Microsoft Surface Pro 13" 11 2025, Core Ultra 5 236V, 16GB, 512GB, Platinum

The Surface Pro 11 is the Windows tablet that finally gets it right. Buy it for the battery life and display, just budget extra for the keyboard.

The Core Ultra 5 236V surprised us. It's not going to embarrass a gaming laptop, but for an 870g tablet it rips through everyday work, creative apps, and even light photo editing without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of LPDDR5X and 512GB SSD keep things snappy, and that Intel Arc 130V GPU is way better than we expected for integrated graphics. The 47Wh battery is the real flex here, it's top of the charts for this category and easily gets you through a full workday.

The iPad Pro M5 is still the king of pure tablet experience, but it runs iPadOS, which means no full desktop apps. The Surface Pro 11 runs real Windows 11 Pro, so you get actual Photoshop, full Office, and proper multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is a solid Android alternative with a better OLED screen, but it can't touch the Surface's raw productivity chops. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is a decent budget pick, but the build quality and battery life don't match Microsoft's flagship.

Here's the thing, the Surface Pro 11 is not cheap. We're seeing prices from $1,399 up to $2,100 depending on the vendor, and that's before you drop another $280 on the keyboard and pen. Newegg has the best deals right now, often undercutting the competition by a couple hundred bucks. Is it worth it? If you want a premium Windows tablet that doubles as a laptop, yes. If you just want a laptop, buy a laptop and save yourself the accessory tax.

The Surface Pro 11 is Microsoft finally nailing the formula. You get a proper Intel Core Ultra 5 chip, a gorgeous 13-inch 120Hz display, and that Copilot+ AI stuff baked in without the early adopter tax feeling too steep. The one thing to know? This is the 2-in-1 to beat if you want a real Windows PC that also works as a tablet, not the other way around.

If you're looking for a pure media consumption tablet, this isn't it. The iPad Pro M5 or Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 will give you a better screen and a more polished tablet experience for less money. And if you never plan to use it as a tablet, just buy a proper laptop like a Dell XPS 13 or MacBook Air and skip the accessory tax entirely.

The Surface Pro 11 is the best Windows 2-in-1 you can buy right now. It nails the fundamentals: killer battery, beautiful display, snappy performance, and that Copilot+ AI integration is actually useful. The accessory pricing is annoying, and the LCD panel won't win any HDR awards, but for anyone who wants one device that does it all, this is the one to get.