Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12-inch is the closest thing to a Windows-powered iPad, and right now, it’s $100 off. Whether you’re heading to school or just want a sleek 2-in-1 for everyday tasks, it’s an excellent device to pop into a bag or use at a desk.
The current deal drops the Surface Pro 12-inch down to $699.99. You could pocket the savings, but I’d recommend putting it toward the Surface Keyboard, which turns the tablet into a full-fledged PC.
Surface Pro 12-inch vs iPad Air
At a glance, the Surface Pro 12-inch could be confused for an iPad Air, and I doubt that’s an accident. Microsoft made several design decisions when making the Surface Pro 12-inch to make it iPad-esque.
That shift in design results in a triumph. The Surface Pro 12-inch is the dream device many of us have asked about for years. It’s thin, light, and feels like a tablet.
Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden breaks down how the Surface Pro 12-inch vs. the iPad Air. It’s actually shocking how two devices can have so much in common while also being so different.
The Surface Pro 12-inch runs Windows that’s being scaled down to a tablet, while the iPad Air runs iPadOS, which traces its digital ancestry to a phone operating system that’s been scaled up.
Choosing between the two depends on what you need. If you want a full Windows PC and prefer the built-in kickstand over Apple’s Magic Keyboard, the Surface Pro 12-inch is the better fit. It also has a 90Hz display, compared to the iPad Air’s 60Hz, though most shoppers will likely care more about software than refresh rate.
Price is also a factor. Both devices sit in similar price ranges and are often discounted to similar levels (the iPad Air is on sale for $150 off at the time of publication). But you can’t just look at the devices on their own.
Realistically, you’ll need a keyboard for either device, and the Surface keyboard is $149.99, and the Magic Keyboard is $319.
If you’re on the fence, our Surface experts have broken down the battle between the iPad Air and the Surface Pro 12-inch extensively (linked above).
More than a smaller Surface
While there are design elements the compact device has in common with its larger sibling, such as a kickstand, Microsoft took a fresh approach when making the Surface Pro 12-inch.
At the center of that refresh is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor that powers the PC. That chip allowed Microsoft to make a fanless 2-in-1 with comparable performance to much thicker, and pricier, PCs of late.
Our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino highlighted that the performance of the Snapdragon X Plus is a strength rather than a weakness in our Surface Pro 12-inch review:
“I keep coming back to the comparison: Surface Pro 12-inch is as performative as an Intel Core Ultra 7 H-series (Gen 1) processor, but with no fans, less heat, and better efficiency. If you think the performance here is lacking for a 12-inch fanless Windows tablet PC, I’m going to assume you’re an idiot.”
The Surface Pro 12-inch isn’t just a smaller Surface or a Windows-flavored iPad. It’s the device many Surface enthusiasts have been waiting to see for over a decade. Now, at $100 off, it’s also a great bargain.
