ve seen lately. But Microsoft’s Surface tablets are known for their sleek, stylish designs, and the Surface Pro X lives up to its legacy.
Don’t forget, though, that you’ll make an outrageous $270 just for the keyboard (and pen), a virtual necessity. That’s the price of a cheap Chromebook or desktop.
The Slim Pen is a pleasure, though. In a few years, this design detail (first discovered in January, in Dell’s Inspiron 13 and 15 7000 Black Edition laptops) could be copied enough to become popular, just like the tablet stand today. But discovering the pen simply couldn’t help spark thinking: oh, they’ve finally solved it. It even has a small charging light. I don’t know how long the pen’s battery life is because it’s always charging when not in use.
The pen’s cubby, in addition to charging the pen, will magnetically flip it if you insert it wrong. The Windows logo must be placed on top and the Surface Pro X will rotate it if it is not oriented properly.
Microsoft describes the Surface Pro X chassis design as its signature anodized aluminum with a fan, and carbon composite thermal cooling system, a fancy way to describe how light, sturdy, and cool it is. I never discovered more than a little warmth.
The stand reclines no more than 180 degrees, with just a slight bend for drawing purposes. The base is stiff and supportive over the entire range of motion, providing a lot more flexibility than a traditional clamshell, which typically leans about 45 degrees to the horizontal.
Immediate Lappability remains a matter of taste. I arrange our work with a tablet in your quiz game. Yes, it is possible. That’s right, the grip between the Surface Pro X keyboard and the tablet is excellent, and you don’t have to worry about cracking if it hits your knee. In practice, however, the Surface Pro X works best on a desk or hard desk.
Screens and ports
The Surface Pro X display pumps out an incredible 448 nits of light, which means it can be used even in bright sunlight. (Remember, screen brightness also harms battery life.) Two color profiles are supported: Enhanced and sRGB. The tapered bezels allow the Surface Pro X to turn its 13-inch display into a smaller overall configuration. This is the kind of structural modification fans that have been requested. If you’re a Surface Dial user, it doesn’t support on-screen use, although you can use it as an off-screen peripheral.
The addition of a pair of USB-C ports brings the Surface Pro X in line with other modern tablet designs. However, they are not provided by Thunderbolt, so your external display connection options are still limited. Since the Surface, Pro X connects USB-A, miniDisplayPort, and microSD, you’ll need a USB-C hub to connect legacy devices (a compact investment after spending over $250 on a keyboard).
I managed to hook up an external 4K screen just fine with the Surface Dock, but the moment I added that second 1080p display, the 4K connection started acting a bit unreliable. It’s like it can’t keep the same composure, or something. The weird part is that if I connect the 4K display directly to the outside monitor, it works properly every time. You would think that a company like Microsoft, which owns the operating system and manufactures the hardware, would solve these problems.
On the back of the Surface, Pro X is a rather interestingly designed panel that can be popped out using the SIM tool. Inside hides a SIM slot, as well as a user-accessible SSD drive. Microsoft says removable SSDs are for data portability, and you’ll have to find compatible SSDs these long and tough. A small magnet helps guide the panel back into place, a thoughtful design detail.
It’s a good starting point to talk about one of the strengths of the Surface Pro X: wireless.
It’s no secret that we favor always-on, always-connected PCs, simply because you can do more with a device that can run all day and connect to the Internet. LTE-capable Surface Pro devices tend to stick to the initial rollout for about six months, but Microsoft has yet to announce the Surface Pro 7. LTE-capable, from a connectivity standpoint, the Surface Pro X is it.
Surface Pro X uses Qualcomm’s X24 LTE modem, which supports the major LTE bands used by all four US carriers, as well as those used in Asia and Europe. You will be able to connect all over the world.
Keyboard, speaker, and camera
I was surprised to find that I almost enjoyed typing on the Surface Pro X more than on our recently reviewed Surface Laptop 3. The Surface Pro keyboard’s keyboard has always had a looser feel, coming from one of my favorites, the Surface Pro 3. While the Surface Laptop 3’s keys are a bit stiff, I like the Surface Pro X’s combination of resilience and comfort. The precision touchpad is excellent, clicking up to the top of the screen.
Microsoft has always believed in bold audio experiences. The Surface Pro X continues that tradition, with powerful speakers that belie the relatively small size of the tablet. Dolby Audio Premium is included, with its options for stereo expansion and tonal equalization. The Surface Pro X falls into the small group of tablets and laptops where you don’t want to listen to audio without headphones.
Typically, user-facing cameras are bare-bones 720p models for video conferencing. Microsoft gives you a user-facing 5MP camera that’s good enough for 1080p, as well as a surprisingly good 10MP rear camera with HDR and autofocus.
The camera app is integrated with the Microsoft Whiteboard app, which means you can take a picture of the whiteboard, even at an angle, and the app will translate it into an image that you can edit and mark up. This is a possibility unique to Microsoft’s Surface Laptop tablet, which lacks a rear camera to do this.
