Advertisement
Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 11, introduced with the latest Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite chip, is marketed as an AI-ready device. Despite promising advancements, it falls short of revolutionizing personal computing with AI.
Key Features:
- Performance: The Surface Pro 11, featuring the Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, offers strong performance for web browsing, productivity tasks, and some gaming. The OLED display is bright and smooth, with a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Battery Life: The device delivers over eight hours of battery life in early testing, with Microsoft claiming up to 10 hours of web browsing. This is a significant improvement over previous models with Arm-based chips, like the Surface Pro X.
- AI Integration: It includes some AI features in Windows 11, such as simulated eye contact for video calls and an AI-assisted Paint feature. However, many of the advertised AI capabilities, like the Recall feature, are not yet available due to security concerns.
- Design: The Surface Pro retains its iconic kickstand design and supports up to three 4K monitors. It charges via a proprietary Surface Connect port or USB-C, but lacks a headphone jack.
What’s Good:
- High-End Hardware: The Surface Pro 11 offers high-end specifications and a responsive touchscreen. It’s a notable upgrade in terms of performance and display quality.
- Battery Life and Expandability: Battery life is strong, and the device is easy to upgrade, with accessible SSD replacement. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard, although more expensive, offers Bluetooth connectivity and long typing endurance.
What’s Bad:
- AI Features Still Missing: The most anticipated AI features, such as Recall, have been delayed due to security issues. The current AI functionalities are useful but not groundbreaking.
- App Compatibility: Some applications, including Google Drive and ExpressVPN, are not yet optimized for the new Arm-based Surface Pro. Users may encounter compatibility issues with certain software.
- Limited AI Assistant Powers: Microsoft’s Copilot assistant, while present, offers reduced capabilities compared to earlier versions.
Should You Buy It?: The Surface Pro 11 is a solid choice if you need a high-performance tablet with good battery life and don’t mind waiting for some of the more advanced AI features. It’s a marked improvement over previous models and a significant step forward with Arm-based processors. However, if AI-driven computing is your main focus, the current offerings may not meet your expectations just yet.