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The NFL uses league-issued Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs on sidelines and in coaches’ booths, following a 2025 upgrade. These are specially configured league devices—not ordinary retail tablets—and the NFL’s public materials do not identify an exact consumer model number.
What the NFL tablets do
The devices run the league’s Sideline Viewing System, which gives coaches and players high-resolution color still images of plays. Users can zoom in, annotate images, review earlier plays, and tag images for later review. The system supports in-game adjustments and player instruction. The NFL says users can access play images at least 30 seconds faster than with the previous process; that is the league’s comparison, not an independently reported test result. NFL Football Operations: Sideline Technology
The league’s broader technology overview also describes using the system to review opponents’ formations and schemes, with a whiteboard and near-real-time statistics feature. NFL Football Operations: Technology and the Game
What changed in the 2025 upgrade
The NFL says sideline and coaches’ booth devices were upgraded to Surface Copilot+ PCs in 2025. It describes the new devices as offering faster performance, longer battery life, and native AI capabilities. AI-powered filtering can help users find moments such as scoring drives, turnovers, and penalties. The NFL has not published numerical measurements for the speed or battery improvements, or quantified the filtering feature’s impact.
#1 Best Overall
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
The league says Microsoft worked with the NFL and its Competition Committee to customize off-the-shelf devices for game-day requirements. Those include operating in heat, cold, rain, and glare; withstanding occasional drops; lasting through a game; connecting reliably to the stadium network; and working with an attached stylus while users wear gloves. NFL Football Operations: Sideline Technology
Why they are not ordinary retail tablets
The NFL says its tablets are identically configured to prevent teams from accessing the internet or installing apps and features that could create a competitive advantage. The league locks the devices away until shortly before kickoff and collects them after the game. Its technology overview likewise says the tablets are provided before each game, restricted to coaching use, and collected afterward. NFL Football Operations: Sideline Technology; NFL Football Operations: Technology and the Game
Rank #2
- With 16 GB of memory, runs as many programs as you want without losing the execution
- The 13.5" 2256 x 1504 screen provides a great movie watching experience
- 512 GB SSD is enough to store your essential documents and files, favorite songs, movies and pictures
- 8 Hours battery run time helps you stay unwired and work longer non-stop
The NFL’s public description names the Surface Copilot+ PC family, but not a specific retail configuration. A consumer Surface Copilot+ PC should therefore not be assumed to include the NFL’s restricted software, stadium network access, or custom setup.
How the sideline tablet system began
The NFL says all teams had access to league-provided, specially configured Surface tablets on the sideline beginning in the 2014 season. The system replaced a process that relied on black-and-white printouts. An Associated Press report republished by NFL.com covered that early introduction; its device counts and descriptions refer to the original rollout, not the current configuration. NFL Football Operations: Sideline Technology; Associated Press via NFL.com
Rank #3
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 13.8" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 20 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- THE PORTS YOU NEED — Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
What published tablet counts mean
The NFL Equity Rule page lists 16 Surface Pro 3 tablets in each bench area and 12 in the coaches’ booth, and says the home team is responsible for providing the league-issued sideline viewing system for both clubs. Those are legacy policy-page details, not a confirmed count or model for the 2025 setup. NFL Football Operations: NFL Equity Rule
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
Rank #4
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 15" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 19 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 19 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports and a microSD card reader for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
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