Microsoft's new Surface Pro 9 was just announced as the next-gen 2-in-1 flagship model. Going forward, the Pro 8 and Pro X models have been combined to offer different CPUs and wireless capabilities under the same Pro 9 umbrella. Users will be able to choose from 12th Gen Intel and Microsoft SQ3 processors, Wi-Fi 6E or 5G connectivity, and different storage options while still getting the same display and overall design.

The Surface Pro 8 is still around as one of the best Microsoft Surface PCs as we await the Pro 9's release. Despite it no longer being the latest and greatest Pro model, it can still deliver a high-end PC experience for those who need something right now (or for a lower price).

Microsoft's splits its PCs into "Consumer" and "Commercial" categories. While anyone can buy from either side of the store, in the past this made things a bit more confusing, especially if you were trying to find LTE models. That's changed a bit for this generation, with Microsoft offering both Pro 9 and Pro 9 with 5G models on the consumer side.

Let's take a look first at how the consumer versions of the Surface Pro 9 and Pro 8 compare.

We can now check out how the commercial versions of the 2-in-1 PCs compare. The PCs are very similar, so I only noted specs where there was a difference between consumer and commercial versions.

The 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs in the Pro 9 have the full vPro Enterprise designation, whereas they hit only the Essentials tier in the consumer version. On the Pro 8 side, the commercial versions are where you can find 5G connectivity and an optional Core i3-1115G4 (as well as Core i5 and Core i7) vPro processor.

The Pro 9 should start shipping on October 25; pre-orders are open now. The Intel model should start at about $999 while the ARM model should start at about $1,299. The Surface Pro 8 is readily available now.

Design and features

Not a whole lot has changed physically between the Pro 8 and new Pro 9. The dimensions are essentially the same, with both models measuring just 0.37 inches (9.4mm) thin. Weight is also similar, with just a few grams difference here and there depending on whether or not you opt for 5G. All Pro PCs are built into an anodized aluminum body.

Models still have a built-in stand on the back, capable of folding out 165 degrees. This allows you to use the tablet at different angles, especially important when inking or typing with an attachable keyboard and touchpad. The Pro 8 and Pro 9 come in Platinum and Graphite colors; the Pro 9 also has new Sapphire and Forest options. The Pro 9 with 5G is only available in a Graphite color.

The Pro 9's 3.5mm audio jack (still available on the Pro 8) has gone extinct. It retains dual Thunderbolt 4 and a proprietary Surface Connect port. 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. You'll likely want to check out the best Thunderbolt 4 docks if you opt for a Pro 8 or Pro 9, or the best general laptops docks for those with the Pro 9 5G model.

Bluetooth 5.1 is available in all models, while the Pro 9 with 5G adds mmWave and Sub-6 5G capabilities. The Pro 9 models have Wi-Fi 6E, while the Pro 8 is stuck on Wi-Fi 6. The Pro 8 is available with LTE connectivity thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 modem, but only if you buy from the business side of Microsoft's store.

The Pro 9 and Pro 8 include dual 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos, as well as dual far-field microphones for calls. The Pro 9 with 5G, thanks to its neural processing unit (NPU), also includes Windows Studio Effects with add-ons like auto framing, background blur, eye contact, and voice focus. This ties in with its front-facing 5MP (1080p) camera and rear-facing 10MP camera with 4K video capabilities. The Pro 8 has the same level of hardware, but it lacks the Studio Effects that come with the Pro 9 with 5G's NPU.

As for security, all Pro models have a TPM 2.0 chip and IR camera for Windows Hello. The Pro 9 and Pro 9 with 5G are Secured-core PCs, plus the Pro 9 with 5G model adds Microsoft Pluton.

And finally, new Signature Keyboards come in the Sapphire and Forest colors. They're sold separately, which at least means you can mix and match colors. They're now made with an updated Alcantara fabric that includes at a minimum 12% renewable material.

Display

The Pro 9's touch display really hasn't changed compared to the Pro 8. It's still sized at 13 inches, it has a 2880x1920 resolution with 267 pixels per inch (PPI), and it has a tall 3:2 aspect ratio that's ideal for a tablet. The dynamic refresh rate allows for up to a smooth 120Hz, which makes inking that much better.

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. Bezel is fairly slim around all four sides. The Pro 8 and Pro 9 are meant to work best with the Surface Slim Pen 2, though this accessory isn't generally included and is sold separately. The pen supports some haptic force feedback for a more natural feel, but only in some apps.

In his Surface Pro 8 review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino noted that "when you combine 120Hz, Dolby Vision HDR, adaptive color, and excellent color accuracy in a larger 13-inch screen, you get the best Surface Pro display experience ever. It's terrific."

Color reproduction as measured in the Pro 8 hits 100% sRGB, 81% AdobeRGB, and 83% DCI-P3, all excellent results. It also hit 441 nits brightness at peak and 1.9 nits at minimum. These numbers should be the same or similar for the Pro 9.

Performance

The Surface Pro 9 has been outfitted with Intel's 12th Gen U-series mobile CPUs. You can choose a Core i5-1235U or a Core i7-1255U, as well as up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD that can be upgraded. Microsoft claims the new CPUs can deliver up to 50% better performance compared to the 11th Gen chips in the Pro 8. 

The Pro 9 with 5G continues the Pro X's legacy, offering a refreshed Microsoft SQ3 ARM-based processor. It can be accompanied by up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to a 512GB removable SSD. 

The Pro 9 and Pro 8 are Intel Evo certified, meaning they remain speedy on battery power while also offering speedy wake from sleep and solid battery life. The Pro 9 with 5G doesn't receive the same designation due to its different processor, but it does include the NPU that helps with Windows Studio effects.

Microsoft claims that the Intel-based Pro 9 can hit up to 15.5 hours of battery life from a charge. The Pro 9 with 5G, thanks to its ARM-based platform, extends that estimate up to 19 hours. These numbers must be taken with a grain of salt, as the Pro 8 is quoted at up to 16 hours; in our tests, it hit closer to about 11 hours with the display's refresh rate set at 60Hz.

There are vPro versions of the CPUs available for the Pro 8 and Pro 9, while the Pro 9 with 5G sticks with the SQ3 processor across models. If you opt for the Surface Pro 8 for Business, you unlock an extra Core i3-1115G4 CPU with Intel UHD graphics. Otherwise, Intel chips have the more powerful Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. The SQ3 chip offers Adreno 8CX (Gen 3) integrated graphics.

We will have more to share on specific performance differences once we begin reviewing the new Microsoft PCs.

Looking for a new laptop? Well, we've got good news for you. Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 is on sale right now for 29% off this Amazon Prime Day, down from $1,599 to just $1,139 for the next two days, that's a saving of $460! Multiple SKUs of the Surface Pro 8 are on sale today, but the one we're highlighting here is with an Intel Core i7 and 16GB RAM.

Save $460 on the Surface Pro 8

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 launched last year with a brand new design borrowed from the slick Surface Pro X. It features Intel 11th-generation chips in both i5 and i7 configurations, up to 32GB RAM, and 1TB of removable SSD storage. It's also rocking a beautiful 13-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2's new haptic motor.

The device is super thin and features "all-day battery life" with typical usage. The device can also be had in either Platinum or Graphite colorways. Microsoft has a Type Cover accessory that turns the Surface Pro 8 into a fully-fledged laptop! These Type Covers come in a variety of colors, all of which featuring Microsoft's signature Alcantara material. 

Surface Pro 8 is the first Surface Pro from Microsoft to ship with Windows 11 out of box, which offers a super clean UI with new features over Windows 10. Lastly, the Surface Pro 8 offers one of the best webcams you can get in a Windows PC, with Windows Hello facial recognition built right-in for fast face unlock. 

Be sure to follow our ongoing live blog for all the best Amazon Prime Day deals!

Microsoft is planning to merge its Surface Pro X and Surface Pro "9" under the same product line later this year in an effort to help normalize its Windows on ARM offerings. According to my sources, the company will offer the Surface Pro 9 in both ARM and Intel configurations, with the ARM variant being powered by a custom Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 SoC, dubbed the Microsoft SQ3.

The move comes after the company announced its first Windows on ARM desktop PC in the form of a developer kit dubbed “Project Volterra,” which I’m told features the Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 SoC and includes the same neural processing unit (NPU) AI features and power that is expected to ship in the Surface Pro 9 with ARM.

On the Intel side, I hear the Surface Pro 9 will ship with 12th-generation chips, possibly of the P-series variety, which would provide a notable boost in performance over the Surface Pro 8. I’m told there are no plans to offer the Surface Pro 9 with AMD chips, though AMD options will still be available on the upcoming Surface Laptop 5.

Other additions to the Surface Pro 9 include SKUs with 5G connectivity for the first time on a Surface PC, and new Type Cover colors and designs. I’m not expecting to see any major external design changes to device, meaning the Surface Pro 9 should be compatible with the same Type Cover and Slim Pen accessories as the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X.

It’s unclear what Microsoft is planning to do regarding the Surface Pro X chassis, which is slightly thinner than the main Surface Pro line. Will the company maintain the thinner chassis for the Surface Pro 9 with ARM, or will it simply unify under the slightly thicker chassis for both ARM and Intel models? Only time will tell.

Microsoft offering two different chips in a single product line isn't anything new. The company has been doing it with the Surface Laptop since the 2019, where it offers both Intel and AMD chips in the same product. 

Microsoft is expected to unveil the Surface Pro 9, alongside a new Surface Studio and Surface Laptop in the next handful of weeks. Of course, these plans could change between now and these devices being announced.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's new web and TV ad promotes the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series along with Windows 11.
• The video replaces some of the devices in the show with a Surface Pro 8.
• The ad highlights the Disney+ app on Windows 11 and the ability to stream the show.

It's always a bit of fun to catch Microsoft promoting Windows 11. The latest ad, which can be seen on Twitter (and likely TV), partners up with Marvel and Disney to promote the new She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series, which just premiered.

The short 30-second ad shows the Surface Pro 8 used by Jennifer Walters (aka She-Hulk, aka Tatiana Maslany) as she uses Windows Hello to log into Windows 11. She then multitasks (Windows Snap) various documents and PowerPoint slides (including one on the effects of gamma radiation, natch) and taps and zooms with touch.

The short video tells people they can download Disney+ on Windows 11 to stream the new show.

It's a quaint but effective ad. It's also one of the few that explicitly highlights the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, which has had a renewed push since its launch last year.

Windows Central recently interviewed Giorgio Sardo, the General Manager of the new Microsoft Store, to talk about the goals and vision of the revamp. 

Going by previous quarterly result investor calls, Microsoft is also seeing a much higher engagement with the new store. That effect is likely due to the more relaxed requirements and less focus on native UWP apps, which are minimized in favor of progressive web apps (PWAs), classic Win32, and newer cross-platform technologies.

Microsoft's Surface Pen is a handy little accessory that allows you to interact with the best Surface PCs in a variety of ways. With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and an eraser on the back, the Surface Pen is one of the best pens for drawing. It can also be used for presentations, thanks to its programmable buttons. Normally, the Surface Pen is an expensive accessory, coming in at $100, but right now, you can order one for $42 through Amazon.

You can use the Surface Pen with a range of devices, including Surface Pro, Surface Go, and Surface Laptop devices. Some features, such as haptic feedback, require newer hardware, like the Surface Slim Pen 2 paired with a Surface Pro 8. But if you just use your stylus for drawing or interacting with your device, the older Surface Pen should do just fine.

The Surface Pen is available in a variety of colors, including blue, red, and silver. You can match it with other accessories, like the Surface Arc Mouse or a Type Cover.

While the Surface Pen is designed with Surface devices in mind, it can work with some other devices. It's powered by N-trig technology, which opens it up to a range of hardware.

If you order a Surface Pen, make sure to pick up some AAAA batteries. The Surface Pen is not rechargeable. You may also want to consider some replacement nibs for the pen, as the tip can wear down over time.

The current discount on the Surface Pen drops its price below or near the cost of most of the best Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen alternatives.

Congratulations, graduates! A powerful laptop will be a valuable tool in your arsenal to tackle anything life throws at you. Whether you're job hunting or are already on your journey to adulting, a laptop will help you stay productive, communicate with friends and family, pay your online bills, and keep you entertained whenever you have downtime. 

Hopefully, now that you're out of school, you'll have a bit of a bigger budget to spend on a laptop than while you're in school. This should hopefully give you an even more powerful processor, discrete graphics, and more importantly, more storage to handle all your digital files. Regardless of your budget, our list has something for everyone. 

Microsoft has been iterating on and refining its iconic tablet for 10 years now, and the Surface Pro 8 is the best result in design, utility, and performance. The built-in kickstand allows this Intel-powered Windows 11 tablet to convert between tablet and laptop, provided you add the optional Type Cover keyboard case. The brilliant display looks superb no matter what you're doing. 

Unlike a lot of laptops on the market that use a wider 16:9 or 16:10 display, the Surface Pro 8 relies on a squarer 3:2 aspect ratio, which helps in juggling multiple windows, browsing long webpages, and reading e-books and PDFs. Though the Surface Pro 8 doesn't come with a discrete GPU, making it only suited for light, casual gaming, it comes powered with Intel's 11th Gen processor. It can be configured with an optional 4G LTE modem for mobile productivity on the go. Digital artists and note-takers can use the Surface Pen to doodle on the touchscreen. 

If you're headed into a creative field, the Surface Laptop Studio  shines with its bright, color accurate screen, discrete GPU options, and a design that brings in an easel-like kickstand into a laptop form factor. The Surface Laptop Studio delivers a mobile workstation experience in a well-engineered and impeccably designed package. 

Given that this laptop can be configured with a discrete GPU, it's a suitable laptop for productivity tasks, creative workflows, and some moderate gaming at the end of the day. The Surface Laptop Studio supports Microsoft's Surface Pen, which will allow you take digital notes and doodle on the screen for a versatile computing experience. 

Sleek and chic, Dell's XPS 13 is among the best Windows Ultrabooks on the market, and with good reason. This thin-and-light laptop punches above its weight with a stylish design, the latest processor, and a brilliant display. Resolutions top out with a 3.5K OLED panel, which will render crisp text, vivid images, and stunning videos.

Though it was originally conceived to take on Apple's MacBook Air, iterative changes to the XPS 13 over the years let this notebook take on its own character and personality. Dell helped to popularize the minimalist bezel design, and the XPS 13's Infinity Edge display doesn't disappoint. There's lots to love with this laptop. 

HP proves you don't have to spend a fortune to carry a premium laptop. The HP Envy x360 stunned us with its dazzling display, solid performance with its AMD Ryzen processor, and good trackpad. And to top it all off, you'll also get a convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge that converts this rig into a tablet. A pen is included for drawing and taking digital notes. You're definitely getting a lot of bang for the buck with this notebook, given its affordable starting price and all the performance you'll be getting.

Some compromises were made, like more middling performance on the solid-state drive, but HP didn't skimp where it matters. A solid edge-to-edge keyboard with backlighting is standard, and the HP Envy x360 still gets a nice display with minimal bezels. 

The ASUS Zenbook 14 is designed for those who live inside spreadsheets but also want a lightweight, portable laptop. This is quite the challenge, as typically anything more compact than a 15- or 17-inch notebook won't come with a number pad. To solve this problem, the 14-inch ZenBook packs in the number pad into the laptop's trackpad, saving space and innovating with a useful secondary display.

Solid computing performance with a 12th Gen Intel processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, a brilliant 2.8K OLED panel, and terrific keyboard make this laptop stand out in the premium segment. And while the laptop benefits from an aluminum-clad construction, be warned that this laptop also easily picks up smudges. 

Razer's Blade 15 is a powerful mobile gaming rig, but the all-black construction of this notebook helps it easily transition to battle station at home and workstation at the office. Though a pricier option on our list, the Blade 15 delivers excellent performance with its Intel silicon and discrete NVIDIA RTX graphics. Even if you're not a gamer, you'll appreciate the many advanced configurations of this laptop, including Thunderbolt 4 support, DDR5 memory, and Wi-Fi 6E. 

There are also plenty of screen options from which to choose, depending on your needs, including a 4K panel with a fast 144Hz refresh rate or an FHD resolution display with a 360Hz refresh. This makes the Blade 15 an excellent laptop for video production, game design, creative work, and serious gaming. 

HP combined some of the best features of its Spectre x360 13-inch and 14-inch models when it refreshed the line for 2022 with Spectre x360 13.5. This 13.5-inch model comes with a 3:2 aspect ratio OLED display boasting a resolution of 3,000x2,000 pixels, making it great for productivity. It comes with an anti-reflective coating, color-accurate screen, and inking capabilities with the included digital pen.

