Latest from Windows Central in Surface-pro-x

The Surface Pro X was ahead of its time — Now it’s time for a 2026 comeback

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:52:54 +0000

Microsoft hasn't officially announced it yet, but new Surface PCs are on the way this spring. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden teased that fact, and my mind has been abuzz with wish list items for the Surface family.

In the last edition of the Windows Wrap, I discussed four steps Microsoft needs to take to save the Surface brand. I also explained last week why right now is a terrible time to buy a Surface PC.

The poll in the latter of those pieces asked people which hypothetical new Surface device would excite them the most, and I'm sad to see the Surface Pro X come in last place.

The Surface Pro X was ahead of its time. Thin, light, and powered by an ARM64 processor, it sounds like a dream device for 2026. But the Surface Pro X line ended in 2023 when Microsoft combined the Surface Pro X and the traditional Surface Pro.

Back then, Bowden argued that "The Surface Pro 9 5G is a Surface Pro X without the sex appeal." He couldn't be more right. Merging the Surface Pro lines robbed us of one of the best Surface designs ever.

We need a Surface Pro X with Snapdragon X

The Surface Pro X is just 7.33 mm thick, which is much thinner than the Surface Pro 11, which is 9.3mm thick. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

The Surface Pro X was powered by a Microsoft SQ1 processor, which was fine for general computing but is a far cry from the Snapdragon X Elite, Snapdragon X Plus, or Snapdragon X.

The Microsoft SQ1 (and many other chips from 2020) will look like a postage stamp in comparison once Snapdragon X2 processors ship.

Processors improve each year, but Snapdragon X changed Windows on Arm computing. If the Microsoft SQ1 was tipping a toe in the water, the Snapdragon X was a cannonball.

Windows 11 on Arm has also improved greatly since 2020. More apps are compiled to run natively on Snapdragon X chips, and those that aren't still run better thanks to improved Prism emulation.

There are still people who prefer or need a PC with an Intel or AMD chip, but selling a Snapdragon X-powered PC is much easier now than it was to convince people to try a Windows on Arm PC in the past.

Fanless computing

The MacBook Neo is proof that there's a market for fanless computers in 2026. (Image credit: Future)

Clearly, there's demand for a fanless computer. The MacBook Neo lacks fans for cooling, and its announcement disrupted the laptop market. The $599 starting price of the MacBook Neo was a major factor, of course, but I doubt as many people would be interested if Apple's affordable laptop looked chunky or clunky.

Microsoft could revive the fanless design of the Surface Pro X and power that PC with a Snapdragon X processor.

I understand that even ARM64 chips can run into thermal throttling and limits. Microsoft kept vents on the Surface Pro lineup to combat this. It's also why you see cooling mods trending for the MacBook Neo.

But there's room in the market for two Surface Pro devices: one with vents and a thinner one without.

Surface without the X factor

While we're at it, I'll take a moment to lament the loss of the Brydge keyboard for Surface, which paired nicely with the Surface Pro X. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

When Microsoft folded the Surface Pro X and the main Surface Pro lines together, it lost what made the Surface Pro X stand out. The move marked a major step for the maturity of Windows on Arm, but it also marked the end of Surface sexiness.

Since Microsoft shifted away from the ultra-thin form factor of the Surface Pro X, Snapdragon X chips have transformed Windows on Arm, and Microsoft has fully embraced the platform. More importantly, third-party developers are finally on board, compiling and maintaining native apps for the architecture.

The MacBook Neo shows a demand for a fanless computer in 2026, but it's still a traditional clamshell PC. Resurrecting the Surface Pro X with a Snapdragon X2 chip would allow Surface to stack up against modern iPads and ultra-thin laptops.

The Surface Pro X wasn't a failure; it was ahead of its time. Bits of its DNA live on in the current Surface Pro lineup, but Microsoft needs to bring back the dedicated Surface Pro X to truly stand out.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

This Surface Pro "costs" $84,000, and it still doesn't include a keyboard or stylus?!

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:10:03 +0000

A Surface Pro X listing on the French Microsoft Store lists the PC for €77,777.77 (about $84,000).
The price appears to be caused by a bug and it only appears in the Windows 11 Microsoft Store.
If it were a genuine price for the Surface Pro X, it would be the highest asking price ever for a Surface, even beating an 84-inch Surface Hub.

Surface Pro prices usually dip a bit this time of year, such as the recent discount on the Surface Pro 11 (which has sadly ended). But if you want a Surface Pro X and live in France, prepare for sticker shocker. Right now, the French Microsoft Store lists a Surface Pro X for €77,777.77 (about $84,000).

The Surface Pro X price tag doesn't represent the actual price Microsoft expects people to pay for the 2-in-1, though there's a slim chance it's a new strategy by Microsoft. Maybe the Surface team heard that people like our Senior Editor Zac Bowden prefer the fanless design of the Surface Pro X over the Surface Pro 11 and want to cash in. I joke, but Bowden did argue that the Surface Pro 9 5G was not the successor to the Surface Pro X he hoped for.

A Reddit user spotted the pricing error, shared an image of it, and noted the lack of a stylus and keyboard in the box.

The price of the pro surface X 😅🫠☝️ from r/Surface

In actuality, that price likely appears next to the Surface Pro X due to a bug. The price only shows up on the Windows 11 Microsoft Store and does not appear on the web version of the store. That Surface Pro X is also out of stock, so no one will accidentally purchase it at that price.

Microsoft is not looking to get people to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a computer. This is the Surface team we're talking about, not the folks who run Apple. But for €77,777.77 (about $84,000) you'd think Microsoft could throw in a stylus, keyboard, or maybe a case.

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Microsoft isn't the best place to preorder a Surface Pro 11. Here's the best bundle on the flagship Copilot+ PC.

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:45:21 +0000

Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 starts shipping in just a few weeks. Preorders for the Copilot+ PC are already live, giving you a few options when picking up the 2-in-1. You may assume that Microsoft is the best place to purchase a Surface Pro 11. After all, the tech giant makes the PC. But that's not the case. Instead, it's Best Buy that has the best bundle right now.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition | From $999.99 at Best Buy

Microsoft's new flagship 2-in-1 is here, ushering in a wave of Copilot+ PCs. The new Surface Pro has an OLED panel and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X processors. Best Buy Plus members can get a free 50-inch TV when preordering a Surface Pro 11, plus the usual perks with a membership.View Deal

Best place to buy a Surface Pro 11

The Surface Pro 11 runs on a Snapdragon X processor and will be one of the first Copilot+ PCs to ship. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The price of the Surface Pro 11 doesn't change from retailer to retailer, at least at the moment. That means you must look at what comes bundled with the PC. Another factor that comes into play is the return policy protection options. With those in mind, Best Buy is the best place to buy the Surface Pro 11. You can get a free 50-inch television when you buy a Surface Pro 11, as long as you're a Best Buy Plus member. Specifically, you'll get an Insignia 50" Class F30 Series 4K UHD TV. That television usually retails for between $200 and $300 on its own.

Given that a Best Buy Plus membership costs significantly less than the TV, you could even sign up for a membership to take advantage of the offer.

My Best Buy Plus members get access to exclusive deals through the retailer. They also get free two-day shipping and an extended 60-day return window. A Best Buy Plus membership costs $49.99 per year.

If you shop at Best Buy often or need additional perks, you can opt to get a My Best Buy Total membership for $179.99 per year. That membership gets you all of the perks of a Best Buy Plus membership plus protection plans, 24/7 tech support, VIP member support, and 20% off repairs.

Other options

While Best Buy is the best option regarding what you get as part of a bundle, it's not the only retailer with live Surface Pro 11 preorders. Costco seems to have an exclusive Surface Pro 11 model with specs unavailable elsewhere. You can also purchase the Copilot+ PC through Antonline. Of course, Microsoft has preorders available for the Surface Pro 11.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition | From $999.99 at Antonline

Microsoft's new flagship 2-in-1 is here, and it ushers in a wave of Copilot+ PCs. The new Surface Pro is available with an OLED panel and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X processors.View Deal

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition | From $999.99 at Microsoft

Microsoft's latest Surface Pro is almost here, and with Copilot+ features alongside Snapdragon's cutting-edge chips and OLED display availability, it's the most advanced one yet.View Deal

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition | From $1,599.99 at Costco

Assuming Costco's product listing for the Surface Pro 11 is correct, there appears to be a version exclusive to the retailer. The model at Costco has a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 1TB of storage, and an LCD screen. That combination of specs doesn't seem to be available anywhere else.View Deal

I finally tried Windows 11 on ARM after four years of unfairly dismissing Qualcomm's misunderstood platform (and I'm obsessed)

ben.wilson@windowscentral.com (Ben Wilson) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:24:20 +0000

Having the privilege to work in technology journalism gives me regular access to the latest laptops and PC components, which can be a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, I have hands-on insights with an incredible range of devices, from the ultra-budget to the ridiculously expensive. Plus, not everything on the high-end guarantees satisfaction, as it's easy to become bored with excess once your personal budget isn't involved. My colleagues with significantly more brand-specific insight and knowledge have covered Microsoft's most extravagant and secretive Surface devices, and I'm starting to understand why they're so exciting.

After all, taking advantage of everything Windows 11 offers practically requires a laptop, and who should know better how to build the perfect Windows laptop than Microsoft? Besides Xbox consoles and a Lumia Windows Phone, I'd never tried first-party hardware from the company, and the lofty costs were the primary reason I passed. However, although I've had the pleasure of going hands-on with stellar laptops like Lenovo's Slim Pro 9i, rating it as being as close to perfect as possible, I'd never tried any computer with an ARM processor. Rather than settle for an ultra-budget option from the modern era, I set my sights on a second-hand Surface Pro X featuring Microsoft's four-year-old SQ1 ARM chip.

Microsoft's first Windows on ARM offering

It might be a few years behind Microsoft's Surface Pro 9, but the Pro X still looks sleek and modern. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino | Windows Central)

Technically, the Microsoft SQ1 processor was a modified version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx ARM chip. Still, it was the first customized ARM64-based CPU the company commissioned for its Surface devices, starting with the Surface Pro X. Luckily for me, its age and position behind two ARM successors, the aptly named SQ2 and SQ3, helped bring the cost down, as I found a pre-owned unit in phenomenal condition for only £280 GBP, converting to around $350. That bargain price excludes accessories, as expected, but I'm not complaining.

The Surface Pro X was $999 at launch, so picking one up for less than half the price is an absolute win.

Considering the launch price for the Surface Pro X alone was $999, picking one up for less than half the price feels like an absolute win, even if it doesn't include a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard or compatible Type Cover. Microsoft's pricing habits quickly became apparent when I realized the hands-on experience needed a keyboard and touchpad to feel complete, and, sadly, the market wasn't so kind to official peripherals. A $30 knock-off will suffice, connected via Bluetooth and featuring one of the worst typing experiences (I'm not a keyboard snob, I swear) I've ever had, but it works.

The state of ARM-native apps (and if I care)

Spotify, Slack, Adobe Photoshop, and Vivaldi browser running on a Surface Pro X don't feel functionally different from desktop x86-64 apps. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

As a tech professional surrounded by the best and worst of practically every category, I've dabbled in various platforms and more Linux distros than I can count. Compatibility is the primary reason that keeps me returning to Windows 11, as everything works as expected without a need to fiddle with custom executable launch options or tinker with flags in config files. I'll admit that I knew little about Windows on ARM before picking up a Surface Pro X, and a small amount of research shows that I held many of the same misconceptions as many others.

Windows Central has enthusiastically covered ARM-based Surface devices for a while, and the slew of content helps educate me on a topic I'd previously, and tragically, dismissed. With the imminent arrival of Qualcomm's latest blockbuster Snapdragon X Elite ARM processor and the incredible performance it promises for portable PCs, the timing couldn't be better to determine how my daily routine is (if at all) affected by any forced emulation of traditional x86-64 apps. Native apps are a bonus, but how much could I expect modern developers to care about ARM64? Can I complete a full working day on an ARM device?

Almost everything is a PWA these days

Carrying the Surface Pro X to any room with or without the keyboard makes idle browsing much more comfortable. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Digging into the stock apps with a fresh install of Windows 11, I was pleasantly surprised to see a healthy amount of ARM-native versions running in Task Manager. However, after testing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), I knew I'd be ditching native Windows apps for these lightweight alternatives. PWAs are self-contained web versions of apps that behave like regular desktop software and are generally nearly identical in the overall experience.

Knowing I had 7.5 of usable RAM out of the 8GB built into my Surface Pro X, optimizing memory use to extend battery life away from my desk was a priority. Since the Vivaldi web browser came to ARM for testing and its developers hooked me up with a fix for PWA-related crashes (you can download the tech preview here), I switched away from Microsoft Edge to save ~200MB of RAM on average.

With access to emails, the Windows Central backend, and Google Sheets covered by the browser, I only need a handful of other apps to complete my arsenal of daily drivers. Adobe supports Photoshop and Lightroom natively on ARM, even though I've never dabbled in the latter, and most of my basic cropping or color correction needs are filled by installing the web version of Photoshop as a PWA. Slack, Telegram, and Discord all function perfectly as web apps and cover instant messaging, with a Spotify ARM app or PWA variant providing a soundtrack to my working day.

