The Surface Pen is practically synonymous with Surface at this point. Surface Pro is all about inking, and Microsoft showed off how its latest 2 in 1 does inking with the all-new Surface Pen.
Here's everything we learned about this next-gen inking tool.
New Surface Pen
The new Surface Pen is designed to compliment the 2017 Surface Pro's next-generation screen, which takes advantage of unprecedentedly low latency inking thanks to new tech. Custom silicon in both the pen and the Surface Pro screen reduce the latency between your ink strokes and the display to levels "virtually imperceptible" to the human eye, according to Microsoft. The company also says the new Surface Pen is much more responsive than the Apple Pencil designed for the iPad Pro, and it benefits from a boost in pressure sensitivity at 4,096 levels, up from 1,024 in the previous version.
The Surface Pen also now supports tilting for the first time, making shading much easier. The Surface Pen is backward compatible with the Surface 3, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, and Surface Studio, so its new features work with those older devices.
The Surface Pen comes in the new Surface color range of platinum, black, burgundy, and cobalt blue, matching the new Surface Pro Type Covers and the new Surface Arc Mouse.
New Surface Pen technical specifications
- Weight — 0.04 lbs (20 g).
- Compatibility — Surface Studio, Surface Laptop, Surface Book, Surface Pro, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3.
- Dimensions — Length: 145 mm; Width: 9.5 mm; Height: 10.1 mm.
- Available colors — Platinum, black, burgundy, cobalt blue.
- Connection — Bluetooth low energy-compatible 4.0/4.1.
- Buttons — Right click; Tail button: Erase, configurable functionality.
- Battery — 1 AAAA, up to one-year battery life.
- In the box — Surface Pen with HB tip, battery.
- Warranty — One-year limited hardware warranty.
Are you going to pick up the new Surface Pro? Or a new Surface Pen for a previous-gen Surface maybe? Let us know in the comments.
Related Surface Pro stories
- Everything you need to know about the new Surface Pro
- Why isn't the new Surface Pro named 'Surface Pro 5?'
- Why Microsoft's new Surface Pro doesn't have a USB Type-C port
- Surface Pro pricing and availability
- Surface Pro full tech specs
- Windows Central Surface Pro hub
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