Support for Intel's 12th Gen processor delivers solid performance. For those who like Microsoft's Surface Laptop series but want a convertible notebook without compromises, this is it. Quad speakers deliver unmuffled sound no matter how you hold this device, allowing you to freely switch between portrait and landscape orientation in tablet mode.

Though its boxier all-black silhouette may not look as exciting as some other laptops, Lenovo's ThinkPad line has long been seen as the business class standard. This no-frills laptop delivers all the performance and power that you'll need to get work done, in a slim, travel-ready Ultrabook form factor. 

New options this year for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 include OLED screen choices that top out with a 2.8K resolution, color-accurate panels that support 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, and Dolby Vision HDR400 support. Given that this laptop is designed for work, you're going to get more security and business-class features compared to regular consumer offerings, including Lenovo's Computer Vision technology that can analyze whether you're sitting in front of the laptop. If the ThinkPad sees someone else, it can try to lock the PC to prevent unauthorize data access. 

Bottom line

The right laptop for life after college can last for years to come. When it comes time to upgrading your college notebook to a laptop that will help you start navigating your adult life, you'll want to consider what you need from your PC. Are you a gamer or a designer who may want to upgrade to a higher resolution screen with a faster refresh rate, or will you be living in Excel and need a number pad to make your life easier? Will you use your PC primarily for general productivity tasks, or will you be editing videos and making Photoshop edits? Will you be traveling a lot, or is this a desktop replacement?

If you're a gamer or a creative, you'll definitely want to focus your budget on getting a system with discrete graphics, like the Razer Blade 15 that tops out with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. If you're primarily focused on productivity tasks, you can save money and choose a high-end processor, like Intel's 12th Gen, and get away with an integrated GPU. And if you foresee yourself a frequent business traveler, you may opt for a smaller 13- or 14-inch laptop that fits in with Intel's EVO standard for Ultrabooks. Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 is an excellent choice for travelers, as it comes with a kickstand and can easily transition between tablet and laptop modes. 

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is only on sale for Amazon Prime Day, with a handful of SKUs available for between 26% and 30% off, with prices starting from $1,187 at Amazon for a Surface Pro 8 with Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. That's a saving of $200 for this model, but there are more savings to be had the higher up the tier list you go!

For example, the Surface Pro 8 with an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage is also on sale! This one can be had for just $1,336 on Amazon right now, down from its usual $1,899 price tag. There's also the model with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD on sale for $1,919, down from $2,199.

• See all the Prime Day deals: USA | UK | Canada | India

Get a Surface Pro 8 for less on Prime Day

The Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft's latest and greatest flagship 2-in-1 PC, featuring a large 13-inch PixelSense display with a 2880x1920 resolution. It's also powered by Intel's 11th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 chips, with Iris Xe Graphics which provides more power in the GPU department. Surface Pro 8 was launched in late 2021, and is available in Black or White colorways. You can also buy a separate Type Cover accessory that turns your Surface Pro 8 into a fully-fledged laptop.

Stay tuned to Windows Central over the next couple of days as we round up all the best Prime Day laptop deals and Prime Day monitor deals if you're really looking to upgrade your gaming setup.

What you need to know:

• Microsoft recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Surface family of devices.
• Our readers rated the Surface Pro as their favorite device, beating out the Surface Book, Surface Laptop, and every other piece of hardware from the Surface lineup.
• The Surface Laptop SE, Surface Hub, and Surface RT were the least favorite devices among our voters.

Microsoft's Surface family of devices recently had its 10-year anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, we took a look at the Surface lineup from a wide range of angles. Our executive editor Daniel Rubino, Xbox editor Jez Corden, and senior editor Zac Bowden ranked every single Surface from the last decade. We also reached out to our readers to rank Microsoft's Surface family.

While our editors took a look at every edition of each device, our poll was more general. We pitted lines of Surface hardware against each other. The Surface Pro earned the top spot, receiving just over 32% of the vote. The second-place device, the Surface Book, wasn't especially close, bringing in just 12.8% of votes.

The Surface Laptop SE (0%), Surface Hub (.0.43), and Surface RT (0.79%) rounded out the bottom three spots.

Interestingly, the Surface Book received more votes than the Surface Laptop Studio. While the Surface Laptop Studio serves as a successor to the Surface Book, the two devices have different form factors and approaches. The Surface Book allows users to detach its display to use it as a standalone tablet. This increases the number of postures the Surface Book can be used in but limits how powerful the PC can be. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Studio has a hinge that lets people flip it into different modes, all while keeping the display attached to its base. As a result, the Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful Surface device to date.

Make sure to check out our other coverage of the 10-year anniversary of Surface:

• What’s the point of Surface? 10 years on
• 10 years of Surface: What we want to see next
• 10 years of Surface: The highs and lows of Microsoft's personal computers
• How 10 years of Surface inspired a wave of 2-in-1s
• Why I haven't bought a Surface PC (and probably never will)

It's been 10 years since Microsoft launched its first Surface device, the Surface RT. Things have changed quite a bit since then. In the last 10 years, Microsoft released multiple major versions of Windows, expanded its Surface family to include a wide range of devices, and the world went through a pandemic. The entire computing landscape has shifted in that time. 

Microsoft's first commercial Surface device didn't exactly land well. The Surface RT was a mismatched experience with severe limitations, and the first Surface Pro was clunky. Luckily, Microsoft righted the ship with the Surface Pro 3, which served as the base design of the lineup for multiple generations. With the refinement of the Surface 2-in-1 form factor, Microsoft made a device that inspired OEMs and competitors to rethink the answer to the now infamous question, "What's a computer?" 

An aspirational device

While Microsoft makes several of the best 2-in-1 laptops, the company has always had loftier goals for the Surface line than being solid PCs. From its inception, the Surface family was about creating aspirational devices that would push OEMs to experiment and expand. 

Generally speaking, the PC landscape had stagnated before the launch of the Surface lineup. Bulky clamshell laptops were the norm, and the idea of a computer that could flip or fold was relatively foreign. I remember using a Surface Pro 2 at university and people being amazed that I could detach the keyboard from my computer. 

With Microsoft's clear commitment to the form factor, PC makers started dipping their toes in the water of convertibles. Most major manufacturers have made at least some 2-in-1s to try to take a bite out of the market. It took time for companies, and consumers, to figure out the preferred general shape and size of 2-in-1s, but things have mostly leveled out.

Moving beyond the form factor shift that the Surface Pro lineup inspired, Microsoft's convertible lineup also pushed the PC market into mobile connectivity. While not the only, or first, devices to feature 4G LTE or 5G connectivity, Surface devices helped pioneer mobile productivity and always-connected devices.

Now, many of the best Windows laptops and best Windows tablets look like a Surface Pro. Even some of those that don't are still influenced by Microsoft's convertible. Consumers have a massive range of PCs from which to choose that can flip, fold, or detach. That was unthinkable before the Surface lineup came along.

It's not just Windows

Of course, it's not just Windows PCs that emulate the Surface 2-in-1 line of devices. Apple's iPad and many of the best Android tablets feature detachable keyboards, much like Microsoft's Surface Pro family.

Samsung likely went the furthest when it comes to emulating a Surface with devices like the Galaxy Tab S8+. With Samsung's DeX, several of the company's tablets provide a Windows-like experience when docked and a tablet interface when on their own. 

Over the years, Apple's iPad has shifted more toward competing with the Surface than merely being a standalone tablet. It took a while, but as of this year, iPadOS will support a mouse, resizable floating windows, and extending to an external monitor. Those features, and others, pushed me to commit to getting an iPad as my next productivity machine.

While memes and jokes have gone back and forth between iPadOS, Android, and Windows fans, it's clear that all three operating systems are going off the template of the Surface lineup of 2-in-1s.

What's next? 

The mobile PC landscape has shifted dramatically over the last decade. While traditional clamshell laptops are still ubiquitous, PCs that can fold, flip, and detach from their keyboards are now commonplace. That's due, at least in part, to Microsoft's efforts with the Surface Pro lineup over the last 10 years. 

Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and plenty of others have devices that are, at minimum, heavily inspired by the Surface Pro. Many of the best Windows tablets are basically Surface Pro clones. 

But what does the future hold for PCs? Microsoft has more Surface devices than ever, and we don't expect that to slow down.

Could Microsoft introduce a device with a folding display? Will it double down on mobility and ARM? Could we see a new category of devices introduced yet again? There's a good chance that we'll see several of these things occur over the next 10 years.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 recently received a firmware update.
• It improves inking with the Surface Slim Pen 2.
• The update also includes security and stability improvements.

Microsoft recently shipped a firmware update for the Surface Pro 8. While the update does not include any new features, it does improve inking when using the Surface Slim Pen 2. Microsoft did specify how inking will be improved, but presumably, the latest firmware will help you get the most out of your stylus. The update also improves stability and security for the flagship 2in-1.

The update is available for Surface Pro 8 devices running Windows 10 October 2020 Update, Version 20H2, or greater. Note that firmware updates cannot be uninstalled or reverted to an earlier version.

Here are the highlights of the update, as outlined by Microsoft's support document:

• Addresses critical security vulnerability and improves system stability.
• Improves Surface Slim Pen 2 inking.

Below are the detailed changes of the update:

Microsoft explains that Surface updates are released in stages, so you may not see this update for the Surface Pro 8 right away. The release only started rolling out on May 24, 2022, so there's a good chance that you'll have to wait to see it.

You can get the latest update for the Surface Pro 8 through the Windows 11 Settings app by searching for optional updates. You can also grab it through Microsoft's website to manually install it.

After installing it, make sure to restart your machine to complete the process.

The Surface Slim Pen 2 supports haptic feedback when writing or drawing. It also has a flattened design that looks more like a carpenter's pencil than the cylindrical Surface styli of yesteryear.

If you do a lot of writing with your stylus, you can order Surface Slim Pen 2 replacement tips through the Microsoft Store.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Dan and Zac offer a sixth month review of Surface Duo 2, and make the case for merging Surface Pro X with Surface Pro 9. They deliver rumors about Surface Laptop Go 2 and a foldable OLED notebook from HP. Plus, Dan shares his experience with the newest Lenovo Yoga.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on April 22nd 2022.

Links:

• Surface Laptop Go 2: Everything we know so far | Windows Central
• How is the Surface Duo 2 holding up at 6 months on the market? (video) | Windows Central
• Microsoft should merge the Surface Pro X with the Surface Pro 9 this fall | Windows Central
• A foldable OLED HP notebook could debut in 2022 | Windows Central
• Lenovo unveils new ThinkBook 13s Gen 4 and 14s Yoga Gen 2 at MWC 2022 | Windows Central

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Microsoft's Surface Pro X is coming up on three years old this fall. When it was announced, it was touted by CVP Panos Panay as the next evolution in the 2-in-1 form factor, featuring a new design, larger screen, thinner chassis, and an ARM SoC powering everything under the hood. It was launched alongside the Surface Pro 7, which at that point had been rocking the same design for roughly five years.

It was a breath of fresh air for the Surface Pro line, but the Surface Pro X was a fundamentally different product. It was less powerful than the Surface Pro 7 but had built-in LTE and better battery life. It had app compatibility issues due to the ARM architecture and wouldn't work with previous Surface Pro accessories such as the existing Type Cover. But it was thinner, lighter, and more portable than its legacy sibling.

Everything about the Surface Pro X was new, and with it launching alongside the older-looking Surface Pro 7, the new moniker made sense. Yes, both were Surface Pro devices, but they were different in several ways. Now, fast forward to 2022, where the Surface Pro 8 exists alongside the Surface Pro X, and this differentiation is a lot less clear-cut.

The Surface Pro 8 launched last year and was the first "mainline" Surface Pro device to adopt the form and design language of the Surface Pro X. It has the same sized 13-inch screen, built-in LTE, similar battery life, and is compatible with the same accessories. On the Surface Pro X side, app compatibility is no longer much of an issue thanks to advances in Windows 11 on ARM, which further blurs the line between these devices.

These two products are now remarkably similar in a lot of ways, almost to the point where branding them differently doesn't make much sense. Sure, the Surface Pro X is still a different architecture, but that doesn't matter much anymore as the Surface Pro X can run all the same apps the Surface Pro 8 can, just with less performance in scenarios where emulation is required.

Bring them together

With the differences between Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 8 so slim, I think it's time that Microsoft merged the product lines under the Surface Pro 9 branding later this year. Microsoft could position the ARM SKUs as entry-level models while keeping the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 models around for higher-tier SKUs and enterprise customers.

If we take a look at Microsoft's pricing structure for the Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 8, Microsoft is already doing this. The Surface Pro X is positioned as an entry-level (base model) Surface Pro at $899, compared to the $1199 starting price of the Surface Pro 8 with an Intel Core i5. Why not formalize this by calling them both Surface Pro 9 later this year?

Here's my hypothetical pricing structure to show how the ARM and Intel models could exist alongside each other:

... and so on.

It would make sense from a performance perspective, too. The custom Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 expected to power the Surface Pro X this fall could rival that of an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7, but the Surface Pro 9 is going to ship with 12th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 chips, which are much more powerful than 11th-gen Intel chips.

Plus, it's not like Microsoft hasn't done something similar before. If we look at the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Laptop 4, those devices can be had with both Intel or AMD chips, with each offering different performance and battery benefits and disadvantages. So, there's a precedent for this, and I don't see why Microsoft couldn't also do it with the Surface Pro 9 with Intel and ARM.

Now, it's true that the Surface Pro X isn't identical to the Surface Pro 8. The Pro X is thinner and lighter, but is that enough to warrant different branding for each? I don't think so. Plus, Microsoft could use this as an opportunity to merge the Pro X and Pro 9 chassis, putting the ARM SoC into the thicker Surface Pro 9 design and discarding the thinner Surface Pro X body.

Discard the Surface Pro X chassis?

Hear me out — doing this would allow Microsoft to enhance the ARM model in one of two ways. It could put in a much bigger battery, which would enable the Surface Pro 9 with ARM to be the first Surface device with true all-day battery life. Or, the alternative is it would allow room for a fan, possibly enabling Microsoft to overclock the SoC and squeeze out more performance.

Either option is a win for Surface Pro X fans, but it would come at the cost of the thin Pro X chassis we have today. Even if Microsoft does keep around the thinner chassis found on the ARM model, I think the differences between Pro X and Pro 9 are too slim to differentiate them by name. It just doesn't make sense.

I think doing this would also do a lot for "normalizing" ARM in the Windows space. Up until now, Windows on ARM devices have always been marketed as a stand-out, special case affair, but they really shouldn't be. If Microsoft wants people to forget about the architecture and normalize ARM, it needs to start treating ARM products like any other Windows PC. Stop giving them special names and unique designs and treat them like all the other PCs out there.

Finally, merging the Pro X and Pro 9 under one moniker would free up the "Pro X" brand for another variation of the Surface Pro in the future. Whenever Microsoft is ready to once again push the boat out in design or form factor, it can bring back the Pro X branding for that device. With foldable PCs on the horizon, I think the "Pro X" moniker would be a great fit for a foldable Surface tablet, if or when that ever arrives.

On paper, the Surface Pro 8 and iPad Pro come from the same form factor family, and are direct competitors with each other. But, if you take a closer look at each, the Surface Pro 8 and iPad Pro actually couldn't be more different. They're both 2-in-1 tablets, but the way they approach the form factor is different. One focuses on productivity and versatility, whereas the other focuses on consumption and ease of use. One is a better laptop, the other a better tablet.

Be sure to check out our list of best Windows tablets too.

Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: Specs

The Surface Pro 8 and iPad Pro are comparable in the specs department. While the processor in the iPad is more powerful on paper, this is something you're not really going to notice a difference with between the two. The iPad is more energy efficient, meaning you'll get better battery life out of the iPad, but the Surface Pro 8 has a bigger, sharper screen and subjectively nicer design.

The iPad Pro features Mini LED technology for its display, which provides more contrast with deeper blacks, which makes the picture really pop. The Surface Pro 8 features a normal IPS display, which makes the iPad Pro's display the best choice for photo editing or movie watching.

Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: Design

The designs of both the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 8 are similar, yet different. The Surface Pro 8 features a built-in kickstand, which can prove super handy to have if you want to watch a movie and don't want to hold the device the whole time. It's also what makes the Surface Pro 8 a great laptop, as it provides a much sturdier experience compared to when the "stand" is built into the keyboard accessory.

The iPad Pro features a minimalist and simplistic design, which looks fantastic. It has rounded corners on the display, four speaker grills flanking the top and bottom sides, and even bezels around the display. Both devices feature an aluminum chassis, and are relatively thin. The volume and power buttons around each device are also nice and clicky, adding to the overall premium feel of the devices.

