Revamped Microsoft Surface Pro Evaluation: Portable PC Struggling with Identity
After weeks with the AI-infused Surface Pro, I'm left feeling anything but exhilarated. This 11th-gen Surface Pro has a penchant for sending my internal thermometer on a rollercoaster ride - at times, my frustration boiled over like a pot left unattended. I didn't jump on the AI PC bandwagon, but even without the hype, I was underwhelmed.
The modern chip under its hood, the Snapdragon X Elite, is solid enough for most tasks, but Microsoft oversells its adaptability. The predicted AI capabilities leave much to be desired at this stage.
There's plenty to appreciate. Its vibrant OLED screen keeps me comfy in my chair for hours, and the typing experience is a joy. The keyboard feels delightful in my lap, and the trackpad is surprisingly clicky. But the deal breaker is its sky-high price tag. The Surface Pro starts at a grand, but that's a stretch. With the newly redesigned Flex Keyboard added to the bill, you'll fork over at least $1,500 for the basic Surface Pro with the Snapdragon X Plus chip. My review unit costs a staggering $1,950, featuring 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and the Snapdragon X Elite chip. That's a steep price for any PC, let alone a device with questionable identity.
The Surface Pro resembles a tablet, albeit a heavier one, with the same power and volume controls as a tablet. However, Microsoft calls it a "flexible laptop" - a convertible that's best enjoyed with its keyboard. Windows 11 foregoes a tablet mode, but the display still adjusts if hung in landscape. Microsoft hasn't shipped a keyboard with the Surface Pro in the past few years, but the absence of one is more conspicuous in 2024. Coupled with that, the budget for a solid Chromebook isn't far behind the cost of the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard and Slim Pen bundle Microsoft promotes alongside their latest "non-tablet." It's an outstanding keyboard, granted, but 2024 isn't a year to pay such a hefty sum just for a keyboard that competes with a Chromebook's cost.
Microsoft's latest Copilot+ devices are marketed as productivity-only systems, devoid of gaming potential. Fair enough, but keep in mind that the ARM-based chips are still in their infancy within the Windows ecosystem[2]. In 2024, you'll find that numerous apps run native on the new chips, but some don't run optimally on the new Prism x64-x86 emulation layer[2][3]. Eventually, you'll encounter an app you regularly use, like Blender, that doesn't have an ARM version[3]. Sometimes, apps like Apple Music don't support Windows on ARM whatsoever[3].
There's nothing catastrophic about the Surface Pro, but it's far from perfect. Initially, our tests yielded poor battery life, considering the PC's original claims of a full day of browsing. The PC was running battery settings alien to other Surface laptops, despite being on the latest patch. Following updates, the battery settings reverted to normal, and the battery life came closer to the initial promises[1]. If anything, the uncertainty presents the hasty nature of the first generation of Copilot+ PCs, but buyers can expect consistent experiences a few weeks post-release.
I wouldn't be so harsh if the Surface Pro were simply an average Windows experience. In its current state, it's inferior to what can be had on other PCs[4]. ARM is still in its infancy, and perhaps it's the architecture of the future[1]. However, even considering the convertible's unique versatility, it fails to justify its high price tag[4].
Surface Pro Design and Usability
Why Can't Microsoft Abandon the Surface Connect Port?
The Surface Pro sent by Microsoft is a sleek-looking laptop, with its blue hue as comforting as an open sky on a clear day. The device feels solid, if a tad heavy, given the hardware inside. With the new haptic touchpad, the keyboard offers a satisfying and surprisingly clicky typing experience. The material is soft on my palms, and I experienced minimal palm rejection issues.
But the Surface Connect port still remains. The supplied cable fits snugly, but it takes up more room than most other proprietary ports on the market. Granted, you can charge with Thunderbolt 4 USB, but why not swap that port for something useful, like an SD card slot[6]?
As with any older Surface Pro, it's an awkward laptop that's uncomfortable on your lap. Positioning the screen on the table and using the keyboard separately is ultimately more comfortable. The Flex Keyboard is easily removable, but opting to set it aside leaves few reasons to utilize a Windows 11 PC in pseudo-tablet mode[5]. The S Pen is helpful for scrolling, thanks to its built-in haptic feedback, but the versatility isn't on par with the Apple Pencil Pro, lacking even its unique features like Barrel Roll[6]. The keyboard and trackpad perform reliably, but everything else is mostly unchanged from previous generations, albeit pricier now.
