Microsoft debuts Surface Pro X ultra-thin 13" two-in-one with Slim Pen that tucks into a slot in its Signature Keyboard, LTE, USB-C, custom SQ1 chip, from $999
Microsoft just split its flagship two-in-one line in two: the Intel-based Surface Pro 7 starts at $749, while this new Surface Pro X runs a custom SQ1 Arm chip at $999 with LTE and a Slim Pen that stores inside the Signature Keyboard. It is Microsoft's first in-house silicon for Surface, built rather than bought.
The gamble was real: the 2020 Pro X review flagged missing 64-bit app emulation as the core compromise, and by 2022 Microsoft stopped selling two separate flagships entirely, folding the X's design into the Surface Pro 9 with an SQ3 or Intel option.
First-order effects
Buyers now face a direct fork at launch: app-compatible Intel Pro 7 from $749 versus the thinner, LTE-equipped, Arm-only Pro X from $999, with the Slim Pen-and-keyboard combo priced on top.
Microsoft becomes a chip designer overnight, tying its premium tablet's identity to SQ1 performance rather than an Intel spec sheet.
Second-order effects
Accessories become the margin engine — the pen-in-keyboard design makes the Signature Keyboard plus Slim Pen effectively required spending, pushing real prices well past the $999 sticker.
The SQ1 deepens Microsoft's dependence on Qualcomm's Arm architecture for Windows devices, setting up the later jump to Snapdragon X2 chips across the Surface line.
Third-order effects
If the pattern holds — and the Pro 9 merge plus the fan-less, Arm-based Surface Pro 12 suggest it did — Arm stops being Microsoft's experimental side SKU and becomes the default architecture for its flagship tablets, with Intel as the compatibility fallback.
The trend: Windows on ARM has moved from a niche experiment to Microsoft's default Surface architecture, with the original Pro X as the proof-of-concept that survived its own early software limits.
This custom chip has a dedicated AI engine that will, among other things, simulate a steady eye gaze during video conference calls, even if you're looking away from the screen 😬
Surface Pro X: Panos is pitching the AI processor. Microsoft Teams demo, which realigns your gaze to meet other person's eyes. Chip doesn't touch the GPU to do this. #MicrosoftEvent
Now we're cooking. The Always Connected PC finally comes to Surface! Surface Pro X: 🗼Integrated 4G LTE 💽Microsoft SQ1 SoC ("co-engineered w/Qualcomm") 🧠First Windows PC w/ AI engine 📺13" screen w/ very thin bezels (267ppi) Pen (built into Type Cover) pic.twitter.com/Ip9M6IikBN
Surface Pro X: when you pull the oen out from the holder, it launches the Whiteboard app. When you replace it, the pen recharges. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/AINAg26mpq
Surface Pro X: Pen has 4096 points of pressure. Demo of Adobe Creative Cloud for Surface Pro X by Scott Belsky of Adobe. Belsky: worked with Microsoft to make ink and touch a natural part of Creative Cloud. Adobe Fresco repros feel of oil and watercolors. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twit…
Surface Pro X! - new 13-inch, edge-to-edge design - only 5.3mm thin, weighs 774 grams - over 2 teraflops of graphics performance - Instant On - new Slim Pen, rechargeable - new Pro X Signature keyboard - removable hard drive - 13 hours of battery life https://www.thurrott.com/...…
The Surface Pro X appears to be Microsoft's answer to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Super thin, minimal bezels, LTE connectivity, and a custom chipset called the Microsoft “SQ1” (Surface Qualcomm 1).