Both devices feature facial unlock, with the Surface Pro 8 featuring Windows Hello and the iPad Pro featuring Face ID. Both are equally secure and very fast. The Surface Pro 8 features a Type Cover connector with magnets along the bottom for adding an external keyboard accessory. The iPad Pro features a connector on the back, paired with magnets that allow you to connect a Magic Keyboard down the line as well.

Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: Keyboard

The keyboard accessories for these devices might be what makes or breaks either one of these products for you. The Surface Pro 8 is compatible with Microsoft's Type Cover accessory, which protects the display when closed, and provides a full keyboard and trackpad experience when open. The keyboard itself has magnets that allow you to lift the keyboard up for an even more sturdy and comfortable typing experience too.

The iPad Pro has the Magic Keyboard, which is much more of a "case" and less of a cover. You dock the iPad Pro into the case using magnets, and then the device can be opened and closed like a laptop. The keyboard experience is small, with the trackpad especially being slightly short in regard to height. The keyboard lays flat, as there are no magnets that allow you to prop it up for a more comfortable typing experience.

In our testing, we'd say the Type Cover for the Surface Pro 8 is a more comfortable laptop experience, especially when on a lap. The Magic Keyboard is too rigid and not adjustable enough to be comfortable in every position. Thanks to the Surface Pro 8's kickstand, you can adjust the angle of the device and keyboard to any degree you like. The same cannot be done with Apple's iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard.

Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: OS

The biggest difference between these two devices is with the OS they both run. The Surface Pro 8 features a fully fledged PC OS, designed for productivity and work-related tasks. The iPad Pro runs iPadOS, an upscaled version of the same OS that runs on the iPhone, which means it's much more simplistic, but designed for touch first and foremost.

This is ultimately what you should be basing your purchasing decision on. iPadOS is a great tablet-first OS, providing a clean and simplistic touch-first experience, but at the expense of a less robust laptop or productivity experience, even with the Magic Keyboard attached. On the flipside, Windows is a great laptop and productivity experience, but at the expense of a less robust touch-first and simplistic UX experience.

So, it comes down to what you need. Do you want something that's good at being a laptop, or do you want something that's good at being a tablet? If you want the best laptop, get the Surface Pro 8. If you want the best tablet, get the iPad Pro. If you want something that can do both, either choice is great, just make sure you know which is the best for what before deciding.

The Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro 9 are brilliant 2-in-1 Windows laptops, but due to their form factor, they aren't exactly packed with ports. Fortunately, both devices support USB-C and Thunderbolt 4, which means you can easily expand your port options with a USB-C hub or an adapter. If you don't have a Surface Pro, the great thing about our selection of hubs is that all of them will work with all your favorite USB-C-enabled laptops and tablets, including other Surface devices like the Surface Laptop Studio. Here are the best USB-C adapters and hubs for Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro 9.

The bottom line

Thanks to having a USB-C port, the Surface Pro 8 can be easily expanded to offer a number of additional features. Whether you want to add additional ports, external displays, or memory card readers, there's a compatible dock or adapter that will do the job.

The CalDigit SOHO dock is the best of the bunch, covering off all the main connectors you might want to attach to your Surface Pro 8. It is a tad pricey, but that's OK because there are some great budget alternatives.

USB-C can also be used alongside the Surface Connect port, so if you already have an existing Surface Dock, you can pair it alongside a USB-C hub for maximum connectivity.

If you're at your desk and want to minimize clutter, you can connect your Microsoft tablet to a USB-C monitor. Many of these displays come with a built-in hub on the rear where you'll be able to connect additional peripherals. This way, you'll have just one cable running from the Surface Pro 8 to the monitor.

When it comes to skins to protect or customize your hardware, few other brands stand out like dbrand. The company is now running a special, limited-edition skin made from genuine leather, available in three different hues.

We were recently sent in samples for the Surface Pro 8 and, quite frankly, if you're OK with putting "dead cow" on your 2-in-1, you're going to love what dbrand has done here.

The skin is uncomplicated. There are three colorways, including black, brown, and tan, with a price tag of $50. That's more expensive than the typical skins, but these are thicker and made from "100% authentic, full-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide," which justifies the cost.

Currently, you can pick up the skin for Surface Pro 8, X, 7, 6, 2017, and Surface Pro 4. There are also skins for the Xbox Series X too. You can also get the skins for your smartphones, including iPhone, Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and more.

Dbrand goes on to note that these skins aren't like the typical vinyl ones the company sells, providing some installation advice and what to expect:

1. After installation, take a few minutes to really rub-down the edges with the included color-matched microfiber cloth. This process will smooth down the border of the leather and make it feel like it's melting into your device. As a result of the leather's thickness, without smoothing it down, you may find an unpleasant sharp border on the skin. This sharp edge will disappear entirely and permanently - just needs to be rubbed away with the microfiber.
2. Scratches and marks are normal. Over time, as the leather collects natural oils, these scratches will disappear and form a timeworn patina. Attached are a few images to give you an idea of how that before/after will look. You can kickstart the process by rubbing away at any scratches with your thumb. While we do plan to release a "Leather Care Kit" in the near future, the natural oils from your hand are the key to this patina process.

Putting them on our Surface Pro 8, you can see just how thick the skins are, although it is not something you notice once installed. The texture and smoothness are simply unmatched compared to vinyl as they have a warmer feel.

Installation is super simple. Just align the skin with the camera and microphone holes on top and the Surface logo on the bottom. Dbrand's use of 3M ensures these will adhere very well after it settles on the device, but if you need to lift it off and correct that is not a problem either. Indeed, I could swap out skins on the fly during the photo shoot without a hitch.

If you have a black Surface device, my advice is to go with black or brown leather, whereas tan may look better on platinum laptops. Of course, the baller move is to split the skin like in the photo above, where one half is black, and the other is brown.

Overall, these are, pardon the pun, killer skins. The idea that these skins will age and patina just like boots or jeans is also a nice bonus.

We hear dbrand has plans for more devices, too, including Surface Duo 2, which is something we're looking forward to trying as that is a combo made for each other.

Just remember, you have less than 18 days to order these before they're gone, as this is a limited run. Also, please don't buy these for your vegan friends unless you really hate them.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 is one of the best convertible PCs of the year thanks to an all-new design, 11th Gen Intel, Thunderbolt 4, and that new Slim Pen 2. But some people can't get into the Surface Pro design with the "floppy" keyboard, which costs an extra $140 to $280 depending on whether you want that pen.

Luckily, Brydge is here with the SP+, a popular accessory the company has made for years for all sorts of tablets. In effect, this (on sale) $100 addition makes Surface Pro 8 a real laptop with a clip-on, Bluetooth-powered keyboard. While it jacks up the weight, I have nothing but good things to say about it, making it an easy recommendation. Here's why.

Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8: Price and availability

The Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8 is available from Amazon, Best Buy (including in-store pickup), and Brydge directly. The price is typically $140 but can be found for as low as $100 when on sale.

There are two color options to match your Surface Pro 8: platinum and black.

Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8: What you'll like

Design-wise, Brydge did an excellent job with the SP+. The build quality, which is a combo of polycarbonate (top deck) and aluminum (majority of the chassis), is top-notch. It feels solid with no creaks or weak spots.

Brydge did a bang-up job complementing the design, size, and even color of SP+ to Surface Pro 8. The contours all match, and it feels like Brydge designed this keyboard to mirror Surface Pro 8.

Setting it up and using the Brydge is super easy. There is, thankfully, little packing with the SP+: You open the box and pull out the keyboard, then slide Surface Pro 8 into the hinges. With Surface Pro 8 powered on and the Bluetooth active, turn on the SP+ by holding down the power button until it blinks (pairing mode). That's it. I had no issues, and SP+ paired up instantly (you need to type in some characters to confirm.) SP+ uses Bluetooth 5.0, which is nice to see.

Where the SP+ really shines is quality of the keyboard and trackpad. This is an excellent keyboard that feels like the Type Cover with perhaps keys that are a bit stiffer. The bounce-back is perfect, and the backlighting is decent (not as elegant as the Type Covers, but it works well). Brydge provides a very positive typing experience, which is crucial for this accessory to work.

The trackpad is large with a satisfying click when depressed. It does not use Microsoft's Precision Drivers, but it feels very similar with smooth travel and decently accurate tracking.

In the lap is where the SP+ makes a lot of difference compared to the Type Cover. The Surface Pro 8 not only now looks like a Surface Laptop but fees like one in the lap. No more hinge digging into your legs or angled typing if those were things that bothered you before. Instead, the SP+ lays completely flat, and there is no tipping with Surface Pro 8, either — it's all very sturdy, just like a traditional laptop.

Recharging SP+ is simple as it uses Type-C. Just plug any Type-Charger into it, and you're good to go. That battery should last a long time, too, as Brydge quotes, "6 months (at two hours' use per day with no backlight use) or 40 hours per charge (when running consistent backlight)."

For those curious: Connecting Surface Pro 8 to SP+ via Type-C cable results in the Surface Pro 8 recharging the keyboard, not the other way around.

Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8: What you won't like

There are a couple of downsides to the SP+, with the first being the added weight.

Because SP+ packs a big battery and is made mainly from aluminum, it comes in at a staggering 1.5 pounds (678g). That brings the total weight with Surface Pro 8 up to 3.45 pounds (1.56kg). That's heavy. Surface Laptop 4 only weighs 2.79 pounds (1.27kg) by comparison. That extra weight would be OK if that battery did anything for Surface Pro 8 itself, but it is only for the keyboard making this a weighty tradeoff.

Another very minor gripe is the trackpad. Either because of the lack of Precision drivers or just being Bluetooth (or both), the accuracy is not as precise as a regular trackpad. For instance, there is a millisecond delay before the cursor moves (likely due to low-power Bluetooth). That said, I was way more impressed with the trackpad, especially being Bluetooth, than disappointed by it.

You're also giving up "studio mode" with Surface Pro 8 and the flexibility of a proper 2-in-1 PC, e.g., presentation mode (flipping the keyboard around), or quickly transitioning to a tablet. Popping out the Brydge keyboard is easy enough, but it's still simpler to use Microsoft's keyboard.

Finally, this keyboard is not a great solution if you use Surface Pen often. On previous Surface Pros, you could use the older round Surface Pen and stick it to the side of the device. However, due to the chassis change with Surface Pro 8, you can no longer do that. And since there is no storage for Slim Pen (1 or 2) with the SP+, you have no way to carry the pen directly.

Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8: Competition

There is not a lot of competition in this space as most people go with Microsoft's Type Covers, which range from the $140 Surface Pro Keyboard to the $280 Surface Pro Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen 2.

Typically, third-party makers like Tomsenn or Fintie release Bluetooth-style Type Covers, but those have not yet arrived. Moreover, they are just more affordable Type Covers and don't transform your device into a "true" laptop like Brydge SP+.

You can get more ideas in our best accessories for Surface Pro 8 guide.

Brydge SP+ for Surface Pro 8: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You like Surface Pro 8 but don't like the Type Cover
• Want a Surface Laptop "4.5"
• You want to save some money

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You want the lightest Surface Pro typing solution
• You need a place to stow Surface Pen

Overall, I was delighted with SP+ for Surface Pro 8. The build quality, packing, instructions, etc., are all outstanding. Setting it up is easy, and it delivers on what is promised. The SP+ transforms the way Surface Pro 8 looks and feels, making it truly feel like Surface Laptop "4.5." Nothing feels cheap about this at all — Brydge nails this product. Sure, the trackpad could be a smidge better, but it's still terrific. More importantly, the keyboard is fantastic.

The only gripe is just how much heavier (and slightly thicker) SP+ makes Surface Pro 8. While not everyone loves the Type Cover, it does let Surface Pro 8 be one of the lightest and thinnest "laptops" on the market. That all goes away with SP+, which now makes this one of the heaviest Ultrabooks available.

Speaking in favor of Brydge is the price. While its retail is $140, you can often find it much cheaper at $100, which is a $40 savings (at least) over anything from Microsoft. That price feels more than justified for what Brydge delivers, making this accessory easy to recommend if you want what it does.

What you need to know

• Intel's generic graphics for 10/14/2021 enable 'Dynamic Refresh Rate' for Windows 11.
• The drivers let specific displays jump between 60 and 120 Hz automatically.
• While it works on Surface Pro 8 and Laptop Studio, users need to install the drivers manually.
• Once approved as stable, Microsoft will push the drivers out through Windows Update.

In June, we noted a new feature in Windows 11 called Dynamic Refresh Rate, which would allow PCs with high-refresh displays to jump dynamically between low and high-refresh based on scrolling, inking, or inactivity. We strongly hinted that new Surface products would likely embrace such technology, and sure enough, Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio both have 120 Hz screens.

Despite the underlying technology being present, Dynamic Refresh Rate is not enabled on either new Surface is something coming later via an update. Today, users on reddit spotted Intel's latest generic display drivers and noticed that upon installation, a new option now appears enabling this new display option.

We've confirmed on Surface Pro 8 that the new drivers add the option for dynamic refresh rate found under Settings > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate. Instead of just 60 Hz or 120 Hz, there is now a third option for Dynamic (60 Hz or 120 Hz) that was not present earlier.

The feature seems to work quite well, although more testing is needed for stability and to see any oddities with the drivers.

The drivers need to be manually installed (extract drivers from the zip file, upgrade driver through Device Manager) as the .exe installer will not work.

Microsoft releases its own "Surface-approved" graphics drivers through Windows Update after it has signed off on the drivers as being stable. It also removes things like the Intel Graphics Panel, which is auto-installed with these drivers.

As a rule of thumb, most users should hold off until Microsoft releases its Surface-approved drivers. These new Intel ones could cause unforeseen issues, especially if someone picks the wrong driver to update or the drivers themselves cause a conflict.

However, the good news is it seems Dynamic Refresh Rate for Windows 11 devices (those with 90Hz or higher displays) is right around the corner. We'll likely see many more laptops announced in the coming months that support this feature, which improves inking (reduced latency) and makes scrolling and OS animations a bit smoother while also helping to mitigate the hit on battery life.

Perhaps one of the most significant and welcomed changes to Surface Pro 8 — besides Thunderbolt 4 and a 120Hz display — is the arrival of a removable SSD. While designed primarily for security concerns, regular consumers can take matters into their hands to upgrade the SSD to a larger size and even gain some speed. It's a fantastic feature since you can save yourself hundreds of dollars if you plan your Surface Pro 8 purchase and SSD upgrade.

But what about the details around such a procedure? What tools do you need? Should you re-paste the thermal enclosure for the SSD? And how do you get Windows 11 onto the new SSD?

All these questions and more are answered in this new guide on how (and why) you want to upgrade your Surface Pro 8's SSD. And if you have a Surface Pro X, we have a separate, but similar guide for that one too.

Time estimate for actual upgrade: < 20 minutes.

Why upgrade your Surface Pro 8 SSD?

Before we begin, let us discuss why you want to upgrade the internal storage to Surface Pro 8.

There are two reasons to consider, with the first being the most obvious:

1. You want more internal storage.
2. You want a (slightly) faster SSD.

The first reason is self-evident. You bought a Surface Pro 8 with 128 or 256GB of storage, and you want more. Maybe you want 512GB or even 1TB.

Indeed, you could buy the 128GB Surface Pro 8 ($1,099) and, for less than $200, get to 1TB if you upgrade it yourself. If you want Microsoft to preconfigure your 1TB option, you need to drop $2,199. It even works if you want that entry-level i7/16GB/256GB model ($1,599). Tossing in a third-party 1TB SSD costs you $1,800 versus $2,199 from Microsoft.

A faster SSD is less of a reason to upgrade and should be seen as a side benefit. Typically, doubling or even quadrupling your storage also improves the read and write performance due to the parallel nature of how flash storage is accomplished. Surface Pro 8's default SSD is, at best, mid-range by today's standards. Popping in more storage could yield +500MB/s improve sequential read scores, which does make everything feel just a smidge snappier.

Which SSD to buy?

Picking which SSD to get for Surface Pro 8 is the tricky part. It's different from buying a standard laptop SSD as Surface Pro 8 (and Pro X) use M.2 2230 PCIe SSD, which are much smaller. The market for such chips is also much tinier, hence why I can't just point you to Amazon and tell you to buy a specific model.

The easiest to recommend is a Toshiba/Kioxia BG4 M.2 2230 PCIe SSD. It gets excellent performance, and it just works. But, Toshiba does not direct-sell to consumers. Instead, it is an OEM part that must be purchased through business channels like Dell or on eBay if you are savvy. The key is to use the product SKU to find the version you want:

• KBG40ZNS256G TOSHIBA BG4 256G PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)
• KBG40ZNS512G TOSHIBA BG4 512G PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)
• KBG40ZNS1T02 TOSHIBA BG4 1TB PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)

Assuming you want to increase the storage and get faster speeds, you will want to search for KBG40ZNS256G (256GB), KBG40ZNS512G (512GB) or KBG40ZNS1T02 (1TB). Pricing at the time of writing is around $30 for 256GB, $99 for 512GB and $200 for 1TB.

