The Surface Pro 8 finally features Thunderbolt 4, which is a first for the Surface Pro line. Microsoft doesn’t have the best history with ports, but the Surface Pro 8 is making amends. I’m delighted to see those changes come to the Surface Pro 8, though, modernizing the design and more closely matching the size of the 12-inch iPad Pro. Many of these changes were first made in the original Surface Pro X, which launched back in 2018. It’s nice to have a permanent spot for the stylus to (hopefully) avoid losing it so much. It charges here, and can even be hidden away when you raise the keyboard. The biggest change is that the new Surface Slim Pen 2 fits brilliantly into the slot above the keyboard. The Type Cover, which is still sold separately, also has been updated. But the 1.5-pound iPad Pro does feel more portable in comparison, and won’t strain your wrist as much while holding it one-handed. I’m not saying it’s a chore to use the Surface Pro 8 as a tablet - far from it. Still, when you compare it to the iPad Pro, the extra girth makes the Surface Pro 8 more difficult to handle as a tablet. By trimming the bezels surrounding the screen, Microsoft squeezes as much extra screen real estate into the device without growing the overall dimensions too noticeably. The Surface Pro 8 now has a 13-inch screen, up from 12.3 inches in the previous model. The second reason for the larger size? Well, it has a significantly larger screen. The Surface Pro was always a rigid device, but I’m sure the change to aluminum helps in that regard as well.

Microsoft says this is a more sustainable method, as well as providing the device with a more premium finish. First, the Surface Pro 8 is made out of recycled aluminum instead of magnesium. That’s never a good thing when it comes to a tablet that’s meant to be held one-handed.īut there are two legitimate reasons for the larger dimensions. It’s 0.04 inches thicker at 0.37 inches and 0.22 pounds heavier. However, the Surface Pro 8 is slightly larger and heavier than the Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 9 embraces ARM chips and a splash of fresh color The MacBook Air and iPad Pro could soon get a major upgrade Best Microsoft Surface Pro deals for January 2023

Surface pro 8 battery test