Microsoft Surface Pro 8
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Product Overview
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the 2021 iteration of the legendary Surface Pro tablet, now powered by quad-core 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors. Finally, Microsoft has made some effort in reducing the bezels of the new device, leading to a small reduction in physical dimensions and a notable increase in screen real estate.
In other aspects, the Surface Pro 8 is a reasonable upgrade over the Surface Pro 7+, though there are tradeoffs: It now comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, but Microsoft has ditched the microSD card reader and USB Type-A connectivity. Battery life and storage space are extended, but the Surface Pro 8, at least at launch, misses any cellular data support (this may be corrected later, perhaps because Windows 11, which the Surface Pro 8 is launched with, is not ready for cellular yet).
For those who have been interested in a premium tablet, the Surface Pro 8 finally brings Microsoft back to the list of top competitors (which now includes HP, Dell, and Lenovo). It is also a choice that prospective iPad Pro buyers may look into.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Slim and lighter than the Surface Pro 7
- Long battery life
- Much smaller bezels
Cons
- Not as good as the Surface Laptop Studio
What external reviewers found
External score 81%
Pros
- Good audio
- Great keyboard
- Great webcam
- Excellent performance
- Excellent screen
Cons
- Poor battery life
- No headphone jack
- More expensive than previous Surface Pro models
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
- Only 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM
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Specifications
Related Products
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 2021
- Attractive design
- Bright, vivid display
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision support
Apple iPad Pro 5 2021
- Beautiful 12.9-inch display
- M1 processor is a huge improvement over last year's iPad
- Great battery life
- Beautiful dual-screen design
- Two 3577 mAh batteries for two-day battery life
- Stunning dual-display camera
External Reviews
arstechnica[1]
Reviewer score 83% (normalized by Neofiliac)The old Surface Pro 7 started at $750 for a version with a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Now the equivalent Core i5/8GB/128GB configuration starts at $1,100 now. A higher price for what was already an expensive computer is frustrating but predictable. The Pro 8 has plenty of upgrades worth considering, but that doesn't make the Pro 7 a paperweight.
Pros
- Bright, 120 Hz screen with 120 Hz refresh rate
- Slim Pen 2 included
- Long battery life
- Thunderbolt 4 ports
- USB-C charging port
Cons
- Higher price than the Pro 7
- No Thunderbolt 4 port
digitaltrends[2]
Reviewer score 87% (normalized by Neofiliac)Microsoft says the Surface Pro 8 can now last up to 16 hours on a single charge. It topped out at 10 hours and 48 minutes in our lightest battery life test. The base model still includes just 128GB of storage. The $1,600 model I reviewed feels overpriced for the amount of storage you get.
Pros
- Bigger, brighter screen
- Strong performance
- Improved battery life
Cons
- No 4K video editing
gizmodo[3]
Reviewer score 80% (normalized by Neofiliac)Surface Pro for consumers now starts at $1,100. And that doesn't include the price of a Surface Pen or a keyboard. Microsoft isn't reinventing the wheel (or, in this case, detachable laptops) The Surface Pro 8's screen is excellent, the Slim Pen 2 feels like a revelation.
Pros
- Slim Pen 2 is great for drawing and note-taking
- Excellent screen
- Great battery life
Cons
- High starting price for optional accessories
laptopmag[4]
Reviewer score 84% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 manages to neither impress nor bitterly disappoint. It completed our 25GB file transfer test with a 415 megabyte per second transfer rate. The 5MP, 1080p webcam is still among the best in any laptop or tablet that I've tested. For creatives or prolific note-takers, the Pro 8 is a compelling option.
Pros
- Slim bezels
- Comfortable keyboard
- Strong performance
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3
notebookcheck[5]
Reviewer score 82% (normalized by Neofiliac)The new Microsoft Surface Pro 8 now features Thunderbolt 4, a larger screen with 120 Hz refresh rate and a powerful Core i7 CPU. Microsoft still does not offer the LTE module for private customers. The optional keyboard-pen combination is definitely a useful addition, but it is not cheap at 280 Euros. The ThinkPad X12 offers a quieter, better keyboard and LTE connectivity for all users.
