Microsoft is combining its Surface Pro X and Surface Pro strains right into a single product this yr, the Surface Pro 9. After 10 years of the Surface 2-in-1 idea, you’ll now have the ability to decide between an SQ3 Arm-powered processor with 5G help and Intel’s twelfth Gen Core processors. And for the primary time, you’ll additionally have the ability to decide colours that reach throughout the whole Surface Pro 9 exterior, not simply the Type Cover.

The selection between processors may really be troublesome this yr just because, for the primary time, the Surface Pro 9 with SQ3 is the one mannequin with built-in 5G help. Microsoft received’t offer 5G on its Intel Surface Pro 9 line, so that you’ll should go Arm if you need the cellular connectivity choice. That’s been a tradeoff prior to now based mostly on app compatibility and efficiency, however each have come a good distance because the preliminary Surface Pro X.

During my temporary time with the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, it was troublesome to identify it was working on an Arm chip. I’ve been utilizing a Surface Pro X with the SQ2, which already had stable efficiency positive aspects over the unique, and I’d count on to see much more with the most recent SQ3 chip. Microsoft works with Qualcomm to customise its newest chips for Surface, and the corporate should be assured in its Windows on Arm work to merge the Surface Pro X line into the primary Surface Pro one this yr.

New to the Surface Pro 9 is the addition of colours throughout the whole exterior. You’ll solely have the ability to get colour choices on the Intel variations of the Surface Pro 9, together with a brand new blue sapphire choice and forest inexperienced. I’ve a mushy spot for the inexperienced choice, as the colour actually pops on the Surface Pro 9.

Microsoft has even labored with the Liberty London design home to create a restricted version Surface Pro keyboard that has been laser-etched with a blue floral sample based mostly on Windows 11’s Bloom wallpaper. Who is aware of, possibly we’ll see customized Surface etching for everybody sooner or later.

Inside, Microsoft is utilizing the common 13-inch PixelSense Flow Display (2880 x 1920) on each Intel and SQ3 fashions with 120Hz refresh fee help. You’ll solely get Dolby Vision IQ help on the Intel mannequin, however each are 3:2 and have a 1200:1 distinction ratio.

The precise dimensions of the Surface Pro 9 are an identical for each Intel and SQ3 choices, and the one distinction is in weight. The mmWave Surface Pro 9 weighs 883 grams, whereas the Intel model is 879 grams because of the additional cooling.

Both fashions begin with 8GB of RAM as base that may go all the best way as much as 32GB on the Intel facet and 16GB on the SQ3 mannequin. Both begin with 128GB of storage that may be configured as much as 1TB on Intel and 512GB on SQ3.

Another bonus for the Surface Pro 9 with SQ3 is the addition of a neural processing unit (NPU). We’ve seen Microsoft experiment with computerized eye contact with the Surface Pro X prior to now, however this yr, the NPU powers greater than ever earlier than. In addition to redirecting eye contact, there are enhanced digital camera and audio options like computerized framing, portrait background blur, and even a brand new Voice Focus characteristic that impressively removes background sound.

I obtained to check the brand new Voice Focus characteristic at Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, Washington. Even with pub noise blasting into the room, Voice Focus completely eliminated the background audio. We’ve seen related software program like this from Nvidia, Discord, and plenty of extra, however Microsoft’s work runs straight on this NPU chip, so it doesn’t take any assets away from the CPU or GPU on the Surface Pro 9.

These new options are additionally out there in any Windows app, so that they’re not locked to Teams, and also you’re free to make use of them in Zoom, Discord, or every other audio and video apps. It’s clearly early days for this NPU work, however it is going to probably form what Microsoft does with Surface over the following decade.

Microsoft plans to begin transport the Surface Pro 9 on October twenty fifth, with costs beginning at $999.99 for the Intel mannequin and $1,299.99 for the SQ3 model.