ZDNET's key takeaways The 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro is available now starting at $799 for the Platinum color, and $899 for the new Violet and Ocean colors. The 12-inch version is exceedingly thin and light with a fast-charging battery, and the refreshed form factor looks more premium. The 256GB of storage is not enough for a device at this price point, and the cost adds up quickly, as the keyboard, mouse, and even the power adapter are sold separately. more buying choices Microsoft's 2025 12-inch Surface Pro is thinner, lighter, and a little more affordable, with a battery-efficient Snapdragon X Plus processor and refreshed design. The latest version of the Surface Pro rounds out the lineup with a more affordable option focused on ultra-long battery life, new colors, and redesigned accessories to show off Windows' latest Copilot+ PC features. Also: I recommend this HP laptop to creatives and business pros alike - especially at nearly 50% offI recently replaced my laptop with the 12-inch Surface Pro for more than two weeks now, and the Surface Pro seems to me to be more of an addition to the current lineup than a standalone upgrade, particularly in comparison to the enterprise models Microsoft released in January.The 2025 Surface Pro has relatively modest hardware, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS storage, instead targeting a more everyday consumer who makes use of on-device AI and appreciates the ultraportability.  details View at Best Buy Besides the smaller form factor, this year's Surface Pro comes in two new colors: Violet and Ocean (a blueish gray). The default Platinum color starts at $799, whereas the other two will run you $899, bringing the starting price a little further away from that advertised low price (and we haven't even bought the keyboard yet). I must admit that the design on the 12-inch tablet looks better. It looks more like a premium tablet (and more like an iPad) with rounded corners, thin bezels, and the webcam moved to the back corner of the device. Also: Microsoft unveils new AI agent customization and oversight features at Build 2025Additionally, I'm a fan of the new Violet and Ocean colorways, which aren't what I'd call "bold", but at least they're not the same desaturated pastels we see everywhere else. The colors extend to the Surface Pro keyboards, which are updated by removing the alcantara fabric on the front of the keyboard for a cleaner, monochromatic matte look. Instead, the fabric is relegated to the back of the keyboard case, which has a more premium tablet feel for storage and transport. The Surface keyboard is functional and satisfying to type on, with springy keys and a responsive, premium trackpad.  Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETAdditionally, the tablet snaps to the keyboard a little tighter and closer to the tablet now, with no gap in the hinge, giving it a slightly smaller footprint on the desk. The Surface Pen also magnetically snaps to the back of the 12-inch instead of storing on the keyboard. This requires you to store the device with the fabric facing down, as you don't want to squish the pen. When throwing the Surface Pro in a bag, the Pen also tends to stay put but can come unattached if you're not paying attention. Microsoft wants to show off its new AI-driven Copilot+ features, and the 12-inch Surface Pro is a good conduit for marketing them to the consumer, especially with its attractive price point and the 45 TOPS Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. Also: I've tested dozens of work laptops - but I'd take this Lenovo to the office everydayFor example, the long-awaited Recall feature is still in Preview mode, but it's getting closer to a useful state. Other applications that leverage AI processes, particularly ones for creators like Capcut, Davinci Resolve, and DJay Pro should feel smooth and snappy. This makes it a very AI-ready device for everyday users who don't need high-end hardware for demanding creative projects.  Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETRunning Windows on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus chip shouldn't be too much of a problem for most users in this category, as the areas that saw the most issues with compatibility, like gaming and connecting to legacy software, are more likely not to apply to the targeted user. The 12-inch Surface Pro's modest hardware positions itself as a competitive device in the family's lineup. The aforementioned 16GB of RAM and max 512GB of storage, paired with the Snapdragon X Plus and 2196 x 1464 resolution (220 PPI) LCD display that targets everyday users, while its 13-inch siblings can be loaded up with more premium hardware. Also: This ultraportable Windows laptop raised the bar for the MacBook Air (and everything else)That being said, the Snapdragon X Plus processor is snappy and responsive, excelling at tasks that the average consumer cares about: fast startup and app load times, smooth multitasking, and solid battery performance, whether in laptop or tablet mode. During my benchmarking of the 12-inch Surface Pro, I got numbers that place it around other thin and light laptops in the same price range, including Asus' Zenbook A14, which also features the Snapdragon X Plus processor, and HP's OmniBook X 14, one of the first Copilot+ PCs with the Snapdragon X Elite chip from 2024.  