Microsoft Surface Pro
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 24 scores (from 35 reviews)
Reviews for the Microsoft Surface Pro
A balancing act. The Surface Pro is an interesting concept tablet that Microsoft developed to showcase the strength of the Windows 8 platform on a touch-capable device. This is another Wintel collaboration that is able to use the ecosystem of apps available for the X86 Windows platform. This review points out the strengths and weaknesses of this form-factor.
Source: Techradar Archive.org version
Expectations are the real issue with the Microsoft Surface Pro. If you were hoping for something with the power of a Core i5 laptop but the weight and battery life of Surface RT then you need to take another look at the laws of physics and the current capabilities of Intel processors. It's a lightweight Windows 8 PC that runs all your applications and any browser you want, that you can use as a tablet with touchscreen controls and a fantastic pen, or as a notebook, by snapping on a keyboard. You're getting a great machine at a reasonable price with the Surface Pro, and if you like the sound of it you'll be cursing the limited stock and the fact it's only on sale in North America at first.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/27/2013
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: PC Authority Archive.org version
Stop to consider what you’re getting, however, and it isn’t bad value for money. The hardware is impeccably constructed, the performance strong, and the Wacom digitiser, stylus and Full HD display make for a great combination. The ergonomic irritations in laptop mode, together with modest battery life, mean it won’t suit everyone, but the Surface Pro is a great choice for those who want power and full Windows compatibility in such a tiny device.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/05/2013
Source: V3.co.uk Archive.org version
Summing up the battle of the flagship tablets, the Apple iPad 4 manages to win out by triumphing in three out of the six categories over its rivals. Apple's tablet trumped the Surface Pro and Nexus 10 as our favourite for design and display, and proving the best out of the bunch for battery life. Despite winning half the categories, the Apple iPad 4 failed to win the major battles of performance and software, losing out to the Surface Pro due to its ability to run the full version of Windows 8. However, we felt Microsoft's tablet failed to deliver on too many occasions, such as in design and display to warrant a win over Apple's high-class device.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/20/2013
Source: ITNews Australia Archive.org version
Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is finally available in the Australian market, after it was announced a year ago. It is aimed at those who like the Surface RT but need the Windows software compatibility it lacks. The 'real Windows' version of Microsoft's Surface tablet impresses with beautiful build and ample computing power, only to disappoint through Windows 8 foibles and short battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/20/2013
Source: Digital Versus Archive.org version
Microsoft really let its creative side shine through with the Surface Pro. It's a superb-looking device with enough processing power to make full use of the company's productivity suites. Unfortunately, the low battery life, heat issues and less-than-adequate connectivity make it hard for us to give the Surface Pro any more than three stars. Sorry, guys.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/31/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
The Surface Pro hints at genius but implodes under the weight of its own ambition. But the potential is plain to see. It’s a welcome and compelling alternative to an Apple and Google dominated future. Make it lighter and last longer, however, and Microsoft could have a winner on its hands in future.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/24/2013
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80% features: 90% display: 90% mobility: 40% workmanship: 90%
Source: T3 Archive.org version
Surface Pro is a decent dual-use device, with plenty of power which we’d be happy to choose over a mid-range Ultrabook. We loved being able to dock it with a screen and full desktop set up at home, then take it on the move. It’s certainly able to fulfill the job of a laptop and iPad, so long as your emphasis is on productivity rather than fun. The main frustrations are the dubious keyboard peripherals and the usability headaches caused by the kickstand, so it’s worth thinking carefully about how you expect to use Surface Pro before you buy.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/22/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Pocket Lint Archive.org version
Does the Surface Pro redefine what Windows 8 hybrid devices are all about? It's a bit late for that - we've already seen stacks of products to market from all the major manufacturers, each with their own shortcomings. What Microsoft has managed to do is produce a product that focuses as much on build quality and design as it does core power and usability. That means it'll click just as heartily as its rattling audio-heavy advert does with some users, while others will find it's a little late to the party and instead drift off down the more traditional - and affordable - routes.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/21/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: It Pro Archive.org version
Microsoft has belatedly released the Surface Pro in the UK, seven months after the launch of Windows 8. The Surface Pro fails to live up to expectations. Despite the HD screen and solid performance, it's weak when it comes to portability and doesn't do enough to stand out from OEM competitors.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/17/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
Stop to consider what you’re getting, however, and the Surface Pro really isn’t bad value for money at all. The hardware is impeccably well constructed, the performance good, and the Wacom digitiser, stylus and Full HD display make for a great combination. The ergonomic irritations in laptop mode, together with modest battery life, mean that it won’t suit everyone, but the Surface Pro is a great choice for those who want power and full Windows compatibility in such a tiny device.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/16/2013