Will my next laptop run on ARM?

The next Surface Pro and Surface Laptop variants will feature ARM processors, and I can't wait to see them. (Image credit: Windows Central)

I have two separate Windows 11 experiences in my life. For one, my custom-made desktop PC is geared for gaming first, and everything else is consequential. I pick up affordable graphics cards and pair them with as much RAM as possible to extend the collective component lifespan before eventually upgrading the motherboard with a new processor socket. However, sitting at a desk all day isn't my idea of a good time, so I prefer a comfortable laptop to cover my workload and daily downtime spent browsing the web and consuming other media.

I'm a realist with integrated graphics and don't expect the same performance as a gaming laptop.

That's not to say I don't enjoy light gaming on a laptop. I'll regularly dip into my retro catalog and play titles better suited to a mouse than even a Steam Deck could translate, like the original Fallout or Rollercoaster Tycoon. Still, I'm a realist with integrated graphics and don't expect the same performance as a gaming laptop, despite some incredible advancements in AMD's Radeon 760M and 780M alongside Intel's Arc mobile graphics. However, battery life and a convenient design come first for me when choosing a laptop, and the upcoming Surface Pro 10 could be my new temptation.

Microsoft's Surface Pro range isn't famous for affordability, and its ARM variants are the most expensive of all. A more realistic option will likely feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus platform, a step down from its upcoming high-end X Elite ARM64 processors, set to appear in a massive variety of branded OEMs. Whether I end up with Lenovo or Dell or stick with a Surface device, one thing is for sure: I won't buy a new PC until I see what Windows on ARM has to offer in this exciting next generation of game-changing hardware.

Microsoft shares temporary fix for Surface Pro X camera bug

sendicott47@outlook.com (Sean Endicott) — Tue, 30 May 2023 15:44:28 +0000

What you need to know

A bug prevents the camera of some Surface Pro X devices from working.
Microsoft has confirmed the issue and shared a mitigation for the problem.
The workaround will be applied to affected systems automatically.
While the workaround will restore camera functionality, it may result in lower quality images and disable some features.

Microsoft Surface Pro X devices recently started running into a bug that can prevent the built-in camera from working. The issue stopped people from using their camera for photos, videos, and signing in through Windows Hello. Microsoft confirmed the issue last week and has since released a temporary workaround.

Affected systems will see the error code "0xA00F4271 (0x80004005)." If you run into that error, your PC should receive the fix automatically. Microsoft explains the situation in a document:

"Microsoft is deploying a critical troubleshooter to mitigate this issue on most affected Windows devices. Troubleshooters are applied automatically and can't be run manually. For more information about troubleshooting, see keep your device running smoothly with recommended troubleshooting."

It's not possible to apply the mitigation manually, except on managed devices, which is probably for the best. Manually applying the mitigation requires editing the registry, which can result in serious issues if done incorrectly.

While the workaround will allow you to use the camera of your Surface Pro X, it's not a perfect fix. Microsoft notes that image quality may be lower, and some features may be disabled:

"This workaround might disable some features of the camera or lower the image quality but should allow the camera to function until the issue is resolved by the device manufacturer with an updated camera driver. An updated driver should restore full camera functionality and the workaround should not need to be undone."

Microsoft is working on a permanent fix for the issue. In the meantime, you can rely on the temporary mitigation or use an external webcam. USB cameras and other external webcams are unaffected by the issue, even if the bug affects your device's built-in webcam.

Surface Pro X cameras aren't working — here's what we know so far

sendicott47@outlook.com (Sean Endicott) — Wed, 24 May 2023 13:44:05 +0000

What you need to know

A bug prevents the camera of the Surface Pro X from working.
The issue stops you from using your camera for photos or video and affects sign-in through Windows Hello with an IR camera.
There is a workaround for the issue, but it requires you to manually change the date and time of your PC.
Update: Microsoft confirmed the issue and is "actively investigating" the bug.

Microsoft Surface Pro X owners are running into a frustrating bug. Affected users are unable to use their PC's camera. People on Reddit and Microsoft's support forums have run into the problem.

The error code "0xA00F4271 (0x80004005)" will appear when someone tries to open the camera app on an affected system. The bug also appears to prevent Windows Hello sign-in with an IR camera from working.

There appears to be a workaround for the bug, though it isn't a perfect solution. Reddit user rRamjet71 shared that you can manually set the date and time of a Surface Pro X to a few days ago to resolve the issue. That's not an option for everyone, however. The Verge's Tom Warren highlighted that authentication to some websites and services could be affected by your PC's date being manually set to a different day.

While it may be frustrating to not have access to your PC's camera, the best option is likely to wait for Microsoft to roll out a permanent fix for the issue.

Reddit user Motor-Roll-1788 shared the following exchange with Microsoft:

"Just got off the phone with a Microsoft troubleshoot person and they confirmed it is a known issue that Microsoft is currently working on and the only way to fix it immediately is if you do a full system reset which deletes all applications and files. He said doing a reset that retains user files does not fix the problem. He advised waiting a few days to see if Microsoft puts out a fix versus doing a full reset unless the cameras are needed immediately."

We'll keep an eye out for official word from Microsoft about the problem and when a fix is available.

The Surface Pro 9 5G is not the Surface Pro X successor I was hoping for

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:00:22 +0000

I've never really been a huge fan of the Surface Pro line. I always preferred the Surface Book or Surface Laptop over the 2-in-1 tablet-first form factor from Microsoft. That was, until the Surface Pro X came along in 2019. The design of the Surface Pro X was the first to really tempt me away from the Surface Book 2 I was using at the time, but it wasn't until 2021 that I finally took the plunge.

Since then, I've used a Surface Pro X for all my light computing needs. Whenever I'm just writing, or doing a bit of traveling, or partaking in a workload that I know Windows on ARM can handle, I'm using the Surface Pro X. I love its thin and lightweight design, with zero seams and excellent battery life. In its platinum colorway, it's arguably the best-designed Surface PC.

So, when the news broke that Microsoft was planning to merge the Surface Pro X with the Surface Pro 9, I was excited. Finally, the Surface Pro X would be getting the recognition it deserves as a "real" Windows PC. On paper, it's a change that makes sense, as it signifies to potential buyers that the Windows on ARM variant isn't something to be skeptical of. It's just a PC, like all the other PCs.

But the reality of merging these two lines is that it's less beneficial for actual Surface Pro X users. Those of us who bought into the Surface Pro X did so not just for the SoC, but for its design, which is still unmatched even by its successor, the Surface Pro 9 5G. The Surface Pro X is still thinner and lighter, with a seamless design compared to the Surface Pro 9.

The design of the antennas on the Surface Pro 9 5G is abhorrent when compared to the antenna design of the Surface Pro X, which looks much cleaner as it's housed in a single plastic strip along the top of the device. Compare that to the several smaller plastic lines that now surround the product on the Surface Pro 9 5G.

You may think these changes are minor, but I disagree wholeheartedly. I think a successor to the Surface Pro X that features a design that is less portable is a crying shame. When compared side by side, the Surface Pro X feels like it's from the future. It feels like the "next generation" of the Surface Pro 9, even though the reality is the opposite.

Surface Pro X (left) and Surface Pro 9 (right) (Image credit: Windows Central)

It's kind of similar to how I feel about the Surface Duo 2 compared to the Surface Duo 1. The Surface Duo 1 is incredibly thin and light, and when compared to the thicker and heavier Surface Duo 2, feels like it's from the future. But the changes made to Surface Duo 2 were arguably needed, whereas I don't think the same can be said for the Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 9 5G.

I've never found the Surface Pro X to have poor battery life or slow performance for the workloads I use it for, nothing that would warrant it being thickened for a bigger battery or better cooling anyway. So I don't see why the Surface Pro 9 5G needs to be the same thickness and weight as the Intel Surface Pro 9.

Even the "seam" for the fan on the Intel version is carried over to the Surface Pro 9 5G, just without the actual vents. It still looks like a seam, so the design is less concise compared to the Surface Pro X. The Surface Pro 9 5G feels bigger and heavier, and I enjoy using it less as a result. It's back to being like the older Surface Pros, which I didn't enjoy.

The Surface Pro X had charm that the Surface Pro 9 5G lacks.

Don't get me wrong, the Microsoft SQ3 is a great upgrade over the SQ2, but I don't think "more performance" is enough reason to change up the perfect design of the Surface Pro X. And I fully admit that these complaints are a serious first world problem, but as someone who bought into the Pro X line for its design, the Pro 9 5G is disappointing.

My ideal Surface Pro X successor would have been something that maintains the same thin and seamless design, but with the more powerful SQ3 and a 120Hz display. That's pretty much all I wanted out of a Surface Pro X with SQ3, but sadly, that's not what we got. We got a bigger, bulkier Surface Pro 9 5G that is more powerful and has better battery life, but as the cost of its futuristic design.

And if you think the Surface Pro X would need to be thicker to house the SQ3 anyway, that might be true. But when I look over the fence into the iPad world, and see Apple fitting a more powerful M2 processor into the body of an 11-inch iPad, that excuse has much less of a leg to stand on.

Surface Pro 9 vs. Pro X: Is it worth the upgrade?

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 15:32:11 +0000

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Microsoft's new Surface Pro 9 has taken the best of the Pro 8 and Pro X to become the most versatile flagship 2-in-1. The design and display are essentially the same as the Pro 8, but it's now available in designated standard and 5G versions with either a Microsoft's SQ3 chip or 12th Gen Intel CPU, and new colors!

Pros

Dedicated Wi-Fi and 5G models
Faster processors, Intel Evo certification
More battery in ARM version
New Sapphire and Forest colors
Same beautiful design

Cons

Thicker than Surface Pro X
Heavier than Surface Pro X

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Microsoft's Surface Pro X has been replaced by the Surface Pro 9, but that doesn't mean it's no longer a great 2-in-1 Windows PC. It's still the thinnest and lightest Surface Pro you can buy today, and offers good battery and LTE.

Pros

Lightweight
Thinner than Surface Pro 9
Optional LTE available
Models are now discounted

Cons

Performance is mediocre
Cheaper than Pro 9
Only 60Hz display
Black model is very fingerprinty

Microsoft has just announced the brand new Surface Pro 9, which incorporates both Intel and ARM versions of the Surface Pro for the first time. Gone is the Surface Pro X line, now folded into the Surface Pro 9 as the "Surface Pro 9 with 5G." So, considering the Surface Pro 9 is now a direct successor to the Surface Pro X, how do they compare, and is the older Surface Pro X still a good buy?

Let's first take a look at the specs and compare both the Intel and ARM versions of the Surface Pro 9 directly with the Surface Pro X.

Specs
	Surface Pro 9	Surface Pro 9 with 5G	Surface Pro X
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home
Processor	12th Gen Intel, Intel Evo	Microsoft SQ3	Microsoft SQ1
	Core i5-1235U, Core i7-1255U		Microsoft SQ2
RAM	8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe	Microsoft SQ3 Adreno 8CX (Gen 3)	Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685
			Microsoft SQ2 Adreno 690
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
	Removable SSD	Removable SSD	Removable SSD
Display	13 inches, 2880x1920 (267 PPI), touch, 3:2 aspect ratio	13 inches, 2880x1920 (267 PPI), touch, 3:2 aspect ratio	13 inches, 2880x1920 (267 PPI), touch, 3:2 aspect ratio
	Up to 120Hz (dynamic refresh rate), Dolby Vision	Up to 120Hz (dynamic refresh rate)	60Hz
Pen	Surface Slim Pen 2 (Sold separately)	Surface Slim Pen 2 (Sold separately)	Surface Slim Pen 2
Ports	Two Thunderbolt 4, Surface Connect	Two USB-C 3.2, NanoSIM, Surface Connect	Two USB-C 3.2, NanoSIM, Surface Connect
Audio	Dual 2W speakers, Dolby Atmos, dual far-field mics, Voice Clarity	Dual 2W speakers, Voice Clarity, Windows Studio Effects, dual far-field mics	Dual 2W speakers, Dolby Audio, dual far-field mics
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, NanoSIM, eSIM, 5G, mmWave, Sub-6	Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera	Front-facing 1080p, IR camera, rear-facing 10MP (4K video)	Front-facing 1080p (Windows Studio Effects), IR camera, rear-facing 10MP (4K video)	Front-facing 5MP (1080p), rear-facing 10MP (4K video)
Security	TPM 2.0, Windows Hello IR camera, Windows 11 Secured-core PC	Microsoft Pluton, Windows Hello IR camera, Windows 11 Secured-core PC	TPM 2.0, Windows Hello IR camera
Battery	Up to 15.5 hours	Up to 19 hours	Up to 15 hours
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches
	(287mm x 208.3mm x 9.4mm)	(287mm x 208.3mm x 9.4mm)	(287 mm x 208 mm x 7.3 mm)
Weight	1.94 pounds (879g)	mmWave: 1.95 pounds (883g)	1.70 pounds (774g)
		Sub-6: 1.94 pounds (878g)
Color	Platinum, Graphite, Sapphire, Forest	Platinum	Platinum, Graphite

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 X is already available and can be found for less than $800 these days.

