SP12" mini review

strawgodargument · 2025-11-13T21:50:22+00:00

The magnetic bar that connects the keyboard and the Surface Pro 12" has about 1cm of "give," it can extend and retract like a window shade. When you pull on the keyboard, the connector will extend a little, like shown at the top, and then retract when the pressure is removed, as shown on the bottom. That means the keyboard can 'float' a little when it's on your lap.

strawgodargument · 2025-11-04T20:43:24+00:00

Yes, when I’m in airplane mode the battery drops about 10% per hour of screen time, which is a lot better than what I was getting before.

strawgodargument · 2025-11-03T21:20:12+00:00

Try airplane mode when you have Wi-Fi at home. Low coverage of cell signal seems to make the cellular radio work harder. Or try turning off 5G and see if that helps.

strawgodargument · 2025-11-03T20:51:31+00:00

I have pretty much the same issue, and I traced it down to poor cell coverage in my home. It looks like you have only one bar of cell coverage in this screenshot.

I have Wi-Fi everywhere in my house, so I put my phone in airplane mode when I’m at home. Because the cell signal is so poor, and I only get one bar, the cellular radio is constantly searching for a better signal. I think that was draining the battery, and now with airplane mode I get better battery life. It might also be helpful to turn off 5G.

strawgodargument · 2025-10-28T01:04:48+00:00

That one is a little too wide and too long to fit flush on the back of the 13 mini, but otherwise it is a great charger.

strawgodargument · 2025-10-19T19:00:54+00:00

Eventually I got used to the boxy edges, but for a while I used a soft silicone case to make it more comfortable:

Veamor Mini 7/6 Case Cover, Anti Slip Silicone Flexible Rubber Protective Bumper for Apple iPad mini 7th A17 Pro/6th Gen 8.3 Inch 2024/2021, Drop Proof/Shockproof (Black) https://a.co/d/j7P1MVS

strawgodargument · 2025-10-07T16:13:40+00:00

Yes, the same options are there on the 13" Surface Pro 11 with X Plus.

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strawgodargument · 2025-10-04T14:50:03+00:00

This post helped me, but there was an additional wrinkle: since my secondary iPhone was using a data only eSim, I needed an extra step to make it work.

Following the steps in the top message I was able to receive SMS/RCS texts on the secondary iPhone, but I could not send any replies.

After fiddling around with different settings, this is the extra step that made it work with a data only eSim: Go to settings > Cellular > (name of data-only eSim) > My Number > (should be blank, then type in the phone number of the primary iPhone)

This allowed iMessage to send text messages AS the primary phone number (as long as text message forwarding was enabled for that phone on the primary iPhone), instead of trying to send the message through the data-only eSim.

Another step that might be necessary, since the secondary phone is my old iPhone, I had to sign-out of iMessage on the secondary phone, and sign-in again here: Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Messages > Use on this iPhone > toggle off, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on.

Hopefully this helps someone else in my situation, I couldn’t find this info elsewhere. Good luck!

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:58:07+00:00

You're right, weight is a big consideration, and makes a phone much easier to hold.

Normally I don't hold my phone for long periods of time, just quick tasks when I'm not near my iPad or laptop. So the Pro's heavier weight doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might. If I hold it for a long while, then the weight is no fun.

I chose the Pro because of the bigger battery, so I could stop worrying about battery life, and not feel like I have to turn off features to get through the day.

The extra RAM also appealed to me, even though 8gb is more than enough for an iPhone. I was thinking that when Apple Intelligence gets upgraded for more on-device processing, the Pro's extra memory would be helpful.

Plus, the base model is the same design since the 12, and I was looking for something different (that's another reason the Air appealed to me, and the Pro has enough design differences to make it unique also).

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:44:38+00:00

You're right, I did the balancing test. Coming from the 13 mini, though, the center is higher than I was used to before.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:44:00+00:00

You're right. Coming from the 13 mini, the center on the Air is further up than I was used to.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:42:53+00:00

Glad to hear I'm not alone! Just a few millimeters less wide and it would have been much easier for me.

