Microsoft Surface Pro 8 overview | Engadget

When a tool reaches its eighth era, it may be simple to imagine you’re getting extra of the identical: sooner chips, a thinner, lighter design and a few aesthetic tweaks. But, within the case of , which arrives as we speak alongside Windows 11, you’re getting the largest redesign the pill has seen in years. And truly, it’s heavier than .

In change for a 15 % weight acquire, you stand up to 52 % higher battery life and Thunderbolt 4 help, plus a bigger show with skinnier bezels and a 120Hz refresh fee — one thing hardly ever seen outdoors gaming machines. It appears to be like completely different, too, taking model cues from the ARM-based . Other upgrades embody newer Eleventh-gen Core i5 and i7 processors and a barely higher-resolution rear digicam.

On paper, it addresses two of our three important complaints in regards to the Pro 7 (the removable keyboard continues to be offered individually, although). But earlier than we declare the Pro 8 a slam dunk, it’s value noting that the beginning worth , up considerably from $749 on the Surface Pro 7. (Microsoft each eradicated its lowest-end sku for non-business prospects and raised the worth for its remaining configurations.) Given that, it’s value contemplating whether or not the enhancements are well worth the worth hike — and the way the Pro 8 compares to conventional laptops now that it prices simply as a lot.

Hardware

The show

Microsoft has all the time supplied pretty shows on its Surface gadgets. Even with the unique Surface, which debuted in 2012, the intense, high-res, low-glare panel was a standout on an in any other case confused seeming machine. The Surface Pro 8 is not any exception. The touchscreen right here is 11 % bigger than earlier than — 13 inches, up from 12.3 — with a 2,880 x 1,920 decision that’s practically 11 % sharper than the Pro 7. It’s additionally 12.5 % brighter, in line with Microsoft. (OK, that’s the final time I’ll use the phrase “percent” for some time.)

In quick, it’s shiny, colourful and I by no means struggled with the viewing angles, no matter the place I used to be sitting in the home or how a lot solar was streaming in from outdoors. On a roof deck, nevertheless, the 450-nit display didn’t really feel fairly shiny sufficient at max settings — one thing to bear in mind if you happen to intend to make use of this on the go.

Most necessary is the 120Hz refresh fee. This is a comparatively new addition to the world of notebooks. Even so, it’s already one thing of a meme for reviewers like us to say one thing like “you don’t know what you’re missing until you experience it.” I’m aggravated to say that’s 100% true. So, right here’s me repeating a drained cliche: You will probably be proud of the 60Hz mode that’s enabled by default, however as soon as you turn to 120Hz within the settings, you gained’t wish to revert again.

I observed the distinction instantly, even with the form of mundane duties I do tons of of occasions a day: launching apps and minimizing home windows. It all occurs sooner. It’s value noting, nevertheless, you’re unlikely to note a lot of a distinction in film playback, as Microsoft did some software program work particularly to decrease the refresh fee for that use case.

Everything else

That greater show comes on the expense of the encompassing bezels, which: good riddance. This is, in fact, not a brand new design tactic. For years, laptop computer makers have been trimming the fats round their screens. Microsoft did this with the and, certain sufficient, the Surface Pro 8 appears to be like so much just like the X. Its enclosure is aluminum, whereas the Pro 7’s was a magnesium alloy, however the impact is analogous. This is an effective factor, contemplating the dated design was one in every of just a few complaints in our Surface Pro 7 overview.

In addition to having a bigger display, the Pro 8 can also be heavier: 1.96 kilos with out the keyboard, up from 1.7. (The keyboard provides 0.62 kilos.) Of course, “heavy” is a relative time period. I’d be much less inclined than ever to make use of the indifferent pill the best way I’d my smartphone. But my shoulder bag feels appreciably lighter now that I’ve swapped within the roughly two-pound Pro 8 for my three-pound MacBook Pro. Even the ability brick is lighter.

