Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Pro 11

13 inches | May 2024

Speed 5

Size 9.5

Display 8

Gaming 3

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

13 inches | April 2022

Speed 4

Size 9.5

Display 5

Gaming 2

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Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Pro 11 and ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2, two laptops from Microsoft and Lenovo. Microsoft Surface Pro 11 was introduced to market in May 2024 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 was launched in April 2022. As you can see, ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is 2 years older than Surface Pro 11. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Key Specs

Launched in May 2024
13.0" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
16GB Ram
287 x 209 x 9.3 mm (11.3 x 8.23 x 0.37 inches)
Weight: 0.89 kg (1.96 lbs)

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Key Specs

Launched in April 2022
13.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1240P
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
293.2 x 208.1 x 14.77 mm (11.54 x 8.19 x 0.58 inches)
Weight: 0.97 kg (2.14 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Pro 11 and ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Pro 11 over Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

Weight	0.89 kg vs 0.97 kg	0.08 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~80.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 6.6 mm	0.4 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	266 ppi vs 196 ppi	More pixels per inch
2-in-1 Design	Yes vs No	Use like a tablet
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1920 pixels vs 2160 x 1350 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	3.80 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	2560 x 1440 vs 1920 x 1080

Reasons to choose Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 over Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Number of Microphones	4 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Strengths of Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 and Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Launch Dates	May 2024 vs April 2022	Both laptops are recent models
HDR Support	Yes, Dolby Vision vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs LPDDR5	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 and Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
HDMI Output	No vs No	Need an adapter to connect to HDMI displays

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2.

Physical Specs
Weight	0.89 kg (1.96 lbs)	0.97 kg (2.14 lbs)
Surface Area	600 cm2 (93 inches2)	610 cm2 (94.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~83.9%	~80.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.2 mm	~6.6 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.07 kg/inch	0.07 kg/inch
	0.154 lbs/inch	0.154 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gold, Gray, Blue	Black
Cover Opening Angle	360Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Pro 11 weighs 0.89 kg (1.96 lbs), whereas the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 weighs 0.97 kg (2.14 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

Min

Average

Max

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is 0.07 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is 0.07 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80-100)	Intel Core i5 1240P Intel Core i7 1260P Intel Core i7 1280P
Base Frequency	3.4 GHz	1.7 GHz
Number of Cores	10	12
Number of Threads	10	16
Integrated GPU	Qualcomm Adreno	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	10 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1240P

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Qualcomm Adreno	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Base Clock Frequency	1100 MHz	300 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	3.80 TFLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Microsoft Surface Pro 11 has a FLOPS value of 3.80 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	8448 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Surface Pro 11 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Microsoft Surface Pro 11	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (NPU - data limited)	Intel Core i5 1240P
GPU	Qualcomm Adreno	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Memory	16 GB	8 GB
Available for LLM total	~10.5 GB (10.5 GB RAM)	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	⚠ Borderline / Slow fits in your 10.5 GB RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Microsoft Surface Pro 11|Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	48 Wh 53 Wh	49.6 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	65 W	65 W

On the other hand, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 features a higher battery capacity of 50 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Surface Pro 11's 48 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

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Average

Max

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Surface Pro 11 and the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 have similar max. storage capacities of 1 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Surface Pro 11 and ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 screens have the same size of 13.0".The total usable screen area of the Surface Pro 11 is 503cm² / 78inch² whereas the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2's total usable screen area is 490cm² / 76inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Pro 11 features a higher pixel density with 266 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2

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Average

Max

Refresh Rate
The Surface Pro 11 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Surface Pro 11 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Neither Surface Pro 11 nor ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has USB-A ports.
Both Surface Pro 11 and ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Pro 11 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Neither Surface Pro 11 nor ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors. Neither Surface Pro 11 nor ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Surface Pro 11 nor ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, allowing seamless connection to headphones and speakers. Surface Pro 11 does not have a 3.5mm Audio Jack.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	No	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No