The good news is the 1TB option decreased from $300 at the end of 2020 to a more affordable $200 in October 2021. The bad news is that most sellers are from China or Hong Kong, so it could take many weeks to get your purchase.

But there is now another option in 2021 that wasn't available previously: Western Digital (WD).

This part gets even trickier. You could get a Western Digital 1TB drive costing between $117 and $170, making it even a better deal than the $200 Toshiba. Plus, many sellers are based in the U.S., meaning you can get the SSD in days instead of weeks.

For this guide, I bought a "new" WD 1TB CH SN530 drive on eBay for $170. I had it in my hands in three days after ordering.

The "CH" denotes something unique about these, which is they are often used in the Xbox Series X|S. That's why so many of them are listed as "refurbished" or "pre-owned."

But there's a catch with these drives — available storage — which some eBay sellers are upfront about, e.g.:

The speculation here is that allocated space is used for Xbox Series X|S storage, and it can't be recovered.

A typical 1TB SSD usually has 952GB of available storage with around 913GB available after Windows 11 is installed versus the 823GB you'll have (with Windows 11) in one of these Western Digital drives. That's a loss of about 90GB.

On the flip side, if you're jumping from 128GB (available is less than 100GB) to 823GB, you're still getting a massive upgrade. Plus, you can save around $80 versus the Toshiba chip and often get it delivered faster. I can also vouch that the SSD performance is like Toshiba's, making a choice even more difficult.

Whichever route you go, you get a considerable storage upgrade and slightly faster speeds while saving money. The question is whether you need every GB and want to save even more money. The choice is yours.

Tools

There are only a few instruments needed to swap out the Surface Pro 8 SSD, but they are crucial:

• New M.2 2230 SSD
• Torx T3 screwdriver
• SIM Tool ejector
• USB Thumb Drive (Type-C, or Type-A with Type-C adapter; 16GB or larger)
• Surface Pro 8 Recovery Files
• Thermal paste (optional)
• Prying tool or X-ACTO knife (optional)
• Rubbing alcohol and Q-tips (optional)

Thermal paste, a prying tool, and rubbing alcohol are not obligatory as it depends on how detailed you want to be with the replacement. Microsoft ships its SSD in a metal enclosure for protection, functioning additionally as a heat sink. It uses a small amount of thermal paste sandwiched between the drive and the casing. SSDs typically do not produce that much heat (compared to a CPU or GPU), so the benefit is likely minimal.

Some people mount the M.2 SSD directly, but it may rattle due to the thinness without the enclosure. Users can add a shim to stop the rattle or put the new SSD into the old enclosure with (or without) adding the thermal paste.

For this tutorial, I will re-use the metal sleeve and re-paste the thermal compound.

Making a Windows 11 Recovery Drive

Since the replacement SSD does not have an OS, you will need to reinstall Windows 11 after the swap. The easiest way is to load Microsoft's official Surface Pro 8 recovery files to a USB drive, as this gives you all the necessary drivers for Surface Pro 8. Doing so restores Surface Pro 8 to its factory state.

The process is simple. We're going to wipe and configure the USB drive to be bootable and then copy over the Surface Pro 8 + Windows 11 recovery files to it. Here's how:

1. Plug your 16GB+ USB drive plugged into the Surface Pro 8.
2. Search for Recovery Drive and launch the application.

3. Uncheck Back up system files to the recovery drive as it is not needed.

4. Continue with the prompts to format and wipe the drive. This process configures the USB to be used as a bootable recovery drive for Windows 11.

5. Download the 6.4GB of Surface Pro 8 Recovery Files by entering in your Surface Pro 8 serial number (you can find that serial in the Surface app on your device or printed behind the kickstand.)

6. Unzip and extract all the Surface Pro 8 Recovery Files to the USB drive copying over any duplicates.

Put the thumb drive to the side for now, as it will be used after swapping the SSD.

Surface Pro 8: Swapping the SSD

Now that we have the substitute SSD and necessary tools, we can replace the Surface Pro 8's storage. Ensure you have backed up any files, photos, videos, or documents before removing the old SSD.

1. Power down Surface Pro 8 (Hold the power button down.)
2. Open the rear SIM/SSD panel found under the kickstand using a SIM tool.

3. Use the T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the single screw holding in the SSD.

4. Gently lift the SSD up at a slight angle and pull the SSD towards you (wiggle it back and forth.)

If you do not plan to re-use the SSD metal enclosure, you could slide in the new SSD and secure it with the holding screw. Once completed, move on to the next section on reinstalling Windows 11.

If you want to re-use the SSD enclosure (and re-paste it), continue to these steps:

1. Using a thin prying tool or X-ACTO knife, gently tease apart the enclosure starting from each side. It's very thin metal.

2. Remove the old SSD.

3. Remove old thermal paste from the inner enclosure using rubbing alcohol and Q-Tips.

4. Remove the label/sticker from the new SSD (if there is one.)

5. Add a tiny drop of thermal paste to the top of the SSD (1/2 a pea.)

6. Gently smooth the paste around the entire black area of the SSD.

7. Put the SSD back into the enclosure and close it, lightly pressing the sides to crimp it in place.
8. Reinsert SSD enclosure into Surface Pro 8, securing it with the single set screw.
9. Replace rear enclosure door.

Do not add a lot of thermal paste as it is not strictly needed. Nor do you need expensive thermal paste, as this is not a high-performance CPU. You want a very thin layer when spread out, as too much paste defeats the purpose.

Once completed, you should save the old SSD. Since that SSD is just your old OS and files, it'll boot right back up, were you to reinsert it back into Surface Pro 8. If you send in your Surface Pro 8 for a Microsoft warranty claim because it breaks, you'll want to put back the original drive and keep your after-market purchase as you may not get it returned.

Surface Pro 8: Reinstalling Windows 11

Now that the new SSD is in place, you need to reinstall Windows 11. It is recommended to have Surface Pro 8 plugged in for AC power during this process (don't power it on yet until step 2 below):

1. Insert the USB thumb drive into Surface Pro 8's Type-C port (either one.)
2. Press and hold power and volume down (-) buttons at the same time.
3. When the Surface logo appears on screen release only the power button.
4. Continue to hold the volume down (-) key for 10 seconds until the recovery menu appears.
5. From the blue Windows recovery menu choose your language.
6. On the next screen, select Recover from a drive.

7. Follow the rest of the prompts to reinstall Windows 11.

Reinstalling Windows 11 should take about ten minutes. Windows 11 now grabs the latest cumulative updates and drivers during the install. It'll be just like when you first turned on Surface Pro 8 with the entire "out-of-box experience."

Surface Pro 8 SSD Upgrade: Benchmarks

Upgrading the Surface Pro 8 with a 1TB SSD brought two enhancements. Storage size increased from ~197GB to 823GB, which is the main point of this upgrade. Additionally, storage performance increased, which is expected.

For context, read performance is what you experience when running Windows 11 and launching apps — basically, everyday OS operations. Write speed is when you write to disk to create large files, install apps/games, and transfer data, so you don't experience it as much.

My results may vary slightly from yours due to the randomization of input/output operations, but sequential read jumped from 2,390MB/s to 2,895MB/s — a net gain of 505MB per second. Sequential write also had a modest improvement going from 1,609MB/s to 1,993 MB/s — an increase of nearly 400 MB per second.

While sequential speeds did see a significant bump, random read and write did not, although they did slightly improve.

The improved performance is not earth-shattering, but the SSDs in Surface devices are never great, to begin with (Surface Laptop Studio being the single exception). So, any bit here helps.

The best part of this update is the value. If you can spare just shy of $200 for the drive and tools, you'll have made your Surface Pro 8 much more valuable as your primary PC. Good luck!

When will Surface Pro 8 with LTE become available?

According to an official statement on the Surface Pro 8 for Business page on the Microsoft Store, configurations of the Surface Pro 8 with LTE won't become available until some point in 2022. Once 2021 concludes and 2022 begins, it's likely that Microsoft will provide additional information about availability soon after.

Is Surface Pro 8 worth getting without LTE?

While it's unfortunate that you can't get the Surface Pro 8 with LTE right now, it's still a fantastic 2-in-1 laptop that you shouldn't overlook if you're in need of a new device. Featuring powerful 11th Gen Intel CPUs, highly performant Intel Xe graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage, the Surface Pro 8 is the most advanced and capable Surface Pro that Microsoft has ever built. It's also equipped with a stellar 120Hz 2880x1920 display that's incredibly sharp and extremely smooth, and it has compatibility with Wi-Fi 6, too.

In terms of its physical design, the Surface Pro 8 sports considerably thinner bezels compared to previous Surface Pro devices, resulting in a more enjoyable user experience. The Surface Pro 8 also has dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, which marks the first time that Microsoft has embraced Thunderbolt after stubbornly refusing to adopt it for years. Thunderbolt is a big deal for Surface devices like the Surface Pro 8, as it allows users to easily get dual-monitor setups running, use super fast external storage drives, and hook up some of the best eGPUs for gaming.

Overall, the Surface Pro 8 is an incredible device, although we recommend checking out our roundup of the best Windows 10 LTE laptops if your heart is set on an LTE-capable device and you can't wait until the Surface Pro 8 gets LTE configurations in 2022.

We've got the new Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio in-house! Our Executive Editor Daniel Rubino just published his full review for both, so make sure you give those a read if you haven't already. In addition to our written reviews, we also have unboxing and hands-on videos for you to enjoy.

First up, we have the Surface Laptop Studio, which I consider to be the star of all the new Surfaces shipping this fall. It's a new form factor for Surface, dropping the detachable design of the Surface Book 3 in favor of a new pull-forward design that cannot be detached.

But it's not the form factor that I think makes this laptop shine; it's the keybord, trackpad, and overall design. This is by far the best feeling Surface I've ever held, and the keyboard is amazing. It's tactile and satisfying to use. The "Precision Haptic" touchpad is also great, with four levels of intensity to choose from.

We've also unboxed the Surface Pro 8, which finally aligns itself with the Surface Pro X in terms of design. If you're a classic Surface Pro user, the Surface Pro 8 is going to be a big upgrade to you. For the Surface Pro line, I think the Surface Pro 8 is basically perfect. The 13-inch 120Hz display is great, and the hardware feels great too.

We have the Pro 8 in Graphite, a new colorway for the Surface Pro line. It's a slightly lighter black than that found on the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X, but it's also less fingerprinty. Microsoft has changed up how it applies the paint so that it doesn't hold on to smudges as easily, a godsend for anyone who gets annoyed by that kind of thing.

Anyway, like mentioned above, we recommend you check out our written reviews for a complete detailed analysis of these new devices. Our unboxing videos only scratch the surface (heh) of what's new.

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. Microsoft has always made modest improvements over the years, including fanless i5, angled typing, improved cameras, better thermals, a larger display, and improving the Surface Pen. But the design started getting stale in 2018 as companies moved towards thinner bezels and adopting Intel's Thunderbolt 3.

While Surface Pro 7+ made things better with Intel 11th Gen and a larger battery, it was aimed only at business users. At the time, we speculated Microsoft wanted to significantly revise Surface Pro but not alienate its enterprise users who rely on consistency. That hypothesis was correct as Surface Pro 8 is an entirely new device that shifted ports around, replaced others, and won't work with expensive accessories like the super cool Kensington SD7000 dock.

Luckily for fans of Surface Pro, the new Surface Pro 8 is effectively flawless. Sure, battery life can always be better, but between the new design, larger 120Hz display, new Slim Pen 2 with storage, thinner bezels, and much more, well, it is easily the most exciting update to the most iconic Surface.

Considering Surface Pro turns 10 years old next June, Surface Pro 8 is a fitting tribute to one of the most significant PCs of the modern era.

Surface Pro 8: Price, availability, and specs

Surface Pro 8 is now available in nine markets. Those in the US and other markets can order it through Microsoft, Best Buy, Amazon, and other third-party retailers. Those nine initial markets include:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Austria
• Germany
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• France
• Japan

Due to an ongoing global chip and processor shortage that affects Microsoft quite substantially, some markets may not see Surface Pro 8 until early 2022, while others may see it in late 2021. Those markets include:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Finland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Italy
• Spain
• Portugal
• Poland
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• The Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

Starting price is $1,099 for the Core i5 model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That's a higher price than Surface Pro 7 due to Microsoft dropping Core i3 models with 4GB of RAM from the consumer market (there are commercial models with Core i3 and 8GB of RAM). The move will likely give some breathing room for Surface Pro X, which now starts at $899 for Wi-Fi only and is an excellent alternative to that Core i3.

The above pricing does not include the Surface Pro Keyboard ($140) without the Slim Pen 2 or the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen 2 ($280). Those keyboards come in four colors, including Poppy Red, Ice Blue, Platinum, and black.

Before getting to the specs, here is a general overview of what is new and different from Surface Pro 7:

• Rounded chassis "compliments fluid UI design of Windows 11"
• Thinner bezels expand the display real estate by 11%
• Chassis made from recycled anodized aluminum (versus magnesium)
• New ambient color sensor to dynamically adjust display colors based on room lighting
• 120Hz display makes pen latency "seemingly undetectable"
• IR camera has been improved substantially for speed and accuracy
• Microsoft's AI lets Windows Hello dynamically adapt to changes in your appearance (glasses and facial hair)
• 5MP full HD RGB camera has larger 1.4-micron pixels for better low-light performance
• The camera also has tuning optimizations to keep your face in focus
• Dolby Vision (HDR) and Dolby Atmos (surround sound)
• Surface Pro 8 supports up to 23-watt TDP for the 11th Gen Intel processor
• You can get LTE in Core i3 and Core i7 models for the first time (commercial markets)
• Battery has increased to 50.4WHr up from 43.2WHr
• Uses new carbon composite thermal dissipation system
• 46% faster compute and 75% boost to graphics processing compared to Surface Pro 7

The addition of Thunderbolt 4 (two ports, right side), Surface Slim Pen 2 with storage, and a larger display thanks to the thinner bezels are the most notable changes. But as you can see above, Microsoft redid nearly everything on Surface Pro 8 from the ground up compared to Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro 7+, making it feel like an entirely new device.

Since the SSD is accessible, users can manually upgrade storage to 1TB (maybe even 2TB). Also new this year is the ability to get up to 32GB of RAM.

Surface Pro 8: How to upgrade the SSD (and which one to get)

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.

Surface Pro 8 ships with Windows 11, with Windows 11 Home for consumer editions while the business models get Windows 11 Pro or Windows 10 Pro. Users can always upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for an extra $99.

It's finally modern

Surface Pro 8: Design and features

Putting the Surface Pro 8 next to Surface Pro X (Microsoft's ARM variant) and looking straight on, you couldn't tell the difference between the two. But looking at the side profiles, the difference is evident: Add some vents and push the back out a few millimeters to cool those 11th Gen Intel processors, and you get Surface Pro 8. That's a good thing as Surface Pro X is the best designed Surface Pro.

Those changes mean Surface Pro 8 weighs 0.26 pounds (118g) more than Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 8 and is nearly 2mm thicker than Pro X (and 1mm thicker than Pro 7/7+). I think it's almost impossible to detect the weight difference when carrying the two. Pro 8 is noticeably fuller in overall size, but I can't complain about it either.

This year, Microsoft swapped out magnesium for aluminum in the chassis with a new Graphite colorway. The result? Microsoft finally nailed black. Whereas previous black Surface Pros were fingerprint magnets, this chassis is nearly impervious to the greasiest hands. It's these small details that I appreciate.

That chassis is also subtly more rounded than previous Surfaces, which had more stark edging. The slightly sloped and contouring edge feels soft and pleasant to hold and matches Windows 11 (with rounded corners).

Microsoft keeps it simple for ports. Below the power button are two Type-C on the right-hand side. Both support Intel's Thunderbolt 4, which means you can now connect this PC up to an external GPU (eGPU), use Thunderbolt 4 docks, and super-fast external Thunderbolt drives. The feature is long overdue and finally makes Surface Pro 8 a genuinely modern PC. Content creators will love it.

Below those Type-C ports is the Surface Connect along with its included 65-watt charger. Surface Connect with its magnetic attachment is a fan favorite, and while you can charge via Type-C, you get some fast charging with Surface Connect, including going from 0 to 80% charge in an hour.

On the left-hand side are a headphone jack and volume rocker. That headphone port is no big deal, but something Surface Pro X omits.

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). Microsoft uses some AI trickery to enhance lighting and track your face, so the focus doesn't blur out if you take a swig from your coffee. If you spend a lot of time on video calls, Surface Pro 8 is a superb choice.

