Want a replacement for dying Surface Pro 4. Framework 12 or Surface Pro 13?

Screen is on the verge of being dead, and I think it's too late to try and replace the fans. Shopping both, they turn out around the same price. The Framework has my attention, though, for its modularity and upgradability. The 5G connectivity on the Surface is appealing for travel use. Also seems like the Snapdragon is a bit quicker than the i5-1334U, but Intel has better app support with native x86. It would primarily be used for looking at/working with text, though, with regular emulation use and occasional live tuning.

The short answer is: how much do you like the detachable tablet concept?

Microsoft just announced a new 12th-gen Surface Pro for Business with Core Ultra Series 3 chips. It's expensive at $1,950 ($2,250 if you want 5G) with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but it should be fast and still run all your apps.

If that's too pricey, I'd try to track down the 11th-gen model or look at a conventional laptop like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Me, I'd probably just tether my phone.

I've grown to like the convertible form factor a lot, though I guess a laptop is cheaper. Tethering is a good idea. Have done that after hurricanes where I have electricity, but cable hasn't been restored yet.

I think the Framework gives a lot more flexibility for future upgrades or swaps. Thrown in a 5G module or WiFi/5G combo & you're set.

The Surface is horribly anti-repair & anti-upgrade.

Both are expensove, I'd go with the Framework, but I know the appeal of the Surface Pro's. I personally wouldn't get an ARM version of the SP, so would go for a cheap used SP 9 or newer if I went that route.

I got the arm version of the surface pro with the X elite chip. If all the programs is running either on arm native or cloud base then its a great option for the price. It is snappy, great battery life. If majority of your program you use is only emulated then i would pass on the Arm version. Emulation will drain more battery and it will not be as snappy as native. One thing Arm has going is the standby time is world's better from earlier Intel models. I don't now how the lunar and panther lake standby time are since I never owned one but the arm one you lose like 1% a day on standby.