Design and features

Surface Pro 9 (Image credit: Future)

The Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 9 feature very similar designs. They are the same shape and size, with the only key difference between them being that the Surface Pro X is thinner at 7.3mm, compared to the Surface Pro 9 at 9.4mm. That's quite the difference, and something you'll definitely notice when looking at and holding the device.

What's more, the Surface Pro X is also considerably lighter, coming in at just 1.7lbs compared to the Surface Pro 9's 1.95lbs. It's a small difference on paper, but one you will notice when comparing them side by side. Luckily, these are the only notable differences in design. Everything else is the same, meaning Microsoft's first-party Type Cover accessories will work across both Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 9 devices.

The new Surface Pro 9 with 5G has a more advanced NPU, which offers features such as system-wide camera and microphone effects such as portrait background blur, voice clarity and focus, eye correction, and automatic framing. Surface Pro X can only do eye correction.

Display

Surface Pro 8 (Image credit: Future)

The displays on both the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro X are both very similar and also quite different. They feature the same size and resolution at 13-inches 2880 x 1920, which offers a crisp 267 PPI for clear text and images. The differences come in refresh rate, which is a noticeable difference when compared side by side.

The new Surface Pro 9 features a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz, compared to the Surface Pro X which features a fixed refresh rate at 60Hz. This means that the Surface Pro 9 looks and feels smoother to use, most noticeably when scrolling webpages and inking. The Surface Pro 9's display is also more energy efficient thanks to its dynamic refresh rate that can scale down when needed.

The Surface Pro X's refresh rate is locked at 60Hz the whole time, regardless of what you're doing. On its own, this isn't a bad thing. Most PC displays are 60Hz, and if you've never experienced a 120Hz display panel before, you're not going to miss it. However, if you are familiar with 120Hz displays, you'll immediately notice how much slower and less smooth the Surface Pro X's display is.

Another difference between the Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 9 is with support for pen haptics. The Surface Pro 9 features full support for the Surface Slim Pen 2's haptic motor, but the Surface Pro X doesn't. You can still use the Surface Slim Pen 2's pen on the Surface Pro X, you just won't get any of the haptic feedback bumps when using it.

Performance

Surface Pro 9 (Image credit: Microsoft)

Performance is going to be one of the bigger differences between the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro X, especially if you are comparing the Intel variant. Intel 12th-gen delivers over 50% more performance compared to the Surface Pro X's Microsoft SQ1 and SQ2 ARM chip, but that extra power comes at the cost of power efficiency.

The Surface Pro 9 with 5G, with its Microsoft SQ3 chip, is more comparable to the older Surface Pro X. Even still, the Microsoft SQ3 offers a huge 85% performance boost over the SQ1 and SQ2 found in the Surface Pro X, thanks to a newer 5nm SoC design from Qualcomm.

Now, that's not to say the SQ1 and SQ2 found in the Surface Pro X are bad. While it's certainly not a performance machine, the Surface Pro X is still great for day-to-day productivity usage, including using Office, browsing the web, checking email, listening to music, and watching videos.

If you want to do any creative work, we'd recommend spurging for the Surface Pro 9 with 5G at least, or if you want to go all out with 4K video editing, the Intel versions will be the one to get.

Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 9 brings new performance hardware, new 5G model with SQ3 processor, and new color options for the aluminum chassis.

Surface Pro X

The Surface Pro X is no longer the newest 2-in-1 on Microsoft's roster, but it's still a fine PC that will likely get more affordable as it's replaced by the Pro 9.

Microsoft to merge Surface Pro X ARM and Surface Pro 9 Intel versions under one product line

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 20:16:11 +0000

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.

Been hearing from my sources for a while now that MS is planning to merge the Surface Pro X under the main Surface Pro line this fall, meaning the Surface Pro "9" will be available in both Intel and ARM flavors for the first time. Big milestone for WoA!August 28, 2022

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.

Save big on my favorite Microsoft PC, the Surface Pro X, which is $200 off right now (or save even more with this trick)

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 21:39:15 +0000

The Surface Pro X is the Surface I prefer to use when I’m not in front of my desktop PC. It’s slim, light, has excellent speakers, has one of the best webcams around, doesn’t get hot (no fans!), and has optional 4G LTE, so you’re always online.

Microsoft is currently running a big sale on Surface Pro X with $200 off the entry-level model. That version has 8GB of RAM, 128GB of SSD storage (user upgradeable!) and is Wi-Fi-only bringing the price down to just $699 (versus $899 usually).

If you need more RAM, the 16GB model (with 256GB of storage) is $1,099, which is $200 off its regular price.

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

New Surface Pro X | ~~$699.99~~ Save up to $300 at Microsoft

If you want a brand-new Surface Pro X, Microsoft is currently selling it for at least $200 off the regular price, but you could save $300 on the top-tier model, too. View Deal

Unfortunately, nearly all the 4G LTE models are sold out except for the top-tier model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The good news is that the model is $300 off, bringing the price down to $1,349.99 instead of $1,649.99.

But if you want to save even more money, you could hit Amazon, which has many refurbished models (aka “Renewed”). For instance, you could get the version with 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and 4G LTE (with Windows 10 Home, upgradeable to Windows 11) for just $678!

Brand-new, that version of Surface Pro X is $1,450, so it’s over half off.

Refurbished Surface Pro X | ~~$879~~ $678 at Amazon

If you're OK with a "renewed" (refurbished) Surface Pro X, you could get the perfect model with 16GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and 4G LTE for just $678, which is over half off the retail price!View Deal

Surface Pro X has two Type-C ports, an 11MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing full HD cam, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and an excellent 13-inch PixelSense display with 2880x1920 (267 PPI) resolution. It also weighs 1.7 pounds (774g), making it light to carry, partly because it’s only 7.3mm thin.

Surface Pro X is powered by Microsoft’s SQ1 processor, a variant of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 1 ARM CPU. That CPU means excellent battery life and no fans to keep it cool.

So, if you need or just want a Surface Pro X, now is the time to get one if you’re on a budget or looking for savings. It makes an excellent couch device or something to take to the coffee shop to read, browse the web, take care of email, or write that novel you always talked about. Don’t forget to get the Surface Type Cover (and Surface Slim Pen), too!

For more deals, check out our Prime Day blog.

Windows Central Podcast 266: Surface Duo 2, Pro X and Pro 9, Laptop Go 2

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:35:43 +0000

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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Hosts
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Make this show great by participating!
Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:
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Microsoft should merge the Surface Pro X with the Surface Pro 9 this fall

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 16:00:02 +0000

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

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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:

Processor	RAM	Storage	Price
Microsoft SQ3 (no LTE)	8GB	128GB	$999
Intel Core i5	8GB	256GB	$1199
Microsoft SQ3 (with LTE)	16GB	256GB	$1299
Intel Core i5	16GB	256GB	$1399
Intel Core i7	16GB	256GB	$1599

... 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?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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.

Save $300 on the Surface Pro X with Wi-Fi and LTE today at Best Buy

jd.levite@futurenet.com (John Levite) — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 14:20:01 +0000

Grab the Microsoft Surface Pro X with Wi-Fi and 4G LTE on sale for $1,149.99 through Best Buy. This is Best Buy's featured Deal of the Day, which means the price is only temporary. You're saving $300 off the regular price, and you can still find it going for that much elsewhere like at Microsoft. The non-LTE versions of the Pro X are discounted at Microsoft, though, so you have some other ways to save if you're interested.

Microsoft Surface Pro X LTE | $300 off

A version of the Surface Pro X that isn't on sale anywhere else. You get a 13-inch touchscreen, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It has both Wi-Fi and LTE, and the savings are big enough you can use that to get yourself a type cover.View Deal

We reviewed the Surface Pro X and gave it 4 stars out of 5 with a Recommended badge. Daniel Rubino said, "Overall, I still love Surface Pro X, and it is my go-to PC when I'm not at a desktop."

This version comes with 16GB RAM, a 256GB solid state drive, and the Microsoft SQ2 processor. It has a 13-inch touchscreen with 2880 x 1920 pixel resolution and two USB-C ports for fast data transfer speeds. Of course you can choose between speedy Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, or LTE Advanced Pro for wireless connectivity, letting you get online from basically anywhere.

It also has a fantastic battery life that can last up to 13 hours. Recharge it really fast, too, and get up to 80% back in just under an hour. Instant On and other features help improve the battery standby, so you don't drain power when you're away.

The Pro X also has a front-facing camera with 5MP and a rear-facing 10MP camera. They both have 1080p resolution. Participate in remote meetings or capture special moments on video. Do both at the same time if you want.

Don't forget that while this doesn't come with the Signature Type Cover, you can get one at Best Buy for less than the amount you're saving with today's deal.

Microsoft Surface Pro X adds support for new Type Cover with firmware update

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:21:36 +0000

What you need to know

A firmware update for the Wi-Fi-only Surface Pro X recently rolled out.
The update improves system stability, enables support for the new Surface Type Cover, and updates the device in a few other areas.
The update for the Wi-Fi-only Surface Pro X is the same one that shipped to LTE versions of the device in February 2022.

Microsoft started shipping a firmware update for the Wi-Fi-only Surface Pro X earlier this week. The update brings several improvements as well as support for the new Surface Type Cover.

Here are all of the changes in the update:

Improves system stability and resolves system bugcheck.
Improves Camera performance.
Enables support for new Surface Type Cover.
Improves integration with Surface Dock 2.
Improves trackpad accuracy.
Improves Bluetooth performance.

If you're an expert on Surface Pro X firmware updates, you'll notice that the changelog for the recent update for the Wi-Fi-only model is identical to the list of changes the LTE versions of the device received last month.

Updating to the most recent firmware required extra steps for the LTE versions of the Surface Pro X in February. That is not the case for the Wi-Fi-only model of the 2-in-1.

Microsoft outlines the specific driver versions and device managers in a changelog for the update.

Surface updates are released in stages, so you may not be able to grab the latest firmware right away. The update started shipping on March 14, 2022, so you should receive it in the near future if you haven't already.

Microsoft notes that you should install all optional updates after you have finished installing the latest firmware on your device.

Microsoft Surface Pro X on sale for up to $150 off at Best Buy

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:45:58 +0000

Microsoft's Surface Pro X is one of the best Windows tablets, and right now you can pick one up for as much as $150 off through Best Buy. There are discounts on all Surface Pro X models, though how much you save depends on the version you order. The Surface Pro X with an SQ1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage is down to $800, which is $100 off its normal price. The highest-end model with an SQ2 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage ($1,500) is $150 off.

The Surface Pro is a thin convertible 2-in-1 that can stay connected to the internet through LTE. It features a 13-inch display that's surrounded by thin bezels. The design of the Surface Pro X is so liked, that Microsoft decided to emulate it when creating the Surface Pro 8.

Save on Surface Pro X

Microsoft Surface Pro X | Up to $150 off

Microsoft's Surface Pro X is a thin convertible 2-in-1 that gets good battery life. It's a versatile device that works with a detachable keyboard and the Surface Pen. Right now, you can pick one up for as little as $800 at Best Buy.View Deal

Note that this deal on the Surface Pro X does not include a keyboard. Microsoft makes a couple of keyboards that work with the Surface Pro X, the most affordable of which costs $140.

While the Surface Pro X is a well-reviewed tablet, it does have some limitations due to it being a Windows on ARM PC. The 2-in-1 can run many of the best Windows apps, but some of the applications will have to run through emulation. It's important to ensure that the Surface Pro X is able to run the apps you need before purchasing the device.

What to expect from Microsoft's fall 2021 Surface hardware event

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:00:00 +0000

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

Source: WindowsUnited (Image credit: Source: WindowsUnited)

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

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

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

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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...

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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 Surface Pro 7 vs. Surface Pro X: Which should you buy?

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 18:00:02 +0000

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Powerful Surface 2-in-1

The Surface Pro 7 hasn't seen a huge physical change from the Pro 6, though it now has a USB-C port. Inside, 10th Gen Intel Core "Ice Lake" processor (CPU) options are available, which deliver improved performance and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. The display isn't as big and battery life won't match up compared to the Pro X, but you can get a baseline Pro 7 for less money.

Pros

10th Gen Intel Core CPUs available
Works with Wi-Fi 6
Cheaper starting price
Up to 1TB storage
Intel Iris Plus Graphics are relatively powerful

Cons

Smaller display
Less battery life
No LTE connectivity

Microsoft Surface Pro X

ARM-powered Pro

The Surface Pro X is Microsoft's thinnest Pro to date, but it does come at a higher starting price. It's powered by a custom Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2 CPU with Adreno 685 or 690 graphics (GPU) for ARM power and better battery life. You don't get Wi-Fi 6, but LTE connectivity means you can stay in touch anywhere. Add the Surface Slim Pen and Type Cover to the mix for an overall stellar device for creatives on the move.

