Microsoft Surface Pro X

amazon Microsoft Surface Pro X reviews

Microsoft’s Surface Pro X is tipped to signal a new chapter for Qualcomm’s foray into Windows PCs and tablets, one in which battery life is no longer the only selling point. To its credit, the new, semi-custom Microsoft SQ1 chip (based on Snapdragon 8cx) delivers improvements in graphics and performance. We also appreciate the arrival of USB-C and a superbly crafted pen.

But in a series of events, the Surface Pro X ran out of battery. Meanwhile, the app compatibility and issues that are a pity for Snapdragon-powered PCs remain. Perhaps it could be tolerated in a system like the Samsung Galaxy Book 2, which offers 18 hours of battery life. But not the Surface Pro X, with only 8 to 10 hours. The tired mantra of This is a new architecture, take a moment, no more flying. When a bug or another problem pops up, it can be painful.

Specifications

Display: 13-inch (2880×1920) PixelSense display, multi-touch

Processor: 3GHz Microsoft SQ1

Graphics: Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685

Memory: 8GB/16GB (8GB as tested)

Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB SSD (128GB in testing)

Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 Surface Connect, 1 nanoSIM, Surface Keyboard Connector

Camera: 5MP/1080p (user-facing); 10MP autofocus with 1080p/4K video options

Battery: 38.9Wh (reported)

Wireless: Wi-Fi5/ 802.11ac; Bluetooth 5; Snapdragon X24 LTE modem with nanoSIM or eSIM

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

Dimensions (inches): 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28

Weight: 1.72 pounds; 2.37 with keyboard and pen); 2.99 with charger

Black

Nice physical design

A little change from our first impressions of the Surface Pro X: It’s a Surface Pro tablet, enhanced for a new generation of tablet users. Interest in tablets has waned somewhat, due to the lack of third-party Windows tablets we’ve seen lately. But Microsoft’s Surface tablets are known for their sleek, stylish designs, and the Surface Pro X lives up to its legacy.

Don’t forget, though, that you’ll make an outrageous $270 just for the keyboard (and pen), a virtual necessity. That’s the price of a cheap Chromebook or desktop.

The Slim Pen is a pleasure, though. In a few years, this design detail (first discovered in January, in Dell’s Inspiron 13 and 15 7000 Black Edition laptops) could be copied enough to become popular, just like the tablet stand today. But discovering the pen simply couldn’t help spark thinking: oh, they’ve finally solved it. It even has a small charging light. I don’t know how long the pen’s battery life is because it’s always charging when not in use.

The pen’s cubby, in addition to charging the pen, will magnetically flip it if you insert it wrong. The Windows logo must be placed on top and the Surface Pro X will rotate it if it is not oriented properly.

Microsoft describes the Surface Pro X chassis design as its signature anodized aluminum with a fan, and carbon composite thermal cooling system, a fancy way to describe how light, sturdy, and cool it is. I never discovered more than a little warmth.

The stand reclines no more than 180 degrees, with just a slight bend for drawing purposes. The base is stiff and supportive over the entire range of motion, providing a lot more flexibility than a traditional clamshell, which typically leans about 45 degrees to the horizontal.

Immediate Lappability remains a matter of taste. I arrange our work with a tablet in your quiz game. Yes, it is possible. That’s right, the grip between the Surface Pro X keyboard and the tablet is excellent, and you don’t have to worry about cracking if it hits your knee. In practice, however, the Surface Pro X works best on a desk or hard desk.

Screens and ports

The Surface Pro X display pumps out an incredible 448 nits of light, which means it can be used even in bright sunlight. (Remember, screen brightness also harms battery life.) Two color profiles are supported: Enhanced and sRGB. The tapered bezels allow the Surface Pro X to turn its 13-inch display into a smaller overall configuration. This is the kind of structural modification fans that have been requested. If you’re a Surface Dial user, it doesn’t support on-screen use, although you can use it as an off-screen peripheral.

The addition of a pair of USB-C ports brings the Surface Pro X in line with other modern tablet designs. However, they are not provided by Thunderbolt, so your external display connection options are still limited. Since the Surface, Pro X connects USB-A, miniDisplayPort, and microSD, you’ll need a USB-C hub to connect legacy devices (a compact investment after spending over $250 on a keyboard).

I was able to connect to an external 4K display perfectly fine using the Surface Dock, but when I added a second 1080p display, the 4K display connection became unreliable. (Connecting directly to an external display works fine.) You would think that a company like Microsoft, which owns the operating system and manufactures the hardware, would solve these problems.

On the back of the Surface, Pro X is a rather interestingly designed panel that can be popped out using the SIM tool. Inside hides a SIM slot, as well as a user-accessible SSD drive. Microsoft says removable SSDs are for data portability, and you’ll have to find compatible SSDs these long and tough. A small magnet helps guide the panel back into place, a thoughtful design detail.

It’s a good starting point to talk about one of the strengths of the Surface Pro X: wireless.

It’s no secret that we favor always-on, always-connected PCs, simply because you can do more with a device that can run all day and connect to the Internet. LTE-capable Surface Pro devices tend to stick to the initial rollout for about six months, but Microsoft has yet to announce the Surface Pro 7. LTE-capable, from a connectivity standpoint, the Surface Pro X is it.

Surface Pro X uses Qualcomm’s X24 LTE modem, which supports the major LTE bands used by all four US carriers, as well as those used in Asia and Europe. You will be able to connect all over the world.

Keyboard, speaker, and camera

I was surprised to find that I almost enjoyed typing on the Surface Pro X more than on our recently reviewed Surface Laptop 3. The Surface Pro keyboard’s keyboard has always had a looser feel, coming from one of my favorites, the Surface Pro 3. While the Surface Laptop 3’s keys are a bit stiff, I like the Surface Pro X’s combination of resilience and comfort. The precision touchpad is excellent, clicking up to the top of the screen.

Microsoft has always believed in bold audio experiences. The Surface Pro X continues that tradition, with powerful speakers that belie the relatively small size of the tablet. Dolby Audio Premium is included, with its options for stereo expansion and tonal equalization. The Surface Pro X falls into the small group of tablets and laptops where you don’t want to listen to audio without headphones.

Typically, user-facing cameras are bare-bones 720p models for video conferencing. Microsoft gives you a user-facing 5MP camera that’s good enough for 1080p, as well as a surprisingly good 10MP rear camera with HDR and autofocus.

The camera app is integrated with the Microsoft Whiteboard app, which means you can take a picture of the whiteboard, even at an angle, and the app will translate it into an image that you can edit and mark up. This is a possibility unique to Microsoft’s Surface Laptop tablet, which lacks a rear camera to do this.

where can you get a Microsoft Surface Pro X online

Microsoft Surface Pro X, SQ 2 Processor, with LTE (13″ Touchscreen – 16GB Memory – 256GB SSD) – Platinum (Renewed Premium): Buy it now

Microsoft Surface Pro X – 13″ Touch-Screen – SQ1 – 16GB Memory – 256GB Solid State Drive – Wifi, 4G Lte – Matte Black, (Model: QFM-00001): Buy it now

Microsoft Surface Pro X – 13″ Touchscreen – Microsoft SQ 2 – 16GB Memory – 256GB SSD – Device Only – Platinum (Latest Model): Buy it now

Microsoft Surface Pro X 13″ PixelSense Touchscreen Tablet PC, Microsoft SQ2 Processor, Windows 10 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Black (1X8-00002) (Renewed): Buy it now