Surface Pro 11 vs. ProArt PZ13: Microsoft’s 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC isn’t bested, but ASUS makes a strong argument with a lower cost
The Surface Pro 11 doesn’t have a lot of competition, but the ASUS ProArt PZ13 gives it a good run.
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The Surface Pro 11 is the PC I recommend to anyone with deeper pockets. It ultimately offers superior performance, better typing and pointing, and quality camera and speakers. Optional 5G connectivity just adds to the package.
The ProArt PZ13 is a great 2-in-1 option if you want to spend less and don’t mind seeing slightly less performance. Baseline models have an OLED display, and a keyboard is included, ultimately saving you quite a bit of money compared to the Pro 11.
Microsoft has long been the high bar when it comes to mobile PC hardware, with the Surface Pro series of2-in-1 laptopsserving as an example for other major builders — like ASUS — to mimic.
TheSurface Pro 11 was introducedearlier in 2024 as one of the firstCopilot+ PCspowered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips for Windows on ARM. It only took about a month forASUS to announce the ProArt PZ13, a similar-looking 2-in-1 PC powered by (you guessed it) Qualcomm Snapdragon X.
The Surface Pro 11 and ProArt PZ13 have both hit the market, and we’ve had a chance to test and review each PC. That gives us a clear idea of where the strengths and weaknesses lie, ultimately allowing us to help you decide which PC is right for your needs.
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Specs
Before we get too far into a breakdown of these 2-in-1 laptops, including review analysis and highlights, it’s worth checking out the raw specs.
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Price and availability
The ProArt PZ13 starts at $100 more than the Surface Pro 11, but that’s a little misleading without comparing the true cost of all performance hardware as well as a full setup with a keyboard and pen.
The$1,100 starting price for the ASUS laptopincludes a slightly slower 8-core Snapdragon X PlusSystem-on-Chip (SoC), but it also includes an OLED display, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a magnetic keyboard and case. The ASUS Pen 2.0 sells separately forabout $70 at Amazon.
The$1,000 starting price for the Pro 11gets you the tablet alone, with a slightly faster 10-coreSnapdragon X PlusSoC, LCD display, 16GB of RAM, and just 256GB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage. Adding an attachable keyboard costs anywhere fromaround $100 to $350,depending on the model, and the Surface Slim Pen 2 costsabout $130.
This ultimately makes the ProArt PZ13 the more affordable laptop, though there really isn’t much opportunity to configure specs beyond the standard entry at Best Buy.
On the Surface Pro 11 side, you can upgrade to an OLED display, a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite SoC, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. You can also add5G connectivityto some models, and there are four colors from which you can choose.
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Design and features
The Surface Pro 11 and the ProArt PZ13 are both 2-in-1 laptops that can work as a tablet or as a notebook, thanks to an attachable keyboard. In the Pro 11’s case, a stand is built into the back of the tablet, meaning all you have to connect is a keyboard with a touchpad.
The PZ13 isn’t quite as elegant; instead, it uses a magnetic case that acts as a stand and a separate keyboard portion. You need to have the keyboard attached to use it with the tablet.
The Surface Pro’s keyboards used to also require a physical connection, but the launch of thePro Flex keyboardalongside the Pro 11 changed that. You can now get a wireless Bluetooth connection, allowing you to use the keyboard in your lap while the Pro 11 is on your desk. The Pro Flex’s touchpad useshaptics, whereas the PZ13’s touchpad is standard fare.
The tablet portions are sleek and thin, with the PZ13 weighing just a bit less and measuring 0.02 inches thinner. Both laptops have dual speakers withDolby Atmossupport, though the audio quality from the Pro 11 seems to be richer and punchier.
The Pro 11 has a front-facing 12.2MP camera with an IR sensor for Windows Hello that’s joined by a rear-facing 10MP camera. The PZ13 goes with a 5MP front-facing camera with IR, as well as a 13MP rear-facing camera. It seems like ASUS would have the upper hand, but as Windows Central Editor Ben Wilson mentioned in hisProArt PZ13 review, “I wouldn’t even shoot B-roll footage on the PZ13.”
With AI-enhancedWindows Studio Effects, you’re still getting a good picture when video conferencing, but I wouldn’t recommend buying either device for a great world-facing camera.
Port selection is similar across devices, with the two tablets relying mainly on dualUSB4. Yes,you can use Thunderbolt docks with USB4, opening up plenty ofgreat docking stationoptions for expanded ports. Creators who often work with removable storage will appreciate the UHS-II microSD card reader on the PZ13, something the Pro 11 lacks.