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 83% performance: 67% features: 83% workmanship: 83%
Source: V3.co.uk Archive.org version
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a decent business tablet that can run everything you'd find on an ultrabook, but it has a high price tag compared to iPad and Android models, and lacks the built-in Office suite offered by the much cheaper and lighter RT model. The price including a keyboard at £819 also makes it equivalent to or more expensive than a laptop alternative.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/15/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Stuff TV Archive.org version
The Surface Pro is as powerful as a lower-end ultrabook, but more portable. It's nice to type on and has a great screen. But does it do enough to justify costing more than most Windows Ultrabooks? Not quite. Its nifty portability comes at the price of a little power, a proper keyboard and a pile* of battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Ultrabook News Archive.org version
So after the long wait the Surface Pro is finally here, was it worth the wait? That is a hard question to answer and will depend on your computing requirements. It can probably be best answered by looking at the target customer. This is not a tablet for the average consumer whose main activities will be consuming media, email and web browsing. For the power user who needs to work with powerful business programs like Outlook but who may also be mobile and requires portability it will fit their needs nicely. It has the power, connectivity, portability and flexibility to meet a lot of power users computing needs but has the one drawback of battery life, at least when looked at in the context of mainstream consumer tablets.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/20/2013
Source: Digital Trends Archive.org version
Microsoft’s Surface Pro is a bold move. By jumping into the tablet business, the company is attempting to counter the “post-PC” era by guiding consumers towards a future where PCs are different, but still dominated by Windows. We think the idea is sound. The finished product? Not so much.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/15/2013
Rating: Total score: 50%
Source: Mobile Tech Review Archive.org version
The Microsoft Surface Pro isn't just novel, though that certainly is part of its appeal along with the sexy design and high quality look and feel. It's a landmark marriage of computing power and portability. The question is: do you need a miraculously portable tablet with the computing power of a Core i5 laptop inside? That's for you to answer, and I know many of you do crave extreme portability on the road.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
The Surface Pro is the best Windows tablet we've used. It also makes a pretty good laptop. But as a tablet it's not match for the best iOS or Android devices, and as a Windows laptop it can't compete with Ultrabooks. It's portability and performance will be perfect for a few, and okay for most. So that makes it a good but not perfect device, which feels about right as a verdict.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: Comp Reviews Archive.org version
The ability to run full Windows application on a tablet has been something that many people have been waiting for and the Microsoft Surface Pro allows them to do that. The problem is that it is still too much of a work around for that capability. Compared to tablet it isn't quite as portable and certainly not as friendly when having to switch between native and desktop modes.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
Now the big question: Is it worth it? If you need a very portable tablet that has full Windows 8 compatibility, powerful components, and a 1080p touch screen, the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro is your tablet. The digitizing stylus is an added boon for those who would like to take notes, draw art, or fill out forms right on their tablet screen. The Surface Pro has business compatibility (i.e., it can join Windows domains and use corporate level software), a selection of keyboard covers, and is intelligently set up for touch and portable use. It also has better ergonomics than the Acer Iconia W700 and better behavior in desktop mode (where you run almost all your programs). True, the Acer W700 has better battery life, but the Surface Pro doesn't require as much tweaking to make it useful out of the box. While it's a little thing (pardon the pun), the fact that the Surface Pro is scaled better and more usable with fingertips in desktop mode will help save calls to IT or to your family IT person (probably you, if you're reading this). The Surface Pro is the Windows 8 slate tablet to beat when you need the performance and convenience of a real PC in a compact tablet form factor. It's the one to get if you need corporate or academic campus portability.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Slashgear Archive.org version
The Surface Pro is slickly designed, its digital pen a joy to use – if you have the need of it – and it comes without the software niggles that dampened our enthusiasm about the Surface RT last year. Think of it as a touchscreen notebook with an optional keyboard and it makes the most sense. That may be semantics, but it also means the Surface Pro is more likely to cannibalize ultrabook sales than eat into Apple’s iPad market. Whether that’s the market Microsoft was aiming for, we’re not sure, but the Surface Pro makes considerable sense for the prosumer.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/05/2013
Source: Wired Magazine Archive.org version
WIRED Sleek and well-designed hardware. Sharp, beautiful touchscreen. Speedy performance. Runs all legacy Windows desktop applications. Great pressure-sensitive pen. Additional USB port on the charger so you can charge your phone at the same time. Type Cover is pleasant and forgiving. TIRED Lacking in usable storage space. Short on battery life. Non-adjustable kickstand becomes a burden with long-term use. Pricey; you’ll need to drop extra money on several accessories (mouse, keyboard cover, external storage). Too hot, heavy and thick to comfortably use as a tablet.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/05/2013
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Ubergizmo English Archive.org version
