Brand new 1TB 2230 SSDs on eBay for $135. Also, its not picking up fingerprints very much so that's good as well. You will receive a verification email shortly. A good bit of YouTube procrastination, and on occasion, streaming (Netflix and Amazon) when I don't want to do that on my TV. The Surface Pro 8 is still around as one of the best Microsoft Surface PCs as we await the Pro 9's release. Turning to the SSD and Microsoft continues to make strikes in performance, although not as much as with Surface Laptop Studio. Over on Microsoft's side, it offers 128GB,. That said, Surface Go is a much better tablet (than Pro) simply due to its size. The updated 13-inch Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Unlike the Pro X, though, the display on the Surface Pro 8 can dynamically adjust its refresh rate between 60 to 120 Hz, from what I can tell right now. "And the functionality of traditional tablets for note taking, reading, and annotating documents is still in the stone age" I love the Pro 8, it is a wonderful device. I did lose some r/w speed on the new drive, but I gained 512GB of storage. Below those Type-C ports is the Surface Connect along with its included 65-watt charger. Other kinds of procrastination, like commenting on WC. Not yet, surprisingly, but I fully expect that to happen sooner than later. I have ordered a minimal matte black skin for the back though just in case. Microsoft has been riding the modern Surface Pro design since 2014's Surface Pro 3, which finally nailed the iconic design with a 3:2 display. You use them when you want a lightweight, long-lasting device with a decent screen for media consumption -- in the case I'm talking about, reading (books, PDF's, my own OneNote notes, my own Word documents) and also marking up PDF's and revising my PowerPoint slides on the couch. And let's no forget all the class action law suits: 2021 cracked screen, 2020 connectivity, 2019 green screen, 2018 keyboard, 2017 thermal throttling. So actually no. I thought I'd like it more and therefore ordered initially the graphite version, but thankfully I experienced the other one hands-on as well: The graphite doesn't feel as good and has some weird vibration feeling when touching the back (depending on the humidity of your fingers) - sometimes I grab it and think: Oh, is there a vibration notification or the fan spinning wild? Speaking of, Windows 11 now supports Dynamic Refresh Rate, which lets displays instantly shift between 60Hz (idle) and 120Hz (scrolling, inking). Thanks for the detailed review. And that display is good. Please refresh the page and try again. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. You do, however, get the new Windows 11 logo, which is a nice touch. There are a few differences from the mainstream version, thus jacking up the starting price by $100. Weve updated our benchmark charts, the review text, and our score to reflect this. The people who believe this is 'basically perfect' are the people who are using this as a laptop. Which is a real shame because the software I use isn't available on Apple or Android so Windows is my only option. Rival tablets dont invest enough in the magnetic connection, and a tablet on your lap already risks flipping backwards over your knees. The test measures videoconferencing, word processing, some light gaming, CAD work, application startup, and more. Compare Laptops: Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 3 21DA000YUS vs Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Graphite 8PQ-00017. Add at least two items to compare. Pixels per inch (PPI) is still 267 despite the large size thanks to the increased resolution of 2880x1920 (versus 2736x1824). Edit 3: Battery test after letting both devices come to a rest: I started with a video live stream on YouTube in Edge, live Chat opened. This is also how youll access the removable SSD. In the top bezel, which is admittedly thicker than the rest, is a stellar 5MP full HD camera that puts everything else to shame (save for Surface Laptop Studio, which is similar). It also hit 441 nits brightness at peak and 1.9 nits at minimum. However, if you can, I suggest turning to those external devices. Are you using this daily Dan? The Surface Pro X, meanwhile, comes in at 1.7 pounds and about 0.28 inches in thickness. You don't get haptic pen compatibility, but it is slightly thinner and lighter. I think it's almost impossible to detect the weight difference when carrying the two. There are also options for 4G. Add at least two items to compare. Topakustik Perfo panels can be fitted with various edge designs. Copyright 2023 IDG Communications, Inc. Superior screen: larger, higher-res, higher refresh rate, New optional Type Cover integrates pen well, Core i5/8GB RAM/128 GB SSD: $1,099.99 (Platinum), Core i5/8/256: $1,199.99 (Platinum, Graphite), Core i5/8/512: $1,399.99 (Platinum, Graphite), Core i5/16/256 $1,399.99 (Platinum, Graphite), Core i7/16/256 $1,599.99 (Platinum, Graphite), Core i7/16/512 $1,899.99 (Platinum, Graphite). They're now made with an updated Alcantara fabric that includes at a minimum 12% renewable material. There are several problems that make this a worse tablet that a Pro 7+. Though we're fans of the Surface Pro 7 (and 7+), design-wise, the they