Cinebench 24 MCGeekbench 6.2.2 SCGeekbench 6.2.2 MC12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro (Snapdragon X Plus)4182,2529,555Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus)5412,13310,624HP Omnibook X (Snapdragon X Elite)4702,32613,160 Show more The display is sharp and crisp, but it does cap out at 400 nits of brightness and a 90Hz refresh rate. Since it's a tablet, it's also quite glossy. In the office, for example, I found myself readjusting the device's angle numerous times throughout the day to account for glare from overhead lighting. Also: How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC (and why it makes such a big difference)Speaking of using the Surface Pro in the office, it works equally well as a laptop or a tablet, depending on what you need. Detached from the keyboard and armed with the Surface Pen, it becomes a snappy productivity tablet that allows for note taking, prototyping, and freeform idea generation in Windows' Whiteboard app. You can also assign different actions to the Pen, including starting apps or performing functions with the button on the device or the "clicky" on the end. I will say that the Pen's performance can be variable, though. If you're running multiple programs open in the background, you might notice lag while writing, especially if you're moving quickly.  Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETSimilarly, the location of the front-facing HD camera means that it has a slightly downward-up orientation while connected to the keyboard, as the kickstand can only prop it up so high. Consider a clamshell laptop, for example, which can sit at a 90-degree angle or less. In that sense, untethering the keyboard and using it as a tablet might be more optimal for users who make frequent video calls. Also: The best laptops for graphic designers in 2025: Expert tested and reviewedRegarding battery life, the Snapdragon X Plus processor ensures that it drains at a mere trickle when the device is not in use, and is good enough for over a full day's worth of work on one charge. Microsoft advertises 16 hours of battery life, and I got a little over 15 in our video playback test. Regarding more sustained use, I got over 10 hours on a single charge, which isn't far off from the advertised 12 hours without using all the max battery efficiency settings. Couple this with the fact that the Surface Pro charges extremely fast. From a completely dead battery, you'll get to about 50% in 30 minutes, and around 80% in an hour. Of the Surface Pro family, the 12-inch is certainly the most battery efficient and the fastest to charge. ZDNET's buying adviceThe 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro completes the family's lineup with a thinner, lighter, and more battery-efficient tablet/laptop hybrid with refreshed colors and design. It comes with slightly more modest hardware (16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage) for a lower starting price of $799. If you're looking for a functional 2-in-1 tablet/laptop, enjoy using a stylus, and don't need a ton of local storage, it's a great option, especially for its long-lasting battery. It's an all-around sharp-looking device, and the premium keyboard case provides a satisfying tactile experience. Also: How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC (and why it makes such a big difference)The cost of the Surface Pro can quickly add up, however, as the Surface Keyboard, Surface Arc mouse, and power adapter are sold separately, bringing the final cost over the $1,000 mark. Combined with the low amount of local storage and modest memory, I'd recommend this device for users who are committed to the 12-inch form factor and want reliable battery life. Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.Featured reviews

Microsoft has paused the development of its Xbox handheld gaming console, according to a report. Previously expected to arrive as part of the company's next generation of consoles, the native Xbox handheld has been put on the back-burner. The Redmond company is reportedly working on optimising Windows 11 for handheld consoles, so that it is on par with Valve's SteamOS, which offers better performance and battery efficiency. Other upcoming consoles, like the Xbox-branded Asus device (codenamed Project Kennan) are said to be unaffected by Microsoft's decision.Microsoft Shifts Focus to Windows 11 Amid Threat From SteamOSWindows Central reports that Microsoft's internal Xbox handheld console has been shelved, which indicates that it might not arrive in 2027, alongside Microsoft's next-gen Xbox consoles. The first party handheld is not the same as other upcoming portable consoles like Asus' Project Kennan, which is still expected to arrive later this year.The company plans to work on optimising Windows 11 to run on handheld consoles, which means that upcoming third party handhelds could arrive with a more optimised version of Microsoft's desktop operating system. In our reviews of previously released handhelds, we've found that some of the biggest issues with Windows running on these devices include poor battery life, navigation issues, and software updates.Microsoft's decision to focus its efforts on Windows 11 for handhelds