Pros

Adreno GPU with 2 teraflops
LTE connectivity standard
Two USB-C ports
Thinnest and lightest Pro yet
Smart design with new Surface Slim Pen

Cons

No Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
ARM has some limitations
More expensive to start
No 3.5mm audio jack

The Surface Pro 7 is a continuation of the Pro design we've come to know and love, albeit with a few minor changes. On the other hand, the Surface Pro X is a significant departure, as it's the first ARM-powered Pro we've seen. It's built for a different usage scenario despite following similar design cues, and it was announced alongside a new Surface Slim Pen and Type Cover combination.

There's now the Surface Pro 7 Plus for Business, which adds optional 4G LTE, 11th Gen Intel Core CPU and Iris Xe integrated graphics, and longer battery life. Although I'll still be focusing on the standard Pro 7, you can check out our Surface Pro 7 Plus vs. Surface Pro 7 comparison to see all the major differences.

And there's also the SQ2 version of the Surface Pro X released late 2020. Aside from the upgraded ARM CPU, there's a new platinum color scheme, more colors for the Type Cover, and some general advancement in ARM and Windows. Both SQ1 and SQ2 models are still readily available to buy from Microsoft and other major retailers.

Let's take a look at the specs that make up these two devices.

Surface Pro 7 vs. Surface Pro X tech specs

	Surface Pro 7	Surface Pro X
OS	Windows 10	Windows 10
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 Core i5-1035G4 Core i7-1065G7	Microsoft SQ1 Microsoft SQ2
RAM	4GB, 8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB SSD
Display size	12.3 inches Touch	13 inches Touch
Display resolution	2736x1824 267 PPI	2880x1920 267 PPI
Aspect ratio	3:2	3:2
Graphics	Intel UHD (i3) Intel Iris Plus (i5, i7)	Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685 SQ2 Adreno 690
Ports	USB-C 3.1 USB-A 3.5mm audio Surface Connect microSD card reader	Two USB-C Surface Connect nano SIM
LTE	No	Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE modem
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.0
Camera	Front-facing 5MP (1080p) Rear-facing 8MP (1080p)	Front-facing 5MP (1080p) Rear-facing 10MP (4K video)
Biometrics	IR camera	IR camera
Battery	Up to 10.5 hours	Up to 13 hours
Dimensions	11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches (292mm x 201mm x 8.5mm)	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)
Weight	From 1.7 pounds (775g)	From 1.7 pounds (774g)
Color	Platinum Matte Black	Platinum Matte Black

Design and features

If you're familiar with the previous generations of the 2-in-1 Pro lineup, not much has changed for the Pro 7. It still has the folding kickstand on the back, a unibody aluminum design, and it includes an IR camera for Windows Hello. It's so similar that you will be able to use older Type Covers and Surface Pens with the Pro 7, potentially saving you a good chunk of money if you're upgrading.

The Surface Pro X, on the other hand, has a thinner chassis that's lighter than Core i7 models of the Pro 7. It still has a kickstand on the back for propping up the tablet, and it works in tandem with a new style keyboard that has a storage bay for the new Surface Slim Pen you can buy separately.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

For ports, the Pro 7 now includes USB-C instead of Mini DisplayPort, allowing more versatility while still offering external display support. The Pro X has two USB-C ports, but it doesn't have USB-A for your older devices. Both 2-in-1s have the proprietary Surface Connect port, and both have a Surface Keyboard connector. One thing that's irksome is a lack of 3.5mm audio jack on the Pro X; Microsoft has already put out a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, so you'll have to jump on the dongle wagon if you'd like to use wired headphones.

There's no LTE connectivity for the Pro 7 (you'll have to go with the Pro 7 Plus for that), though it does offer Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for blazing wireless speeds. The Pro X is stuck on Wi-Fi 5, which is what we're used to, but it does have support for both physical (Nano SIM) and eSIM to keep you connected when out of Wi-Fi range.

The front-facing cameras are similarly 5 megapixel (1080p) on both models, though the rear-facing cameras differ. The Pro 7 has an 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p video, while the Pro X has a 10-megapixel camera capable of 4K video. If you're concerned with capture quality, the Pro X will no doubt be the better choice.

Display and inking

Nothing has changed for the Surface Pro 7 in the touch display department compared to the Pro 6. It's sized at 12.3 inches with a 2736x1824 resolution and 267 PPI, with a boxy 3:2 aspect ratio that's ideal for a tablet. It works with the Surface Pen for a quality inking experience with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support for shading. To keep the Pen nearby, it clips magnetically onto the side of the tablet.

The Pro X has shaken things up when it comes to the touch display. The chassis has almost the same footprint as the Pro 7's, but the screen has had its bezel shrunk to accommodate more screen real estate. The result is a 13-inch display with 2880x1920 resolution and 267 PPI. It has the same 3:2 aspect ratio and ultimately will offer about the same experience as you'll get with the Pro 7.

However, the Surface Slim Pen has a storage bay built into the attachable keyboard, where it will charge while not in use. If you're sick of your Pen falling off your Pro while in your bag, the Pro X's setup will be a welcome change. Note that the Slim Pen should work with other Surface devices.

Performance

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

The Surface Pro X is the first ARM-powered Pro device to hit the market. The original models have inside a custom 7nm Microsoft SQ1 7W CPU. It is essentially a suped-up Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx complete with eight cores, 3GHz clock, and custom Adreno 685 graphics (GPU), able to power dual 4K external displays. There's also now the SQ2 version that gives a slight boost to performance. When I say slight, I mean slight. If you already have a Pro X with SQ1 CPU, the upgrade is certainly not worth it.

The GPU delivers 2 teraflops of power — the original Xbox One had 1.3 teraflops — but it's not exactly meant for gaming. OpenGL games won't work on ARM, and the device is ultimately suited best for web and scripted apps. UNITY and Unreal engines are getting ARM support, though, so we could begin to see some very good mobile games for the Pro X in the future. The Pro X isn't a gaming laptop, but it can certainly keep up with Intel's integrated graphics.

Intel Iris Plus Graphics in Core i5 and Core i7 Surface Pro 7 models will be able to handle light to medium gaming, but likewise don't expect it to perform as a gaming juggernaut. One thing to keep in mind is the arrival of Project xCloud, Microsoft's upcoming game-streaming service. With a fast, steady internet connection, both the Pro 7 and Pro X could be used for a quality gaming experience.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

Device	CPU	Single-core	Multi-core
Surface Pro X	SQ2	798	3,100
Surface Pro X	SQ1	725	2,819
Surface Pro 7	i5-1035G4	1,191	4,441
Surface Pro 6	i7-8650U	1,113	3,519
Surface Pro 6	i5-8250U	904	3,440
Surface Laptop 3	Ryzen 5	769	2,720

PCMark

PCMark 10

Device	Score
Surface Pro X SQ2	5,088
Surface Pro X SQ1	4,617
Surface Pro 7 i5	3,992
Surface Pro 6 i7	3,644
Surface Pro 6 i5	3,501
Surface Laptop 3 15	4,006

On the CPU side you will see some limitations in the ARM-powered Pro X, but in just about all cases you're going to be able to use your favorite software. And in terms of raw power, the SQ1 and SQ2 CPUs easily beat an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U. They just won't beat out the 10th Gen chips in the Pro 7. Battery life hits eight hours regularly in the Pro 7, while the Pro X hits about 10 hours using ARM64 and UWP apps. It falls to about seven or eight hours if emulating 32-bit x86 apps.

RAM in both devices runs up to 16GB of LPDDR4x. You can go as low as 4GB of RAM in the Pro 7 to save money, while the Pro X drops down to 8GB. For storage, the Pro 7 goes up to a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD), while the Pro X maxes out at 512GB. However, storage on the Pro X can be removed without having to pull apart the entire chassis, something that's not possible on the Pro 7.

Price

Looking at Microsoft, prices for the Pro 7 start at $750. These baseline configurations include an Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, and do not include a Type Cover or Surface Pen. A decked-out model with Core i7-1065G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD runs at about $2,100, making it considerably more expensive than the Pro X.

There are several variants of the Surface Pro X available to buy, including an introductory $850 model with SQ1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD. Bumping storage up to a 256GB SSD raises the price to about $1,000. Moving up to SQ2 models, you're looking at about $1,200 for a model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. A high-end model with SQ2 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD costs about $1,500.

Keep in mind that other retailers will likely have different prices, so you might be able to snag either device for even cheaper during a sale.

Go with the Surface Pro 7 for the best performance

The 10th Gen Intel Core "Ice Lake" CPUs available in the Pro 7 are going to be hard to beat in terms of raw performance, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics are no joke either. Add up to 1TB of storage space and enjoy Wi-Fi 6 wireless speeds. You won't get LTE here and battery life won't be quite as good, but the Pro 7 is a more traditional device that comes at a cheaper starting price. If neither of these devices are really to your liking, head over to our roundup of the best Windows laptop options.

Powerful Surface 2-in-1

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 2-in-1

10th Gen Intel CPUs and Wi-Fi 6

The Surface Pro 7 has been refreshed with 10th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 "Ice Lake" CPU options for improved performance, and it offers USB-C for added connectivity.

Stick with the Surface Pro X for ultimate portability

The ARM-powered Surface Pro X won't match up performance-wise with the higher-end Pro 7 models, but LTE connectivity, longer battery life, and a slimmer body make it easy to take with you wherever you go. A smart new storage system for a slimmer pen is an attractive addition, and two USB-C ports offer decent connectivity.

ARM-powered Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro X 2-in-1

Thinnest Surface Pro yet

Powered by a custom SQ1 or SQ2 CPU, powerful Adreno 685 or 690 GPU, and with LTE connectivity, the thinnest Surface Pro yet is able to keep up with a mobile lifestyle.

paint.net alpha boosts performance on Surface Pro X and other Windows 10 on ARM PCs

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 11:16:14 +0000

What you need to know

The alpha version of paint.net now natively supports ARM64.
Its recent update also improves the speed of the Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools.
The app is also moving to a web installer, which helps ensure PCs install the correct version.

The popular creative app paint.net now natively supports ARM64. Previously, the app would run in emulation on devices like the Surface Pro X and HP Elite Folio. The move to ARM64 is only available for alpha testers at the moment but should bring improved performance on Windows 10 on ARM PCs.

Its recent update brings paint.net alpha to build 7894. It includes a long list of features and improvements, including faster Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools. The app's author, Rick Brewster, says that he's "spent some time optimizing the snot out of the Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools."

This update also moves to self-contained deployment, which means people don't have to install .NET anymore. All needed components are now bundled with the app. This shouldn't result in any changes in functionality, but it simplifies some things for app installation.

Brewster is also testing a web installer. This has a few benefits, the most notable of which is that it ensures people with Windows 10 on ARM PCs get the ARM64 version of the app.

Here are all of the changes compared to the previous alpha build of paint.net:

Improved performance of the Magic Wand tool by a substantial amount overall
Improved performance of the Paint Bucket tool by a substantial amount overall
Improved performance of the Paint Bucket when changing the color or certain other toolbar settings by not recalculating the stencil buffer for the filled area. Changes should now be reflected immediately.
Improved: Plugins are now loaded into isolated AssemblyLoadContexts, which improves stability and resiliency to various problems with versioning, loading dependencies, or incorrect installation.
Fixed a rendering bug in the Gradient Tool, first reported here: https://forums.getpaint.net/topic/118486-paintnet-43-alpha-build-7881/?do=findComment&comment=585139 (regression from 4.2.16)
Fixed a crash when trying to draw a fixed-size rectangle selection that was larger than the image
Fixed a crash with the Shapes dropdown, which was due to a bug in WinForms
Fixed a bug with the Tolerance slider where both 58% and 59% would be displayed as 58%, due to a rounding issue. The correct value was actually being used, it just wasn't being displayed correctly.
Added a /disablePlugins command-line argument to aid in troubleshooting various issues with app startup and incorrect plugin installation
Changed: The requirement to have SSSE3 on x86/x64 has been reverted to just SSE2. However, CPUs without SSSE3 are no longer being optimized for and will run slower as a result.
Updated the bundled AvidFileType plugin to v1.1.15.0, courtesy of @null54, which includes support for multi-layer AVIF files. See the project's GitHub Releases page for more information.

