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MagyarWindows 11: Microsoft has the opportunity to unlock the potential of the Surface Pro and Surface Pro X as true iPad Pro competitors
The Surface Pro series, including the Surface Pro X, will never match the latest iPad Pro on performance, even they are no slouches in most tasks. We extend that to the Microsoft SQ1 and Microsoft SQ2 SoCs too, despite their shortcomings. However, Apple's decision to equip its new iPad Pro tablets with the M1 SoC puts them streets ahead of many AMD and Intel-powered laptops, let alone the 7 W Microsoft SQ1 or Microsoft SQ2.
Depending on how you look at it, the iPad Pro also holds another advantage over the Surface Pro and Surface Pro X: its tablet experience. This may be a double-edged sword for the iPad Pro, as we have covered before, but it still offers a more cohesive experience than Windows 10 tablet mode, a feature that Microsoft has seemed to ignore in its current OS.
Android app emulation could expand the versatility of the Surface Pro line series, in our opinion. Microsoft has confirmed that AMD, ARM and Intel-based processors will support the functionality, albeit possibly only through the Amazon Appstore. It would be great if Microsoft allowed people to install APKs on Windows 11, also known as sideloading, but the specifics of Android app emulation remain unknown, currently. Windows 11 Insider Builds will start shipping from next week, so we may get a better idea of Android app emulation then.
The option of running Android apps in Windows 11 somewhat solves Microsoft's perennial app problem, especially for an ARM-based tablet like the Surface Pro X. Hopefully, Microsoft fleshes out Android app emulation on Windows 11 better than it did with Project Astoria, its ill-fated equivalent for Windows 10 Mobile.
If it does, then Windows 11 could provide devices like the Surface Pro X with a tablet-like app experience when you want it and a fully-fledged desktop experience the rest of the time. The same would apply to the Surface Pro range, although without any architecture-based restrictions that affect the Surface Pro X.
Still, Microsoft needs to step up the performance of its in-house SoCs, as has previously been reported. You can watch Microsoft showcasing Windows 11 on a Surface Pro X below.
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