There are also a couple of microphone and infrared sensors for Windows Hello to log into Windows 11 with your face (biometric security). It's insanely fast. New this year is an adaptive color sensor as well. More on that in the display part of the review below.

A 10MP camera (up from 8MP) is on the rear that matches the one in Surface Pro X. It can now do 4K video. It's a good camera for screenshotting a whiteboard for OneNote or other essential tasks.

I struggle to come up with words to describe how much better the dual 2W speakers (up from 1.6W) are with Dolby Atmos (spatial audio). With that slightly thicker chassis and more powerful speakers, Surface Pro 8 now has a resonance, resulting in a much richer sound profile than older Surface Pros. I think it even sounds as good if not better than the quad speakers of Surface Laptop Studio. These are some solid speakers for watching movies, playing games, or when on a Microsoft Teams call.

The Surface Pro Signature Keyboards are the same design as Surface Pro X and are interchangeable with that model. You do, however, get the new Windows 11 logo, which is a nice touch.

The new platinum color is a darker gray this year and looks great. It's supposedly also slightly more rigid. The bigger deal is the tray for the Surface Slim Pen or Surface Slim Pen 2. The pen now tucks away when not in use and even recharges it. It's a genius design and makes this Surface Pro that much better than previous iterations, as you'll no longer lose that pen in transit.

The touchpad is smooth, uses Microsoft Precision drivers, and clicks very loudly, which is annoying in a quiet room. Microsoft solves this on Surface Laptop Studio with a non-moving haptic trackpad where you can adjust the "click" volume. I'd like to see that tech used here in the future.

I've always loved typing on the Surface Pro keyboards, and that is true here. The angle, the way the keys respond, the backlighting, it's also super enjoyable.

It's worth noting that Microsoft finally added some small magnets in the keyboard, too, so it now stays closed and won't flop around. Surface Pro X did this, and it's a welcomed addition here too.

My only minor gripe with Surface Pro 8 is that the kickstand is slightly more difficult to open because the notch is harder to discern with the smoothed edges. It's super minor, but the Pro 7's kickstand is easier to grip to open.

A LOT to talk about

Surface Pro 8: Display and inking

The centerpiece of Surface Pro is its display, and there are numerous significant changes for Surface Pro 8, all for the better.

Moving to a more prominent 13-inch display is not only easier on my aging eyes, but also results in those bezels being thinned out. 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.

Plus, it just looks better.

Sure, those bezels all have different proportions (not an issue on Surface Laptop Studio), but I don't care. The result is a bigger, bolder display.

Pixels per inch (PPI) is still 267 despite the large size thanks to the increased resolution of 2880x1920 (versus 2736x1824). The display aspect is also still 3:2 — a signature of Surface that closely resembles A9 paper size.

And that display is good. Using a colorimeter, I measured 100% sRGB, 81% AdobeRGB, and 83% DCI-P3 — that's a vast improvement. By comparison, Surface Pro 7/7+ was just 98% sRGB, 73% AdobeRGB, and 72% DCI-P3.

Brightness peaked at 441 nits (just shy of claimed 450) and bottoms out at a super low 1.9 nits making this an excellent PC for use in a pitch-black room as you won't be blinded.

Also new is the 120Hz screen refresh. By default, Surface Pro 8 is set for 60Hz, but users can go into Settings > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate and set it to 120Hz (at the detriment of slightly worse battery life). Animations and video are smoother, making Windows 11 feel zippier.

Speaking of, Windows 11 now supports Dynamic Refresh Rate, which lets displays instantly shift between 60Hz (idle) and 120Hz (scrolling, inking). That should help prolong battery life while also delivering that faster display refresh. Disappointingly that feature is not yet enabled, although Microsoft expects a firmware update later to enable it.

That 120Hz is also responsible for the lack of latency with Surface Slim Pen 2. The higher refresh lets the ink "flow" better, simulating a real inking experience. That pen also supports haptics, a type of "force feedback." Haptic inking only works if the app supports it, but there are quite a few that already do, including:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Journal
• Microsoft Whiteboard
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Adobe Fresco
• Sketchable
• LiquidText
• Shapr3D

Users can control how strong the haptics feel under Settings, as well as turning it off. By default, it is set to 50% though I found turning it up to near 100% is a better experience. The feature makes it feel like friction when writing simulating using a pencil on paper. Changing to pen or marker changes it again. And the pen gives a little "kick" when using Adobe Fresco and the lasso tool when you are nearing the grab points.

Pen haptics is a neat feature, but not quite jaw-dropping either as it's subtle. But when combined with the new pen tip in Surface Slim Pen 2, it positively enhances the overall experience. Toss in 120Hz refresh for no latency, the ability to tuck it away in the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard (where it also recharges), and the whole set is a very impressive advancement in digital inking.

For the first time, Microsoft is also using Dolby Vision, a form of high-dynamic-range (HDR), which enhances contrast with video content. When linked with movies graded for Dolby Vision, you get deeper blacks, better contrast, and richer colors.

By default, there are no settings for Dolby Vision, but users can install the Dolby Access app in the Microsoft Store. That app can tune audio (Dolby Atmos), and video (Dolby Vision) with some presets.

Likewise, there is now an adaptive color sensor. That sensor sits near the front-facing webcam and auto-adjusts the white balance to match your current ambient lighting resulting in more consistency across different environments. Apple has been doing this for a few years now (aka "True Tone"). The effect is harsh whites get mellowed out under warmer lighting conditions. Oddly, while I dislike True Tone on the iPhone, I enjoy it here. Of course, users can disable it under Settings > Display.

I am pleased to report that Microsoft does now let users disable Intel's "adaptive contrast," long a bugaboo of Surface fans. Adaptive contrast dims blacks and reduces contrast to decrease power consumption, making it a valuable feature for the battery conscious. However, the experience can create jarring shifts in brightness when jumping between a primarily white web page and something predominantly black.

When you combine 120Hz, Dolby Vision HDR, adaptive color, and excellent color accuracy in a larger 13-inch screen, you get the best Surface Pro display experience ever. It's terrific. Using Wi-Fi 6 and streaming the new The Matrix: Resurrections 4K trailer is incredibly delightful with bold, bright, contrasty colors. It's an enormous difference.

My only protest with the Surface Pro 8 display is an old one: It's too glossy because of no anti-reflective (AR) layer. HP, Dell, Lenovo, and especially Apple use AR in their pen-enabled products like the iPad Pro. AR keeps contrast and color accuracy while making the device more comfortable under bright lights or outdoors. It's a frankly baffling oversight, and Microsoft has been unable to provide me with a justifiable answer for its absence.

11th Gen delivers

Surface Pro 8: Performance and battery

Although Surface Pro 7+ launched earlier this year with Intel 11th Gen U-series processors, Surface Pro 8 gets slightly updated ones for the higher-end Core i7 range. Instead of a 4.7GHz Core i7-1165G7, the Surface Pro 8 brings the slightly faster 4.8GHz Core i7-1185G7.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics are also clocked slightly higher (1.35GHz vs. 1.3GHz). That i7-1185G7 is now Intel vPro compatible with Intel Trusted Execution Technology and Total Memory Encryption, which is in line with Windows 11's focus on hardware and software security.

Direct comparisons with previous Surface Pros are challenging as we have had a mix of Core i5 models, but with reworked thermals and the Intel EVO platform, the Surface Pro 8 has some excellent results.

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's very good as typical Surface Pros struggled to match more traditional laptops.

Indeed, even on Cinebench 23, which is all CPU, Surface Pro 8 leads the pack of similar laptops with the same Core i7-1185G7 processor confirming that Microsoft did some crazy thermal work with the new design (it's also way ahead of Surface Book 3 with a 10th Gen i7). Likewise, on Geekbench 5 where Surface Pro 8 is in range of the superb Razer Book 13 and Dell XPS 13 (9310).

No surprise that Surface Pro 8 is not ideal for gaming, but Iris Xe is still a significant improvement over Intel UHD graphics from years prior. Surface Pro 8 should be no better or worse than any other Core i7 Ultrabook in 2021. And with the rise of PC cloud streaming via Xbox Game Pass, the delta between a gaming rig and ultra-portable PC is narrowing. (Plus, eGPUs are now possible).

Speaking of, using an eGPU with an NVIDIA RTX 2080, I was able to get easily get 120+ frames-per-second in Dying Light 2 running at 2K and higher resolutions on an external display. Since most games these days are GPU-heavy, it's the graphics card you use in that GPU that matters most instead of the Surface Pro 8's quad-core CPU.

Turning to the SSD and Microsoft continues to make strikes in performance, although not as much as with Surface Laptop Studio. Surface Pro 8, which now has a replaceable SSD, managed 2,400MB/s for sequential read and 1,600MB/s for sequential write. While not astounding compared to other laptops, that is a big jump from Surface Pro 7's 2,000MB/s for read and just 752MB/s for write.

Battery life is tricky as there are now so many variables. For this test, we disabled battery-saving features like auto-brightness and adaptive contrast while keeping performance set to "recommended." Display brightness is set to 40% to match our previous Surface Pro 7/7+ battery benches.

Using PCMark 10 Modern Office, which constitutes light to medium productivity work including video chats, web browsing, and Office use, Surface Pro 8 at 120Hz managed a respectable 9 hours and 3 minutes. Knocking down the refresh rate to 60Hz (default setting) and battery life increased to 10 hours and 45 minutes. That's just shy of Surface Pro 7+ (11 hours and 12 minutes), but Surface Pro 8 has a slightly faster processor and a larger display. But it is better than Surface Pro 7, which only garnered 9 hours and 52 minutes.

Of course, if you set the display brightness to 80% (or higher) with 120Hz on while gaming or using the GPU, you'll shave many hours off those results. Display brightness is one of the most extensive battery drawers, so auto-brightness and adaptive contrast are enabled by default to help improve things.

The bottom line is, comparatively, Surface Pro 8 is not that dissimilar from previous Surface Pros, just slightly better. While the battery is larger (50.2WHr) than Surface Pro 7 (43.2WHr), the increased screen size and other advancements offset some of the gains from Intel 11th Gen. Nonetheless, it is also OK to say this is the best battery life of any Surface Pro even if those gains are small.

Finally, turning to heat and fan noise, even the Core i5 model is now actively cooled. But while that fan kicks in under duress, e.g., Windows Update, compiling, rendering, or gaming, the fan itself is quiet, with only the whooshing of air being pushed through the chassis being audible. It's not loud, and there is no whine, but you will hear it. Compared to most Ultrabooks, however, I'd classify Surface Pro 8 as very quiet. During regular light use like web browsing, email, etc., it's silent.

Temperatures are also very nominal and in line with previous Surfaces. The back can get warm but is never hot to the touch. I measured a peak of 108°F (42°C) on the upper back panel, which cools down rapidly once the CPU and GPU settle down.

Send in the clones

Surface Pro 8: Competition

Depending on how you feel about the overall design of Surface Pro's tablet + PC features, there are a few worthy alternatives out there.

First is Surface Pro X, which originated this updated design. The new Wi-Fi-only model for $899 is the alternative to the non-existent Core i3 Surface Pro 8 for consumers. It has worse performance due to that aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2/Microsoft SQ2 ARM processor, but it makes up for it with a few extra hours of battery life plus 4G LTE. You don't get haptic pen compatibility, but it is slightly thinner and lighter.

Aimed more as businesses, there is Dell's Latitude 7320 Detachable. It has a more flimsy kickstand, but you get Thunderbolt 4, a 13-inch display (just full HD), 11th Gen Intel and a 5MP full HD camera. The battery is smaller, though, at 40WHr.

Lenovo also has its new ThinkPad X12 Detachable, which is similar to Surface Pro but aimed at enterprise. It has a lower-res full HD display and some weak speakers but brings all of Lenovo's magic over, including its famed "smile" keyboard design. There are also options for 4G.

HP also has the Surface Pro-like Elite X2 G8, also with Intel 11th Gen and even an optional 3,000x2,000 resolution in a 13-inch display. You get three Type-C ports, with two being Thunderbolt 4.

If you want just a traditional clamshell laptop, Surface Laptop 4 13-inch with Intel is a good choice as you'll get similar performance. Indeed, all of our best Ultrabook picks are worthy alternatives.

It's terrific

Should you buy the Surface Pro 8?

Who it's for

• Content creators
• Artists, notetakers, designers
• People who want a light and compact Windows PC

Who it isn't for

• Gamers
• People who need a discrete NVIDIA GPU

I've been using Surface Pro since its incarnation in 2012. It was a rough start at first as the idea was ahead of the hardware in those days resulting in terrible battery life and some awkward tradeoffs. But Microsoft persevered, and it was between Surface Pro 3 and Pro 4 where the idea finally began to click with consumers.

Nearly a decade on and Surface Pro 8, I'd argue, realizes that original idea of what this device could be. Sure, the tablet angle has waned with the demise of Windows 8, but the utility and convenience of Surface Pro's design is an essential option in the sea of laptop PCs. Not everyone needs to love it, but a lot of us do.

But what makes Surface Pro 8 so good is Microsoft simply did what fans have been asking for: Thunderbolt 4, 120Hz display, improved inking, better performance, thinner bezels, etc. These were all at the top of people's lists of how Surface Pro could be better, and now they're here.

Yeah, gaming is still a challenge, but at least you can now use an eGPU with an NVIDIA RTX 3080 GPU for your desktop setup and game like a boss, all from a single PC. And cloud streaming for Xbox games is also becoming a reality.

There are some minor gripes: Battery life is still not amazing, multi-core performance is lagging, and there is a fan. Apple has solved some of these with its M1 processor, although even the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 gets only six hours at max brightness and when set at 50% brightness just eight hours and 35 minutes. That's good, but not exactly miles ahead of Surface Pro 8, the superior PC.

Where does Surface Pro go from here? Adding AR to the glass and getting better processors is all that is needed. A microSD slot would be OK, but its use is diminishing each year. While LTE is nice, it is odd not to offer 5G in 2022 (my bet is Surface Pro X gets it first).

Microsoft is likely to ride this new Surface Pro design for the next three to five years. The good news is they did it right. Falling into a cycle of modest processor improvements and refinements will be A-OK.

Just give me AR, next time, kthxbai.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Microsoft appears to have delivered the goods in a big way at their recent Surface event. Zac and Daniel check out everything that was announced, including Surface Duo 2, Surface Pro 8, Surface Laptop Studio, and more!

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on September 22nd 2021.

Links:

• Microsoft Surface 2021 event: Release dates, prices, and everything announced | Windows Central

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Hosts

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• Zac Bowden

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Microsoft's line of Surface Pro 2-in-1 laptops is undoubtedly the most popular and well known of all the Surface PCs — after all, it is the original that started it all.

But Microsoft hasn't given the Surface Pro a significant makeover since 2015's Surface Pro 4 where it picked up Windows Hello, its 12.3-inch PixelSense display, improved pen, and more. And while Surface Pro 7+ is actually quite impressive, it's also aimed at enterprise and not consumers.

Announced on Sept. 22, 2021, Surface Pro 8 matches with our earlier reporting that the overall look and style of the device remains, but it has been updated with modern components, a larger display, new ports, and more.

Here's what we know about the all-new Surface Pro 8 for 2021.

Surface Pro 8: Release date and availability

Update Sept. 22, 2021: Microsoft has officially revealed Surface Pro 8 to the public.

Surface Pro 8 goes on sale in select markets on Oct. 5, 2021. Those markets are:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Austria
• Germany
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• France
• Japan

Due to an ongoing global chip and processor shortage that affects Microsoft quite substantially, some markets may not see Surface Pro 8 until early 2022, while others may see it in late 2021. Those markets include:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Finland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Italy
• Spain
• Portugal
• Poland
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• The Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

Surface Pro 8: What's new

Here are some of the significant changes in Surface Pro 8 (compared to Surface Pro 7):

• New processors: Intel 11th Gen U-series
• New Surface Type Cover: Matches Surface Pro X, including Surface Slim Pen dock
• Refined hardware design that tappers more in the rear
• Larger display: Surface Pro 8 gets a 120Hz 13-inch display with thinner bezels instead of a 12.3-inch 60Hz display with thick bezels
• Removable SSD (following Surface Pro X and Surface Laptop designs)
• No more 4GB RAM model
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Support for Surface Slim Pen 2 with haptics

Windows 11 also delivers some new hardware features that Microsoft could enable with Surface Pro 8, including:

• Dynamic Refresh Rate: This feature enables a higher-refresh display of 120Hz instead of standard 60Hz, but only when scrolling or using the pen, thereby saving battery life. It sounds like Apple's ProMotion display technology. This feature is expected to launch late with Surface Pro 8. By default, Surface Pro 8 is 60Hz, but users can set it to 120Hz manually.
• Wake on touch: When Surface Pro 8 is in standby with the display off, users can turn on the device simply by tapping the screen, similar to how smartphones work (the Pro 8 can then auto-login to Windows using Windows Hello).
• New Haptic Surface Pen: Windows 11 also supports smartpens with haptic feedback, which lets the pen simulate writing with different materials like pencil or pen on different types of paper. Customers need to purchase the new Surface Slim Pen 2 for these features.

