Now, there’s a surprise new model available: the Surface Pro 12. The slightly smaller tablet is a great idea in theory, offering a more compact design and a lower starting price. Unfortunately, some pricing wonkiness makes the Surface Pro 12 a lot less attractive an offer than it should be, even compared to other Surface devices you can buy.

It seems more companies—including Microsoft—are starting to identify with the need for more capable laptops at prices people can actually afford. The Windows maker just dropped details on its new 12-inch Surface Pro and thinner 13-inch Surface Laptop that seem to fit the bill,

Microsoft has continued to design, manufacture, and sell new Surface hardware since longtime team leader Panos Panay left the company for Amazon in late 2023, including both Intel- and Qualcomm-powered Surface Pro tablets and Surface Laptops. New smaller versions of both of these mainstays were introduced just a couple of weeks ago.