The modern, faster Surface Pro is a universal PC with artificial intelligence from Microsoft

Microsoft has just announced the modern Surface Pro, the latest addition to its hybrid tablet/laptop lineup and the first of what Microsoft calls a modern generation of Copilot Plus PCs. The numbers have disappeared from the model names, which appears to indicate a full reboot of the line. “Compared to previous generations of Surface, it’s not even close,” said Brett Ostrum, Microsoft’s vice president for Surface, at the launch event.

Powered by modern Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors (Elite and Plus versions), Microsoft claims that this modern Pro is up to 90 percent faster than the previous model. It also has optional 5G connectivity, which is usually powered by Qualcomm.

As does better battery life: Microsoft says the Pro will play up to 14 hours of video, which isn’t as good as the 20 hours claimed for the modern Surface laptop, but is still a good sign for the device.

There’s also a modern optional OLED screen, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a modern included keyboard called the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. It has two USB 4 ports and is available in four colors, including a very nice modern shade of blue. It also comes with significantly improved cameras: ultra-wide-angle; a front-facing quad HD system that Microsoft intends to operate for multiple AI purposes; and a 10-megapixel sensor on the back. The whole thing weighs just under two pounds and is otherwise exactly the same size as the previous Pro. The story here takes place largely inside the device.

Professional starts at $999, which provides an LCD display, X Plus processor, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. If you want the X Elite and an OLED screen, you’ll need to spend at least $1,500, while a fully-featured version of the modern Pro – with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and platinum color – will cost $2,100.

The modern Flex Keyboard, which costs $450 and comes with a Slim Pen, works both when connected or disconnected from the Pro, and should be more tough than the previous model. Microsoft says there’s also a modern option with bolder keys and a 14 percent larger touchpad, making the devices more accessible to more users.

The Surface Pro hardware has been solid for some time now – a full keyboard and stylus setup can be pricey, and power users are asking for more ports, but the design and build quality of the Surface Pro 9 aren’t too bad. The problem, as always, was the chip. You can buy the Pro 9 with a Qualcomm processor inside, which has extra camera features, 5G connectivity, and a number of pretty brutal performance compromises. Windows on Arm has been continually improved over the years, but there are still lags, glitches, and issues, even in 2022. The Intel model offered significantly worse battery life, but much better and more reliable performance.

The modern Pro is, in theory, the best of all worlds. Qualcomm promises that its lineup of Snapdragon X processors will finally make it rapid enough to compete with Apple, AMD and Intel. Microsoft seems confident that Windows on Arm will really deliver this year.

All this efficiency exists, of course, in the service of artificial intelligence. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella kicked off Monday’s event by talking about building computers that “not only understand us, but anticipate what we want” and said the next phase of Windows and computing starts with Copilot. The event also included a modern AI feature called Recall and more Copilot integrations in File Explorer, notifications, and elsewhere in Windows. Nadella said better devices could address latency and privacy issues and give AI systems more power. He called the Copilot Plus computers “the fastest, most AI-enabled PCs ever built.”