Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch

The value-focused 12in form factor is new and welcome, but it's best suited to less demanding users

- MATT HANSON

Once upon a time, Microsoft's Surface devices acted as showcases for the latest Windows features. They championed new form factors, such as magnetic keyboards that snapped into place on the Surface Pro. But times change, with Microsoft slimming down the number of models and its ambition.

The affordable Surface Go range won’t be updated, the company told me, with Microsoft instead adding a more affordable 12in Surface Pro - as tested here - to sit alongside the existing 13in offerings. So don’t think of the 12in Surface Pro as an upgrade to what was previously called the Surface Pro 11 (see issue 360, p52) and is now listed as the “Surface Pro, 13-inch”. It’s actually a downgrade in terms of speed and screen size. Wondering whether Microsoft could have made its branding any more confusing? You’re not alone.

Small thinking

If you've seen a Surface Pro device, you'll know what to expect with the 12in Surface Pro. It looks like a normal tablet, although the thick bezels look outdated compared to rivals (even the older Surface Pro 11 - sorry, Surface Pro, 13-inch - has thinner bezels on two sides of the screen).

As with previous models, Microsoft embosses a Windows logo on the rear, and the bottom half can be pulled out to make a kickstand. At the centre of the bottom side, a magnetic port sits ready for the optional Surface Pro 12in Keyboard. If you have an existing Surface Keyboard or Type Cover it won't fit due to the new size.

There are, however, subtle and mostly welcome changes introduced to the design of the 12in Surface Pro. The proprietary Surface Connect port has been ditched; instead you charge the tablet via one of the two USB-C ports. While Microsoft's motivation for this change is mainly to comply with the EU directive that all new electronic devices must support USB-C charging, I welcome it.