If you're updating from version 4.2.16, you'll see the following changes:

New: The app has been migrated to .NET 5, and performance has been greatly improved as a result.
New: ARM64 is now natively supported
Installation is much faster now due to no longer needing the "Optimizing performance for your system" stage (NGEN has been replaced with ReadyToRun via crossgen).
Portable ZIPs are now officially available, utilizing self-contained deployment, and do not require the installation of .NET 5. You must manually update to newer versions of the app, however.
Improved performance of most effects and other compute-intensive tasks by about 20% on average, due to .NET 5's improved code generation
Improved: Many areas of the app have been optimized to use SIMD (SSE2/3/4.1, AVX2) on x86/x64
Drawing on an image with a large number of layers is faster
Drawing with the Gradient Tool's alpha mode is faster
Drawing with the Recolor tool is faster
Drawing with the Erase or Clone Stamp tool is faster when using a color whose alpha value is less than 255
Drawing with the Overwrite blend mode is faster
Drawing with the Shapes tool is faster, due to improved compositing performance
Drawing with a brush tool without antialiasing is faster
Tile compression has lower overhead due to being optimized for SSE2 and AVX2
Working with complex selections is faster
Many other optimizations all throughout the application and rendering engine
Improved: Selection antialiasing quality is now better by way of using a 4×4 super sampling filter instead of 3×3. The code has also been optimized to use SSSE3 on x86/x64.
Improved: Performance should be significantly better on systems without HyperThreading (by reserving 1 core for the UI), and also a bit better on systems with it (by utilizing more of the logical cores)
Improved: Effect and File Type plugins can now be organized into folders — the plugin loader will recursively search for DLLs up to 1 folder deep
Fixed a bug in Polar Inversion that was causing hangs
Improved performance of Polar Inversion by 3x, due to the aforementioned bug fix (and a little bit is due to .NET 5)
Fixed: There were some issues with zooming in/out using the keyboard, where the anchoring (centering) point was not calculated correctly, causing the canvas to drift in the wrong direction.
Fixed a bug when saving with "Auto Detect" bit-depth that was causing fidelity loss on some images that already had 256 colors or less. This was reported here: https://forums.getpaint.net/topic/118401-images-already-with-256-or-fewer-colors-being-dithered-when-saved-with-palette/
Changed: A processor that supports SSSE3 (yes 3 S's) is now required for x86/x64 systems (previously only SSE2 was required). All CPUs released since about 2006 (e.g. Core 2 Duo) support this.
Known Issue: Due to crashing, GPU accelerated effects (Gaussian Blur, Motion Blur, Radial Blur) on ARM64 will actually use the CPU for rendering.

A blog post from Brewster explains how to get the latest alpha build. At this time, you cannot get alpha or beta releases of the app through the Microsoft Store.

paint.net

The alpha version of this powerful and free creative app now natively supports Windows 10 on ARM.

Microsoft Office is now 64-bit for Windows 11 on ARM bringing improved performance and better compatibility

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 15:43:43 +0000

What you need to know

The 64-bit version of Office for Windows on ARM is now rolling out to Insiders.
The app uses new technology from Microsoft called ARM64EC, which lets it use x64 plugins and code compiled for Windows on ARM together.
To test Office for Windows on ARM, you need to be an Office Insider and running a preview build of Windows 11.

Windows Insiders can already test out the first preview build of Windows 11. Now, they can get their hands on another preview piece of software from Microsoft, the 64-bit Office for Windows on ARM. The app has been recompiled for ARM architecture, which brings better performance and improved efficiency while using less memory. Microsoft announced the ARM-optimized version of Office last week, but it is now rolling out for testing.

Microsoft explains that the new version of Office should have overall better peformance, handle large documents better on devices like the Surface Pro X, and now work with 64-bit add-ins when compared to the fully-emulated version of Office.

The previous version of Office ran mostly native at 32-bit, with parts of the app presenting itself as x86 for add-ins to work correctly. Today's shift brings Office up to a more modern 64-bit architecture while also being more native for ARM.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Microsoft enabled Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Excel as ARM64 apps. Other Office apps will still run in x64 emulation mode.

The Office apps utilize a new technology from Microsoft called ARM64EC, which stands for ARM64 Emulation Compatible. This technology allows developers to mix and match code that's built natively for ARM64 alongside code that runs in emulation. As a result, apps with dependencies that don't natively support ARM64 can run partly as native apps and partly in emulation.

Office has x64 code and legacy add-ins that aren't built for Windows 11 on ARM. With ARM64EC, Microsoft can rebuild large portions of the app to run natively on ARM devices, while the older components run in emulation.

To test out the new Office apps, you need to run a device with an ARM processor, such as the Surface Pro X or Galaxy Book S. You also need your PC to be on a Windows 11 Insider preview build.

If you have the right hardware running Windows 11, you can then follow these steps:

Uninstall any 32-bit versions of Office you have on your PC.
Install the latest version of Office from office.com (your PC will automatically install the ARM-optimized version of the Office apps).
Join the Office Insider program.
Update your Office apps to the current Beta channel build.

Microsoft has a guide on how to join the Office Insider program if you need more help.

Check out Windows 11 on the Surface Pro X

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:07:45 +0000

What you need to know

A new video from Microsoft shows off Windows 11 on the Surface Pro X.
The video highlights how the new operating system is touch-optimized alongside several new features.
The newly-posted video was also shown during Microsoft's Windows 11 event last week.

Last week when Microsoft unveiled Windows 11, it showed the operating system running on the Surface Pro X during part of the event. That segment focused on how the OS is optimized for touch and showcased several new features. Now, that clip is available from Microsoft on its own. Microsoft also has a blog post discussing how the Surface Pro X works well with Windows 11.

The video appears to be identical to what Microsoft shared during its livestream but is easier to find than having to jump through a 45-minute video.

Windows 11's touch-optimization is a large focus of the video. The presenter detaches the keyboard from the Surface Pro X, and the Taskbar icons space out a bit. Touch targets also get larger, making it easier to resize windows and to move them around.

Swipe gestures work on touchscreens, and they're the same familiar gestures that already work on Windows trackpads. The video highlights how navigating the operating system is easier with touch, including swiping the widgets panel open and into fullscreen mode.

All of these touch-based features should work on any Windows 11 device that supports touch, but the Surface Pro X is a good device to showcase them. Microsoft aims for its Surface products to illustrate what devices running Windows can do.

With its thin bezels, 3:2 aspect ratio, and support for touch and pen, the Surface Pro X is arguably the most modern Surface device. Now, it's been shown off running Windows 11, which aims to be the most modern version of the operating system.

Surface Pro X: How to upgrade the SSD in a few simple steps

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:00:02 +0000

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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:

You want more internal storage
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?

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

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.:

Please also note that the usable space for this drive is 867GB (rest of the space WD already allocated to overprovisioning so it is not accessible by the user. This is done to some extent on all SSDs).

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

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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.

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

Formatusb (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Formatusb (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Formatusb (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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.

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

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Open (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Open (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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:

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Pry (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Remove the old SSD

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Pry (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Remove old thermal paste using rubbing alcohol and Q-Tips

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Paste Old (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Remove the label/sticker from the new SSD

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Sticker (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Paste (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Case Paste (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

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

Pro X Ssd Swap Boot (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

On the next screen, select Recover from a drive

Pro X Ssd Swap Boot (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available

The Surface Pro X may have been superseded by the Surface Pro 9, but it's still an excellent PC with great battery life, and remains the thinnest and lightest Surface Pro on the market currently.

Brydge SPX+ review: Turning your Surface Pro X into a Surface Laptop

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 19:39:29 +0000

When Brydge offered me a review sample for its forthcoming SPX+ Bluetooth keyboard, I was a bit baffled. Why would you want this over the standard Surface Pro X Keyboard or Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle?

My fellow writers pointed out that it turns Surface Pro X into a proper laptop. That refreshed my memory: not everyone loves the Surface Pro 2-in-1 design. Some find it uncomfortable or unwieldy to use in the lap. I am not one of those people, but I see how some could feel that way.

Brydge's new SPX+ keyboard uses Bluetooth 5.0 and an innovative hinge design to make Surface Pro X more like a Surface Laptop. It succeeds, too, with only a few minor considerations that keep it from being perfect. Here is what you need to know and why you may want this rather expensive accessory.

Brydge SPX+

Bottom line: The Brydge SPX+ is not cheap, but its quality, excellent design, and ability to transform Surface Pro X into a new form factor is impressive. Excellent Bluetooth, battery life, trackpad, and typing, make it an easy transition so long as you don't mind the added weight.

Pros

Transforms Pro X into a laptop
Excellent design, sturdy
Good Bluetooth and typing
Wireless Precision Touchpad
Battery lasts a long time (Type-C)

Cons

Expensive
Loses pen silo
Adds bulk and weight

Making a Pro X laptop

Brydge SPX+: What I like

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

The SPX+ for Surface Pro X is one of many Bluetooth keyboards that Brydge makes, including ones for Surface Pro and Surface Go.

The design is simple and to the point. You get a black keyboard in the box with a Type-C cable (no adapter) for recharging the SPX+. Type-C usage here instead of micro USB is very welcomed.

On top, you get a full-sized keyboard that very much looks like the standard Surface one. There is the addition of Bluetooth and dedicated Settings keys. On the bottom, there are rubber feet on all four corners to prevent sliding on a hard surface. The edges nicely taper, sweeping up and away from the bottom. Typing is similar between this keyboard and the official Surface one making, adaptation effortless.

Setup is quick and straightforward. Slide the Surface Pro X into the two hinge areas that grab each side. Next, hold the SPX+'s Bluetooth key to go into pairing mode. Windows recognizes it instantly, and you pair and go. The SPX+ uses Bluetooth 5.0, which is ideal. When you close the Pro X with SPX+, both devices go into sleep mode. Opening them up and hitting any SPX+ key wakes both, and you are instantly reconnected.

The SPX+ offers 180-degree posturing as well. You can use it as a laptop at 90 degrees or lay it completely flat. It is balanced, too, meaning if you open Surface Pro X to 110 degrees, the unit doesn't teeter over. The hinges are stiff, in the right way, and robust. You will need two hands for opening, however.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Once set up, the whole kit feels durable and sturdy. The SPX+ nicely mirrors the size, shape, and weight of Surface Pro X giving the combo a feeling of equilibrium.

The battery is particularly good even with the backlit keys (three-stage). Brydge rates it at 40 hours of usage with the keyboard backlight on the entire time or six-months at two-hours of use per day with no backlight. Over the last week of on and off usage, I did not get below 50 percent battery (which can be checked under Bluetooth connections). Type-C charging makes topping off the power a breeze.

In theory, you may get more battery life out of Surface Pro X since you are not also powering a Surface Type Cover (backlight, connection) any longer. I did not measure that, and I assume it would be minimal (maybe an extra 30 minutes?), but it is a small perk.

Let's talk about typing and trackpad performance. Characteristically, this is where things get dicey as Bluetooth is … Bluetooth. But the SPX+ worked very well. I never had an issue with reconnection, and it all felt very native. That was improved upon by the Microsoft Precision Touchpad. Brydge calls this "the world's first Bluetooth precision touchpad" and even has a patent on it. While it is not as good as a wired/native solution, it is a particularly excellent trackpad. It is smooth, the gestures all worked, and accuracy was precise. You can initially tell that that movement is off by a millisecond, but your brain adapts after some use.

A beefy Pro X

Brydge SPX+: What I don't like

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

The weight of SPX+ is not insignificant. On its own, the SPX+ comes in at 670 grams (1.4lbs). The Surface Signature Type Cover with Surface Slim Pen, by comparison, weighs just 297 grams (0.64lbs). When combined with Surface Pro X, the total weight is 1.45kg (3.2lbs). That's full laptop territory.

The hulking weight is due to the inclusion of a large battery and the aluminum bottom and keyboard frame. The top of the SPX+ is plastic and does not feel as high quality, but Brydge likely did this to lower the overall weight. I'll also add that, for Surface Pro X to not topple over when pushed past 90 degrees, you need the bottom keyboard to act as a counterweight. This keyboard does that very well, which, again, explains the load.

Obviously, with this design, you lose the ability to store the Surface Slim Pen. That's a shame, as it removes one of Surface Pro X's significant benefits. You can still use any Surface Pen, but you'll have to find another way to pack it. On the other hand, if you want to convert Surface Pro X from a 2-in-1 to a laptop, you may not care about pen storage anyway.

Brydge's wireless Bluetooth Precision touchpad is genius, but you can still tell there is a smidge of latency. You get used to it, and this is the best Bluetooth trackpad I have ever used. But if you switch between computers a lot, you will notice the slight difference.

Although you get three-stage backlighting for the keys, it's adequate but not mind-blowingly bright or consistent.

The SPX+ is also not cheap. Microsoft's Surface Pro X Keyboard (without pen) is $139 but often drops to $103. The SPX+, which is metal, Bluetooth, and has a large battery, is $160. I think the price is fair for the product, but it is not the cheapest solution.

Brydge SPX+: Should you buy?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Who it's for

You want Surface Pro X but wish it were a laptop
You don't prioritize pen and inking
You don't mind a heavier device
You want Surface Pro X more "lap-able"

Who it isn't for

You like Surface Pro X light and flexible
You need a way to store Surface Slim Pen
You want the cheapest Surface Pro X setup

I was skeptical of enjoying SPX+. After all, it is heavier and bulkier, plus I was happy with the official Type Cover. But after using it just for a few hours, I began to like it a lot. Every time I turned it on, it just worked. The quality of typing, trackpad, and overall feel are also notable.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

I still feel the top deck could use a little more polish to make it feel higher-end and more lavish, but that is not a showstopper either, as the product works as intended. The battery life is excellent and having a Type-C port means it is simple to recharge. Being Bluetooth, this also means you can detach SPX+ and use it at a distance, which could be useful for some.