Microsoft could've improved the design to make it more user-friendly. The Slim Pen doesn't eliminate unnecessary tasks like the Apple Pencil Pro, offering nothing unique. The keyboard and trackpad are effective, but everything else is a recycled version of past Surface Pro editions[5].
Surface Pro Performance
Strong CPU Capabilities, but Not All That Was Promised
The Surface Pro promises exceptional performance for its size. Comparisons with Apple's M-series chips are inevitable. I ran a series of tests against the M3 MacBook Air, only to find the reality didn't quite match the promised 58% performance boost[4][7].
The Surface Pro beats out the base M3 in various benchmarks, but struggles under single-core tests. It holds its own against the XPS 14's Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, the chip initially hyped as the harbinger of AI PCs[4][7]. On the visual front, the Snapdragon X Elite isn't designed as a graphics chip. Though it's far stronger than the base M3 in 3D Mark's Wild Life Extreme, it falls short compared to the performance of the M-series chips [4][7].
The Snapdragon X Elite delivers solid performance, but the question remains: does it justify the price hike from previous Surface Pro generations, or even from regular laptop PCs[4]? The answer depends on how well it supports current software.
Surface Pro Software and Compatibility
The AI Features Are Underwhelming
Navigating the compatibility of apps on the Surface Pro should be a seamless experience for the average user. Microsoft guarantees customers won't notice when their favorite app or software runs on the Prism emulator[3].
The good news is that most essential apps, like browsers from Chrome to Firefox and even Opera or Brave, function seamlessly[3]. The Microsoft 365 apps are tweaked for ARM compatibility, and Slack works just as it would on regular Windows[3]. Photoshop works well, too, though its cloud does the heavy lifting for its art generator capabilities[3].
However, other apps are less fortunate. For instance, Apple Music for Windows on the Windows Store, won't run on ARM whatsoever[3][4]. The app takes too long to transcode video using the ARM64 version of Handbrake, rather than the Prism emulation[4].
The vast majority of apps work properly on the Prism emulator, but compatibility issues will crop up for apps requiring extra power[3]. For example, Blender doesn't have a native ARM64 version. Though it runs using the Prism emulation, a mere three-minute render takes five minutes on the Surface Pro[4].
Microsoft markets Copilot+ PCs as productivity-focused devices, distancing them from gaming. However, they preload the Xbox app on Windows 11[3]. Unfortunately, users are restricted from downloading their Xbox Game Pass on the native Xbox app[3]. Instead, it's relegated to cloud gaming exclusively. Think about it: Microsoft owns Minecraft, but the game won't download from the Microsoft Store[4].
That being said, there's no rule against downloading your game clients and trying them out. I played games like Baldur's Gate III on my Surface Pro and found moderately stable framerates, but only at the lowest settings[4]. The Xbox app may underwhelm, but that doesn't stop you from playing games on the Surface Pro.
What you get from the Surface Pro is essentially up to you, but don't expect a revolutionary AI experience[4]. Recall isn't available on any Copilot+ PCs at launch, which is, overall, a good thing. The glaring security flaws in the software necessitated additional efforts to ensure user data remains secure[3]. Plus, it's completely optional[3].
The new AI features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs are unremarkable. You can manipulate images within Photos using the AI Restyle feature, but the results are underwhelming and limited[3]. Image Creator in the Photos app and Cocreator in Microsoft Paint are toys that may keep you entertained for an hour or two[3].
There's also new Live Captions functionality that automatically translates audio and video in near real-time. The translated text appears as a transparent window. I tested watching Spanish-language videos, and found the translations unfocused and delayed when the speaker spoke quickly[3].
This AI image generation occurs on-device, as evidenced by the NPU's max usage during image generation[3]. However, these PCs can't match the performance of Windows Copilot - cloud-centric software based on OpenAI's DALL-E[3].