Pros
- Large screen with 120 Hz refresh rate
- Powerful Core i7 CPU
- Long battery life
- Fast Wi-Fi
- Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- Loud fan noise under load
- No 5G modem
pcmag[6]
Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Pro 8 doesn't revolutionize the Pro line to its core, but it delivers the most meaningful update in years. The new design is more aesthetically pleasing, along with the more concrete, practical advantage of a larger display. All-around performance is solid, at least in our Core i7 configuration, especially when you consider thermal challenges in a build this size.
Pros
- Sleek, slim design
- Slim bezels
- High-quality keyboard and touchpad
- Great battery life
Cons
- More expensive than competitors
pcworld[7]
Reviewer score 75% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Pro 8 delivers performance that exceeds its competition, or at least matches it in most cases. Battery life is becoming increasingly more challenging to test, as more laptop manufacturers add sensors that detect the ambient brightness of the screen. Microsoft and Windows will adjust the “content” of video being played back to preserve battery life.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Attractive design
- Excellent battery life
- Good audio
Cons
- Battery life could be better
t3[8]
Reviewer score 90% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for those who plan to use it in each form equally. It has a 5MP front camera with 1080p full HD video and on the back there’s a new 10MP camera that can record footage in resolutions up to 4K. The 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound produce audio that is much better than on most other tablets. Not everything about it is perfect, the battery life could use a boost and it's a shame there's no MicroSD card slot. But when it comes down to it the only reasons I would say not to buy this is if you already own the Surface Pro 7.
Pros
- Beautiful 4K OLED screen
- Great battery life
Cons
- No MicroSD card slot
- Battery life could be better
techradar[9]
Reviewer score 83% (normalized by Neofiliac)Key travel is surprisingly deep for how thin the keyboard is, and the wide spacing on the keys means you're always comfortable typing. The only place the Type Cover falls apart is its touchpad, which is mediocre at best. With how portable the Surface Pro 8 is, it's nice to know it's not going to run out of battery within a couple of hours, as the charger can add extra bulk.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Great webcam
- Great battery life
Cons
- No headphone jack
theverge[10]
Reviewer score 74% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Pro 8 has a faster processor than the Pro X. It also uses an active cooling system, which is a fancy way of saying it has a fan. The chassis was sometimes toasty, but never uncomfortably hot. It’s the first Surface Pro I can really see myself buying as a primary driver.
Pros
- Slim, light chassis
- Decent performance
- Good battery life
Cons
- No Thunderbolt ports
- Only 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM
tomsguide[11]
Reviewer score 77% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Pro 8 features a 5MP front-facing camera. The camera produces detail-rich images if you snap photos anywhere with decent lighting. The optional Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Signature keyboard are essential for getting the most from the tablet. The device is lukewarm to the touch when using it in tablet mode, particularly around the kickstand.
Pros
- Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Signature keyboard
- Excellent performance
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Loud fans when gaming
tomshardware[12]
Reviewer score 77% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 comes with a 1-year limited warranty. The most decked out configuration costs $2,599 (for just the tablet) The thin-bezeled, 120 Hz, 3:2 screen is brilliant and convenient for both play and productivity. The refreshed internals make this tablet powerful for a 13-inch device.
Pros
- Slim Pen 2 is a nice touch
- Long battery life
- More powerful than previous models
Cons
- More expensive than previous Surface Pro models
- Type Cover not backwards compatible
wired[13]
Reviewer score 79% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Pro 8 is a powerful and versatile laptop. It's lighter than a MacBook Air, but I prefer the weight distribution of a laptop. The Type Cover keyboard is a must-have, even if it's $130 extra. This is not the machine to buy if you're looking to do a ton of gaming.
Pros
- 120-Hz refresh rate
- Excellent kickstand
- Solid build quality
- Great keyboard
Cons
- Poor battery life
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
References
- ^ Surface Pro 8 review: The best Surface for people who love the Surface. [arstechnica].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review: The iPad Pro finally has a worthy opponent. [digitaltrends].
- ^ The Surface Pro 8 Is the Pinnacle of Microsoft's 2-in-1 Design. [gizmodo].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review. [laptopmag].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Convertible Review: Powerful, 120 Hz and finally Thunderbolt. [notebookcheck].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Review. [pcmag].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review: A superior Windows 11 tablet. [pcworld].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review: still leading the way in 2-in-1 laptops. [t3].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review. [techradar].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review: the best of both worlds. [theverge].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review. [tomsguide].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Review: Windows 11 Rejuvenates Surface. [tomshardware].
- ^ Review: Microsoft Surface Pro 8. [wired].
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