looked and felt a bit samey. There was a problem. The 256GB option is $1700, which is about what I paid for the SP7 equivalent. The sacrifice? Yes, paying $1,500 for a tablet is still a lot to ask, but the Surface Pro 8 simply offers so much more than its current competition. This is great to know, and makes me agree that maybe the SP8 (or the next gen one) is the one for me, rather than the SLS. The Slim Pen 2 also includes haptic feedback, so that youll feel interactions with shapes on Microsoft Whiteboard, for example. Having it would just make things run a little better without the worry of not having a dongle no matter where you go. Surface Pro X lacks that port which this one has. Despite being more thermally constrained (smaller, tighter chassis), the Surface Pro 8 with i7 matches Surface Laptop 4 (13-inch) with the same Core i7 in PCMark 10, which measures overall system performance using a mix of CPU and GPU. That sounds super irritating. The Surface Pro 8 does not have any GPS like the earlier versions, but it comes with LTE options using Nano-SIM, and other good features: It has two USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4: This means each port can transfer up to 40 Gbps or 5,000 MB/s theoretically. Maybe seeing will be believing. Not responsible for typographical or illustrative errors. It's these small details that I appreciate. With the SP8, Microsoft goes all in on Thunderbolt, even dropping the legacy Type A port, and now the complaints are there should have been only one TB port while retaining Type A too. Aimed more as businesses, there is Dell's Latitude 7320 Detachable. and our Dolby Vision is included with the Pro 9 and Pro 8, but it doesn't look like it's an option for the Pro 9 with 5G model. Users can always upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for an extra $99. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Am in the same situation. Also some of the pointsI mentioned is annoying too for non-work depending on your needs/priorities as a consumer. It seems like Microsoft has delivered something truly awesome with Surface Pro 8. Just received my Pro 8 i5 in graphite with ice blue signature keyboard upgrading from 5th Gen Pro. Atleast I won't be tempted to buy one. People keep complaining about no USB-C to USB-A dongle included. Edit: Some additional initial thoughts: I expected a lot from the vibration feature of the Slim Pen 2, but so far it feels rather cheap (unlike the first taptic engine from Apple wich was a real "wow" moment for me at the time) and didn't add a more realistic touch. Most likely wait for the LTE versions anyway, so have time to agonize over this. Hole-free edges or . The measurement of the display and quality are alike. Battery lasts weeks and the tablet is extremely thin and light. An M1-like chip would be a dream in a Surface. The tablet aspect of the 2-in-1 still needs work despite big improvements coming with Windows 10. I've had no issues with it and find it very accurate on my SP5. Thanks. As the latest in Microsoft's 2-in-1 lineup, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 feels like a next-gen device. The Pro 8 and Pro 9 come in Platinum and Graphite colors; the Pro 9 also has new Sapphire and Forest options. Otherwise, Intel chips have the more powerful Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. Microsoft's Surface Pro 7+ and the new Surface Pro 8 both use Intel's 11th-gen Core chips, though the Surface Pro 8 boasts more powerful processor optionstopping out at a Core. Slim Pen 2 and Signature keyboard sold separately. This helps the graphite finish be more robust than the black finish on previous gens. After charging the unit overnight, I managed to get close to ten hours of usage by performing all of the aforementioned tasks minus gaming. A microSD slot would be OK, but its use is diminishing each year. Wish it was available in all configurations, it's that good :). Microsoft finally nailed black. Sometimes also taking casual notes in OneNote. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is currently on sale at the Microsoft Store in two different colors: Platinum or Graphite. Comparing Microsoft 13" Multi-Touch Surface Pro 8 Graphite vs . Microsoft also requested that we add performance benchmarks for the Surface Pro 8 at its maximum performance settings. As for price I understand you may not be able to afford it but that does not make it expensive for everyone "And for people who read and annotate a lot of documents traditional tablets are terrible." You can launch apps by pressing a button, and erase just by rubbing the top of the pen against the screen. Its exceptional display quality makes watching videos a delight. The pen supports some haptic force feedback for a more natural feel, but only in some apps. Originally, Microsoft told us that the PixelSense Flow display would dynamically shift back and forth between the standard 60Hz refresh rate and a new 120Hz refresh rate, a feature known as Dynamic Refresh Rate. Not sure I like how light the blue is with the graphite. Pen haptics is a neat feature, but not quite jaw-dropping either as it's subtle. Surface Pro 8 Tech specs WHERE TO BUY Tech specs Power for intensive workloads 11th Gen Intel Core processors deliver power for