might have been spurred by the SteamOS' expansion beyond the Steam Deck. Earlier this year, Lenovo unveiled the Legion Go S, which offers better performance than the Steam Deck, and also runs on Valve's operating system. SteamOS is also expected to arrive on similar handheld devices in the future.SteamOS-powered devices won't be Microsoft's only concern, with the Nintendo Switch 2 right around the corner. The Japanese firm's handheld is slated to arrive in select markets in June, and will compete with existing portable consoles.The Redmond company's focus on optimising Windows 11 for handhelds could improve the overall experience of using these devices. Asus is expected to launch its Project Kennan console later in 2025, as per recent reports. The device was recently spotted in a listing on the US FCC website, giving us a good look at its design. The report indicates that the first-party handheld from Microsoft might have been capable of running Xbox games, and the company still plans to launch a native handheld. It's currently unclear whether this device will make its debut in 2027 or 2028, which is when the company's next-gen consoles are expected to arrive. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Microsoft, Xbox Handheld, Xbox, Handheld Consoles David Delima As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More Related Stories

Tryfonov - stock.adobe.com Opinion Microsoft's ICC email block reignites European data sovereignty concerns Why Microsoft's rhetoric on protecting European users from US government actions does not quite ring true By Owen Sayers, Secon Solutions Published: 23 May 2025 During his recent visit to Brussels, Microsoft chief Brad Smith committed his company to defending European interests from ‘geopolitical volatility’, including the impact of potential US administration interventions. Suggesting that Microsoft is ‘critically dependent on sustaining the trust of customers, countries, and government across Europe’, anyone leaving his session with EU leaders should have reasonably felt buoyed up by his words; but might also have sensibly awaited evidence of the commitments being applied in practice before relying upon them. If so, the news that the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor and his staff have had their Microsoft email and services cancelled in direct response to US government sanctions might come as an unwelcome reality check. According to media reports, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan had his Microsoft email and other services suspended after the US applied sanctions in February to all ICC staff in response to their investigations into key Israeli politicians. The circumstances of the situation that gave rise to those sanctions are outside the scope of this article, and largely irrelevant to the problems these service suspensions indicate, however. Regardless of the ‘why’, what the service suspensions demonstrate is that Microsoft has the means (and when it comes down to it also possess the will) to do the US government’s bidding and disrupt services to any party deemed to be unacceptable. This is almost exactly contrary to the assurances Brad Smith so very recently gave. The disconnection of prosecutor Khan is a mouse-click heard around the world, and will undoubtedly give anyone using or currently considering the adoption of Microsoft cloud technologies pause for thought. By disconnecting the ICC staff in this way, Microsoft has done themselves some serious damage, and how much may take some time yet to become clear. Immediately after the disconnection became public, the Dutch government and public bodies are reported to have accelerated their examination of non-Microsoft and EU-located alternative services. Meanwhile, several suppliers have indicated an uptick in requests for backup of key data to protect against possible Microsoft disconnections. Press coverage in Germany suggests these concerns are rippling out to them also, whilst the Nordics and France have long made clear that they see a future that is distinctly less Azure in colour. The likelihood or otherwise of further disconnections is unclear, and for most users it should be considered very unlikely that Microsoft will start switching off services for no good reason. With 25% of Microsoft’s global revenues coming from European customers, it is unlikely to act rashly to damage that market, and can generally be counted on to be sensible and not commit commercial suicide – so most customers should not be worried. Nonetheless much of the damage to the confidence of public sector bodies might well have already been done. Governments like to be in control of their own destiny and that extends to digital services and data. When a key supplier they have relied upon for many years shows themselves to be subject to the whims and foibles of a foreign government – friendly or otherwise – most public sector buyers intuitively know it’s time to find an alternative provider “just-in-case”. Having a plan B option is just common sense. The big problem for Microsoft is that in the IT sector “just-in-case” or plan B options, often become strategic plan A directions of travel. And a trickle of departures can quite soon become a flood. Governments are herd animals – when one turns they all tend to follow. I’m not