Many more changes were detailed in a Microsoft Mechanics video, posted above. Those changes and improvements over Surface Pro 7 are:

• Rounded chassis "compliments fluid UI design of Windows 11"
• Thinner bezels expand the display real estate by 11%
• Chassis is made from recycled anodized aluminum (vs. magnesium)
• New ambient color sensor to dynamically adjust display colors based on room lighting
• Display brightness peaks at 450 nits
• 120Hz display makes pen latency "seemingly undetectable"
• IR camera has been improved substantially for speed and accuracy
• Microsoft's AI lets Windows Hello dynamically adapt to changes in your appearance (glasses and facial hair)
• 5MP full HD RGB camera has larger 1.4-micron pixels for better low-light performance
• The camera also has tuning optimizations to keep your face in focus
• Dolby Vision (HDR) and Dolby Atmos (surround sound)
• Surface Pro 8 supports up to 23-watt TDP for the 11th Gen Intel processor
• You can get LTE in Core i3 and Core i7 models for the first time (commercial markets)
• Battery has increased to 50.4WHr up from 43.2WHr
• Uses new carbon composite thermal dissipation system
• 46% faster compute and 75% boost to graphics processing compared to Surface Pro 7

It is safe to say that Surface Pro 8 is a complete redesign from the ground up compared to Surface Pro 4, Pro 5, Pro 6, and Pro 7.

With Thunderbolt 4, users can now plug Surface Pro 8 into an eGPU to provide even more graphics power for gaming or video editing, while also keeping the benefits of the magnetic Surface Connect port.

Surface Pro 8: Specs

Here are the current Surface Pro 8 specs as noted by Microsoft:

In May 2021, Intel announced it had refreshed 11th Gen U-series processors, which bump existing clock and turbo speeds over earlier models. Those chips are not expected to ship until the fall, aligning with the Surface Pro 8 release.

While that extra 100MHz may not make a big difference compared to Surface Pro 7+, the consumer version of Surface Pro 7 only ships with 10th Gen chips, making it a much better upgrade.

There is no 5G option for Surface Pro 8, but there is for 4G LTE. However, those models are not expected to launch until later in 2021 (December) and may be for commercial markets. However, instead of LTE only being available in the Core i5 model, it will be an option for Core i3, i5, and i7 Surface Pro 8 SKUs.

While consumer editions of Surface Pro 8 all ship with Windows 11, commercial purchases will have an option for Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Surface Pro 8: Price

Surface Pro 8 pricing is mostly similar to Surface Pro 7 at launch. However, there are some subtle differences due to the availability of options for configurations at this time. Here is the current pricing at launch for Surface Pro 8:

As always, these prices do not include the Surface Pen and Surface Type Cover. Those necessary accessories add between $100 and $230 extra to the cost.

Previously, Surface Pro 7 started at $749 for the Core i3 model to well over $2,000 for the Core i7 with maxed out RAM and 1TB of storage. Microsoft has not announced pricing or availability yet for the Surface Pro 8 Core i3 models, so the starting price seems higher at $1,099 (Core i5, 8GB, 128GB) instead of $749 (Core i3, 4GB, 128GB).

That said, the entry-level Core i5 model is $100 more with Surface Pro 8 compared to Surface Pro 7, but all other models are priced the same as Surface Pro 7 when it launched. Indeed, Surface Pro 7 with i7/16/1TB launched at $2,299, but the same Pro 8 model is $100 less at $2,199.

New for Surface Pro 8 is a higher top-tier model with 32GB of RAM instead of 16GB, along with a Core i7 and 1TB SSD, which is priced at $2,599.

Surface Pro 8 latest news

• On Sept. 22, Microsoft announced Surface Pro 8, including specs, pricing, and availability.
• On Sept. 20, alleged specs of Surface Pro 8 were leaked online by a retailer. While the image is of Surface Pro X, the specs look to be accurate.
• On Sept. 1, Microsoft announced a Surface and Windows 11 online event set for Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. ET. We're very likely to hear about Surface Pro 8 on that day.
• On Aug. 31, Microsoft announced that new Windows 11 PCs go on sale Oct. 5 , the same day as when the Windows 11 update goes live.

What you need to know

• The Surface Pro 8 gets a breakdown in the latest Microsoft Mechanics video.
• Faster Windows Hello, new ambient color sensor, 23-watt TDP, and more were revealed.
• Surface Pro 8 also switches from magnesium to anodized recycled aluminum for the chassis.
• There's also a new carbon composite thermal dissipation system.

The all-new Surface Pro 8 is the first major overhaul to the Surface Pro line since 2014's Surface Pro 3. Besides thinner bezels, Thunderbolt 4, a larger display, and 11th Gen CPU, there are many other more minor changes that weren't mentioned in the press release or product specs announcement.

The latest Microsoft Mechanics video spends a good seven minutes breaking down what's new, and as it turns out, there is quite a lot that you may not have known about.

We've summarized the main points below, but it's worth watching the video yourself to have it all explained:

• Modern, rounded chassis "compliments the fluid UI design of Windows 11"
• The thinner bezels expand the display real estate by 11%
• The chassis is made from recycled aluminum instead of magnesium
• Both "classic" Platinum and Graphite Pro colorways are anodized
• First Surface display with ambient color sensor to dynamically adjust display colors based on room lighting
• Display brightness peaks at 450 nits and goes down to just two nits
• 120Hz display makes pen latency "seemingly undetectable"
• The IR camera has been improved "substantially" in terms of speed and accuracy
• Microsoft's AI platform lets Windows Hello dynamically adapts to changes in your appearance with glasses or changes in facial hair
• The 5MP full HD RGB camera has larger 1.4-micron pixels for better low-light performance
• The camera also has tuning optimizations to keep your face in focus and lighting exposure more consistent
• Dolby Vision (HDR) and Dolby Atmos (surround sound) enhance the multimedia experience
• Surface Pro 8 supports up to 23-watt TDP for the 11th Gen Intel processor, a "first for the Pro line"
• You can get LTE in Core i3 and Core i7 models for the first time (Commercial markets)
• Battery has increased to 50.4 WHr up from 43.2 WHr (Surface Pro 7+ is also 50.4WHr, but Surface Pro 7 is 43.2)
• Uses new carbon composite thermal dissipation system: Vapor chamber, three heat pipes, and three graphite spreaders
• Improved perimeter venting
• 46% faster compute and 75% boost to graphics processing compared to Surface Pro 7

That's a lot of stuff for Surface Pro 8, which goes to show you that what makes a PC "great" is more than just the name on the processor.

We'll keep all these changes in mind when we do our Surface Pro 8 review sometime in October to see how much of a difference it really makes. You can get more of an idea of how Surface Pro 8 compares to Surface Pro 7 to hold you over for now or go deeper on those new 11th Gen processors.

Surface Pro 8 is expected to begin shipping on October 5 in the following markets:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Austria
• Germany
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• France
• Japan

Microsoft held its now annual hardware event this week. It unveiled one of its most extensive updates to the Surface line since 2015 — Surface Duo 2, Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, updates to Surface Pro X, and the star of the show, Surface Laptop Studio.

Media got a bit of a hands-on with the new devices this week, and I was able to talk to the people who worked on the products about what's new, how they did things, and lots of other little interesting tidbits. While we'll all undoubtedly learn more in the coming weeks — especially with full reviews likely around release time — here's a good primer of things that were not in the press release.

Surface Duo 2: A whole new device

Microsoft's original Surface Duo is intriguing and frustrating, as our Senior Windows Editor Zac Bowden recently opined.

Surface Duo 2 is a whole new beast, a fact that the announcement revealed. It has been redesigned from the ground up with 2021-era smartphone features in mind instead of the original concept behind Surface Duo, which was a pocketable Surface with Windows.

The hardware feels much more substantial now and not nearly as delicate as the first version, which I think required the bumper case to feel secure in your hand. I didn't feel that way with Surface Duo 2, likely because it's slightly thicker now (5.5mm opened instead of 4.8mm). But the hinge is also redesigned. It's a bit stiffer and feels … better. It's hard to describe.

Check out the 20-image gallery below:

Microsoft wasn't shy about showing off the new cameras. From what we have heard, the company outsourced some of the computational algorithms for the camera to a Japanese company which is why it can do well in low-light situations. We'll have to test it, of course, but so far, it easily looks to be upper mid-tier in 2021.

Fun things I learned:

• The snap-on case is like a hard shell with some texture (not a rubber TPU like the bumper). It felt fantastic.
• You don't need that case to stick the Surface Slim Pen to the front cover; you just need it to charge the pen wirelessly.
• The Slim pen really sticks to Surface Duo 2 hard, which is what I was hoping for. It's like a rubber fridge magnet strong, so you'll have to really pull it to get it off. That means, yeah, it should be fine in your pocket.
• Top bezels are still a bit thick but razor-thin on the sides, and the curved inner display is a beautiful effect.
• Microsoft Start (its new News app) now spans, thank God.
• Gameloft optimized three games for on-screen controls, including Asphalt 9. Microsoft is pushing gaming on this thing with Game Pass (they demoed Sea of Thieves on it).
• On the right is your live image, on the left is your camera roll.
• The new camera app spans and is really lovely. Editing is also dual-screen with tons of features, sliders, inking abilities, and more. It's well thought out and purposeful.
• Yes, Microsoft reinforced the entire chassis, so the Type-C port should not crack. And with Gorilla Glass Invictus and that hardcover, Surface Duo 2 feels very sturdy.
• Using Surface Duo 2 one-handed is fiiiiiiine. Yes, it's not entirely flat (it wasn't either on Surface Duo 1 with the bumper), but it felt perfectly OK. Microsoft insists it's very strong, durable. The cover never hits the camera lenses, either. Even with the Surface Slim Pen, cover case, and reverse folded, it's thick, but it was easy to handle.
• Microsoft Launcher is updated. The news/widget feed resembles Windows 11 now. The notification panel has sliders for volume and brightness, so you can adjust them in any posture where the buttons may be blocked. It's also wider now and looks much better.
• The new black colorway looks excellent.
• Screen rotation is very fast, as is the device's overall performance thanks to that Snapdragon 888.
• It has a new digitizer, so touch input/response should be better this time.
• Android 12 should come much quicker than Android 11 for Surface Duo 1.
• The Glance Bar is very cool to see in action.

Look, we need to properly test Surface Duo 2 to know how good it is. Still, between NFC, the new cameras, the processor, new screen materials, 90Hz refresh, curved inner display, and support for Surface Slim Pen, I (along with other present media) was impressed.

Cons: It's still crazy expensive and has an uphill battle to win converts. But this is a massive step in the right direction.

Surface Laptop Studio: "The most powerful Surface ever"

As we told you, Microsoft did make a bring-it-forward design for an all-new device: Surface Laptop Studio, which was just announced.

In my review of the HP Elite Folio, I said that design is the way 2-in-1 laptops should go — not the 360-hinge stuff. Microsoft thought the same as this is a very similar design, but it is executed entirely differently from HP.

At first glance? It's like you merged Surface Pro 8 with Surface Laptop 4 and then added a weird bottom to it. It's both familiar and different, redefining what a laptop could be, which I love.

Some takeaways:

• The hinge design is not the same as the patent from this summer, but maybe they'll do that in a few years.
• Microsoft uses cloth on the inside to hide the wires. It doesn't stretch, is super strong, and goes into the display when you switch postures. Even the cables behind the display move as you switch postures. It's so overly mind-blowingly complicated on the inside but clean and simple on the outside: Pure Microsoft "hinge-engineering!"
• Why not … 6- or 8-core CPU, or AMD, or higher resolution display, or …? No good answers besides balancing price, device and audience intention, thermals, and attaining good battery life.
• The display is default 60Hz. Users can manually put it to 120Hz. A later update will enable Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11.
• Haptic trackpad! I've been pushing this tech hard in 2021, and Microsoft delivered. Microsoft made this one itself, although there may be more to this story: Stay tuned. It felt great, and it even has an adjustable slider for intensity. Loved it.
• RIP Surface Book as Surface Laptop Studio replaces it.

Surface Laptop Studio looks like a killer laptop. The display is excellent, and the camera, GPU, and that design make it unique right now.

Cons? Microsoft is still not using anti-reflective displays. 🤦‍♂️ I'd also lament no LTE, but that's a very niche complaint.

Surface Pro 8: The sleeper hit

Surface Pro 8 is exactly what we anticipated, and frankly, wanted, from Microsoft: Take the design cues from Surface Pro X and put them into Surface Pro 8. Now add Thunderbolt 4.

And that's what Microsoft did with today's announcement.

Surface Pro 8 gets a 120Hz refresh (defaults at 60Hz), thinner bezels, support for Surface Slim Pen 2, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (no more Type-A), and LTE options for all models.

Some quick impressions:

• It looks exactly like Surface Pro X. You can only tell the difference with the vents on the rear.
• Going from 12.3-inch to 13.0 may not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge usability difference.
• New 10MP camera on the rear with 4K video! Interesting.
• Front-facing camera can now "face-lock" onto you, so if you move or take a drink of coffee, your face is always in focus. Subtle, but a nice feature.
• Dolby Vision (HDR for video) and Dolby Atoms audio support! Very happy about that.
• The chassis has a more aggressive tapper now; it looks and feels great.
• Uses the same Surface Type Cover as Surface Pro X.

The Surface Pro line was basically perfect, but Microsoft sorely needed to update critical aspects. They did that with Surface Pro 8. It can connect to an eGPU now, the display looks much better, you get better performance, and many more minor tweaks make this Pro so good. I think this will be a massive winner in reviews.

Cons: No anti-reflective display, again. All models now have fans in them, which is interesting.

Surface Slim Pen 2: Blew my mind

It's kind of hard to get excited about a pen — or is it? The haptics in Surface Slim Pen 2 changes everything, in my opinion.

The pen now has virtually no lag and requires almost no pressure to activate. But the haptics! You can make the pen feel like a pencil on paper. It truly tricks your brain into thinking you are using an analog device.

• Only for Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio.
• Besides drawing, there is haptics for all sorts of things like resizing. Where there are touchpoints, the Surface Slim Pen 2 gives feedback, letting you know you can drag and resize a box. It makes things so much faster and more natural for photo editing work.

I'm very excited about Surface Slim Pen 2. It takes the concept of digital inking to a whole new level. It's so seamless to use but makes a huge difference in usage, whether for taking notes, drawing, or photo editing.

Cons: You'll need new Surface hardware to make use of that haptic ability.

Wrapping up

This was a great Microsoft Surface event. It delivered both what the market demands and what Surface fans have been clamoring for (Thunderboooooolt).

I didn't mention Surface Go 3 or Surface Pro X as those are pretty minor upgrades. Granted, those new processors for Surface Go 3 are welcomed, as there is no such thing as being too fast. We'll have to see how much of a difference it makes.

Surface Pro X just gets a Wi-Fi-only option (see announcement), which drops the entry price to $899. That's welcomed but disappointing for those who wanted a version 3. That said, we hear that Qualcomm is set to announce its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 in December on a new Cortex base. That means we should get a "major" upgrade for Surface Pro X later in 2022.

I'm not sure which was my favorite of today's news. Surface Duo 2 is the most interesting because it has so much to prove this time. Can it do it? It's evident Microsoft is aware of that pressure. This version really seems like the one to get if you can afford it.

Surface Pro 8 is a slam dunk. I can't see how it doesn't sell exceptionally well and get excellent reviews. Surface Laptop Studio, I think, is also a hit along with that new Slim Pen 2 for both devices.

I'm glad Microsoft is going with this pull-it-forward design for Surface Laptop Studio. Same goes for taking the lead on haptic trackpads. That's the future of convertibles.

We will, of course, have much more coverage of all these devices in the coming weeks.

Let me know what you liked the most and what you found the most disappointing!

The Windows Central Podcast with our Executive Editor, Daniel Rubino and Senior Editor, Zac Bowden will be LIVE on today, Wednesday September 22 at 1PM ET for a special episode focused entirely on the announcements coming out of Microsoft's hardware event, which takes place a couple hours before at 11AM ET.

We'll be talking all about the new hardware, from the Surface Duo 2 to the new Surface Book 4 (likely called Surface Laptop Studio.) We're expecting up to five new Surface devices to be announced, and that's not even including the accessories! So, there will be lots to talk about, and we'll have all the info you need.

