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Surface Pro 9 5G: Microsoft replaces Surface Pro X with 120 Hz display, larger battery and Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 derived chipset upgrades

The Surface Pro 9 5G promises significant upgrades over the Surface Pro X. (Image source: Microsoft)
The Surface Pro 9 5G promises significant upgrades over the Surface Pro X. (Image source: Microsoft)
Microsoft has lifted the lid on the Surface Pro 9 5G, a successor to the Surface Pro X. While the Surface Pro 9 5G does not come cheap, it features numerous upgrades over the Surface Pro X, including a more powerful chipset and a much faster display.
Windows ARM Convertible / 2-in-1

Microsoft has finally upgraded the Surface Pro X, a 2-in-1 that debuted in 2019 with the SQ1 and received a minor upgrade to the SQ2 a year later. Launching alongside the Surface Pro 9, Surface Studio 2+ and the Surface Laptop 5 series, the Surface Pro 9 5G contains several upgrades over the Surface Pro X. Incidentally, the machine is also the first 5G-enabled that Microsoft has released running Windows.

Unlike the Surface Laptop 5 series, Microsoft has released the Surface Pro 9 5G with a 120 Hz display. As far as we can tell, the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro 9 5G have identical displays, although the former also supports Dolby Vision IQ and auto colour management. Hence, the Surface Pro 9 5G outputs at 2,880 x 1,920 pixels with a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, along with Microsoft's trusty 3:2 aspect ratio.

(Image source: Microsoft)
(Image source: Microsoft)

Additionally, the Surface Pro 9 5G has a larger footprint than the Surface Pro X. Specifically, the former measures 287 x 209 x 9.3 mm and weighs 883 g, compared to 287 mm x 208 mm x 7.3 mm and 774 g for the Surface Pro X. Seemingly, the main reason for the additional weight is a larger battery, which grows from 39.2 Wh in the Surface Pro X to 47.7 Wh in the Surface Pro 9 5G. Sadly, Microsoft's ARM-based Surface Pro is now only available in Platinum, with Sapphire, Forest and Graphite serving as Surface Pro 9 exclusives.

Arguably, the biggest change between the Surface Pro X and the Surface Pro 9 5G is the Microsoft SQ3. Based on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, the Microsoft SQ3 should feature four ARM Cortex-X1 processor cores running at 3 GHz and four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz. Purportedly, the Surface Pro 9 5G will last up to 19 hours between charges, 3:30 hours longer than its Intel-based sibling. The Surface Pro 9 5G is orderable now at the following prices:

  • 8 GB of RAM/128 GB SSD: US$1,299.99
  • 8 GB of RAM/256 GB SSD: US$1,399.99
  • 16 GB of RAM/256 GB SSD: US$1,599.99
  • 16 GB of RAM/512 GB SSD: US$1,899.99

Purchase the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2 on Amazon

(Image source: Qualcomm)
(Image source: Qualcomm)

Source(s)

Microsoft

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 10 > Surface Pro 9 5G: Microsoft replaces Surface Pro X with 120 Hz display, larger battery and Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 derived chipset upgrades
Alex Alderson, 2022-10-12 (Update: 2022-10-12)