The Microsoft Surface Pro was designed to give users a true tablet experience AND a true PC experience with a surprisingly powerful hardware. In that regards, there are no compromises and both goals are achieved rather nicely. In my opinion, this is a great machine for folks who mainly want an ultra-portable and 100% PC-compatible device that can deal with everything work will throw at them. For this, I’m confident that there is simply nothing better out there. You get the real Outlook and any other PC app that your company may require, including exotic VPN accesses, printer drivers etc. This is a PC. The ultra-productive and solid design will complement the software capabilities perfectly.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/05/2013
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
It's clearly far too early to pronounce on the Surface Pro. It offers the potential of tablet portability mixed with high-end laptop-like performance. As such it is a much more likely winner than the Surface RT, which is hobbled by being a halfway house between full Windows and Windows Phone. It also means the Surface Pro will be only as reliant on apps as is Windows 8 itself - ie: not very much. Windows is, after all, the most supported operating software in terms of third-party applications.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/10/2013
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
It's clearly far too early to pronounce on the Surface Pro. It offers the potential of tablet portability mixed with high-end laptop-like performance. As such it is a much more likely winner than the Surface RT, which is hobbled by being a halfway house between full Windows and Windows Phone. It also means the Surface Pro will be only as reliant on apps as is Windows 8 itself - ie: not very much. Windows is, after all, the most supported operating software in terms of third-party applications.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/10/2013
Foreign Reviews
Source: Stiftung Warentest - Heft 12/2013
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 11/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 87%
Source: Mobicroco DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/04/2013
Rating: Total score: 95% features: 94% workmanship: 95% ergonomy: 93%
Source: PC Masters DE→EN Archive.org version
Positive: fast hardware; applications are running fluently
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/29/2013
Source: Onlinekosten.de DE→EN Archive.org version
Positive: brilliant display; fast touchscreen; very good interface equipment Negative: bulky chassis; heavy weight
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 89%
Source: PC Actual ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/05/2013
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 82%
Source: Wintech PT→EN Archive.org version
Positive; Ergonomics, versatility; connection; performance; touch screen; good wifi. Negative: Price; weight.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/10/2013
Source: Pc Tuner IT→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Good build quality; attractive Full-HD display; brilliant support keyboard. Negative: Price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/20/2013
Source: PCM NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/28/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Erenumerique FR→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/29/2013
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: 01Net FR→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/17/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Dinside NO→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/30/2013
Rating: Total score: 83%
Source: HwT DA→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/16/2013
Comment
Series:
Both the Microsoft Surface RT and the Surface Pro never really made it big and couldn't compete with its Android and iOs counterparts. A large reason for its low sales figures was due to the unpopularity of the tablet-notebook hybrid category itself. However it is important to note that the Surface Pro 2 is actually a full blown laptop acting as a hybrid. For a start, it comes with Windows 8.1 backed up with an Intel Core i5-4300U ultrabook class processor, 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB SSD. It looks and has the same dimensions as the first version making both their accessories compatible with each other. However, there's also the new optional Type Cover 2 which adds backlighting but is on the heavy side and is rather pricey.
The good thing about the surface is of course its ultra portability and undeniable performance. With its specs, it will quite likely outperform many other ultraportable laptops and hybrids. Also not to forget is the fact that it comes preinstalled with Windows 8.1 and has all the necessary built-in ports making it an actual laptop and not just a replacement. The primary I/O, the FHD screen is also accompanied with an included active stylus. The downside to all this is definitely the asking price for the tablet and detachable keyboard combination. There may be some serious competitors giving almost if not the same kind of specs for a lower price. Its kickstand, although improved, is still a letdown as it doesn't conveniently sit on a lap despite being a laptop. All in all, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is worthy laptop if budget is not an issue.
Intel HD Graphics 4000: Processor graphics card in the high end Ivy Bridge models. Offers a different clock speed in the different CPU models (ULV to desktop quad core) and therefore a different performance.
Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
3317U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.7 - 2.6 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1050 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
10.60":
This is a standard display format for tablet computers or small convertibles. You see more on the screen than on a smartphone but you can't use big resolutions well. On the other hand, mobility is not a problem.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Microsoft:
Microsoft smartphones and tablets have been tested since 2012. There are many reviews with average ratings. The reader's interest is quite given, but the market share is not big enough for the Top 5 smartphone manufacturers (as of 2016).
76.25%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.