OPNION: Microsoft is targeting the the iPad Pro, but it’s a double edged sword. Some of the Surface Pro 12-inch changes will appeal, others lessen the ‘Pro’ appeal of the 2-in-1 line

I’ve never really thought of the Surface Pro and iPad Pro devices as direct competitors, but the new Surface Pro 12-inch announcement changes that somewhat.

Windows 11 and iOS go together like lamb and tuna fish. They traditionally have widely different audiences. Apple targeted the creatives and artists with the iPad Pro, while Microsoft was after productivity users who wanted the flexibility of the touchscreen for marking up and annotating documents and more.

The iPad Pro felt like a portable tablet with Mac tendencies, the Surface Pro felt like a PC with tablet tendencies. As Apple has made the iPadOS more akin to macOS (with more changes due this year, reportedly, including a menu bar in iPadOS 19), perhaps Microsoft has felt the need to respond.

The new Surface Pro model, revealed on May 6, signals a change in Microsoft’s outlook. It actually feels like a direct pitch to stave off an Apple tablet that’s becoming a little more Mac-like and computing focused.

Starting from the top, the smaller display size sits directly between the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models offered by Apple. If you can’t decide on 11– or 13-inches? Why not take 12-inches?

It offers a little more portability with a super-sleek fan-free design, just like the iPad Pro. It also sacrifices a few of the ports from the 11th generation Surface Pro for a slightly simpler experience in terms of connectivity.

Significantly Microsoft has reimagined the keyboard experience for the Surface Pro 12-inch to take on Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The full-sized backlit keyboard has a kickstand, lies flat and, offers a smooth matte pad for resting the palms.

As with the iPad Pro’s Apple Pencil, the Surface Cencil now magnetically attaches to the body for storage and charging, ensuring its safely stowed and ready to be used at a moment’s notice.

But is it still Pro?

Another key here is the price. Microsoft has compromised somewhat on the specs (for example, the inclusion of 90Hz screen rather than 120Hz) to bring the price down below the price significantly below the iPad Pro.

Apple charges $999 for the iPad Pro 11-inch and $1,199 for the 13-inch model. The Surface Pro 12-inch is $799. That’s certainly attractive for those considering a Pro-level tablet but don’t want to drop a grand for it.

Whether those sacrifices negate the Surface Pro 12-inch as a ‘Pro’ level tablet remains to be seen. As well as the lowered display refresh rate, this is also an LCD display with no OLED option. The new Surface Pro also compromises the 5G connectivity of the 13-inch model, as well as the front camera quality.

Microsoft is also using a less powerful version of the Snapdragon X chip compared with the 13-inch model. The Surface Pro 11 offers Snapdragon X Elite chip, while the new model only has an 8-core Plus variant. That’s not ideal when you’re going up against the iPad Pro’s M4 chip. Benchmarking tests show the M4 absolutely trounces the X Plus. I don’t think this version of the Surface Pro is going to challenge the best Windows laptops or the best tablets. So is it really Pro?

At least the new machine still includes the Hexagon NPU with 45 TOPS to ensure the AI experience remains at the forefront of Microsoft’s Copilot innovations.

I just wonder if, in trying to make the Surface Pro a better option than the iPad Pro for some consumers, whether Microsoft has lost some of what made the device a truly Pro 2-in-1.