Besides — and I can’t emphasize this sufficient — the Surface Pro 8 isn’t a cell machine. It appears to be like and acts like a laptop computer, even when the keyboard folio isn’t included. It has a skinny railroad observe of vents alongside the highest and sides, a necessity given the Core i5/i7 processor inside.

Meanwhile, the 2 USB-C ports now help Thunderbolt 4. Users have been requesting this for some time, and it signifies that folks can now plug in high-speed drives, a number of 4K shows and eGPUs.

The built-in kickstand additionally suggests Microsoft is aware of individuals are going to spend extra time docking the machine than holding it. The kickstand on this yr’s mannequin is without delay beautiful and barely annoying. The weighty aluminum helps the Pro 8 really feel just like the high-end machine it’s. Even the “snap” it makes once you pop it into place in some way sounds premium. On the opposite hand, even after utilizing the Pro 8 for a couple of days, I nonetheless discover the kickstand awkward to drag out; the slim divots make it powerful to seize onto.

Once you get it open, although, you’ll take pleasure in versatile viewing angles and a sturdy design that makes it comfy to make use of the Pro 8 in your lap. I even used it on my outstretched legs whereas propped up in mattress, although I don’t essentially suggest that for prolonged use.

Finishing up our {hardware} tour, the rear digicam now shoots at 10 megapixels, up from 8MP, and might report in 4K. The pictures are… advantageous. But definitely not well worth the embarrassment of taking pictures photographs in public with a 13-inch pill, nor the inconvenience of getting to carry a two-pound machine regular. Just use your smartphone.

I’m extra impressed by the webcam, the identical 5-megapixel/1080p sensor used within the Pro 7+ and Pro X. It’s simply a lot extra succesful in combined lighting than my MacBook Pro. A coworker who I recurrently see on video calls remarked on the “night and day” distinction from my regular setup. Not solely was the picture sharper, nevertheless it did a greater job lighting my face.

In use

To take a look at the Surface Pro can also be to check its equipment. And this yr, it additionally meant getting acquainted with Windows 11, which is offered for everybody .

As a part of its reviewer package deal, Microsoft included the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard () and the brand new , which , and guarantees decrease latency, a sharper tip and improved precision. That pen docks inside a charging cradle on the Signature Keyboard, which was additionally designed for use with .

Like earlier Surface keyboards, the Signature is roofed in Microsoft’s comfortable Alcantara materials, which seems like both suede or felt, relying on how I contact it. All informed, there are two methods to make use of the keyboard: you possibly can enable it to lie flat in your desk, with the pen cradle uncovered above the Function row. Or, you possibly can fold up the pen-dock piece in order that it magnetically attaches to the pill’s decrease bezel. This lifts the keyboard at a extra ergonomic angle.

There are execs and cons to every methodology: I discover the ergonomic elevate extra comfy, however felt distracted by the flimsiness of the panel below my livid typing. On the opposite hand, as insubstantial because the panel feels, the buttons themselves are spacious and springy. The wobble would possibly typically annoy me, however I hardly ever miss when touch-typing on this.

The trackpad, in the meantime, is decently sized. Two-finger scrolling feels easy. (And due to the display’s comparatively tall 3:2 side ratio, I do barely much less of that on webpages.) For prolonged use, I most well-liked utilizing a Bluetooth mouse (on this case, the $30 that Microsoft included with my Surface Pro 8 loaner). But you don’t want a standalone mouse, particularly if you happen to’re on the go.

For no matter quibbles I’ve in regards to the keyboard (together with the truth that it’s offered individually), I really like the Slim Pen 2. The haptic motor is a small however pleasant contact, vibrating once you flip over the pen to erase one thing. I used the pen to jot down in Windows 11 textual content entry fields and Windows principally acknowledged my sloppy handwriting. In the Microsoft Store I needed to strive twice to get it to decipher “Evernote”; it initially thought I typed “everyone.” But apart from that it typically understood what I used to be attempting to jot down.