Touch and Pen Input
The touchscreen on the Surface Pro X feels surprisingly quick and responsive, like it keeps up without much fuss , giving a smooth and kinda intuitive touch experience. You can do multi-touch gestures too , so moving around the Windows 11 interface is pretty easy and direct. On top of that, the display works with the Surface Slim Pen, it just snaps into place magnetically along the side , so you don’t have to think too much about storage or charging. The pen itself shows low latency and strong precision, which makes it great for sketching, jotting down notes, and other creative stuff.
Aspect Ratio
That 3:2 aspect ratio is kinda a signature move for the Surface line or whatever. Compared with the typical 16:9 screens, it gives you more vertical room, which helps with productivity, like when you’re reading documents, web browsing, and juggling spreadsheets, in general. It also makes the whole device feel more usable whether you’re in laptop mode, or you flip it into tablet mode and go with the flow.
Performance
Under the hood, the Surface Pro X runs on Microsoft’s custom ARM-based processor, the Microsoft SQ1 or the newer SQ2 , made with Qualcomm. The idea here is a careful balance between performance and power efficiency , so modern mobile users can stay productive without the battery acting up every five minutes.
CPU and GPU Performance
So the Microsoft SQ1 and SQ2 chips, ya know, they’re built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon architecture . Both have an octa-core CPU and then an Adreno graphics unit , for SQ1 it is Adreno 685 , for SQ2 it is Adreno 690. In general these processors are meant to cover everyday kinds of use, like web browsing, editing documents, watching video , and kind of mild photo work without much fuss.
In benchmark style tests, the Surface Pro X actually does quite okay , for a device that sits in this same class. But , when you compare it with Intel and AMD options, it tends to lag behind in raw processing muscle. Still, for most productivity workflows it feels fine and dependable . Yet for heavier software, like video editing, 3D rendering, or higher-end gaming, things may start to move slower , or not feel as fluid as you might hope.
RAM and Storage
The Surface Pro X ships with either 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM , which is enough headroom for multitasking and running several apps in parallel. As for storage, buyers can pick 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD . That solid-state setup tends to deliver quick read and write speeds, so system start-ups are faster , and file access feels responsive when you open apps or move data around.
Connectivity and Expandability
For ports, you get two USB-C connectors on the Surface Pro X . They handle data transfer, charging, and display output , so they’re pretty flexible for connecting extras. You can plug in things like external monitors, storage drives, and docking gear . However, because there’s no traditional USB-A port, older peripherals might mean you’ll need an adapter, small but necessary, often enough.
It also has a Surface Connect port , for charging and hooking up Surface accessories and there’s a nano-SIM slot for LTE connectivity. On the wireless side it supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 , so basically online activities stay steady, and pairing a keyboard with a mouse is pretty smooth.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Surface Pro X is build to work smoothly with the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard, which you have to buy separately . The keyboard cover snaps on with magnets to the tablet , and it’s meant to feel kind of like typing on a normal laptop, rather than just pecking at glass.
Typing Experience
On the Signature Keyboard, the keys are nicely spaced, and they have a good amount of travel, so the whole experience is pretty satisfying. There’s also backlighting, so typing stays readable when the room is darker. Another neat detail, the keyboard cover comes with a built-in pen holder for the Surface Slim Pen, so the pen is always close at hand when you need it, not lost in a bag somewhere.
Touchpad
The touchpad itself is roomy and responsive, and it supports multi touch gestures for quicker navigation. Tracking feels smooth, plus it’s precise enough that using it instead of the touchscreen for cursor control , and those gesture commands, feels natural most of the time.
Battery Life
Battery life really does matter a ton on pretty much any portable, and the Surface Pro X is advertised to keep going through the full day, you know. It comes with a 38.2Wh battery, and Microsoft says it can last as much as 15 hours for normal day to day use, depending how you’re running it.
Real-World usage
In real life scenarios, the Surface Pro X does a pretty solid job with battery life, usually hanging around 10 to 12 hours per charge, when you mix things up like web browsing, document editing, video streaming, and the occasional use of those creative applications. The ARM-based processor power efficiency really helps here, it contributes a lot to the long runtime, so for people who want a steady device for on the go productivity it feels like a good match.
Fast charging
The Surface Pro X supports fast charging, using the Surface Connect port, so you can recharge it without waiting forever. Microsoft says it can reach around 80% in roughly one hour, and that’s honestly a handy thing when you just need a quick boost during short breaks.
Software experience
The Surface Pro X comes with Windows 11, which is Microsoft’s latest operating system, kinda. Windows 11 is tuned for touch plus pen use, so the full experience ends up feeling smooth and also more like easy going, on this device.
Windows on ARM
A big point with the Surface Pro X is its ARM based architecture, and that style comes with both strengths and limits. Windows 11 on ARM offers a good, “works right away” feel for most tasks, and it includes native support for ARM64 applications. Still, some older x86 applications might not behave the same way, they may run slower or need emulation, and that can affect overall performance at times.
Pre-Installed Software
The Surface Pro X comes with a pretty small amount of pre-loaded software, mostly Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Office (trial) and a few other utility applications. It’s a clean kind of setup, so the user gets a fresh start, and then it’s easier to set up the device with whatever apps, tools, and little extras they actually want.