by any measure suggesting we are going to see an overnight exodus. Even if that was technically feasible (which it isn’t in most cases), these organisations are a bit concerned, not panicked. However, these previously affirmed Microsoft user groups are now openly talking about the need for alternatives to the Redmond cloud provider, and that should have Microsoft worried. Concerns that US hyperscalers might be subjected to pressure from US authorities to disclose information have existed for some time but have been broadly assuaged by repeated promises and commitments from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft that they would resist such requests and protect their customers. When it has come to the acid test, however, many clearly feel that Microsoft has failed, and that instead of protecting the ICC as a key pillar of the global legal community, instead acted as an instrument of US policy. To restore his own email access, prosecutor Khan reportedly turned to Proton Mail, the Swiss end-to-end encrypted mail service beloved of whistleblowers and other digital refugees. Proton Mail operate under its own constraints and obligations to disclose information to the Swiss government on demand, but this is limited to IP address info, rather than email payloads, which it is generally accepted they cannot access. In doing so it’s likely that Mr Khan has had to forgo some user functionality and ease of use – but he may feel that’s a small price to pay to protect his office and role from US government influence. That might be a choice others have to make in the months and years to come, since regardless of their choice of cloud provider, the lesson here is that we cannot always trust them to rigorously and strongly protect our data or our services, despite what they may say, or how often they do so. In this case, Microsoft’s actions sadly speak a lot louder than Mr Smith’s words. Read more about Microsoft Microsoft’s hold on government IT is under scrutiny, following a disclosure to a Scottish policing body that saw the software giant advise that it cannot guarantee data sovereignty in its cloud-based Microsoft 365 suite Documents show Microsoft’s lawyers admitted to Scottish policing bodies that the company cannot guarantee sensitive law enforcement data will remain in the UK, despite long-standing public claims to the contrary In The Current Issue: UK critical systems at risk from ‘digital divide’ created by AI threats UK at risk of Russian cyber and physical attacks as Ukraine seeks peace deal Standard Chartered grounds AI ambitions in data governance Download Current Issue SAP Sapphire 2025: Developers take centre stage as AI integration deepens – CW Developer Network Microsoft entices developers to build more Windows AI apps – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog View All Blogs

FTC drops case against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard "The commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation of the case," says FTC News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on May 23, 2025 The US Federal Trade Commission has dropped its complaint against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. On May 22, 2025, the FTC issued an order dismissing its case after it lost its appeal against Microsoft earlier this month. "The commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation of the case," it said. "Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the complaint in this matter be, and hereby is, dismissed." In response, Microsoft president Brad Smith described the decision as a "victory for players" on social media. "Today's decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington D.C.," Smith wrote. "We are grateful for the FTC for today's announcement." Microsoft finalised its deal to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022 for $68.7 billion. The FTC subsequently attempted to block the merger, believing it would cause a threat to competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and exclusive first-party titles. This was denied, and in turn the FTC submitted a preliminary injunction – which was also denied. On May 8, 2025, the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals threw out the FTC's challenge against the Microsoft Activision merger. "The panel held that the district court applied the correct legal standards and did not abuse its discretion, or rely on clearly erroneous findings, in holding that the FTC failed to make a sufficient evidentiary showing to establish the requisite likelihood of success on the merits of its claim," the court said.