The show will be LIVE on YouTube at 1PM ET on Wednesday. You can tune in via the embedded video above, or head to the Windows Central YouTube channel to catch us when the show goes live. If you miss the show, don't worry, as we'll be making available a video on demand version and an audio-only version that will be published on podcasting platforms.

What you need to know

• The Surface Pro 8 is official with a design just like the Surface Pro X.
• It has a new 13-inch 120Hz display and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• Pricing starts at $1,099 and is expected to ship October 5.

Microsoft has announced the next generation of its mainline Surface Pro device, dubbed the Surface Pro 8, which finally closer aligns its design with the now two-year old Surface Pro X. Featuring 11th-Gen Intel chips, the Surface Pro 8 has a 13-inch 120hz display and support for the Surface Pro X Type Cover's with Surface Slim Pen charging built-in.

The overall form factor of the Surface Pro 8 can be described as a slightly thicker Surface Pro X with an added vent around the top to help with cooling those hotter Intel chips, and a headphone jack. Microsoft says this is the biggest update to the main Surface Pro line since the Surface Pro 3, as it now finally adopts the much more modern design language that the Surface Pro X is already rocking.

Just like the Surface Pro X, Microsoft has updated the ports from one USB-A and one USB-C to two USB-C ports. And for the first time, the USB-C ports are now Thunderbolt 4 enabled. Surface Connect remains for those who prefer charging with Microsoft's magnetic charging solution. It can be had with 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage.

The big upgrade on Surface Pro 8 that the Surface Pro X sadly misses out on is with the display, which is now 13-inches in size with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. This upgraded display will make using the Surface Pro 8 feel very fast and fluid thanks to Windows 11's new smooth animations.

Microsoft is also introducing a new Surface Slim Pen 2 with haptics, which works with the new Surface Pro 8. The Slim Pen can be stored and charged via the new Surface Pro Type Covers, which are just the Surface Pro X Type Covers which are now cross compatible with the Surface Pro 8. The Type Covers have also been updated with the new Windows 11 logo on the Start button to keep things consistent.

Microsoft is adding LTE to the Surface Pro 8 too, which is now also available with an i7 configuration, a first for the Surface line. Pre-orders for the Surface Pro 8 are open now, with prices starting at $1,099. Pricing and availability is as follows:

Surface Pro 8 is expected to begin shipping on October 5 in the following markets:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Austria
• Germany
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• France
• Japan

What you need to know

• Microsoft is holding a hardware event on September 22.
• We're expecting up to five new Surface devices, and accessories.
• Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro X, Surface Book, Surface Go, and Surface Duo are on the agenda for updates.

Microsoft has announced that its annual fall Surface hardware event will be taking place on September 22. This year, rumors suggest we're getting five new Surface devices, four of which are among the first PCs with Windows 11 out of the box.

Our sources say to expect updates to the Surface Duo, Surface Pro and Pro X, Surface Go, as well as an all-new flagship 2-in-1 Surface laptop design. Here's an overview of the new Surface devices being announced next week, with some obvious spoilers ahead.

Surface Duo 2 brings much-requested upgrades

The next Surface Duo is under some serious pressure to deliver. After a rough launch with the Surface Duo 1, which shipped with outdated hardware and buggy software, Microsoft has focused on making Surface Duo 2 a better phone right out of the gate. According to my sources, Surface Duo 2 will feature a Snapdragon 888 processor with 5G capabilities, 8GB RAM, a new camera system, better displays, and NFC.

Surface Duo 2 has two 5.8-inch displays on the inside, up from 5.6-inches on the first Surface Duo. This allows Microsoft to thin out the bezels, though not by much. Microsoft has also very slightly curved the displays towards the hinge, allowing for glanceable information to appear down the spine when the device is closed.

The displays will also have a higher refresh rate, although we're unsure if that means 90Hz or 120Hz. Surface Duo 2 has a total of four cameras too; a selfie shooter on the inside above the right display, and a wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lens housed in the rear camera bump.

We're told the battery size has increased by roughly 800-900mAh to accommodate 5G and the higher-refresh rate displays. Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC are also present on the device, finally opening the Duo up to mobile payments. Unfortunately, I'm told that wireless charging is not present. We're expecting Microsoft to ship white and black models, with 128GB and 256GB storage configurations.

The Surface Duo is the only Surface device being announced at the event that doesn't ship with Windows 11. Instead, it will ship with Android 11 out of the box.

Changes headed to Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X

Microsoft is also planning to unveil a new mainline Surface Pro device, likely dubbed the Surface Pro 8. I'm not expecting huge changes to this hardware, though we will see some external upgrades to the chassis. The display is said to be bigger compared to that on the Surface Pro 7, likely closer to the 13-inch display size found on the Surface Pro X, with thinner bezels.

I'm also expecting Microsoft to upgrade the Surface Pro 8 with support for the Surface Pro X Type Covers, finally dropping the classic Type Cover connection that Microsoft has been using since the first generation Surface Pro. Of course, this also means the Surface Pro 8 will finally have "official" support for the Surface Slim Pen.

A report from The Verge also claims that at least one Surface Pro 8 model will ship with Thunderbolt support, which would be a first for Microsoft. The device is also said to ship with Intel 11th-generation chips, just like the Surface Pro 7+ released earlier this year.

Other features that will likely be new to the Surface Pro 8 include "wake on touch" and "wake on approach," two new Windows 11 functionalities that Microsoft will want to highlight with its new hardware. Overall, sources have said to expect "modest" changes to the Surface Pro 8.

Surface Pro X is also set for a refresh this fall, though don't expect any significant changes to its external design or SoC. This fall will likely consist of a support for the aforementioned Windows 11 hardware functionalities, and I've also heard that Microsoft is planning to sell a Wi-Fi-only model of the Surface Pro X for the first time.

Finally, Microsoft is reportedly testing a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz on the display for both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X. Whether or not this feature ships will depend on if Microsoft was able to maintain acceptable battery life in testing.

Surface Book 4 is the star of the show

I've been hearing for a while now that Microsoft is planning to unveil a new flagship Surface "laptop" at this event. I'm told it'll feature a non-detachable 2-in-1 design, essentially combining the Surface Laptop with the Surface Pro form factor. The display can be pulled forward and laid flat over the keyboard deck for drawing or taking notes, similar to the HP Elite Folio.

I'm unsure whether Microsoft plans to call this device the "Surface Book 4" or if it'll ship under another name. Sources familiar with Microsoft's hardware plans have referred to this device as several different names, including Book 4, Laptop Pro, and Laptop Studio. For now, the name remains a mystery. This device will likely be the star of the show, as it's the only product with a new form factor and design within the Surface line that's being announced.

Other details include a larger trackpad compared to the Surface Book 3, a display size of around 14-inches with a dynamic refresh rate, and slim uniform bezels with rounded corners. The device has two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. I'm also told the device will ship with NVIDIA RTX graphics, though I am yet to hear of which series, specifically.

No word on what chips it will ship with, but given the new design, I'm hoping that that Microsoft will strive for more powerful 6 or 8-core chips to rival high-end devices like MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15. I'm also unsure if any of the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt enabled.

Minor revisions to Surface Go 3

Microsoft's budget Surface Go is likely to remain very similar to the Surface Go 2, with only chip updates expected. Geekbench results have revealed that the Surface Go 3 will likely ship with an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y in the low-end model and an Intel Core i3-10100Y in the higher-end LTE-enabled model.

I was told last year that Microsoft was playing with the idea of shipping a black Surface Go 2, though that never materialized. Perhaps we'll see a black Surface Go 3 ship instead.

More accessories to come...

We also expect Microsoft to announce a handful of new accessories, as with past events. A new Surface Pen with haptics tops the list, which Microsoft has announced will be required to leverage some Windows 11 pen features. I suspect the new pen takes on the same Slim Pen form factor that was introduced with the Surface Pro X.

We also expect Type Covers to be updated with the new Windows 11 logo on the Start key, and possibly new colors too. I'm unsure if we'll see a new pair of Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds, though both products are severely overdue at this point.

What not to expect

As is the case every year, there's a couple of Surface PCs that won't be getting an update this fall. These include the Surface Studio, Surface Laptop, and Surface Laptop Go. We also likely won't be seeing the Surface Neo given the fact that the Intel Lakefield chip inside has since been discontinued by Intel.

What are your thoughts?

That's everything I'm told we will and won't be announced on September 22nd. Of course, Microsoft is sometimes able to keep a few things a surprise, so maybe we'll see some addition things that we haven't heard about yet. Either way, the event is slated to commence at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT, with coverage to follow on Windows Central. Let us know what you're most excited about in the comments below.

Microsoft is set to announce a bevy of Surface hardware next week. The company will likely unveil the Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, and several other devices on September 22, 2021. We want to know which device you're looking forward to the most.

Our senior editor Zac Bowden has a full breakdown of what to expect from Microsoft's fall 2021 Surface hardware event, but we'll run through the anticipated devices here as well.

The Surface Duo 2 looks to be a major step up from its predecessor. It's said to have flagship specs, bigger screens, improved cameras, and support for NFC. We also expect it to support 5G. Sources indicate that the Duo 2 will have a screen with a faster refresh rate as well. In short, the Surface Duo 2 looks to be an improvement across the board compared to its predecessor.

The Surface Pro 8 will probably be a minor update when it comes to external design. The display should be a bit bigger than that of the Surface Pro 7, but a design overhaul isn't likely. The Surface Pro 8 could ship with Thunderbolt support, which would be a first for Surface hardware. We do expect some new features in the Surface Pro 8, such as "wake on touch" and "wake to approach," both of which are Windows 11 features.

We predict a new Surface Pro X announced at the event, likely in a chip refresh capacity. It should also support Windows 11 features like "wake on touch." Both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X could support Dynamic Refresh Rate.

The Surface Book 4 may be the biggest announcement of the day. We aren't sure the device will be called the Surface Book 4. We believe that Microsoft will unveil a flagship laptop with a non-detachable 2-in-1 design. There's enough speculation about the Surface Book 4 that you should read up on our coverage of the device before voting here.

The Surface Go 3 will likely see a chip refresh as well. We may also see the smaller Surface in a new color.

Maybe you're happy with your main Surface hardware but are excited about some new accessories. We expect Microsoft to announce a new Surface Pen and Type Covers. We could also see new Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds, though Microsoft might not have new versions of these to unveil next week.

Tons of Surface news is forecast to drop next week. We'll cover all of it here and will even have a special edition of the Windows Central Podcast after the Surface hardware event.

While we wait for the event, please let us know your thoughts on the upcoming hardware. Which device are you most excited about? Vote in the poll above and share your opinions in the comments below.

Each year, Microsoft holds a Surface event in October. And each year, the months leading up to the event have rumors and reports about upcoming devices. So far, reports have come out about the Surface Pro 8, Surface Book 4, and Surface Duo 2. With the hype for these devices ramping up, we wanted to know which unannounced Surface device has you most excited.

In our poll that ran over the weekend, over 36% of voters said they were most excited about the Surface Duo 2. The Surface Pro 8 came in second with just over 28% of the votes. The Surface Book 4 drew the least interest of the unannounced devices but still won 26% of the votes.

Interestingly, 9.2% of participants said that they weren't excited about any of the devices. Even with rumors of a major redesign of the Surface Book 4 and reports of a dramatically improved Surface Duo 2, almost one in ten voters aren't interested in Microsoft's unannounced hardware.

This poll was much closer than when we pit the Surface Duo 2 and Galaxy Fold 3 against each other. Perhaps the Galaxy Fold 3 shouldn't feel bad about losing because even rumors of a Surface Book 4 and Surface Pro 8 couldn't pull our readers from the Surface Duo 2.

In the comments section of our Surface poll, Ladydias said, "Cautiously looking forward to the Duo 2 and Pro 8. Just hoping that the former doesn't feel as awkward as the leaks make it look with that camera hump and the latter has an improved inking experience with less pen wobble."

Another commenter, leo74, shared excitement about a couple of devices while coming to terms with the Surface Neo, "Duo 2, followed closely by the Book 4. I was really hoping for the Neo, but it looks like that ship has sailed for good."

Several comments mention hopes of a Surface monitor with a design similar to that of the Surface Studio.

Do you agree with the voters about Surface hardware? We'll keep the poll open to see if it trends differently as weekday readers take a look.

This week we saw a trio of major Surface-related articles on our front page. Our executive editor kicked things off with an update to our piece on the Surface Pro 8. Soon after, unofficial renders of the Surface Duo 2 were shared online. Following that, our senior editor Zac Bowden shared a report on the upcoming Surface Book 4 (which may go by a different name). With all of this Surface news, we'd like to know which upcoming Microsoft device you're most excited about.

The Surface Pro 8 will likely have the least radical redesign of the new Surface devices. We expect the flagship 2-in-1 to feature new Intel 1th Gen U-series chips, a new Type Cover more like that of the Surface Pro X, and a larger display. While the display will be larger, we don't expect the footprint of the device to be any bigger. Microsoft will expand the screen of the Surface Pro 8 by thinning its bezels compared to its predecessor.

We also expect the Surface Pro 8 to have a removable SSD and to have a refined design, though it will be similar to the Surface Pro 7.

In contrast, the Surface Book 4 will likely be a dramatic shift from the Surface Book 3. In fact, it may not even be called the Surface Book 4. For the sake of simplicity, we'll call it that for now.

The Surface Book 4 could look like a mixture of the Surface Studio and the Surface Laptop. It will likely run on a more powerful processor as well. The current Surface Book maxes out at only four cores. Many of the best Windows laptops run on processors with six or even eight cores. Sources also suggest that the Surface Book 4 will have RTX graphics, a bigger trackpad, and a panel with a high refresh rate.

We still haven't heard any official word on the Surface Duo 2, but a designer created unofficial renders of the device based on leaks and suspected details about the device. We expect the Surface Duo 2 to have a camera bump and a more refined design than the previous generation.

Which Surface device are you most excited about? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Windows 11 Insider builds are now available.
• Microsoft's announcement mentions Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) as being available on some devices.
• The tech differs from Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) for gaming and suggests Surface hardware with refresh rates of higher than 60 Hz could be coming soon.

A new feature coming to some Insider builds of Windows 11, which is expected to ship later this fall, hints at new Surface hardware with refresh rates of higher than 60Hz.

Dynamic Refresh Rate, or DRR, is different than the Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) that has been in Windows 10 for a while, which focuses on gaming to prevent screen-tearing. Instead, DRR applies to all of Windows 11 when using the OS for everyday mundane tasks.

Here is why it's a big deal.

Dynamic Refresh Rate: Better battery life

Microsoft describes DRR in its release notes for the Windows 11 Insider build as thus:

Today, almost all non-gaming laptops only support a 60 Hz refresh rate, while many gaming laptops can hit 120 Hz or as high as 300 Hz.

The issue with high refresh rates on a gaming laptop is that it runs at that 120 Hz all the time, doubling the draw on the display since it is refreshing twice as fast as a regular 60 Hz laptop. Such a refresh rate destroys good battery life as the screen is one of the top draws of battery power.

With DRR, that won't be the case.

The OS will now drop the refresh rate when the screen is static but quickly boost it when scrolling or moving around windows. While we don't know how low the refresh rate goes, it certainly beats running at 120 Hz or higher all the time, and it should have a significant improvement on battery life, especially for gaming laptops.

Microsoft gives more details about DRR in a new blog post:

Moreover, not all apps support it right out of the box, but these do, according to Microsoft:

• Smoother inking: Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Whiteboard, Microsoft Photos, Snip & Sketch, Drawboard PDF, Microsoft Sticky Notes, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft To Do, Inkodo
• Smoother scrolling: Microsoft Office

Dynamic Refresh Rate: New Surface hardware?

I think the other conclusion we can draw is that DRR is not just for gaming laptops. Many users have been asking for 90Hz or higher refresh rates in regular Ultrabook laptops for some time. The problem is battery life takes a hit, but that now appears to be solved with this technology.

Apple's iPad Pro features a "ProMotion display," which varies the display between 60 and 120 FPS (Hz). It is one reason people love the iPad Pro and using the Pencil as it feels more fluid due to that improved refresh. Moreover, Microsoft mentions "inking" with this feature, which is very curious…

Intriguingly, there are no Surface products that support displays with higher than 60 Hz. That makes DRR less effective on current hardware, as you need at least a 90 Hz refresh (or even 120 Hz) to make it worthwhile. And Microsoft has clarified that to make DRR work, you need "a laptop with a display that supports Variable refresh rate (VRR) and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz."

When combined with Microsoft's new haptic pen technology, wake on touch, and now DRR, it seems we are finally getting some idea of where Microsoft sees PC hardware going later in 2021 and 2022. These are some significant advancements in usability, and it'll be very curious to see if a new Surface Pro 8, which could be announced in October, features all this new tech.