New apps, like CapCut, Davinci Resolve, and the WhatsApp public beta for Windows Studio Effects, leverage NPU. I haven't thoroughly tested these apps, but backdrops blurring effects on video calls aren't overly taxing on GPUs[4]. Nevertheless, the NPU is handy in alleviating the need for CPU and GPU resources, but it won't transform the user experience[4].
Surface Pro Display and Webcam
A Bright and Colorful Display with a Solid Webcam
The Surface Pro's greatest asset is its display. Its 13-inch screen is crisp and vibrant, making it an excellent choice for casual YouTube and Netflix viewing[8]. I recorded a peak full-screen brightness of 495 nits - impressive for an OLED display[8].
Notably, some users have reported issues with text legibility and grainy whites on the OLED screen[8]. These complications didn't manifest during my prolonged usage.
The Surface Pro's webcam is another pleasant surprise. It outperforms most modern PC webcams, capturing pictures of me even under the dim fluorescent lights of our office[8][9].
Surface Pro Battery Life
Decent Battery Life Considering its Size
Microsoft advertises a 14-hour battery life for the Surface Pro, which includes 14 hours of video playback and 10 hours of web usage[8][9]. In other words, the Surface Pro is meant for all-day use, boasting a 53 Whr capacity.
Initial video playback tests demonstrated the laptop could handle 14 hours of YouTube video. This was conducted with the PC running in "Best Power Efficiency" mode, a setting not typically available on Surface PCs[1]. After communicating with Microsoft, our Surface Pro reverted to the default Power and Battery settings, consisting of "Recommended," "Better Performance," and "Best Performance" modes. We retested the video playback and again observed a 14.5-hour runtime on low brightness[1].
I've been using the PC for a week, and regularly achieved the promised 8 hours of battery life during typical browsing and work tasks[8]. On a day with two extended video calls, the battery ran for approximately 7 hours before requiring a charge[8]. Overall, the Surface Pro offers satisfying battery life for its size[8]. If unpredictable battery dips arise, ensure your Power & Battery settings include the slate of "Recommended," "Better Performance," and "Best Performance" settings.
Good Performance Can't Compensate for all its Shortcomings
The Surface Pro is pricey considering the necessity of buying the $450 Surface Flex Keyboard and Slim Pen bundle[8][9]. While you can utilize different keyboards with the Surface Pro, ones without magnetic attachment points can't protect the screen during transport[8]. It appears Microsoft is adopting tactics from Apple's playbook, perhaps studying all the wrong lessons[8].
Is the Surface Pro powerful enough for everyday use? Yes, but you'll inevitably encounter performance issues with apps that don't immediately have an ARM64 version[3][8]. Even then, the Surface Pro struggles to establish a clear identity[8]. Pitted against past Surface Pro generations or regular laptop PCs' price points, it's hard to justify the lofty price tag[4].
Surface Pro 2024The 11th-gen Surface Pro delivers strong performance, but it fails to differentiate itself with its steep price tag.
The Surface Pro, outfitted with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, boasts impressive power, but falls short due to limited app compatibility and bland AI features[3][8][9]. The price ranges from $999 to $1,950 (for the Surface Flex Keyboard and Slim Pen bundle), making it an expensive investment[8][9].
Pros:
- The Surface Pro's vibrant and colorful OLED display offers excellent quality
- The webcam delivers surprisingly good image quality
- Adequate battery life supports all-day use
Cons:
- AI-related features are underwhelming and largely unnecessary
- The Surface Pro struggles to distinguish itself from previous Surface Pro generations or regular laptop PCs in terms of price and performance
- The Surface Connect port remains, taking up valuable space that could be used for more practical features, like an SD card slot[6].
- The Surface Pro's AI capabilities, despite the hype, leave much to be desired, especially compared to Intel's offerings in the future.
- Microsoft's pricing for the Surface Pro, even with the newly redesigned Flex Keyboard added to the bill, is steep, considering the budget for a solid Chromebook isn't far behind.
- The Surface Pro, with its Snapdragon X Elite chip, delivers strong performance, but the question remains whether it justifies the high price tag compared to previous Surface Pro generations or regular laptop PCs.
- The AI features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs are unremarkable, and the lack of totally optimized apps for the ARM-based chips can result in performance issues.