This ingenious Surface dropped by more than 10 thousand! It has a 120Hz OLED display, high performance, and great battery life

The Microsoft Surface Pro with Snapdragon X Elite, which still started at 45 thousand last June, can now be found at Alza for 29,990 CZK. This is a one-third drop from the original price; elsewhere, the same configuration with 16 GB RAM and 512GB SSD is around 40 thousand, so it’s not a widespread discount. What’s happening?

The First ARM Surface That Really Works

The Surface Pro 11 is a breakthrough device. After years of hesitant experiments with ARM processors, Snapdragon X Elite has finally arrived, handling Windows without issues. The twelve-core processor with a clock speed of up to 4 GHz and a 45 TOPS NPU unit for AI computations represents the first true alternative to x86 processors in this category.

The device weighs just 895 grams without the keyboard and offers a 13″ OLED display with a resolution of 2880 × 1920 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. On paper, it’s a premium tablet that transforms into a full-fledged laptop with the optional Surface Pro Flex keyboard.

What Do Real Users Say?

Martin from Nové Město nad Metují, who has been using the Surface Pro since January, primarily highlights the battery life and system speed. “It’s the best laptop I’ve ever worked on,” he writes in his review. He especially appreciates the ability to quickly switch between tablet and laptop modes.

The only issue he mentions is the occasional need to disconnect and reconnect the keyboard on the first startup – likely a driver error that updates should resolve. This isn’t ideal for a device in this price category, but it’s a minor detail.

Michal from Bratislava is more critical: 16 GB RAM is not enough for his work, and he is waiting for a version with more memory. This points to a fundamental problem – the Surface Pro 11 has soldered RAM that cannot be expanded. For more demanding users, 16 GB might indeed be insufficient, especially when Windows 11 itself consumes a significant portion.

ARM versus Reality: What are the Catches?

Snapdragon X Elite promises performance comparable to x86 processors, but the reality is more complex. Most applications run without issues thanks to the Prism emulation layer, which translates x86 code for ARM. Microsoft claims that the emulation is so good you won’t notice the difference.

However, some specialized applications, peripheral drivers, or older software may not work at all. Before purchasing, verify that your key software will run. Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, and most common applications work, but some VPNs or corporate software might cause issues.

Why Such a Significant Discount?

A one-third price drop within half a year is not common. There are several possible explanations. Microsoft might have overestimated interest in ARM Windows and now needs to clear inventory. Or a new generation is approaching.

It could also be an effort to get ARM Windows into people’s hands. The more users adopt Surface Pro with Snapdragon, the greater the pressure on developers to optimize applications. Microsoft needs a critical mass of users to get the ecosystem going.

Who Should Buy the Surface Pro 11?

For 30 thousand, you get a premium 2-in-1 device with an OLED display, excellent battery life, and sufficient performance for everyday work. If you don’t need specialized x86 software and don’t mind occasional minor compatibility issues, it’s an interesting offer.

The Surface Pro 11 makes sense primarily for those who appreciate flexibility – a work laptop during the day, a tablet on the couch in the evening. The keyboard and stylus are not included in the package, but even so, it’s a significantly better price than the original 45 thousand plus accessories.

What is your opinion on the Microsoft Surface Pro?