If, however, you like the current Surface Pro X design as a 2-in-1 and like the official covers, there is not a whole lot here to sway you to switch. The SPX+ is only for those who want that old-school laptop feel or have issues using a Type Cover in their lap. If you are one of those people, I say go and get the Brydge SPX+ as it succeeds where it intends.

For more ideas, check our best Surface Pro X accessories for additional recommendations.

Brydge SPX+

Bottom line: The Brydge SPX+ is not cheap, but its quality, excellent design, and ability to transform Surface Pro X into a new form factor is impressive. Excellent Bluetooth, battery life, trackpad, and typing, making it an easy transition so long as you don't mind the added weight.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

Bottom line: Refreshed for late 2020 is the new Surface Pro X with the SQ2 processor. A faster CPU, more powerful GPU, improved battery life, x64 app emulation in November (Insiders), and now in platinum, there is a lot to like here. You can even now pick multiple colors for the Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle. Preorder now; get it for October 13th.

Check out Adobe Lightroom on the Surface Pro X (video)

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:43:25 +0000

What you need to know

Adobe Lightroom now runs natively on Windows 10 on ARM devices.
A new video shows how the Surface Pro X handles Adobe Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom was optimized for Windows 10 on ARM at the same time Adobe rolled out support for Apple's M1 processors.

Adobe recently rolled out native support for Lightroom on Windows 10 on ARM devices. This allows the application to take advantage of the hardware of devices such as the Surface Pro X. Now, a video from Ho Young Won shows Adobe Lightroom in action on the Surface Pro X.

Microsoft Surface Pro X is an impressive piece of hardware, but app limitations caused by it running on an ARM processor can hold it back. Microsoft is tackling this in two ways. Microsoft recently rolled out emulation support for 64-bit apps running on Windows 10 on ARM. This allows a wide variety of apps to run on devices like the Surface Pro X that couldn't run on it before. Because it's in emulation, it's not as good as native applications. In comes Microsoft's push to get developers to optimize their apps for Windows 10 on ARM. Adobe is in the process of adopting ARM, and Lightroom recently gained support.

Won's video is on the original Surface Pro X, not the newer model with an SQ2 processor. In his video, Won runs Lightroom through some basic tasks, such as launching the app, importing photos, editing images, and exporting images. Loading images and scrolling looks a bit glitchy, but editing images seems smooth.

Have you used Lightroom on a Windows 10 on ARM device? How did it perform? Let us know in the comments below.

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is one of Adobe's core editing apps. It allows you to make professional-grade edits to images. The app itself is free but requires a paid subscription.

Sleeker Surface

Surface Pro X

On the go

The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.

Benchmarks show Apple M1 runs Windows 10 faster than Surface Pro X

Stephen Warwick — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 12:03:51 +0000

Source: Apple (Image credit: Source: Apple)

What you need to know

An AWS engineer has run Windows 10 on Apple's M1 chip using virtualization software.
Benchmarks reveal that Apple's M1 chip blows the Surface Pro X out of the water when it comes to performance.

An AWS Engineer has run Windows 10 on Apple's M1 Chip using virtualization software, absolutely destroying the Surface Pro X's benchmarks in the process.

As we reported last week:

While it is currently not officially supported by Microsoft, a developer has successfully virtualized the ARM version of Windows on an Apple silicon-based Mac. As reported by The 8-Bit, Alexandar Graf posted on Twitter that he was able to accomplish the feat using the QEMU virtualizer.

Now, benchmarks posted on Thanksgiving weekend show that the benchmarks of the Apple M1 whilst running Windows, and the results are insane.

As reported by ZDNet:

A developer using the handle @imbushuo on Twitter has posted Geekbench versions 4 and 5 scores that compare Windows 10 on Arm on an M1 computer with the Microsoft-made Surface Pro X.Windows on an M1 got a single-core score of 1,288 and multi-core score of 5,685 whereas the Surface Pro X's scores were roughly 800 and 3,000 in those respective benchmarks. Per MSpoweruser, the Surface Pro X benchmark was made using the SQ2 Arm-based chip that was co-developed by Qualcomm and Microsoft for Microsoft's latest Surface Pro X computers.

As the report notes, whilst these results are probably not conclusive, early indications are that Apple's new M1 chips can run Windows on ARM better than Microsoft can, which would be quite something. The full results are included in @imbusho's tweet below:

Some GeekBench* scores, not yet tuned (like topology and whatever) about Windows on M1:
GB5 https://t.co/ifUGPnpTDI
GB4 aa64 https://t.co/jpCfcNlRRc
GB4 XtaJIT (x86) https://t.co/nfUImwJmz8

*: I don’t like GB for technical reasons, but the score is provided for curiositySome GeekBench* scores, not yet tuned (like topology and whatever) about Windows on M1:
GB5 https://t.co/ifUGPnpTDI
GB4 aa64 https://t.co/jpCfcNlRRc
GB4 XtaJIT (x86) https://t.co/nfUImwJmz8

*: I don’t like GB for technical reasons, but the score is provided for curiosity— Sunshine Biscuit at scale 🍪 (@imbushuo) November 28, 2020 November 28, 2020

Apple brings the heat with its M1 ARM processor, but takes different direction than Microsoft

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 22:11:49 +0000

Apple today gave its typical launch event for refreshes to its existing MacBook line of laptops. However, this year was more significant, as Apple finally unveiled its octa-core M1 processor based on the current A14, but with a little extra oomph behind it.

Along with the announcement came the usual hyperbole without any semblance of data or details on what it is being compared to the M1. But there is also little doubt that Apple can deliver some impressive hardware, and the M1 is undoubtedly going to be a fast chip.

Here are a few takeaways from Apple's event and what it means for the broader mobile PC market.

1. New chip, but same old laptop

Source: Apple (Image credit: Source: Apple)

One of the immediate observations from Apple's new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13 is … they're the same laptops as last year.

That's not a critique, however. Apple feels its chips are powerful enough to beat last year's offerings from Intel without disappointing customers. It remains to be seen if that is true, but the strategy is a straightforward swap out. It plays to Apple's strengths.

But Windows on ARM has taken a radically different approach. With a smaller chipset and no need for fans, Microsoft and its partners have used the technology to push the boundary of modern PCs. Surface Pro X is like an iPad Pro that runs Windows; Lenovo's Flex 5G gets 15 hours of battery life and is the first PC in the world with full 5G; Samsung's Galaxy Book S is ridiculously thin and light, etc. Even HoloLens 2 runs on ARM.

A PC like Surface Pro X cannot be made with Intel chips at this time. That is why Microsoft made a whole new device, which is overall better than Surface Pro 7. Microsoft could have gone the lazier route and just made a Surface Pro 7 with ARM, but instead, they chose to deliver a different (and improved) experience.

Neither strategy is better or worse than the other, but it is a difference that is worth noting.

2. Apple M1: But how much faster?

Source: Apple (Image credit: Source: Apple)

Apple played fast and loose with numbers and comparisons between its M1 chip and what we presume is the latest from Intel (and you can't forget AMD).

Apple is hilariously vague in its claims, showing charts comparing its CPU and GPU to the "latest PC laptop chip" (whatever that means). The charts have simple labels of "performance" and "power consumption" with no X or Y-axis values.

Of course, the Apple chip is higher on the chart and has a more pleasing trajectory, but anyone who works with numbers knows that graph is entirely meaningless. The difference could be massive, or it could be tiny – we don't know because not only do we not see the comparison chip, but we don't know how they performed on the test (and which test) or what the actual figures are. That's not science, that's marketing.

I do not doubt Apple's M1 is fast and can compete with Intel 10th Gen, but that is just a benefit of the doubt and not based on any data.

3. 4G LTE and 5G are nowhere to be seen

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Even though Apple ships its iPads with an option for LTE and its new iPhones are 5G-based, these new ARM-based MacBooks do not offer either. It's an odd move, as you would think, with so much extra battery life, improved performance, and the ability to run iOS apps (built for cellular, ahem), Apple would have added non-Wi-Fi connectivity.

Interestingly, Apple's strategy is the exact opposite of Microsoft and its partners. The whole premise of "Always Connected PCs" that run on ARM is, well, the always-connected bit.

Sure, you can buy Surface Pro X and never use cellular data on it, but the value of that device is diminished. The ability to seamlessly be on the internet all the time is the main reason I use ARM-based Windows PCs.

4. Windows on ARM PCs are vastly different from Apple

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Apple knows its audience: self-proclaimed "creatives" who focus on video, multimedia, photos, and some engineering and software development (usually for Apple apps). What's not its strong suit? Business and productivity.

Windows 10 on ARM PCs, generally speaking, support inking, improved battery life, touch displays, and offer 4G or 5G always-on connectivity.

By comparison, Apple's MacBooks with M1 only do one of those things: improved battery life (and likely performance).

That is fine, as many people may not want a touch screen, pen support, or LTE. But for anyone buying a Surface Pro X, those are the reasons.

Of course, with Apple merging everything, perhaps we'll get an iPad Pro that can run macOS apps, completing the strategy. That seems probable.

5. Apple embracing ARM validates Microsoft and Windows on ARM

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Apple implementing ARM-based silicon in its premier laptops won't directly impact Windows on ARM apps. There may be some obscure dev tools that overlap, but for the most part, Apple's announcement does not affect Microsoft.

But there is a more general, almost meta benefit: ARM is justified for use in computers.

Ever since Microsoft announced Windows on ARM support, many naysayers thought it was a fad or an experiment for PC makers. It is not like there isn't some truth to it as NVIDIA Tegra was a thing for a few years with Windows 8 tablet PCs until it wasn't.

Apple embracing ARM for PC does create interest in the ARM architecture beyond smartphone usage. It helps generate consumer interest and knowledge about technology. And it is probably not a stretch to think some Windows PC makers may be eyeing some new laptops to compete with the MacBook Air – after all, they have already been doing that for years.

Today's announcement from Apple is a welcome one for anyone who enjoys "silicon diversity." Google recently updated Chrome OS to support ARM, too, and it is no coincidence that Microsoft was the first four years ago.

Apple and Intel are now in a profoundly serious battle with Qualcomm, who will have to go nuclear on making a competitive chip to stay relevant. It also puts pressure on PC makers to price ARM laptops more competitively.

Let's hope that happens soon because it is clear ARM will play a significant role in mobile computing.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available – now better

Now available

Refreshed for late 2020 is the new Surface Pro X with the SQ2 processor. A faster CPU, more powerful GPU, improved battery life, x64 app emulation in November (Insiders), and now in platinum, there is a lot to like here. You can even now pick multiple colors for the Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle. Preorder now; get it for October 13th.

MacBook Air with M1 processor

Pre-orders are now open for the MacBook Air with M1 chip. The new laptop will begin shipping next week.

Windows Central Podcast 202: Windows 10 'Sun Valley,' Xbox Series X

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:30:45 +0000

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Zac and Daniel look at the future of Windows 10 and discuss the imminent launch of Xbox Series X. Microsoft continues to deliver strong revenue and profitability. That makes Wall Street happy, but their success also fuels product development for enthusiasts like us.

Additionally, Daniel reviews the updated Surface Pro X and shares a new chapter in his Twitter tech-support nightmare.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on October 30th 2020.

Hosts

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

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

Surface Pro X (2020) review: Minor changes for the best ARM PC

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:00:03 +0000

The Surface Pro X arrived late last year as the newest entry to the rapidly growing line of Microsoft-branded devices. With its modern design, decent battery life, 4G LTE, and instant-on abilities, I made no qualms that it was my personal laptop of the year. But while I thought Pro X was nearly perfect, I also noted only for the right customer.

Microsoft is refreshing Surface Pro X for late 2020, and make no mistake, this is a mild iteration from last year. But a lot of progress around Windows 10 on ARM has been made in the previous 12 months, including our first preview of x64 emulation due in November.

What is new with that Microsoft SQ2 processor, and how does Surface Pro X still fair? Here's my review after using it for the last three weeks.

Microsoft Surface Pro X

From $999 Bottom line: Microsoft has refreshed Surface Pro X for late 2020, and while the changes are welcome - new colors, slightly faster processor - the performance of ARM is slipping quickly behind Intel and AMD. But for those who need a 4G LTE, thin-and-light tablet PC that is just a joy to use, nothing beats Surface Pro X.View Deal

To the point

Surface Pro X (2020) What's new

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

There are four main buckets for changes to or with Surface Pro X:

New SQ2 processor
New platinum colorway
More color options for the Surface Pro X Signature Type Cover
General advancements in ARM and Windows

Out of these, it is only the new processor and advancements in ARM that are notable.

Following Qualcomm's somewhat vague announcement of its Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 5G, which now features optional 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and improved performance, Microsoft followed with its SQ2 chip. Both are based on the Kryo 495 CPU from last year and are clocked a tad higher than last year's processors.

Interestingly, the other two features of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 5G announcement – specifically 5G and Wi-Fi 6 – did not make it over to this refreshed Surface Pro X. That is somewhat understandable for 5G, which is still a bit green, and it would likely require a significant redesign of Surface Pro X's antenna system. Nonetheless, it would have been exciting to have as an option. The omission of Wi-Fi 6 is more disappointing and unclear.

