Surface Pro X: A US$999 7 W ARM 2-in-1 with 2x USB Type-C and LTE that is orderable from today

As predicted, Microsoft had an ARM-powered Surface tablet in the works today, but it is not called the Surface Campus or Surface 7. Instead, it is called the Surface Pro X, a 13-inch tablet that is 5.3 mm thick. Its display resolves at 2,880 x 1,920, with Microsoft promising a 1,400:1 contrast ratio and a 267 PPI. One of the big talking points about the Pro X will be its custom ARM chipset, which Microsoft calls the Surface SQ1 chipset. Panos Panay claimed that the SoC will have a 7 W thermal design power (TDP) and will be 3x as powerful per watt as the Intel-powered Surface Pro 6. We doubt that this linearly converts to being equivalent to a 21 W Intel CPU, but that is one mighty claim.

The Surface Pro X is more than just a thinner and ARM-powered version of the Surface Pro 7, though. The Surface Pro X also features an AI chip, the first Surface product to do so, which Microsoft claims will generate up to "9 Teraops of computational power". Moreover, the device will be sold alongside a new Type Cover that appears to be exclusive to the Surface Pro X. The Type Cover charges the new Surface Slim Pen too, with the latter resting in the former when not in use.

Panay also demonstrated that the device has two USB Type-C ports and a Surface Connect, should you not need the USB Type-A port that the Surface Pro 7 also has. The Surface Pro X weighs only 0.76 kg (1.68 lb) and always-on LTE too, all in a 12-inch chassis that Microsoft claims has the thinnest bezels of any 2-in-1.

It is unclear at this stage what version of Windows 10 the Surface Pro X will run, though. Additionally, Microsoft did not confirm whether it will run x86 apps too. We shall find out more once the Surface Pro X goes up for pre-order later today. The device starts at US$999 and will start shipping on November 5.