• Microsoft’s new best 2-in-1 laptop

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  Followed

  Surface Pro 11

  Operating System

  Windows 11

  CPU

  Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

  GPU

  Qualcomm Adreno

  RAM

  16GB or 32GB LPDDR5x

  Storage

  256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD

  Battery

  Up to 14 hours of video playback (Wi-Fi model)

  The Surface Pro 11 is Microsoft's best tablet yet, powered by the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset and featuring an optional OLED display for the first time ever, resulting in a stunning visual experience. It also comes with new AI features as part of Copilot+.

  Pros & Cons

  • Brilliant new 120Hz OLED display
  • Powerful Snapdragon X series processors
  • Long-lasting battery life

  • High price tag
  • 5G options not yet available

  $1000 at Microsoft
• The incumbent hybrid flagship

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  Followed

  Microsoft Surface Pro 9

  Operating System

  Windows 11

  CPU

  Wi-Fi model: 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U or 12th-gen Intel Core i7-1255U; 5G model: Microsoft SQ3

  GPU

  Wi-Fi model: Intel Iris Xe; 5G model: Qualcomm Adreno graphics

  RAM

  8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR5

  Storage

  Wi-Fi model: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD; 5G model: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD

  Battery

  Wi-Fi model: Up to 15.5 hours; 5G model: Up to 19 hours

  The Surface Pro 9 is a premium tablet from Microsoft released in 2022. It is available with either 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs or the ARM-based Microsoft SQ3 processor, depending on whether you'd like 5G connectivity. It isn't widely available retail at this time, you may have to search a bit to find one.

  Pros & Cons

  • Processor options for a wider budget range
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Solid 120Hz LCD display

  • 5G only available with SQ3 processor
  • No Surface Pro Flex Keyboard bundles

  $1000 at Best Buy (Wi-Fi model)

Microsoft aims to make a statement by jumping from the Surface Pro 9 directly up to the Surface Pro 11, just like it did when skipping from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. If you ignore the confusing (and only peripherally relevant) release of the Surface Pro 10 for Business, this is Microsoft’s first new Surface Pro device to be made widely available in two years. Their leap ahead in version number should indicate that this is no iterative update.

The Surface Pro 11 may not have revolutionized the lineup, but a lot has changed under the hood. So, exactly what has been updated with this new release? We’ll cover all the key upgrades in this head-to-head comparison of these excellent Windows tablets, including changes to the Surface Pro’s design, display, performance, and battery life. Before we dive into the deep end, let’s talk about the different versions of these two devices and what they cost.

Price, availability, and specs

• 	Surface Pro 11	Microsoft Surface Pro 9
  CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite	Wi-Fi model: 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U or 12th-gen Intel Core i7-1255U; 5G model: Microsoft SQ3
  GPU	Qualcomm Adreno	Wi-Fi model: Intel Iris Xe; 5G model: Qualcomm Adreno graphics
  Display (Size, Resolution)	13-inch, 2880x1920	13.3-inch, 2880x1920
  RAM	16GB or 32GB LPDDR5x	8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR5
  Storage	256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD	Wi-Fi model: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD; 5G model: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD
  Battery	Up to 14 hours of video playback (Wi-Fi model)	Wi-Fi model: Up to 15.5 hours; 5G model: Up to 19 hours
  Ports	2x USB4 and 1x Surface Connect	Wi-Fi model: 2x Thunderbolt 4 and Surface Connect; 5G model: 2x USB-C 3.2 and Surface Connect
  Operating System	Windows 11	Windows 11
  Webcam	5MP + IR 1440p front-facing camera, 10MP rear-facing camera	1080p Full HD webcam
  Dimensions	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches	287x208.6x9.3mm
  Weight	1.97 pounds	Wi-Fi model: 1.94 pounds; 5G model: 1.95 pounds
  Speakers	Dual 2W stereo speakers	Dual 2W stereo speakers
  Colors	Platinum, Black, Sapphire, or Dune	Wi-Fi model: Sapphire, Forest, Platinum, or Graphite; 5G model: Platinum
  Display type	IPS or OLED PixelSense Flow	LCD PixelSense Flow
  Price	Starting at $1,000	$750

Despite Microsoft not releasing a Surface Pro 10 (aside from their business model for corporate purchase), it makes sense that the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Pro 9 were released two version numbers apart. Based on the differences in their price and specification options alone, you will see that this is more than just another iterative update.

The Surface Pro 11 is Microsoft’s newest 2-in-1 laptop, released June 2024. It is available with either a standard LCD and Snapdragon X Plus SoC starting at $1000, or a premium OLED display and Snapdragon X Elite SoC starting at $1500. Both of these prices are for the Wi-Fi-only versions with 16GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. You can add optional 5G support or upgrade the RAM and storage for an added cost, but note that the 5G version of this laptop still isn't going to be released until later this year.

Comparatively, the Surface Pro 9 was released on October 12, 2022. While it only has the standard LCD option (no OLED) it ships with multiple processor options. Each one has optional 5G support and varying base RAM and storage. The 12th Gen Intel Core i5 Platinum version has an MSRP of $750, the 12th Gen Intel Core i7 Platinum version has an MSRP of $1300, and the Microsoft SQ 3 Platinum version has an MSRP of $1250. That said, many vendors are showing these models as discontinued or on clearance, which means you can expect to find them for even cheaper.

For the sake of an interesting comparison, we’ll be looking at the most premium configurations of both laptops. For the Surface Pro 11, this would be the version with the OLED display and Snapdragon X Elite SoC. For the Surface Pro 9, this would be the 12th Gen Intel Core i7 Platinum version.