I can't think of a single thing that needs improving on Surface Pro X for design.

The new platinum color option, which is only found in the upper two price tiers of Surface Pro X, is outstanding. Gone are the fingerprints the black model was so prone to collecting. And this platinum is very platinum, by which I mean it has such a gorgeous shimmer that is likely attributable to the aluminum chassis. This laptop plays with the light in ways the black model could not.

Name	CPU	RAM/Storage	Price
Surface Pro X	SQ1	8GB/128GB	$999
Surface Pro X	SQ1	8GB/256GB	$1,299
Surface Pro X	SQ2	16GB/256GB	$1,499
Surface Pro X	SQ2	16GB/512GB	$1,799

There are now three new Surface Pro X Signature Type Cover options for color: Platinum, Ice Blue, and Poppy Red matching the Surface Pro 7 line. Each of those keyboards also has the Surface Slim Pen dock built-in for quick and easy access. While not an upgrade, it shows confidence in the product line with Microsoft expanding options for those who want more customization. Compared to last year's black-on-black, these new combos are a breath of fresh air.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Microsoft has also had a nice stream of announcements demonstrating the company's commitment to Windows on ARM. Last year, I lamented there was no version of the new Edge browser compiled for ARM64, though that was resolved a few weeks later. Microsoft Teams is also now optimized for ARM64 delivering improved performance and battery life. Microsoft announced the inclusion of ARM in its growing App Assure program, which helps developers and companies convert and optimize their apps for Windows and ARM-based systems.

Category	Surface Pro X
Operating System	Windows 10 Home on ARM (Consumer) Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial
Display	13-inch PixelSense 3:2 aspect ratio 2880x1920 (267 PPI)
Processor	Microsoft SQ1 Microsoft SQ2
GPU	Adreno 685 Adreno 690
Memory	8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage	128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD (removable)
Rear Camera	10MP autofocus (1080p and 4K video)
Front Camera	5MP (1080p)
Security	Windows Hello face authentication camera
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x nano SIM, 1x Surface Connect, Surface Keyboard connector
Battery	Up to 15 hours typical use
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)
Weight	1.7 lbs (774g) w/o keyboard 2.36lbs (1,074g) with keyboard
Colors	Matte black Platinum
Availability	Oct 13th and beyond
Pricing	Starts at $999 ($1,499 for SQ2)

Microsoft is now preloading Amazon Prime Video and the new Liquid Text app with Surface Pro X. While LiquidText has a free version, the fully-featured app is around $30. While not cheap, it is a great productivity app ported natively to Windows on ARM from the Apple iPad ecosystem. It's a winner.

However, the most exciting news is that in November 2020, Microsoft should give Windows Insiders the first look at x64 emulation on ARM. Currently, Windows on ARM can only emulate x86-32-bit programs, but not 64-bit ones leaving many business and specialized apps unable to run on Surface Pro X, for example, Adobe Photoshop. With x64 emulation, that should solve many of those app incompatibility problems, effectively making ARM the same as traditional x86 systems.

Testing will begin in November, with the commercial release of x64 emulation occurring sometime later in 2021.

Now with more color

Microsoft Surface Pro X design and features

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Despite many exciting laptops in 2020, Surface Pro X still holds its own for style and design. While the aging Surface Pro 7 is always a good alternative, there are simply no convertible-tablet PCs that match the slimness and looks of Surface Pro X.

At just 7.3mm thin, the Surface Pro X feels very much like an iPad Pro — solid, metal, premium, and lean. The Surface Pro 7, by comparison, is a hair thicker at 8.5mm. Weight, however, is similar between both devices at just 1.7 pounds (775 grams).

Audio is excellent, thanks to the dual front-facing speakers. They are loud and vibrant and are remarkably similar to the Apple iPad and iPhone sound profile.

Ports are sparse with just two USB Type-C, either of which can be used for charging, data, or display out. Neither are Thunderbolt 3. There is no Type-A port, so users will need a dongle (not included). While the lack of a micro SD card reader is unsurprising, the omission of a 3.5mm headphone jack is regrettable. Microsoft sells a $12 Type-C to headphone adapter for those who do not want to use Bluetooth.

Bluetooth 5 and the 4G LTE X24 modem provide wireless connectivity. The LTE modem is a world-modem and not carrier- or SIM-locked, and users can sign up for an eSIM within Windows 10 directly. Users can even switch between a physical SIM and eSIM dynamically, which is excellent for traveling.

Below the kickstand, there is a door that pops off using an included SIM tray tool. Below that door is the replaceable M.2 2230 NVMe SSD and nano-SIM card slot for the 4G LTE modem (eSIM is also supported). Smaller M.2 2230 drives are harder to find, but they can be bought inexpensively online, giving users an easy way to upgrade (or replace) storage. Because of this feature, the site iFixit gives the Surface Pro X a favorable rating for repairability.

It's a testament to Microsoft design that I can't think of a single thing that needs improving on Surface Pro X.

Bright and glossy

Microsoft Surface Pro display

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Due to the thinner side bezels, the Surface Pro X gets a larger 13-inch display compared to the 12.3-inch one found on Surface Pro 7. That number may seem small, but it is noticeable, and Surface Pro X is more enjoyable to use because of it.

The 2880 x 1920 resolution gives a pleasing 267 pixel-per-inch (PPI) density. It's a higher resolution than the Surface Pro 7's 2736 x 1820, but its smaller size results in the same 267 PPI as the Surface Pro X.

Last year I could not test color accuracy due to driver incompatibility, but that is changed. Plugging in my Spyder X colorimeter, it suddenly worked – just one of those bits of software coming online for Windows on ARM.

This is an outstanding display that's bright, punchy, and sharp. Plus, those thin bezels.

Microsoft quotes 450 nits of brightness, but I exceeded that with an impressive 487 nits at max and six nits minimum in my tests. By comparison, Surface Pro 7 is below that at 410 nits, although it can go a bit dimmer at just three nits.

Color accuracy is also reasonable at 99 percent sRGB, 74 percent AdobeRGB, and 75 percent DCI-P3. Those are all a hair higher than Surface Pro 7.

Like my criticism of last year's Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7, and Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro X omits wide-color gamut (WCG) abilities, high-dynamic-range (HDR)/Dolby Vision, and anti-glare that other PCs in this price category feature. Surface Pro X lets users switch between an "enhanced" color profile with a more saturated look or a more neutral sRGB mode where color correctness is necessary.

Overall, the display on Surface Pro X is a selling point. It is bright, color-accurate, punchy, sharp, and larger than Surface Pro 7.

Slimming down and hiding away

Microsoft Surface Pro X pen and inking

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

One of Surface Pro X's hallmark features is its Surface Slim Pen, which can be optionally bought with the Signature Type Cover or by itself. Due to its design, it is perfect for those who use the pen all the time and those who barely need it at all. It is just incredible.

The secret is the Surface Slim Pen stows nicely in the Surface Pro X's keyboard deck. Held by strong magnets, the tray also wirelessly recharges the pen when not in use. It's a smart idea — one that lets you forget you even have a pen right up until you need it. Hidden away, it also means you'll never lose the pen in your bag. The magnets are so good that even if you place the pen down incorrectly in the tray, it flips over to make sure it charges.

Functionally, the Surface Slim Pen is the same as the regular Surface Pen. It has a Bluetooth button at one end that also double as an eraser. There are two buttons near the tip for functions that can be assigned.

The Slim Pen and stowaway feature is simply awesome.

Based on Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP), formerly known as DuoSense2 under N-trig, the Surface Slim pen supports tilt and 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels. Because of this, you can use the Surface Slim on other Surface PCs, and the older, regular Surface Pen also works on the Surface Pro X.

For artists, the usual pen jitter still occurs when slowly drawing straight lines.

I had no issues using the Surface Slim Pen for notetaking or marking up documents. While you can use it for drawing and higher-level artistry, I think Microsoft is keener on those using this pen for work-related tasks.

Sadly, the new Surface Slim Pen is not cheap at ~$115. If you buy the Surface Slim Pen separately, you still get a small wireless charging dock for it.

Draw Away

Microsoft Surface Slim Pen

Microsoft's latest Surface stylus

With the launch of the Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7, and Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft redesigned the Surface Pen and threw in some wireless charging for good measure.

Best cameras around

Microsoft Surface Pro X keyboard and cameras

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

The Surface Pro X keyboard is fantastic and familiar to anyone who has used a Surface before. With three-stage backlighting, ample key travel, and a decently sized glass-topped trackpad, the Surface Pro X's keyboard is as good as Surface Pro 7's.

So-called "lapability" may be an issue for those with shorter legs, but I have no problem whatsoever.

Surface Pro X easily has the best webcam on any laptop. Period.

Tiny magnets that help keep the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard closed, which is a nice touch. While you can shake it loose, the magnets help lock the cover to the Surface Pro X's display.

The Surface Pro X cameras are the best of any Surface — and Windows 10 PC — to date. They are marvelous with excellent sharpness and clarity, beating Surface Pro 7 and Surface Book 3. The 5MP full HD front-facing camera with dual Studio Mics ensures exceptional Zoom or Microsoft Teams conference calls. In the rear is an 11MP full HD (1080p) camera with autofocus that's not all that dissimilar to Surface Duo. That's a small bump from the Surface Pro 7's 8MP camera, but it shows when taking pictures of whiteboards for your notes.

One new trick introduced earlier this year is Eye Contact. It's an option found under the Surface app and is off by default. The feature is exclusive to Surface Pro X and is due to the Qualcomm AI chip on board. The technology auto-adjusts your eyes in real-time using the video camera, so it looks like you are looking directly at the person and not down on your screen. While it is a subtle adjustment, it works incredibly well, and with any app that uses video.

Windows Hello — Microsoft's system for bio-authentication and facial recognition — works as anticipated and is fast and accurate. Due to the Qualcomm ARM processor, the Surface Pro X is nearly "instant on" each time you open the keyboard.

Mobile and virtual meetings are a necessity in 2020, and here Surface Pro X shines. If you need to work in your house or take a meeting away from Wi-Fi, there is no better laptop PC than Surface Pro X.

A modest improvement

Microsoft Surface Pro X benchmarks and battery

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Getting to the crux of Surface Pro X (2020) is what is new with the Microsoft SQ2 processor and Adreno 690 GPU (up from an Adreno 685).

The SQ2 does not replace the SQ1 as Microsoft continues to sell that chip in the $999 and $1,299 models. Instead. SQ2 is for the $1,499 and $1,799 editions, which also come in the new platinum color.

The good news is if you have Surface Pro X with SQ1 (or you can only afford that model), you are not missing much. Please make no mistake: SQ2 is faster, but we are talking minor improvements, not generational shifts. The less-than-impressive conclusion is that SQ2 is clocked at 3.15GHz compared to 3.0GHz of SQ1 (and the original Snapdragon 8cx is just 2.85GHz).

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

Device	CPU	Single core	Multi core
Surface Pro X	SQ2	798	3,100
Surface Pro X	SQ1	725	2,819
Flex 5G	SD 8cx	716	2,844
Galaxy Book S	SD 8cx	685	2,681
MagicBook 14	Ryzen 5 3500U	748	2999
Acer Swift 7	i7-8500Y	732	1,106
Surface Laptop 3 13.5	i5-1035G7	1,177	4,413
Surface Laptop 2	i5-8250U	909	3,372
Surface Pro 7	i5-1035G4	1,191	4,441
Surface Pro 6	i7-8650U	1,113	3,519
Surface Pro 6	i5-8250U	904	3,440
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390	i7-1065G7	1,209	3,571

Geekbench 4

Geekbench 4.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

Device	CPU	Single core	Multi core
Surface Pro X (ARM)	SQ2	3,649	12,299
Surface Pro X (x86)	SQ2	2,379	7,422
Surface Pro X (ARM)	SQ1	3,505	11,727
Surface Pro X (x86)	SQ1	2,182	6,822
Flex 5G (ARM)	SD 8cx	3,288	11,139
Galaxy Book S (ARM)	SD 8cx	3,271	11,096
Yoga C630 (ARM)	SD 850	2,287	7,215
Flex 5G (x86)	SD 8cx	2,103	6,681
Galaxy Book S (x86)	SD 8cx	2,032	6,371
Yoga C630 (x86)	SD 850	1,345	3,560
Acer Swift 7	i7-8500Y	2,281	4,905
Samsung Galaxy Book2 (ARM)	SD850	2,262	7,405
Samsung Galaxy Book2 (x86)	SD850	1,345	4,164
HP Envy x2 (ARM)	SD835	2,111	6,314
Surface Go	Pentium	2,078	3,934
Surface 3	Atom x7	1,078	2,777
Surface Laptop 3 13.5	i5-1035G7	5,265	17,345
Surface Laptop 2	i5-8250U	4,203	13,233
Surface Laptop	i5-7200U	3,725	7,523
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390	i7-1065G7	5,459	19,097

PCMark 10

Applications (Higher is better)

Device	CPU	Score
Surface Pro X	Microsoft SQ2	5,088
Surface Pro X	Microsoft SQ1	4,617
Flex 5G	SD 8cx	5,026
Galaxy Book S	SD 8cx	4,308

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

Device	Read	Write
Surface Pro X (SQ2)	2,045 MB/s	810 MB/s
Surface Pro X	2,023 MB/s	832 MB/s
Lenovo Flex 5G	1,913 MB/s	426 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy Book S	1,912 MB/s	425 MB/s
Lenovo Yoga c630	791 MB/s	220 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy Book2	722 MB/s	205 MB/s
HP Envy x2	513 MB/s	197 MB/s
Surface Go (SSD)	1,185 MB/s	133 MB/s
Surface Go (eMMC)	260 MB/s	145 MB/s
Surface 3	149 MB/s	33 MB/s
Surface Laptop 3 13.5	2,338 MB/s	1,583 MB/s
Surface Laptop 3 15	2,028 MB/s	806 MB/s
Surface Laptop 2	1,509 MB/s	811 MB/s
Surface Laptop	486 MB/s	244 MB/s
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390	2,400 MB/s	1,228 MB/s

In 3DMark Night Raid, which runs natively on ARM and pushes the CPU and GPU heavily, Surface Pro X (2020) scored 7,366 while Surface Pro X (2019) 7,085. That's a four percent difference, and in video playback, just a couple of frames-per-second disparity.