Watch this space.

For owners of Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7+, Surface Pro 8, and the new Surface Pro 9, the ability to upgrade storage with minimal work is a new perk to the Surface line.

But how is such upgrade performed? What tools do you need? Should you re-paste the thermal enclosure for the SSD? And how do you get Windows 10 or Windows 11 on to the new SSD?

All these questions and more are answered in this new guide on how (and why) you may want to upgrade your SSD for Surface Pro X. For those using a Surface Pro 8 or Surface Pro 9, this process should be the same.

Why upgrade your Surface Pro X SSD?

Before we begin, let us discuss why you want to upgrade the internal storage to Surface Pro X.

There are two reasons to consider, with the first being the most obvious:

1. You want more internal storage
2. You want a (slightly) faster SSD

The first reason is self-evident. You bought a Surface Pro X with 128 or 256GB of storage, and you want more. Maybe you want 512GB or even 1TB.

If you bought the $899 Wi-Fi-only Surface Pro X, you could drop in a 1TB SSD for less than $200, bringing your total cost to just $1,100. Considering even Microsoft doesn't sell a 1TB model, that is fantastic. Even if you wanted to jump from 128GB to something like 512GB, you could do it for as little as $100 ($999 total), whereas it would cost you $1,499 to get the pre-configured Surface Pro X with 512GB.

A faster SSD is less of a reason to upgrade and should be seen as a side benefit. Typically, doubling or even quadrupling your storage also improves the read and write performance due to the parallel nature of how flash storage is accomplished. Surface Pro X's default SSD is, at best, mid- to low-range by today's standards for performance. Popping in more storage could yield +500MB/s improve sequential read scores, which does make everything feel just a smidge snappier.

Which SSD to buy?

Picking which SSD to get for Surface Pro X is the tricky part. It's different from buying a standard laptop SSD as Surface Pro X (and Surface Pro 8) use M.2 2230 PCIe SSD, which are much smaller. The market for such chips is also much tinier, and why you can sometimes find these on Amazon, they're not always available, and some may be used.

The easiest to recommend is a Toshiba/Kioxia BG4 M.2 2230 PCIe SSD. It gets excellent performance, and it just works. But, Toshiba does not direct-sell to consumers. Instead, it is an OEM part that must be purchased through business channels like Dell or on eBay if you are savvy. The key is to use the product SKU to find the version you want:

• KBG40ZNS256G TOSHIBA BG4 256G PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)
• KBG40ZNS512G TOSHIBA BG4 512G PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)
• KBG40ZNS1T02 TOSHIBA BG4 1TB PCI-E NVME 2230 SSD (CLASS 35)

Assuming you want to increase the storage and get faster speeds, you will want to search for KBG40ZNS256G (256GB), KBG40ZNS512G (512GB) or KBG40ZNS1T02 (1TB). Pricing at the time of writing is around $30 for 256GB, $99 for 512GB and $200 for 1TB. The links above are for Amazon listings.

The good news is the1 the TB option decreased from $300 at the end of 2020 to a more affordable $200 in October 2021. The bad news is that most sellers are from China or Hong Kong, so it could take many weeks to get your purchase.

But there is now another option in 2021 that wasn't available previously: Western Digital (WD).

This part gets even trickier. You could get a Western Digital 1TB drive costing between $117 and $170, making it even a better deal than the $200 Toshiba. Plus, many sellers are based in the U.S., meaning you can get the SSD in days instead of weeks.

For this guide, I bought a Toshiba KBG40ZNS512G (512GB). But in a similar guide for Surface Pro 8 I grabbed a "new" WD 1TB CH SN530 on eBay drive for $170. I had it in my hands in three days after ordering.

Either option works with Surface Pro X.

There is a catch, though, with the Western Digital drives. The "CH" denotes something unique about these: they are for the Xbox Series X|S. That's why so many of them are listed as "refurbished" or "pre-owned."

So, what's the downside of using it with Surface Pro X? Available storage — which some eBay sellers are upfront about, e.g.:

The speculation here is that allocated space is used for Xbox Series X|S, and it can't be recovered.

A typical 1TB SSD usually has 952GB of available storage with around 913GB available after Windows 10 (or 11) is installed versus the 823GB you'll have (with Windows) in one of these Western Digital drives. That's a loss of about 90GB.

On the flip side, if you're jumping from 128GB (available is less than 100GB) to 823GB, you're still getting a massive upgrade. Plus, you can save around $80 versus the Toshiba chip and often get it delivered faster. I can also vouch that the SSD performance is like Toshiba's, making a choice even more difficult.

Whichever route you go, you get a considerable storage upgrade and slightly faster speeds while saving money. The question is whether you need every GB and want to save even more money. The choice is yours.

Surface Pro X SSD upgrade: Tools needed

There are only a few tools needed to swap out the Surface Pro X SSD, but they are crucial:

• New M.2 2230 SSD
• Torx T3 screwdriver
• SIM Tool (included with Surface Pro X)
• USB Thumb Drive (Type-C, or Type-A with Type-C adapter; 16GB or larger)
• Surface Pro X Recovery Files
• Thermal paste (optional)
• Prying tool or X-ACTO knife (optional)
• Rubbing alcohol and Q-tips (optional)

Thermal paste, a prying tool, and rubbing alcohol is not obligatory as it depends on how detailed you want to be with the replacement. Microsoft ships its SSD in a metal enclosure for protection, functioning additionally as a heat sink. It uses a small amount of thermal paste sandwiched between the drive and the casing. SSDs typically do not produce that much heat (compared to a CPU or GPU), so the benefit is likely minimal.

Some people mount the M.2 SSD directly, but it may rattle due to it being thinner without the enclosure. Users can add a shim to stop the rattle or put the new SSD into the old enclosure with (or without) adding the thermal paste.

For this tutorial, I will re-use the metal enclosure and re-paste the thermal compound.

Surface Pro X: Making a Windows 10 Recovery Drive

Since the replacement SSD does not have an OS, you will need to reinstall Windows 10 after the swap. The easiest way is to load Microsoft's official Surface Pro X recovery files to a USB drive as this gives you all the necessary drivers for Surface Pro X. Doing so restores Surface Pro X to its factory state.

Note: If you want to get to Windows 11, you'll need to upgrade from Windows 10 after this procedure. Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro 9 devices will be offered recovery images with Windows 11 already preloaded. 

1. Format the USB thumb drive by right-clicking on the drive in File Explorer and choosing Format.

2. Use Fat32 for the file system and use the default allocation size.

3. Download the 6.4GB of Surface Pro X Recovery Files by entering in your Surface Pro X serial number
4. Unzip and extract all the Surface Pro X Recovery Files to the USB drive

Put the thumb drive to the side for now, as it will be used after we swap the SSD.

Surface Pro X: Swapping the SSD

Now that we have the substitute SSD and necessary tools, we can begin replacing the Surface Pro X's storage. Please ensure you have backed up any files, photos, videos, or documents before removing the old SSD.

1. Power down Surface Pro X
2. Open the rear SIM/SSD panel found under the kickstand using a SIM tool

3. Use the T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the single screw holding in the SSD

4. Gently lift the SSD up at a slight angle and pull out from the M.2 slot

If you do not plan to re-use the SSD metal enclosure, you could slide in the new SSD and secure it with the holding screw. Once completed, move on to the next section on reinstalling Windows 10.

If you want to re-use the SSD enclosure (and re-paste it), continue to these steps:

1. Using a thin prying tool or X-ACTO knife, gently tease apart the enclosure starting from each side

2. Remove the old SSD

3. Remove old thermal paste using rubbing alcohol and Q-Tips

4. Remove the label/sticker from the new SSD

5. Add a tiny drop of thermal paste to the top of the SSD (1/2 a pea)

6. Gently smooth the paste around the entire black area of the SSD

7. Put the SSD back into the enclosure and close it, lightly pressing the sides to crimp it in place
8. Reinsert SSD enclosure into Surface Pro X securing it with the single set screw
9. Replace rear enclosure door

Please do not add a lot of thermal paste as it is not strictly needed. Nor do you need expensive thermal paste, as this is not a high-performance CPU. You want a very thin layer when spread out, as too much paste defeats the purpose.

Once completed, you should save the old SSD. If you send in your Surface Pro X for a Microsoft warranty claim because it breaks, you'll want to put back the original drive and keep your after-market purchase as you may not get it returned.

Surface Pro X: Reinstalling Windows 10

Now that the new SSD is in place, you need to reinstall Windows 10. It is recommended to have Surface Pro X plugged in for AC power during this process.

1. Insert the USB thumb drive into Surface Pro X
2. Press and hold power and volume down (-) buttons at the same time
3. When the Surface logo appears on screen release only the power button
4. Continue to hold the volume down (-) key for 10 seconds until the recovery menu appears
5. From the blue Windows recovery menu choose your language

6. On the next screen, select Recover from a drive

7. Follow the rest of the prompts to reinstall Windows 10

Reinstalling Windows 10 should only take about ten minutes. You will want to check for updates using the Windows updater to get the latest drivers and version of Windows 10 and update your apps.

Surface Pro X SSD Upgrade: Results

Upgrading the Surface Pro X SSD brought two enhancements. Storage size increased from 256GB to 512GB, which is the main point of this upgrade. While 1TB would have been nice, the $300 price tag and my needs did not necessitate such a purchase. Still, it is fantastic to have the option if you need it.

Additionally, storage performance increased, which is expected from the improved Toshiba BG4 drive.

Read performance is what you experience when running Windows 10 and launching apps. Write performance is when you write to disk for creating large files, installing apps/games, and transferring data – that is, it is rarer. With the new BG4 sequential reads went from 1,943 MB/s to 2,302 MB/s. But the more significant change is in sequential write performance, which jumped from 718 MB/s to 1,545 MB/s, which is considerable.

While sequential speeds did see a significant bump, random read and write did not.

The performance increase is welcomed but also not game-changing. Apps and games will load a smidge faster, the system will be more responsive, but it also does not affect the overall performance measurably.

Overall, this is a fun and easy upgrade for Surface Pro X. It's great to see Microsoft embrace a more modular approach to its Surface line. I hope to see such modifications come to other Surface devices in the future.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, we've got an incredibly packed episode for you! Daniel just took delivery of a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, and Zac reports on what to expect for Windows 10 in 2021. They also discuss Android apps coming to Windows 10 along with Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 4 rumors.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on November 27th 2020.

Links:

• The foldable PC era begins as Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold goes live for preorders | Windows Central
• 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Microsoft's 'Project Latte' aims to bring Android apps to Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 4 show up in leaked images | Windows Central
• EufyCam 2 review: A year's battery, and no monthly plan – this home security camera is almost perfect | Windows Central
• Honey integration removed from Microsoft Edge on iOS and Edge beta on Android | Windows Central
• Why is the PS5 beating the Xbox Series X in power comparisons? Microsoft responds. | Windows Central

Sponsor

This week's Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Woven. Woven is the all in one calendar perfect for busy people. Try Woven Premium for free for 21 days at usewoven.com/windows.

Subscribe to the podcast

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Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

• Email: wcpodcast@windowscentral.com
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We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Zac and Daniel have a look at Microsoft's rumored 'Cloud PC' service, and what might tech might included in Surface Pro 8.

Razer continues to evolve their product line. They've got a $500 gaming chair that Daniel has had a chance to review. Plus, the company has introduced Razer Book 13, which is their first non-gaming laptop.

SwiftKey works across both displays on Surface Duo, and good deals abound on the device. They finish out the show with our reviews of Xbox Series X and Series S.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on November 6th 2020.

Links:

• Leaked details shed light on Microsoft's rumored 'Cloud PC' service | Windows Central
• Potential Surface Pro 8 engineering prototype shows up for sale with 11th-gen Intel processor | Windows Central
• Razer Iskur review: When a $500 gaming chair is totally worth it | Windows Central
• Razer Book 13 is the company's first non-gaming laptop, and it's a beauty | Windows Central
• Microsoft SwiftKey now supports thumb typing across both displays on Surface Duo | Windows Central
• Xbox Series X review: Powerful and bold — with a games lineup that's uncertain | Windows Central
• Xbox Series S review: Next-gen goes back to basics | Windows Central

Subscribe to the podcast

• Download directly: Audio
• Listen via Spotify
• Listen via: Windows Central app Windows 10 | Android
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via RSS
• Subscribe via Google Play Music
• Subscribe via Pocket Casts
• Watch the live stream video archive

Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

• Email: wcpodcast@windowscentral.com
• Twitter: @WindowsCentral with hashtag #wcpodcast

What you need to know

• An eBay listing claims to have a Surface Pro 8 prototype for sale.
• The prototype comes with an 11th-gen processor and 32GB RAM.
• Externally, the device is identical to the Surface Pro 7.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 hasn't been announced yet, but that hasn't stopped an early engineering sample from popping up online for sale. Spotted on eBay, this Surface Pro 8 is the top spec model with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7, 32GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage packed inside the familiar Surface Pro 7 chassis.

Other than the improved specs, it appears there's nothing different about this Surface Pro 8 prototype compared to the current Surface Pro 7. Depending on how recent this prototype is, I'd say this is a pretty good indication that the Surface Pro 8 won't be featuring that rumored "redesign" people have been expecting, remaining exclusive to the Surface Pro X instead.

The eBay listing describes the following:

It's rare for Surface prototypes to show up online for sale, let alone prototypes of hardware that hasn't been announced yet. The item is available for pickup-only in Seattle, Washington, and bidding starts at $1,300. Buying unreleased hardware on the internet can be tricky business, especially when unconfirmed, so proceed at your own risk.

We've reached out to the seller to see if we can find out more about this prototype to confirm its legitimacy. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the Surface Pro 8? Let us know in the comments.

Back in June 2019, I did a piece on how the more the iPad Pro becomes like the Surface Pro, the bigger the threat it is to Microsoft's 2-in-1 PC paradigm. At the time, I remarked that mouse and cursor support was just the beginning, but once iPadOS gets a trackpad, the situation will become more significant.

Today, Apple announced refreshes to the iPad Pro line, and they're due to ship in the coming weeks. The more important news is what comes in May, which is the new $350 Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. That keyboard brings a new hinge for multi-angle support and, yes, a trackpad.

Will Magic Keyboard be as good as the Surface Pro's Type Cover? It's unlikely. Microsoft's keyboard has angled typing, and the Surface Pro's built-in kickstand and hinge still set the bar. But that doesn't matter much, as Apple's is likely good enough (and yes, it's backlit and even works with the last-gen iPad Pro, too).

Putting aside how wrong Apple was about the 2-in-1 form factor, which it is now ironically fully embracing, this move by Apple is likely to harm sales of the Surface Pro line. Apple's iPad has long bucked the trend of the failing tablet market because it has the best hardware and an OS that people relish.

I'd argue – and many of you would too – that Windows 10 is still a more "serious" OS built for doing "real" work. But for many, those lines are blurring. For the last few years there have been many attempts by people trying to make do with just an iPad, and today's announcement will only make that easier.

Apple still has some other hurdles to overcome yet. Its iPadOS is still lacking in many advanced desktop OS features compared to Windows, and its processor is still mostly overkill for what many use the iPad Pro for today. But those are surmountable problems that Apple will likely solve with time. That's not too different from Microsoft, who is working from the opposite of end of trying to make a desktop OS more palatable to light-computer devices like the Surface Pro X.

There's also pricing, and, to no one's surprise, everything Apple is doing is more costly. The 256GB iPad Pro 12.9 ($1,100) with Apple Pencil ($130) and Magic Keyboard ($350) comes to $1,580. The 256GB Surface Pro 7 ($1,000) with Surface Pen ($100) and Type Keyboard ($160) is just $1,260 with the current sale price. That favors Microsoft by $320. Although, interestingly, the Surface Pro X is $1,570, which gives you 4G LTE for just $10 less than Apple without LTE.

The good news is while Apple is just now catching up to Microsoft's 2012 vision of a 2-in-1 tablet PC, Microsoft is already on to the next thing: foldable and dual-screen devices.

As I reported in January 2018, Microsoft sees dual-screen and foldable PCs as the next era of mobile computing. That strategy is coming to life this summer with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and later this year with the Surface Neo with Microsoft's new Windows 10X OS. Companies like Dell and HP are expected to follow the trend in 2021 with their own takes on the hardware.

Much like in 2012, many Apple fans and general tech skeptics will question the value of dual-screen and foldable PCs, but the industry seems set on the idea.

All eyes will be on how Microsoft evolves the Surface Pro 8, which could come in late 2020 with some of those Surface Pro X design cues. And Surface Neo as the big exciting "next-gen" PC evolution.

But make no mistake, a lot of people will give the new iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard serious consideration the next time they need a laptop, and Microsoft better be ready to respond.