Microsoft Surface Pro 12 vs Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) Comparison

Laptop to replace

 Change

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

12 inches | May 2025

Speed 4

Size 8.5

Display 6

Gaming 2

CHECK AT AMAZON

 Change

14 inches |

Speed 4.5

Size 0

Display 8

Gaming 2.5

CHECK AT AMAZON

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 vs Comparison Overview

Microsoft Surface Pr...

See at AMAZON

Microsoft Surface Pr...

See at AMAZON

In this review, we will be comparing Surface Pro 12 and Zenbook S 14 (UX5406), two laptops from Microsoft and Asus. Microsoft Surface Pro 12 was introduced to market in May 2025 and was launched in January . As you can see, Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) is 55 years older than Surface Pro 12. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Surface Pro 12 and Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) are members of Asus's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Microsoft Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Microsoft Surface Pro 12	May 2025	12.0"	274 x 190 x 7.8 mm	0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13	May 2025	13.0"	285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6 mm	1.22 kg (2.69 lbs)
		"		1.27 kg (2.8 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Key Specs

Launched in May 2025
12.0" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)
GPU: Adreno X1-45
16GB Ram
274 x 190 x 7.8 mm (10.79 x 7.48 x 0.31 inches)
Weight: 0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)

Key Specs

Launched in January 1970
14.0" OLED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
GPU: Intel Arc 130V
16GB Ram
()
Weight: 1.2 kg (2.65 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Pro 12 and Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) 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 12 over Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~82.4% vs ~85.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers

Reasons to choose Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 over Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Weight	kg vs 0.68 kg	0.68 kg lighter
Display Size	14 inches vs 12 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
NVMe Type SSD	Yes vs No	Faster data transfers
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Strengths of Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 and Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
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 Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 and Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 vs : Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and the .

Physical Specs
Weight	0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)	1.2 kg (2.65 lbs)
Surface Area	521 cm2 (80.7 inches2)	666 cm2 (103.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~82.4%	~85.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~10.2 mm	~4.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.06 kg/inch	kg/inch
	0.132 lbs/inch	0 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray, Blue, Purple	White, Gray
Cover Opening Angle	360°	180Â°

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and the External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Pro 12 weighs 0.68 kg (1.5 lbs), whereas the Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) weighs 1.2 kg (2.65 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Thickness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

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 12 is 0.06 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the is 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
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 vs : Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)	Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
Base Frequency	3.2 GHz	2.1 GHz
Turbo Frequency	3.4 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	8	8 (4P + 4E)
Number of Threads	8	8
Integrated GPU	Qualcomm Adreno X1-45	Intel Arc Graphics 130V
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	3 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 12 and .

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

Laptops with: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Qualcomm Adreno X1-45	Intel Arc Graphics 130V
Base Clock Frequency	280 MHz	600 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1107 MHz	1850 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	30 W	30 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	2.3 TFLOPS	3.3 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5X
Memory Speed	8.45 Gbps	8.53 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	1024	896
TMUs	48
ROPs	24

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 12 has a FLOPS value of 2.3 TFLOPS whereas the ' has a FLOPS value of 3.3 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	8448 MHz	8533 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5X
Upgradable	No	No

Both laptops, the Surface Pro 12 and the Zenbook S 14 (UX5406), come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

There is no evaluation yet.

BATTERY

BATTERY	38 Wh	72 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
Charging Port Position	Right	Left
Charge Power	45 W	65 W

Moreover, the Surface Pro 12 has a battery capacity of 38 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

STORAGE
The Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) offers a larger max storage capacity of 1 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Surface Pro 12's storage capacity of 512 GB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB	512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	No	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	No	Yes
Memory Bus	Custom	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 12 vs : Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and 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. Surface Pro 12 has a display size of 12.0".On the other hand, Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) has a larger14.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Pro 12 is 429cm² / 66inch² whereas the Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)'s total usable screen area is 0cm² / 0inch².

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 vs Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both Surface Pro 12 and Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) support the latest Wi-Fi standard v7.

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
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) is equipped with 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. Surface Pro 12 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Surface Pro 12 and Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) 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
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Pro 12 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Pro 12 does not have an HDMI port.

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 12 nor Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) is equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, allowing seamless connection to headphones and speakers. Surface Pro 12 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	v7
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.4
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	1x USB 3.2
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	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	No	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No