The Microsoft Surface is both a laptop and a tablet, depending on which model you buy

Microsoft Surface devices blur the line between the two categories on purpose. Some Surface models work primarily as tablets with a keyboard you can attach or remove. Others work primarily as laptops with screens that fold all the way back. The key difference is the hinge design and how the keyboard connects.

If you're looking at a specific Surface model, the name tells you what it's built to be first. A Surface Pro is a tablet with an optional keyboard. A Surface Laptop is a traditional laptop where the keyboard is permanently attached. A Surface Go is a smaller tablet. A Surface Book is a laptop where the screen detaches entirely from the keyboard base.

The practical difference matters because it affects how you'll use the device, how much it costs, and what accessories you need to buy separately. A Surface Pro starts at around $1,000 and requires you to purchase a keyboard cover separately if you want one. A Surface Laptop starts at a similar price but includes the keyboard built in.

Key Takeaways

  • Surface Pro and Surface Go models are tablets first—the keyboard is optional and sold separately, and the screen doesn't fold back.
  • Surface Laptop and Surface Book models are laptops first—the keyboard is built in or permanently attached, and they open and close like traditional laptops.
  • The hinge design determines the category: a 360-degree hinge that folds the screen all the way back makes it a 2-in-1 laptop; a removable or magnetic keyboard makes it a tablet.
  • Tablet-style Surfaces are lighter and more portable for reading and note-taking, while laptop-style Surfaces are better for typing-heavy work and have larger trackpads.

Surface Pro: Tablet with an optional keyboard

The Surface Pro is Microsoft's flagship tablet. It has a 13-inch screen, runs full Windows, and comes with a stylus for drawing and note-taking. The keyboard is not included—you buy it separately as a magnetic cover that snaps onto the front of the device. You can use the Surface Pro as a tablet without the keyboard, prop it up with the built-in kickstand, or attach the keyboard when you need to type.

Because the keyboard is optional and magnetic rather than hinged, the Surface Pro stays thin and light. It weighs about 1.3 pounds without the keyboard. The screen does not fold back; it stays in one plane. This design makes it feel more like an iPad than a traditional laptop, even though it runs Windows and can do everything a laptop can do.

The trade-off is that the keyboard cover is not as stable as a laptop keyboard. If you plan to type for hours at a desk, a Surface Laptop or Surface Book will feel more familiar. If you plan to hold the device in your hands, take notes with a stylus, or move between tablet and keyboard mode frequently, the Surface Pro is the better choice.

Surface Laptop: Traditional laptop that happens to be made by Microsoft

The Surface Laptop is a standard clamshell laptop. The keyboard is built into the base and does not detach or fold back. It opens and closes like any other laptop you've used. The screen is 13 or 15 inches depending on the model. It runs Windows and has a trackpad below the keyboard.

The Surface Laptop is not a 2-in-1 device. You cannot use it as a tablet because the screen does not fold back and the keyboard cannot be removed. It is a laptop, full stop. The appeal is that it's thin, light for a laptop, and has a high-quality screen and keyboard. If you want a device that works like a laptop and nothing else, this is the Surface for that job.

Surface Book: Laptop where the screen detaches completely

The Surface Book is a hybrid that leans toward laptop but can detach. The screen is permanently connected to a keyboard base with a hinge, but you can press a button and physically separate the screen from the base. When detached, the screen becomes a large tablet. When attached, it works like a laptop with a very high-quality hinge.

The Surface Book is heavier and more expensive than a Surface Pro or Surface Laptop because it has to house a full keyboard base and a powerful hinge mechanism. The detachable screen is useful if you want to draw or take notes with a stylus while still having a full laptop available when you need it. The downside is that the detached screen is heavy to hold for long periods, and the keyboard base is useless without the screen attached.

Surface Go: Smaller tablet for lighter work

The Surface Go is a smaller, less expensive tablet in the Surface family. It has a 10-inch screen instead of 13 inches, and it costs less than a Surface Pro. Like the Pro, the keyboard is optional and sold separately. It runs Windows but with less processing power, so it's better suited for web browsing, email, and document editing than for video editing or gaming.

The Surface Go is the closest Surface device to a traditional iPad in terms of size and price, but it runs full Windows instead of a mobile operating system. If you want a small, light tablet that can run desktop software, the Surface Go is the choice. If you want the most powerful tablet Microsoft makes, the Surface Pro is larger and faster.

How to decide which Surface is right for you

Start by asking what you'll do most: typing, drawing, or a mix of both. If you type for hours at a desk, a Surface Laptop is the most comfortable choice because the keyboard is built in and the trackpad is large. If you draw or take handwritten notes, a Surface Pro or Surface Go with a stylus is better because you can hold the screen in your hands or prop it up at any angle.

Next, consider whether you want the keyboard to be optional or required. A Surface Pro or Surface Go lets you use the device as a tablet without a keyboard. A Surface Laptop requires the keyboard because it's built in. A Surface Book gives you both options but costs more and weighs more.

Finally, think about screen size and processing power. A Surface Pro has a 13-inch screen and enough power for most work. A Surface Go has a 10-inch screen and less power but costs less. A Surface Laptop comes in 13 or 15 inches. A Surface Book is the most powerful but also the most expensive.

The difference between a 2-in-1 and a detachable tablet

Microsoft uses two different designs to make devices that work as both laptop and tablet. A 2-in-1 has a hinge that folds the screen all the way back so the keyboard faces outward and the device lies flat like a tent. The Surface Book is a 2-in-1 because the screen folds back onto the keyboard base. A detachable tablet has a keyboard that snaps on magnetically or with a connector, and the screen separates completely. The Surface Pro is a detachable tablet because the keyboard is not hinged—it's a separate piece that attaches to the front.

The 2-in-1 design (Surface Book) keeps the keyboard and screen connected at all times, which makes it more stable but heavier. The detachable design (Surface Pro) lets you leave the keyboard behind, which makes it lighter and more portable. Neither is better—it depends on how you plan to use the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Surface Pro without the keyboard?

Yes. The Surface Pro works as a standalone tablet. You can use the built-in kickstand to prop it up for watching video or reading, or hold it in your hands. The keyboard is optional and sold separately, so you only buy it if you need it.

Is the Surface Laptop touchscreen?

Yes, all Surface Laptop models have touchscreens. You can tap and swipe on the screen just like a tablet. However, the screen does not fold back, so it's not designed to be used as a tablet in the way a Surface Pro is.

Which Surface is best for drawing and note-taking?

The Surface Pro or Surface Go are the best choices because they come with a stylus and are designed to be held in your hands or propped up at different angles. The Surface Laptop and Surface Book can also use a stylus, but their designs are optimized for typing rather than drawing.

Do I have to buy the keyboard separately for every Surface?

No. The Surface Laptop and Surface Book include the keyboard. The Surface Pro and Surface Go do not—you buy the keyboard separately if you want one. Some retailers bundle the keyboard with the tablet at a discount, so check what's included before you buy.

What's the difference between a Surface Pro and a Surface Go?

The Surface Pro has a larger 13-inch screen and more processing power. The Surface Go has a smaller 10-inch screen and less power but costs less. Both are tablets with optional keyboards. Choose the Pro if you do demanding work; choose the Go if you mainly browse the web and edit documents.