Microsoft's flagship Surface Pro 13-inch is on sale for Cyber Monday. Quite a few models are discounted, but one stands out because it's exclusively available through Amazon.
The Surface Pro 13-inch — known by many as the Surface Pro 11 — (was) on sale for $899.99 (EXPIRED). For now, Best Buy has the X Elite model for $999.99 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 @ 5:42 AM ET: Amazon's deal expires, but Snapdragon X Plus alternatives with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage are still technically reduced to $749.99, so I've included it as an alternative here. That, and Best Buy still has the X Elite Surface Pro for $999.99 with 16/512GB — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor
Should you get the Surface Pro 13-inch?
The Surface Pro 13-inch earned a perfect score in our review. The device made "Microsoft's original vision for the Surface Pro is finally a reality," according to our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino.
The 2-in-1 delivers exceptional performance when plugged in or unplugged. Its 120Hz OLED display earned high marks from our experts and the Surface Pro 13-inch also stood out for its good battery life.
The Surface Pro 13-inch delivers excellent all-around performance, whether you’re multitasking, creating, or leaning into AI. It has a sharp 13-inch OLED display and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite.
Interestingly, this configuration (16GB, 256GB, OLED) is an Amazon exclusive, meaning you can't find this exact SKU from Microsoft, Best Buy, etc. Because of the 256GB storage option, it's one of the most affordable models out there.
Unfortunately, the Surface Pro does not include the Flex Keyboard, which makes this model feel more like a tablet out of the box. It is still ideal for reading, travel, and remote workers thanks to how portable it is.
Several keyboards are compatible with the Surface Pro 13-inch, including a few options from Microsoft. The Flex Keyboard will give you the best experience since it is fully wireless, has a built-in battery, and has a haptic touchpad.
The display is one of the Surface Pro 13-inch's strongest features. It uses an OLED panel in a 3:2 aspect ratio, giving you more vertical space for browsing and writing.
During real-world usage, Rubino averaged just over 10 hours of battery life during his review. The PC peaked at 15 hours and 3 minutes and dipped as low as 6 hours and 20 minutes (due to gaming). Overall, battery life is solid, especially for a device of this form factor.
As for the hardware, 16 GB of RAM is more than enough for everyday work, writing, browsing, and creative sketching. The 256 GB SSD is suitable for light use, but it may fill up quickly if you store large media files or lots of offline content. There is no SD card slot on this model, so you will need cloud storage or an external drive if you need more space. Higher capacity versions exist, but they cost significantly more.
Optional accessories are worth thinking about before buying. The Flex Keyboard offers a more traditional laptop feel and is better for long typing sessions. The Slim Pen is excellent for art, note-taking, and document markup. Both work well with the Surface Pro, but they increase the overall cost, which is not covered in this deal.
FAQ
What is the Surface Pro 13-inch best suited for?
The Surface Pro is best for everyday work, travel, reading, note-taking, and creative sketching. Its lightweight design and long battery life make it ideal for people who move around a lot during the day.
Does the Surface Pro 13-inch handle everyday Windows apps well?
Most common apps run natively on the Surface Pro 13-inch and its Snapdragon X processor. Many others run well in emulation, but users should check compatibility before buying.
Is the Surface Pro 13-inch good for students?
The Surface Pro 13-inch works well for students because it is portable, has great battery life, and supports note-taking with the Slim Pen. The only drawback is that the keyboard and stylus are sold separately.
Is the Surface Pro good for drawing or digital art?
Yes. The Surface Pro 13-inch pairs well with the Slim Pen for sketching, note-taking, and creative work. The OLED screen gives clean contrast and accurate colour, although the pen is sold separately.
More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links
- All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
- Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
- GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
- Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
- Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
- Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
- Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
- ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
Even more Cyber Monday deals: - Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
- Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
- Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
- Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
- Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
- Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
- Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
- Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17
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