Ports and Connectivity
The Surface Pro X offers a modern mix of ports and connection choices, aimed at what people expect now adays.
USB-C Ports
You get two USB-C 3.2 ports, for all the everyday stuff like data transfer, charging, and display out. Those ports work with lots of peripherals , like external monitors, storage devices, or even docking stations. That said, the absence of a normal USB-A port might be annoying, because older peripherals may need an adapter, just so they work at all.
Surface Connect Port
The Surface Connect port is for charging, and also for linking up with Surface accessories such as the Surface Dock. It’s a proprietary connector, which helps keep fast charging, and makes the connection steady with Surface specific peripherals.
Nano‑SIM Slot
The Surface Pro X comes with a nano‑SIM slot, so LTE connectivity is a thing. Basically it lets you stay online even when Wi‑Fi is not around, or you’re just not near it. This is handy for people who are always moving, like consultants, designers, or anyone trying to keep things going while traveling, or when you’re stuck in remote working places.
Wireless Connectivity
For wireless, it supports Wi‑Fi 5 (802.11ac) plus Bluetooth 5.0. That means you should get dependable connections for online activities and for peripherals too. Most folks will find Wi‑Fi 5 fine, but yeah, not having Wi‑Fi 6 could feel like a miss if you’re the type who wants the newest wireless standard.
Audio and Webcam
There are stereo speakers with Dolby Audio, and they do a decent job of keeping sound clear and pretty well balanced. You get it for music, movies, and also those video calls where you really notice if audio is off. The speakers sit on both sides of the display, which gives that more immersive type of listening vibe.
Audio Quality
The audio quality on the Surface Pro X is honestly pretty impressive, considering the size of the device. The speakers give out clear, pretty balanced sound , with a decent bump in bass and solid clarity even when you turn the volume up. Sure, it might not “replace” a more dedicated external speaker setup, but it is honestly more than enough for casual listening, video calls, and streaming media.
Webcam and Microphone
On the front, the Surface Pro X includes a 5.0-megapixel camera, it records 1080p HD video, so it feels made for video conferencing and online meetings. The images look crisp and clean, with good color accuracy , and surprisingly decent low-light performance too, which really helps for professional video calls where lighting is not always kind.
There is also a 10.0-megapixel rear camera, and it can shoot 4K video recording. This one is handy for photos and clips while you are on the move, scanning documents, and those little tasks that need sharp and higher quality imaging.
For audio capture, the built in dual far-field studio microphones do a nice job , they keep your voice front and center while also reducing background noise. So for voice recordings, and for remote work in general, it holds up well, and it works nicely for online collaboration.
Software Compatibility and Ecosystem
The Surface Pro X runs Windows 11. That means you get improvements and features that are geared toward touch, and pen input. The Windows 11 experience feels sleek and modern , with smoother multitasking, better handling of windows, and a Start menu that looks refreshed . Overall it gives the device a more polished ecosystem feel , especially if you use it for work each day.
Windows 11 on ARM
So running Windows 11 on an ARM based processor kinda feels like you’re getting the best of two worlds, but also a few headaches. The main win, is usually better power use and a longer battery life. ARM chips are built for lighter, more efficient computing, so the Surface Pro X ends up being a really solid pick if you care about portability, and not having to think about charging every little while.
That said, software compatibility is the part that can get tricky. Windows 11 on ARM does support native ARM64 apps and it can also handle x86 programs by using emulation, but not everything older or more specialized will behave nicely. Some tools might run okay, others can be awkward , or just won’t work. Microsoft keeps pushing updates to app compatibility and nowadays a lot of common apps run smoothly on ARM. Still, if you depend on particular legacy software , it’s smart to double check compatibility first before you buy or switch devices.
Microsoft Ecosystem
As a part of the Surface lineup, the Pro X kinda blends in with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem. Like you get compatibility with Microsoft Office, OneDrive, and a bunch of other productivity tools, pretty smoothly. It also has Windows Hello, so login feels more secure and, in a sense quicker, using facial recognition. And yes, the Surface Slim Pen together with the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard really makes day to day use feel more complete, not just “connected”, but genuinely more flexible for different kinds of work.
Conclusion
Overall, the Microsoft Surface Pro X is a pretty strong 2-in-1 device that shines in the areas of appearance, portability and battery life. You’re getting a high resolution display, multiple ways to interact with the device, and that smooth Microsoft ecosystem integration which many people already rely on. So it can work well for professionals, students, creators, and even everyday users who just want something practical and mobile. At the same time, the ARM based setup does bring some limits, mainly around software compatibility and raw performance , but it still offers a different kind of mix of mobility and usefulness that stands out in the crowd.
If portability and that long battery endurance are your top priorities, the Surface Pro X is a pretty solid choice. Its clean design plus those versatile capabilities, makes it a handy instrument for everything from serious work and creative sessions, to a more relaxed use sometimes. If you depend heavily on older legacy software, or you need top tier performance for heavy apps, you may want to weigh those points before you buy.
In general, the Surface Pro X looks like a bold turn in the evolution of the Surface line, giving a modern , adaptable solution for that mobile first world we’re all living in.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.