The Surface Pro X was ahead of its time — Now it’s time for a 2026 comeback

Microsoft hasn't officially announced it yet, but new Surface PCs are on the way this spring. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden teased that fact, and my mind has been abuzz with wish list items for the Surface family.

In the last edition of the Windows Wrap, I discussed four steps Microsoft needs to take to save the Surface brand. I also explained last week why right now is a terrible time to buy a Surface PC.

The poll in the latter of those pieces asked people which hypothetical new Surface device would excite them the most, and I'm sad to see the Surface Pro X come in last place.

The Surface Pro X was ahead of its time. Thin, light, and powered by an ARM64 processor, it sounds like a dream device for 2026. But the Surface Pro X line ended in 2023 when Microsoft combined the Surface Pro X and the traditional Surface Pro.

Back then, Bowden argued that "The Surface Pro 9 5G is a Surface Pro X without the sex appeal." He couldn't be more right. Merging the Surface Pro lines robbed us of one of the best Surface designs ever.

We need a Surface Pro X with Snapdragon X

The Surface Pro X was powered by a Microsoft SQ1 processor, which was fine for general computing but is a far cry from the Snapdragon X Elite, Snapdragon X Plus, or Snapdragon X.

The Microsoft SQ1 (and many other chips from 2020) will look like a postage stamp in comparison once Snapdragon X2 processors ship.

Processors improve each year, but Snapdragon X changed Windows on Arm computing. If the Microsoft SQ1 was tipping a toe in the water, the Snapdragon X was a cannonball.

Windows 11 on Arm has also improved greatly since 2020. More apps are compiled to run natively on Snapdragon X chips, and those that aren't still run better thanks to improved Prism emulation.

There are still people who prefer or need a PC with an Intel or AMD chip, but selling a Snapdragon X-powered PC is much easier now than it was to convince people to try a Windows on Arm PC in the past.

Fanless computing

Clearly, there's demand for a fanless computer. The MacBook Neo lacks fans for cooling, and its announcement disrupted the laptop market. The $599 starting price of the MacBook Neo was a major factor, of course, but I doubt as many people would be interested if Apple's affordable laptop looked chunky or clunky.

Microsoft could revive the fanless design of the Surface Pro X and power that PC with a Snapdragon X processor.

I understand that even ARM64 chips can run into thermal throttling and limits. Microsoft kept vents on the Surface Pro lineup to combat this. It's also why you see cooling mods trending for the MacBook Neo.

But there's room in the market for two Surface Pro devices: one with vents and a thinner one without.

Surface without the X factor

When Microsoft folded the Surface Pro X and the main Surface Pro lines together, it lost what made the Surface Pro X stand out. The move marked a major step for the maturity of Windows on Arm, but it also marked the end of Surface sexiness.

Since Microsoft shifted away from the ultra-thin form factor of the Surface Pro X, Snapdragon X chips have transformed Windows on Arm, and Microsoft has fully embraced the platform. More importantly, third-party developers are finally on board, compiling and maintaining native apps for the architecture.

The MacBook Neo shows a demand for a fanless computer in 2026, but it's still a traditional clamshell PC. Resurrecting the Surface Pro X with a Snapdragon X2 chip would allow Surface to stack up against modern iPads and ultra-thin laptops.

The Surface Pro X wasn't a failure; it was ahead of its time. Bits of its DNA live on in the current Surface Pro lineup, but Microsoft needs to bring back the dedicated Surface Pro X to truly stand out.

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