Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8: Intel-Powered Business Devices
Microsoft has launched three new Intel-powered Surface devices for businesses: the Surface Pro 12 (Surface Pro for Business 13-inch, 12th Edition) and Surface Laptop 8 (Surface Laptop for Business 13.8-inch or 15-inch, 8th Edition), alongside a smaller 13-inch Surface Laptop for Business (1st Edition). These devices feature Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, arriving before Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 models expected later this year.
Surface Pro 12: Specs, Pricing, and Design
The Surface Pro 12 starts at $1,949.99 for the base model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 13-inch PixelSense LCD display. Higher configurations include Core Ultra 7, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage, with top specs reaching $4,399.99. OLED screen options and 5G connectivity are also available, with the 5G model starting at $2,249.99.
Design and Connectivity
The Surface Pro 12 design is unchanged from the Surface Pro 11, featuring two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, a Surface Connect magnetic charging port, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a 1440p Quad HD front-facing camera, and a 10-megapixel 4K rear-facing camera.
Surface Laptop 8: Pricing, Haptic Touchpad, and Privacy Screen
The Surface Laptop 8 (13.8-inch) starts at $1,949.99 with an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage. This price is nearly double the original Surface Laptop 7 starting price, reflecting recent price increases. The max configuration for the 13.8-inch model costs $4,299.99, while the 15-inch version reaches $4,499.99.
New Features: Haptic Touchpad and Privacy Screen
The Surface Laptop 8 introduces an advanced haptic touchpad that provides subtle feedback for actions like hovering near close buttons or dragging sliders. Windows 11 natively supports this feature, and Microsoft is collaborating with third-party developers. The 13.8-inch model also offers an optional integrated privacy screen, managed by IT teams or activated with a single key, protecting business data from side views.
Display and Ports
While the Surface Pro 12 offers an OLED option, the Surface Laptop 8 does not. Instead, the 15-inch model gets a higher resolution panel (3270 x 2180, 262 PPI) with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both models retain the Surface Connect port, USB-A port, two USB-C ports, and a MicroSDXC Express card reader on the 15-inch model.
Smaller 13-Inch Surface Laptop for Business (1st Edition)
This Intel version of the Qualcomm-powered model from last year starts at $1,499.99, with 8GB RAM configurations promised later this year for $1,299.99. The max configuration (Core Ultra 5, 24GB RAM, 1TB storage) is priced at $2,249.99.
What These Launches Mean for Consumers
The high business pricing signals potential increases for consumer Surface models expected later this year. Rumors suggest a Surface Laptop with an OLED display may be announced in June. These Intel-powered devices mark a shift in Microsoft's release strategy, prioritizing Intel chips over Arm-based models initially.
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