The Pro 11 has a proprietary Surface Connect port and an optional NanoSIM slot for models with 5G connectivity. The Pro 11 otherwise hasWi-Fi 7and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity, the same as the PZ13.
If you’re using a Slim Pen 2 with your Pro 11, chances are you picked up an attachable keyboard that includes a charging and storage cradle just above the keys. It’s an elegant way to keep the pen ready to go whenever you need it. The PZ13 instead has an elastic fabric loop on the attachable case; with the pen in storage, it partially blocks the USB4 ports.
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Display
The Surface Pro 11 undeniably has a more impressive touch display. It measures 13 inches with a tall 3:2 aspect ratio, resulting in a crisp 2880x1920 resolution. It’s available with a standard LCD panel or an OLED panel, the latter offering awesome color and contrast. Both have a dynamic refresh rate that moves between 60Hz and 120Hz, making it easier on the eyes with a smoother picture.
Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino said this in hisSurface Pro 11 review:
“Overall, it’s an incredible 13-inch display. OLED delivers those super dark blacks with excellent contrast, and HDR600 makes movies and video games much better.”
Testing color accuracy on the OLED display revealed 100% sRGB, 88% AdobeRGB, and 96% DCI-P3 reproduction. The OLED panel hits 550 nits of brightness but can reach up to 900 nits with HDR. It also includesDolby Visionsupport.
The ProArt PZ13 has a 13.3-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and it’s only available with an OLED panel. It hit 100% sRGB, 99% AdobeRGB, and 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction in our testing, which bests the results from the Pro 11.
It does not, however, go any higher than a 60Hz refresh rate, and it tops out at about 388 nits of brightness. It supports HDR (climbing closer to 500 nits brightness when enabled), and it’s PANTONE color validated. As Wilson said in hisProArt PZ13 review, “It’s not quite as bright as Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11, but the focus is undoubtedly on color accuracy, and the PZ13 delivers that.”
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Performance and battery
The ProArt PZ13 might not have quite as much raw power as the Pro 11 due to its use of the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42) SoC, but its larger capacity means you can expect longer runtimes on a charge. In Ben Wilson’s review, he saw an average of about 12 hours of real-world use.
The Surface Pro 11, tested by Daniel Rubino, averaged around 10 hours of real-world use. That’s not a huge difference, and both laptops can easily get through a standard eight-hour workday. Keep in mind that the Pro 11 tested by Rubino had aSnapdragon X Elite(X1E-80) SoC inside, bringing four more cores. You can see in the following benchmark graphs how much of a difference that makes.
Considering Microsoft sells the Pro 11 with a 10-core X Plus (X1P-64) SoC and LCD display, you might actually get better battery life from the Surface device configured in that way. Both devices ultimately keep their cool under load, which isn’t surprising for the ARM64 platform.
SSD performance is a different story. While you can access the Pro 11’s M.2 SSD, it’s far slower than the inaccessible SSD in the PZ13. The WD SN740 in the ASUS laptop practically doubles the write speeds of those in the Pro 11 and adds about 1,650MB/s to the read speeds.
These are bothCopilot+ PCsrunningWindows on ARM, so you can expect the same emulation performance where required. All of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips have the same HexagonNeural Processing Unit (NPU)with 45TOPSof power for local AI acceleration, which is enough for Copilot+ features likeWindows Recall, Live Captions, Cocreator, and more.
Surface Pro 11 vs. ASUS ProArt PZ13: Which should you buy?
WhichAI PCyou buy ultimately comes down to how much you’d like to spend, as well as the tradeoff in features and performance.
You can get an ASUS ProArt PZ13 with an 8-core X Plus SoC, OLED display, case stand, keyboard, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD for only about $100 more than a Surface Pro 11 with a 10-core X Plus SoC, LCD display, no keyboard, and just 256GB of SSD space.
That might make a lot of sense for some users, especially if you don’t mind a bit less performance on the CPU side. However, the Pro 11 is in no danger of being stripped of its label as one of thebest Windows laptops.
Microsoft’s Surface has the superior keyboard option in the wireless Pro Flex (though it doesn’t come cheap); it has better cameras, better speakers, optional 5G connectivity, stronger performance, and a more streamlined 2-in-1 design with a built-in stand. You’re going to spend more on the Surface device, but it’s easy to see why.
The Surface Pro 11 costs more, but it has stronger supporting features, a more compact design, optional 5G connectivity, and better performance. It’s the PC I recommend if your budget allows.
The ProArt PZ13 falls behind the Pro 11 in a few key areas, but the fact that you can get all-day battery life, respectable performance, an OLED touch display, and a keyboard for a lot less than the Surface device will make more sense for plenty of people.
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Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.