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Windows 11 vs 10 vs 8.1? Users overwhelmingly feel Microsoft's modern OS is worst for old PC Sayan Sen Neowin @ssc_combater007 · May 20, 2025 05:16 EDT Microsoft likes to pat itself on the back from time to time, but let's be honest, there is nothing wrong with it. They say "love yourselves," and Microsoft does just that, just like any other company out there. Last month, Microsoft went on to explain how it relied on its own "design instinct" rather than "user feedback alone" to make the modern Windows as "special" as it is. And more recently, a senior engineer talked about how even smaller elements on the Windows OS, like the clipboard, are designed to be high-performance. This post, coincidentally, was made just a few days after we reported on the user dissatisfaction regarding the performance of Windows 11 despite Microsoft actually boosting the performance. Many users still feel Windows 11's performance optimization leaves a lot to be desired. Even if the performance differences may not reflect in benchmarks, people often claim they feel the new OS is sluggish. A recent post on the r/Windows subreddit piqued my interest. The thread was about the fastest Windows OS on an older spinning drive like a hard disk drive (HDD), and perhaps a bit surprisingly, Windows 8.1 was overwhelmingly upvoted by most users as the last modern Windows OS that was still quick on a system still sporting an HDD. The discussion was started by a user named PJs_Asphalt, and they wondered if there was anything better than Windows 8.1 for their 2008 Lenovo ThinkPad laptop that sports a Core 2 Duo (dual core), 8 GB RAM, and a Toshiba HDD. At the time of writing, the post has been upvoted by over 400 people, with most saying either Windows 8 or 8.1 is still the best thing for older, weaker systems. It is certainly true that Windows 10 and especially Windows 11 are quite heavy on the I/O side, and there was even a rumor that Microsoft would make SSDs the minimum storage requirement for Windows 11. This certainly becomes quite relevant given that Microsoft is constantly reminding users about the end of support for Windows 10 that is fast approaching, and thus, many systems like the one above won't be officially supported on Windows 11. So they could either stick to Windows 8/8.1 or 10 and be at risk, or move to Linux. If you're looking to do the latter, a Linux-backed project called "Endof10" may help. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Microsoft's official support proves useless as Windows 11 KB5058411 installs fail Sayan Sen Neowin @ssc_combater007 · May 20, 2025 01:52 EDT While Patch Tuesdays bring important security updates for the Windows OS, they can often introduce major bugs. The one this month on Windows 10, KB5058379, that introduced a BitLocker recovery reboot bug, has now been resolved with KB5061768 OOB update. Alongside that, Microsoft also resolved a Windows 11 24H2 upgrade bug related to VBS with a Recovery update KB5059442. Speaking of Windows 11, users are reporting installation failures with the Windows 11 May 2025 Patch Tuesday update KB5058411 as well. Affected users say that these are failing with various error codes like 0x800f0991, 0x800f0991, 0x800f0838, 0x800736b3, and 0x800f081f. User Shukang Liang on the Microsoft support forums writes: "Problem with windows update KB5058411 Installation fails and error code 0x800f0991 comes up." The query has been upvoted by 33 other users at the time of writing. Another user PaulK671 notes 0x800736b3 and 0x800f081f errors as they write: Error 0x800736b3 and 0x800f0838 when installing KB5058411 (Windows 11 24H2 x64 update) Hello community, I’m experiencing a persistent issue when trying to install the KB5058411 cumulative update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 (x64), released on May 13, 2025 (OS Build 26100.4061). Initial symptoms: Windows Update stalls at 6% download. Then returns error 0x800f081f. After manually downloading and executing the .msu file from the Microsoft Update Catalog, I get error 0x800f0838. The CBS logs and Event Viewer also show error 0x800736b3. The thread has been upvoted by 19 people at the time of writing. Meanwhile, user Jenny-XS says they came across the 0x800f081f error code when trying to install the May '25 Patch Tuesday. Microsoft recently published a support article with a long list of Windows 11 and 10 hex error codes that lead to installation failures. Unfortunately, though, none of the codes reported by users match with the ones Microsoft has provided workarounds for. Thus, it looks like Microsoft will have to update its list sooner rather than later as clearly many hex error codes are still pending and are due for addition to its support documentation. Interestingly, one of the commenters on the 0x800f0991 error thread, ScotBirch, added that they were able to resolve the issue using the "Fix problems using Windows Update" option. Microsoft had detailed what that is and how it works back in December 2024. You can read the linked article to find out more and see if perhaps it fixes your issues too. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

Microsoft has released Command Palette, an enhanced version of its PowerToys Run launcher introduced five years ago. The utility, aimed at power users and developers, provides quick access to applications, files, calculations, and system commands through a Spotlight-like interface. Command Palette integrates the previously separate Window Walker functionality for switching between open windows and supports launching command prompts, executing web searches, and navigating folder structures. Unlike its predecessor, the new launcher offers full customization via extensions, allowing users to implement additional commands beyond default capabilities. Available through the PowerToys application since early April, Command Palette can be triggered using Win+Alt+Space after installation Read more of this story at Slashdot.