intensive workloads. It wasnt. Various hole diameters are available in different grids. I'd like USB A too but it would just make it thicker. . Audio quality suffers when its set to maximum, with everything becoming a jumbled mess. Surface Pro 8 is a slightly taller device by a few mm (208.3mm vs 201mm) and about 1mm thicker. So close to being the perfect Surface Pro, put back the SD Card slot and replace one of the Type C with a Type A and you have perfection. That can be a little disconcerting for long-term Surface owners, as Microsoft has moved things around. The thermals and the form factor make a big difference to me. Im not knocking the tablets built-in keyboard interface. Xbox Series X vs. PS5; Nintendo Switch . I agree with you overall about Windows tablet design. For this review, we are using the $1,600 model with Core i7, 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and a Platinum Surface Pro Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen 2, bringing the total price to $1,880 before taxes. I wasnt able to use an external hard drive or GPU to play games during my testing. And the functionality of traditional tablets for note taking, reading, and annotating documents is still in the stone age compared to Boox Note Air (Google "My Deep Guide" videos and then come back and apologize). My review unit came with a quad-core 11th gen Intel i7-1185G7 processor and 16GB of RAM. The display aspect is also still 3:2 a signature of Surface that closely resembles A9 paper size. Thanks for the thorough review. These two crucial tools should have been bundled with the tablet. In any case, AMD probably couldn't deliver the quantities needed so I'm fine with Intel. Still, the professional photographer (for example) may lament not being able to pop their SD card into their Surface Pro 8 right from their camera so they can start editing their photos "in the field." The dynamic refresh rate allows for up to a smooth 120Hz, which makes inking that much better. Microsoft sells a Surface Pro 8 with an Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, and 32GB of RAM for the cool price of $2,599. Connectivity options on the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 include USB Type-C and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. i5 and i7 Wi-Fi options with storage 256GB and above built on the Intel Evo platform. The dimensions are essentially the same, with both models measuring just 0.37 inches (9.4mm) thin. Well, that's an interesting piece of information. Both systems have a 13-inches touchscreen with 28801920 resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The Surface Pro 8 is far and away a more beautiful device than its predecessors. Bringing windows applications on the road/making them portable was a main reason for this device, and I will be the judge of your credibility. Surface Pro 8 $169.99 at Microsoft US $699.99 at Best Buy $754.30 at Amazon Bottom line: Surface Pro 8 finally hits its full potential with the all-new redesign for 2021. Like other Surface Pro devices dating back to the Surface Pro 3, the tablet reclines to nearly horizontal. An 11% increase in screen size may not sound like much, but it's a significant difference in usage, with Surface Pro 8 being even more immersive. The only bummer with SP8 is the placement of Thunderbolt ports. During regular light use like web browsing, email, etc., it's silent. #0907905; Sec. Personally I expected the results to be closer, since both CPUs should be restricted by thermals (often i7 models aren't much quicker in small laptops) - so if you need more performance, the i7 might be more interesting than expected, although it comes at a cost (noise, temperature and battery if maximum performance is needed on the road). The Surface Pro 8 includes a pair of Thunderbolt ports on one side, and has done away with the older USB Type-A port entirely. When I connect the dock it only connects one display. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Pro 9 with 5G, due to its ARM-based setup, has two USB-C 3.2, a NanoSIM slot, and a Surface Connect port. Even without an external GPU; it is the most powerful Surface Pro ever, and is even slightly quicker at burst performance and MUCH faster in sustained workloads than even the Pro 7+ which uses a similar processor." Nonetheless, it is also OK to say this is the best battery life of any Surface Pro even if those gains are small. Where are your exact sources saying Ryzen 5600U chip is more expensive, hotter, louder, and power inefficient than a 4 core Intel? The most expensive model costs $1,899 and sports an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. A lot of exercise-related stuff using Garmin Connect as a PWA (it's much, much better than using the app) and my physiotherapist's web platform. Microsoft's tablet is not only larger at 13-inches, but it also has a . Functionality is amazingly and light years ahead of traditional tablets Those e-ink devices are so limited and aren't even cheaper than a regular tablet. It seems that I'm in the minority preferring the design language of the 3-7, but that is ok as my 7 is holding up well and I'm not due for an upgrade for a few more generations anyway. 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