Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 Laptop/Tablet (2025), Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, 12" Touchscreen Display, Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core), 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage, Platinum

I have used Windows tablets with cellular service for years and was reluctant to purchase a Surface because they weren't available from my cell provider. I wish I had just bought a Surface and used the hotspot on my phone when I was away from home. The performance when compared to the Samsung Galaxy Book and the Lenovo Flex 5 I had previously is by far superior. Yes, those were older models but even when new they never performed like this Surface. If you haven't used a Windows tablet before don't take my statement about performance to mean it's the equivalent of a desktop or laptop. It won’t replace a computer that is built for high performance. If you don’t need that a Surface might be worth it for you. If you go to a big box store and look at what they have for sale you will notice quickly that they have both laptops and desktops that are less expensive. So, why buy a Surface when you can get a regular computer for less money? 1. Value – Yes, you can buy an inexpensive desktop PC or a laptop for less money than a Surface costs. In my experience those PC’s give you just what you paid for: mediocre performance and poor-quality hardware that doesn’t last. The Surface is a well-built PC and out performs any of the lower end systems I have had to use or repair in the past few years. 2. Portability - Yes, laptops are portable but they are generally bulkier. I have to carry a large laptop bag with me when I take the laptop out of the house. I can drop my surface in a tablet sleeve to protect it in my backpack along with whatever else I need and not have to carry two bags and feel like I'm performing weight training. I still use my laptop away from home when I am going to where I will be using it for a significant time and need a screen large enough to keep multiple documents open and visible at the same time but that is rare. 3. Takes less space on a table or desk - The Surface Pro 2-in-1 doesn't take up a lot of space. I purchased the removable keyboard and use it when I am where space isn't a problem but the Surface shines when space is limited. I keep a small, folding Bluetooth keyboard with me for when I am not going to be doing serious amounts of typing. I play role playing games and use the Surface when and run a game and when I am one of the players. With several of us around a table space is often limited. Even a medium sized laptop is too large to use in most cases. Using a small keyboard that is not connected allows me to keep the Surface on the table and move the keyboard out of the way as needed. 4. Battery life - Microsoft says the battery lasts 16 hours and I've not gotten that much out use of one charge but the Surface outlasts my Dell Inspiron by several hours. I've not had the battery run out on me when I was away from home. As long as I remember to charge it at night when the battery is less than 30% charge I don't worry about having to find a place to plug it in. 4. Compatibility – This is for any of you who have used an older 64 bit Windows tablet. The biggest problem I had with my Galaxy Book and then the Flex 5 was that they ran a heavily modified version of Windows. I could not find anti-virus software other than Windows Defender that would run on one of them because of an incompatibility with the processors. I also had to install 32 bit versions of most other software because of this and had to do without if there wasn’t one available. I’ve not tried to install anything that will run on an Intel CPU that didn’t install and run well on the Surface. I’m sure there is going to be some software out there that refuses to install but so far I haven’t found it. I could go on and on but the bottom line is that I am more than pleased with my Surface. This model is worth every penny I spent on it. It has taken every task I have thrown at it and not failed to handle them even once.