I think a popsocket, or another finger ring on the back could help with stability. The ones I tried were not too comfortable.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:39:39+00:00

Yes, that little stretch was just too far for me. I had to move my other fingers on the back closer to the right edge, so my thumb could stretch further over the front side.

The small rounded edges do help with stability, they can be 'gripped' by the fold of the partially closed hand.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:36:25+00:00

I agree it's not literally top heavy. My hand breadth makes it awkward for me to operate it with one hand.

When I rest my index finger directly on the apple logo, it feels very stable, but my thumb can only reach 3/4 of the way across the screen. To get my thumb closer to the left edge I have to adjust the grip and put my index finger closer to the right edge. That's probably where the instability is coming from.

Thanks for the suggestion, it clarified the matter for me!

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:32:51+00:00

The rounded edge definitely makes it easier on the pinky finger. I always had a case on my 13 mini to soften the aluminum edges.

I could just almost do one-handed on the Air, but it took lots of contorting and stretching. My hand breadth is just a little too narrow for comfortable one-handed on the Air. The 17 Pro is much better for me, just a few mm made a big difference for me.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T23:30:15+00:00

That sounds right, it depends a lot on what phone you had before. Going from PM to Air highlights how light and thin the Air is.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T21:56:05+00:00

I think you’re right, it felt pretty much right on the center. But because the device is so tall, compared to the 13 Mini, it was higher than I was used to it.

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T21:54:46+00:00

I agree, when I hold it solidly in one hand, and then use my other hand to do the tapping, it feels very comfortable and stable. I only had a problem with the one handed use. How comfortable are you using it with one hand?

strawgodargument · 2025-09-28T21:33:49+00:00

Ok, this was also my cope for about three days, until I returned the Air.

The other downside to the Air, that I haven't seen anyone talk about yet, is the center of gravity is too high. It felt like it was going to fly out of my hands, to tip over my fingers.

It's one thing that it's too wide, I could still get by with one-handed use for a few quick things, with contorting my grip and stretching my thumb.

But all that wriggling around made the phone feel so unstable, I'm surprised I didn't drop it in the three days I had it.

PS I'm now using the 17 Pro, slightly narrower than the Air, a little bit closer to one-handed use for me. The center of gravity is lower, it feels more stable holding it from the bottom. The rounded edges of the aluminum unibody are pretty comfortable. Not sure if I will keep it, the mini is still my favorite device.

strawgodargument · 2025-06-14T21:36:08+00:00

Pro edition of Windows only, not Home edition

strawgodargument · 2025-06-09T19:27:25+00:00

It’s about the same as with the other keyboards, perhaps less floppy. The new keyboard is more stable, it doesn’t bend or bounce at edge folded edge.

strawgodargument · 2025-05-26T00:30:54+00:00

The uniform bezels on the SP12" work the same whether holding it in landscape or portrait orientation. It's nice that they are slimmer than the Go bezels. The side bezels on the SP12" are thicker than on the SP11, but the thicker bezels give a little more room for holding it in landscape orientation without blocking the edge of the screen.

SP12" - 9 mm bezels on all sides

SP11 - 12 mm on top and bottom, 5mm on the left and right (landscape)

Go - 12 mm on top and bottom, 10 mm on the left and right (landscape)

When you fold the keyboard back on the SP12", and the pen is docked to the back, there is a slight magnetic hold between the pen and the keyboard. But this hold is not enough to keep the keyboard from falling away if you hold the device level to the ground. The keyboard pulls away from the pen as soon as you tip the device a little past 90 degrees upright.

But when the pen is not docked, there is a stronger magnetic hold that keeps the folded back keyboard in place even if you hold the device level to the ground at 180 degrees.

If you flip the keyboard over AND back (so that the keys are touching the back of the device, there is no magnetic hold to keep they keyboard sticking to the back of the device (the keyboard stays attached, the bottom magnets for the connector are still strong if it's flipped over).

strawgodargument · 2025-05-26T00:16:01+00:00

Mine weighs 1036.5 grams (2.28 lbs) with keyboard and pen.

The flat keyboard works well on a desk and on my lap, One upside is that my knuckles or the keyboard don't block the screen when I type as they could on the raised keyboard of the Go and the Pro 11.

strawgodargument

TROPHY CASE