Functional design

The new keyboard accessory is the big story

Microsoft Surface devices have always been among the most portable and flexible computing options because of their 2-in-1 design and robust accessory ecosystem. To that point, both the Surface Pro 11 and the Surface Pro 9 are great devices for on-the-go use. However, the Surface Pro 11 offers some key design upgrades that make it the ergonomically superior choice.

For example, the Surface Pro 11 has a new 1440p webcam with a wider 114-degree field of view, while the Surface Pro 9 only has a 1080p webcam. The Surface Pro 11 also comes equipped with a built-in NFC reader.

The biggest upgrade, though, comes in the form of Microsoft’s new Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. It offers several major improvements over the original Surface Type Cover, including wireless Bluetooth connectivity, a dedicated Copilot button, and a new haptic trackpad. While this accessory is technically compatible with the Surface Pro 9 too, don’t expect to find the two bundled together like you would with the Surface Pro 11. It is also yet to be determined if the Copilot button will work with older Surface Pro models.

All in all, while both devices have great touchscreens, lightweight anodized aluminum chassis, and solid accessory support, the Surface Pro 11 takes the cake because of these upgrades.

Winner: Surface Pro 11

Display

Only one laptop delivers OLED brilliance

Some of the Surface Pro 11's biggest improvements over its predecessor are in the display department. The premium model of this laptop comes with a 13-inch OLED display, with PixelSense Flow touchscreen technology and a new anti-glare coating. It has an incredible contrast ratio, improved color management, and is more energy-efficient. The new OLED display is a much-appreciated update, especially since this is a feature you’ll find on most of the best laptops on the market. That said, the base model of the Surface Pro 11 still uses the same display technology as the Surface Pro 9, which indicates that the LCD is far from obsolete.

The Surface Pro 9 (and the base Surface Pro 11) has a 13-inch LCD with many of the same specs, including the same PixelSense Flow touchscreen technology. It has the same 2880x1920 resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, as well as the same Dolby Vision IQ support. But while it is far from a mediocre display, it still doesn’t quite live up to the vibrant OLED display of the Surface Pro 11. This category is an easy win for the new device.

Winner: Surface Pro 11

Performance

Snapdragon X is a force to be reckoned with

It should come as no surprise whatsoever that the newer Surface Pro 11 is the clear winner in the performance category. But just how much better is the Surface Pro 11 compared to the Surface Pro 9? Microsoft’s marketing material suggests that it is 90% faster, although the exact figure ultimately depends on which two hardware configurations we’re talking about. If we're talking about the ARM chips (SQ3 on the Pro 9 and Snapdragon X Elite on the Pro 11), the Surface Pro 11 is faster in both native ARM applications and x86 emulation.

Things get more interesting if we compare the Surface Pro 11 against the 12th Gen Core i7 version of the Surface Pro 9 though. The Snapdragon X Elite SoC manages to beat the newer Core Ultra 7 155H found in the likes of the LenovoYoga 9i, so in terms of pure raw performance, it also easily bests the older Surface Pro 9 with the 12th Gen i7 part. However, a lot of games won't work on the Surface Pro 11, simply because they're not compiled for ARM processors. This is not a problem with the x86 version of the Surface Pro 9.

Fortunately, a lot of other applications don't have this problem. Premiere Pro now works on ARM through emulation, and a native ARM version of the app is coming soon. There's a long list of native apps for Windows on ARM, but keep in mind that native versions of your favorite apps are still a work in progress.

So, while we have to give the win to the newer Surface Pro 11 in terms of performance on paper, keep in mind that some apps (and most games) will have trouble until developers better optimize their apps for Windows on ARM.

Winner: Surface Pro 11

Battery life

An easy win for the Surface Pro 11

Battery life is a major benefit of these new Snapdragon X Elite chips. The Surface Pro 11 easily achieves all-day battery life, as standby battery life and power management are much better this time around. During testing, we found that this Microsoft tablet can easily net you up to 11 hours of battery life. Comparatively, the SQ3 version of the Surface Pro 9 gave us 8-10.5 hours of battery life, meaning the Surface Pro 11 is slightly ahead.

It's worth noting that the Surface Laptop 7 beats both of these devices with relative ease. It can give you up to 15 hours of battery life in some cases, so the bigger 64WHr battery definitely helps. The Core i5 and i7 versions of the Surface Pro 9 also get beyond 10 hours of typical usage. Needless to say, all of these laptops have great battery endurance, but Intel chips lose a lot of battery when in standby mode. The efficient OLED display also helps a lot in this department.

Winner: Surface Pro 11

Surface Pro 11 vs Surface Pro 9: Which is right for you?

To none of our surprise, the Surface Pro 11 represents a solid upgrade in almost all the most important categories for a convertible laptop. Considering the overall quality of improvements made to this line, it certainly makes sense that Microsoft saw fit to skip the Surface Pro 10 model number with this release. And given that the new device is only a few hundred dollars more than the Surface Pro 9, it seems like the smart purchase for anyone who can stomach its premium price tag. The Surface Pro 11 should be a top choice for any user who wants a device with the portability of a tablet and the power of a laptop.

All this said, the Surface Pro 9 remains a viable option for people who are looking for a bargain right now. This is especially the case now that major retailers have been marking their remaining inventory of the Surface Pro 9 down as clearance items. It's also worth noting that if you get the Intel version, you'll have better app compatibility and game support than the new Windows on ARM-focused Surface Pro 11.