There is a lot to love about this device. It has an excellent build quality, the screen is gorgeous and bright enough for my tastes and the speakers are surprisingly good for a tablet in terms of both loudness and clarity. Having the built in “kick stand” is also useful to prop the screen up. It is fairly light but it is on the larger side for a tablet and someone with smaller hands may find typing with the on screen keyboard to be awkward and uncomfortable. Luckily, Microsoft had the good sense to implement a way to have the onscreen keyboard split itself in half to make it easier to reach for the keys when holding the device with both hands. Also, I consider this device to be a tablet because, unfortunately it does not include the keyboard that would make it a proper 2-in-1 out of the box. Microsoft is charging another $150 to make this device feature complete. I have yet to purchase the keyboard, so I won’t be commenting on this device’s use as a laptop. In terms of performance, it feels speedy. At times, apps feel slow to start which can be annoying at times but there’s no UI lag or hitching that I have noticed. It also runs fairly cool during normal use, although I noticed it got pretty toasting during a telehealth appointment and I’ve yet to try playing any games on it. Which brings us to software. This obviously runs Windows 11 which is both a blessing and a curse. You get the flexibility of a desktop operating system on a tablet. This is why Microsoft should have rethought including a keyboard because the tablet mode in Windows is laughably bad. The tablet mode gives you the virtual keyboard and some minor UI adjustments. And that’s it. You still have the same file explorer, frustratingly tiny UI elements and context menus and the notable absence of a virtual gamepad. Microsoft has clearly not put the effort into a proper tablet interface despite the Surface Pro being its flagship hardware. I do want to mention as a positive that this device has a Snapdragon CPU rather than an Intel or AMD processor. For anyone unaware, this means that it does not natively run x86 programs, however I did get the sense that Microsoft put a lot of work on the software side to allow x86 apps to operate by some sort of compatibility layer. This is seamless and I have yet to have any issues with an x86 app not operating but YMMV. Again, I have not tested games yet but this device is not designed with gaming in mind so don’t expect any miracles. I should mention that as part of my specific use case, I have been connecting a Roland FP-10 (an electric piano) to the tablet and learning to play using Piano Marvel via web browser. There does not appear to be any major latency causing the app to think that I am missing notes, which is good. And then there’s the Windows app store. The disparity in app offerings compared to Android and iOS remains and that may never improve, especially since more and more hardware partners who previously offered Windows tablets have given up and opted to make Android tablets instead. Microsoft has also recently ended support for running android apps through the Windows store so that possibility is now gone. The lack of apps and games leaves me wishing I had gotten a Pixel tablet – it certainly would be cheaper and provide a more diverse offering of touch optimized apps and games. So, while this is a great device my advice to anyone considering buying this is to consider their use case for this. If you plan to shell out another $150 to Microsoft to actually take advantage of this as convertible device or purchase the stylus accessory for computer art then this may be the device for you. If you are looking for just a tablet, make sure the apps you want to use exist in the Windows store or you’ll be left disappointed and wanting more.

Absolutely perfect for a nursing student! I can write on it and also type with it. I have never had any problems with it and all of my girls are getting one because they love the way it functions!

Buying this Surface is, without a doubt, rhe biggest mistake I have made in a long time. I got caught up in nationalistic pride and decided to buy American. I absolutely regret it. This computer has one of the worst operating systems I've ever used. It is confusing and not at all like any other Microsoft product. The tablet is laggy and extrememly slow. And it has the worst time connecting to my home wifi. I get error messages telling me the wifi is not available, yet my Samsung phone is sitting right next to me, easily connected. Following the "Get Help" option tells me to restart the wi-fi network adapter. This always takes between 5 and 10 minutes, and invariably results in the recommendation to restart my home router. However, if I do that, the TV is out and nobody else in the house can connect while the router reboots. Attempting to get help from customer support is an exercise in futility. I wind up trying random fixes in the settings menu in the hopes that something will change. I have reset this computer multiple times and it keeps doing the same things. I don't really even use the Surface anymore, and it sits around like an $800 paperweight. I have gone back to my Samsung tablet that costs a fourth of the price. The size and functionality of the Surface should be perfect, but the operation of this tablet is terrible. This has convinced me to not take a risk on any more American technical products. Congratulations, Microsoft. This is crap. I'm going back to put my trust in the Koreans and the Japanese. EDIT: I feel that i should update my issues with the Surface. Not only are the problems I listed above still ongoing, I now have actual safety concerns with this product. The battery or processor overheats in this tablet to an alarming degree. I literally thought I was going to burn my hand on it earlier today. I am worried that this could start a fire if I accidentally leave it on my couch or something. Microsoft is also very helpful regarding this issue: "This meets all manufacturing standards," and "let it cool down and don't touch it." This seems like an amazing way to deal with a terrible product, and not at all like a cop out. Again, thanks, Microsoft.

I recently bought a tablet, and it has turned out to be one of the best purchases I’ve made. It’s a wonderful device—efficient, lightweight, and incredibly easy to carry everywhere I go. Whether I’m working, reading, or simply browsing, it performs smoothly and saves me a significant amount of time. The portability makes it convenient for travel and daily use, and I find myself relying on it more than I expected. Overall, it’s both practical and enjoyable to use.