Aside from Evernote, I attempted the pen in different apps together with OneNote and the , the latter of which I discovered significantly fulfilling. (What can I say? I’m a sucker for rainbow and glitter pens.) I additionally typically discovered myself simply scrolling with the pen, though it’s simply as simple to make use of my fingers. By the top of my testing interval, I felt in regards to the Slim Pen 2 the best way I did in : Most folks don’t want a stylus, however they’re extra enjoyable to make use of than you would possibly assume.

In each laptop computer and pill mode, I felt charmed by Windows 11. The OS makes a superb first impression with a quick and environment friendly setup, together with the Windows Hello facial recognition enrollment course of, which solely took a couple of seconds. I admittedly felt disoriented seeing the center-aligned Taskbar, however you possibly can transfer it again to its correct place on the left.

Additionally, I appreciated the redesigned Microsoft Store, the place it was simple for me to shortly discover and obtain all of my favorites. And in pill mode, the weather get subtly bigger once you unplug the keyboard, making it simpler to pick out what you need utilizing a mixture of finger faucets and the massive on-screen keyboard.

Perhaps most spectacular of all is the function that permits you to hover over a window’s maximize icon to see completely different format choices, together with half-and-half, a two-to-one ratio and a pair kinds of quadrants. It’s simply a lot extra handy than dragging a window towards the facet of the display, hoping it snaps into place after which tinkering (utilizing a presumably finicky touchpad) to get the window sized the best way you need. Frankly, I all the time discovered the split-view expertise kludgy throughout Windows, macOS and iPadOS, however with this variation I believe Microsoft clearly has the extra elegant resolution.

Performance and battery life

For the report, I didn’t take a look at the entry-level $1,100 mannequin however slightly, a costlier $1,900 configuration with a quad-core 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Though the benchmarks point out a laptop computer whose efficiency equals or barely trails different Core i5/i7 machines with built-in Intel Iris Xe graphics, for all intents and functions it felt like a quick machine in on a regular basis use. As I stated, too, all of this mundane stuff feels that a lot zippier once you change to 120Hz mode.

As for battery life, Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 8 can last as long as 16 hours on a cost, up from 10.5 on the final era. Battery efficiency was one in every of my colleague Cherlynn Low’s important complaints in regards to the Pro 7; it truly carried out worse than the mannequin that preceded it. I’m completely satisfied to report that the battery life right here is far improved: I logged 13 hours and 6 minutes in our customary take a look at, up from seven hours and 50 minutes on the Pro 7. That was with the default 60Hz display refresh fee, in fact; with the 120Hz choice enabled, the machine lasted seven hours and 36 minutes below the identical situations.

It’s value noting that, whereas Engadget has examined laptops this yr that lasted even longer in the identical battery take a look at (assume: , ), these methods both packed a less-powerful ARM processor or had been considerably bigger and heavier. Considering the Surface Pro 8’s chip and comparatively mild weight, the battery life is fairly good.

Configuration choices

The Surface Pro 8 begins at $1,100 with a quad-core Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The base-model Surface Pro 7 price $749, however that was with a Core i3 chip and half the RAM, simply 4 gigs. (If you don’t thoughts growing old, lower-powered {hardware} and would slightly get monetary savings, Microsoft sells the for with a Core i3 CPU.)

Even with that caveat in regards to the discontinued Core i3 sku, if you happen to wished a Core i5 machine final yr with 8GB of reminiscence and 128 gigs of storage, the worth was $900 then, not $1,100. So, whereas calling it a $350 worth hike feels imprecise, it’s undoubtedly a $200 enhance even if you happen to follow direct comparisons.

But I digress. If you’re proud of the Core i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM on this yr’s base mannequin however need extra storage, you should purchase an in any other case an identical machine with a 256GB or 512GB SSD for $1,200 or $1,400, respectively. A Core i5 machine with 16GB of RAM prices $1,400 with 256GB of storage.

