Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 5 hrs ago
Surface Pro 12 Shows Fanless Windows Laptops Can Handle Everyday Use
Microsoft’s fanless Surface Pro 12 uses a current Snapdragon X2 Plus chip in a compact convertible design.
The same processor is used in the Surface Laptop 13, which has an active cooling fan.
Tests found the fan-cooled laptop delivered about 35 percent higher multi-core performance, but the gap was barely noticeable in normal use.
Both models have strong single-core performance, which matters more for many everyday tasks.
Older fanless Windows laptops often relied on low-powered processors and made major performance compromises, while Apple has shown the approach can work with the MacBook Air.
The comparison suggests manufacturers could make silent Windows laptops without major everyday trade-offs, especially in compact models not built for maximum performance.
The writer says more fanless devices are wanted, but no manufacturers have announced plans in the story.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12 shows that a current Snapdragon X2 Plus processor can support a fanless Windows device with everyday performance, according to Notebookcheck.
The Surface Pro 12 uses passive cooling, while the Surface Laptop 13 uses a fan with the same processor.
Notebookcheck reports that the Surface Pro 12 has about 35 percent lower multi-core performance than the actively cooled Surface Laptop 13.
The review says the difference is barely noticeable in normal use, where single-core performance matters more.
Notebookcheck argues that laptop makers should offer more fanless Windows laptops, including compact models such as the Dell XPS 13 and Asus Zenbook 14.
- Who
- Microsoft makes the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13. Notebookcheck author Andreas Osthoff compared their cooling and performance.
- What
- The article says the fanless Surface Pro 12 delivers sufficient performance for everyday use with a Snapdragon X2 Plus chip.
- When
- Notebookcheck published the article on November 5, 2026.
- Where
- The devices are the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 convertible and Surface Laptop 13. A location is not stated.
- Why
- The comparison examines whether current Snapdragon processors can enable fanless Windows laptops without sacrificing everyday usability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Qualcomm announced its first Snapdragon X ARM processors for Windows, raising hopes for fanless laptops with solid everyday performance.
Notebookcheck published a comparison of the fanless Surface Pro 12 and the actively cooled Surface Laptop 13, which use the same processor.
- Processor
- Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100, with six CPU cores
- Cooling
- Surface Pro 12 is passively cooled; Surface Laptop 13 has an active cooling fan
- Multi-core performance gap
- About 35 percent lower on the Surface Pro 12 than on the Surface Laptop 13
- Publication date
- November 5, 2026
- Suggested compact models
- Dell XPS 13 and Asus Zenbook 14
What people are saying
There is therefore no real reason why laptop manufacturers are not bringing passively cooled Windows laptops to market.
While its multi-core performance is not class-leading, it is more than sufficient for everyday use.