Meanwhile, the least costly Core i7 mannequin prices $1,600. (That, too, has 16GB of RAM and a 256GB drive.) From there, you possibly can step as much as Core i7 with 512GB of storage ($1,900) or a terabyte ($2,200). If you actually wished, you might have Core i7, a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM, all for a cool $2,600. Oh, and also you’d nonetheless need to pay additional if you happen to wished the keyboard and pen.

There’s additionally an LTE-equipped mannequin. Just know that that variant maxes out at 512GB of storage and gained’t be accessible till “a later date.” They will begin at $1,100 with a Core i3 processor.

The competitors

To recap, the with the $180 keyboard prices $1,280, and let’s be actual: You undoubtedly need the keyboard. That places it squarely in ultraportable-laptop territory.

Perhaps its most evident competitor is the , a longtime that we described as “tweaked to near perfection” in our most up-to-date overview. It at the moment begins at $967 on Dell’s web site with a Core i3 processor. You can get a Core i5 machine with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $1,170, whereas the Surface Pro 8 prices $1,100 with 128GB of storage and no keyboard. However, a touchscreen brings the XPS 13 to $1,269, which is analogous to what the Surface Pro 8 prices with the keyboard. At that time, it is determined by your priorities: You get a extra optimum typing expertise with the XPS 13, however pen help and extra flexibility with the Surface Pro 8.

Another simple comparability: . It’s a with a Core i5 CPU, Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $900. In our overview we awarded it a excessive rating of 94 and listed barely any cons, one in every of which was the webcam.

It’s additionally value evaluating the Surface Pro 8 to probably the most equally specced Apple merchandise, although my thesis in regards to the Pro 8 is that the likeliest customers are already dedicated Windows customers. If you need a correct laptop computer, the most effective comparability is the two.8-pound with Apple’s M1 chip, which prices $1,000 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. (Versus $1,380 for the Surface Pro 8 and keyboard with the identical quantity of reminiscence and storage.) Obviously, there’s no touchscreen, although.

Perhaps the higher comparability is the , which begins at $799 with 128GB of storage and a smaller 11-inch display. (The 12.9-inch mannequin begins at $1,099). Like the Surface Pro, it doesn’t include a keyboard or stylus (on this case, the equally priced $129 Apple Pencil). Apple’s first-party prices $299, however you possibly can pay much less if you happen to select a third-party model. Brydge, for example, lists its between $150 and $170 relying on the dimensions of the iPad Pro.

All of that is to say that if you happen to opted for the smaller 11-inch mannequin and went with Apple’s personal keyboard, you’d be paying the same whole worth as you’d for the Surface Pro 8 and keyboard. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is extra related in measurement to the Pro 8 however is costlier when you issue within the keyboard.

More than {hardware}, the selection there comes right down to the person expertise. iPadOS will really feel extra acquainted to iOS and macOS customers, and it has a greater choice of touch-specific apps, nevertheless it simply isn’t pretty much as good at multitasking as Windows 11.

Wrap-up

The Surface Pro is incrementally higher in its eighth era, with a fast-refreshing display, much-requested Thunderbolt 4 help and a return to lengthy battery life. But it’s additionally costlier than ever, with a $350 larger beginning worth that successfully wipes out any worth benefit it as soon as had over premium ultraportable laptops. The pricier the Surface Pro will get, the extra caveats I’ve to append to my suggestion.

The pen-on-tablet expertise is beautiful, however probably the most persuasive motive for me to suggest the Surface Pro is the 120Hz show. It actually makes a distinction in on a regular basis use. Microsoft must do a greater job speaking the advantages to would-be consumers, although. I perceive why it’s disabled out of the field (battery life, duh), however how will common customers discover it in the event that they’re not within the know? And as of this writing, the 120Hz refresh fee doesn’t get a outstanding point out on Microsoft’s product web page.

Meanwhile, pretty much as good because the typing expertise and battery life are, they’re not essentially superior to a comparably priced pocket book. If you solely have cash for one high-end laptop-like machine, then, the bar appears larger for selecting the Surface Pro over an ultraportable.

Special due to senior editor Devindra Hardawar and evaluations editor Cherlynn Low.