The new SQ2 is technically faster, but barely so. It's a bit disappointing.

The Adreno 690 GPU in Surface Pro X is no slouch, either. Surface Pro X (7,366) more than doubles Samsung Galaxy Book2 (2,972). And compared to the Intel Core i5-8250U with Intel UHD 620 (6,517), the Surface Pro X easily topples it by a wide margin.

PCMark 10 Applications (ARM) loops through productivity work using Excel, the web (Edge), PowerPoint, and Word for twenty minutes. Again, the SQ2 (5,078) beats SQ1 (4,523), resulting in a 12 percent improvement in overall performance.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

The app story is still the same from last year, except that Microsoft Teams and Edge are now fully optimized for ARM64. Here is a list of apps I extensively use on Surface Pro X without any problem:

Microsoft Office (Word, OneNote, Excel)
Microsoft Edge
Hulu
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Spotify
VUDU
Disney+
Twitter
Microsoft Teams
Slack (PWA)
Mail (Outlook.com)
Flow Mail (Gmail)
Polarr Photo Editor Pro
Microsoft News
GroupMe
OneDrive
Skype
Microsoft To Do
myTube! (YouTube)
MobileDiscord PTB (Discord)
Unigram (Telegram)
ExpressVPN using manual configuration

Gaming is not out of the question, either. I can play Borderlands 2 (Steam) at ~50+ frames-per-second (FPS) at 1600 x 900. Bumping the resolution to 1920 x 1080 and ~32-40 FPS is very enjoyable, especially when paired with an Xbox controller (Bluetooth). Other games like Dead Cells, Batman: Arkham City, Portal 2, Tesla vs. Lovecraft, Streets of Rogue play simply fine too. Indeed, Surface Pro X's display and audio make this a fun gaming machine if you are OK with older titles, platformers, and 2D fare.

A similar story is found with Geekbench, where SQ2 gets around 300 more points on multi-core performance than SQ1 and Geekbench 4, especially when comparing 32-bit emulation vs. native ARM performance.

For RAM, Surface Pro X ships with either eight or 16GB of LPDDR4x and is quite performant and energy-efficient.

The SSD performance has not changed either, yielding a satisfactory 2,000 MB/s sequential read and ~800 MB/s write transfer rate using CrystalDiskMark.

PCMark 10 Battery (Applications)

Device	Time	Battery
Surface Pro X SQ2	8 hours, 42 minutes	20% left
Flex 5G	18 hours	20% left
Galaxy Book S	11 hours, 11 mins	21% left
Surface Pro X	8 hours, 31 minutes	20% left

Battery life is virtually the same as last year due to optimizations in drivers, Windows 10, and ARM64 applications. On the "recommended" setting, I get 8.5 hours at 200 nits of brightness. You could easily push ten hours in battery saver and lower display brightness. Throwing it on max performance, and I still get over 7 hours. While that is not record-breaking – even for an ARM PC – considering the size and display resolution, it is effectively all-day. The Lenovo Flex 5G gets substantially longer battery life. Still, it achieves that with a dimmer, lower-resolution display, slower processor, and much larger battery, which results in it being a half-pound heavier.

From the data, we can conclude Microsoft SQ2 is a bit faster, and the overall Windows experience feels a smidge zippier. Still, there is a good reason why Microsoft is also not calling this Surface Pro X 2.

Target audience

Surface Pro X: Who is this for?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

As I said in 2019, Surface Pro X is a unique device with a particular target audience. Think of it more like a specialized tool rather than a do-it-all PC. For my job and when I'm not behind a desktop PC, Surface Pro X is my preferred laptop to use, whether it's on the couch, flying, getting away for the weekend, or visiting a friend. I use it all the time.

Microsoft Surface hardware chief Panos Panay said the Surface Pro X is for "a tech-forward, mobile professional". That sounds like corporate marketing jargon, but there is some truth to it. Much of today's workforce is increasingly mobile, relying on a few core productivity-based apps like Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Outlook, web, PDF readers, remote access, VPN, and custom line-of-business (LOB) apps. These workers need something very portable, long battery life, 4G LTE, and instant-on abilities with inking for document management.

Panay says more about who would benefit from the Surface Pro X in 2019:

And so, if you're leaning into tech, and you want something a little bit cutting edge, this is a great product. It's crazy cool. If you work on a train, a bus, a plane, if you're ride-sharing in a car, you like working at the park or at Starbucks, that's a mobile user to me. They use their products everywhere. It's perfect for that.

Some of that has changed in 2020, however. Being mobile and needing 4G LTE is less critical, as so many are now working remotely from home. That will change as the world comes out of the pandemic in 2021. But for now, LTE is less of a selling point. Nonetheless, features like instant-on, all-day battery life, exceptional teleconferencing abilities, and portability make using Surface Pro X for home-work that much more enjoyable. Surface Pro X is essentially an Apple iPad Pro but with Windows 10 and an excellent keyboard.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

If you need a PC that is always on LTE, turns on quickly, and brings the benefits of a 2-in-1 laptop, Surface Pro X solves some problems for you. But if you want PC gaming, the ability to run computer-aided design (CAD) apps, heavy-lifting things like video editing and media creation, then the Surface Pro X creates problems. Knowing where you fall on that spectrum determines if the Surface Pro X is right for you.

Confused? That's understandable. Luckily, Microsoft has a tool to help steer you towards the right Surface.

Looking at the competition

Surface Pro X Alternatives

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

When it comes to Surface Pro X, there are not many alternatives that tick all the same boxes for features, quality, and design. Assuming long battery life and 4G LTE are priorities, Samsung's Galaxy Book S and Lenovo's Flex 5G are worthy alternatives. While neither are as pen-and-tablet focused as Surface Pro X, they tend to get longer battery life, and in the case of the Flex 5G, offer next-gen internet connectivity.

If you prefer going with a traditional Intel x86 processor and want 4G LTE, the HP Elite Dragonfly is an excellent option as well as the highly-praised Spectre x360 13, which is more affordable. For more business folks, Dell's Latitude 9510 is fantastic. All have 4G LTE options and get decent to very good battery life, albeit in a heavier, more traditional laptop form factor.

You can find more recommendations in our Best Windows 10 LTE Laptops 2020 roundup.

Small tweaks

Surface Pro X (2020) Should you buy?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Who it's for

If you want a thin tablet/convertible PC
If you need always-connected 4G LTE, instant-on
If you want a good pen and inking experience
If you prefer thin bezels and a great office productivity device
If you like the iPad but wish it ran Windows

Who it isn't for

If you want to game (without streaming)
If you're looking to stretch your dollar
If you need 64-bit x86 applications like Adobe Photoshop (for now)

Surface Pro X with SQ2 is not an upgrade from last year's model. Instead, it is an attempt by Microsoft to keep its flagship Windows 10 on ARM Surface fresh for 2020. It mostly succeeds, but the new SQ2 processor is more of a footnote than a banner feature. It also does nothing to close the gap with traditional x86 chips.

There's nothing like Surface Pro X on the market, but it's also not for everyone.

That conclusion means if you are a current Surface Pro X owner, upgrading to this "new" version is probably not the best use of your money. The one exception is if you live on the Pro X all day, and you really (and I mean really) want it in platinum. You know what? I don't blame you – this refreshed version is dynamite looking.

Things are much better for those looking to jump on Windows 10 on ARM than when I last reviewed Surface Pro X. Microsoft Edge and Teams are now native for ARM64, helping with performance and battery. App x86-64-bit emulation is right around the corner, which could solve many app compatibility limitations, and there is now a nifty AI-based Eye Contact feature.

There are some unsurprising disappointments too. While 5G is still in its infancy, it would have been a fascinating future-proofing opportunity (see Lenovo Flex 5G). The same goes for Wi-Fi 6, which is another minor but essential upgrade that is missing.

Performance is still reasonable with the Microsoft SQ2, and, for my work, it is all I need. But it is challenging to ignore Intel and AMD, who are making rousing processors in 2020 that genuinely take a massive lead in performance over Qualcomm. While the Snapdragon 8cx is an OK competitor against a two-year-old 8th Gen Intel Core i5, it pales next to an 11th Gen or a Ryzen 4000 series. That's just a fact.

Of course, there cannot be a device like Surface Pro X – super thin and light, no heat or fan, long battery life, and 4G LTE – but powered by an x86 processor. Not yet, at least. And that is what makes Surface Pro X so unique. There's nothing else like it on the market.

Overall, I still love Surface Pro X, and it is my go-to PC when I'm not at a desktop. But Qualcomm needs to start delivering real year-over-year performance gains if it wants to compete against Intel and AMD. Here's hoping we see that in Surface Pro X 2.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle

This bundle includes the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard that features Alcantara and the Surface Slim Pen that charges wirelessly within the keyboard. Previously only in Black, you can now get newer colors like Platinum, Ice Blue, and Poppy Red.View Deal

Surface Laptop Go vs. Surface Pro X: Which is a better buy?

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:00:03 +0000

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go

Portable, Affordable Notebook

The Surface Laptop Go is aimed at those who want a compact notebook built to premium Surface standards. Its display isn't as large or as high-res (with no inking capabilities) and there's no LTE connectivity, but it delivers 10th Gen Intel Core i5 performance and Wi-Fi 6. This is the right choice if you don't need the versatility of a 2-in-1 and don't want to deal with some of ARM's limitations.

Pros

Starts at a more affordable price
10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU
Premium design and construction
Easy to carry with you
Available in three colors

Cons

No LTE connectivity
Smaller, lower-res display
No inking capabilities
No keyboard backlight

Microsoft Surface Pro X

ARM-Powered 2-in-1

The 2-in-1 Surface Pro X costs more than the Laptop Go, but it's packing more features. Higher-res touch display with inking, 4G LTE connectivity, superior cameras (including IR), replaceable storage, and two USB-C ports are included. As long as you don't mind running Windows on ARM and paying a bit more, the versatility here is unmatched.

Pros

4G LTE connectivity
More versatile 2-in-1 build
Slim, premium construction
Larger, higher-res display
Far better cameras

Cons

Starts at a higher price
ARM has some limitations
Type Cover and Slim Pen sold separately
No 3.5mm audio jack

These two devices might come from the Microsoft Surface lineup, but they're actually quite different and will no doubt appeal to different types of users. Let's take a look at the raw specs before breaking down design, display, performance, and value.

Surface Laptop Go vs. Surface Pro X tech specs

	Surface Laptop Go	Surface Pro X
OS	Windows 10 Home in S mode	Windows 10 Home on ARM
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1	Microsoft SQ1 Microsoft SQ2
RAM	4GB, 8GB LPDDR4x	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics Integrated	Adreno 685 Adreno 690
Storage	64GB eMMC 128GB, 256GB SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB SSD
Display	12.4 inches 1536x1024 (148 PPI) 3:2 aspect ratio Touch, no inking	13 inches 2880x1920 (267 PPI) 3:2 aspect ratio Touch, inking
Ports	USB-C USB-A 3.5mm audio Surface Connect	Two USB-C Nano-SIM Surface Connect
Audio	Omnisonic speakers Dolby Audio	Dual 2W speakers Dolby Audio
Camera	Front-facing 720p	Front-facing 1080p Rear-facing 1080p and 4K
Connectivity	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.0 Snapdragon X24 LTE
Keyboard	No backlight	Type Cover (optional)
Biometrics	Fingerprint reader	IR camera
Battery	Up to 13 hours*	Up to 15 hours*
Dimensions	10.95 x 8.10 x 0.62 inches (278.18mm x 205.67mm x 15.69mm)	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)
Weight	2.45 pounds (1.11kg)	1.7 pounds (774g)
Material	Aluminum (top) Polycarbonate composite (bottom)	Anodized aluminum
Color	Ice Blue Sandstone Platinum	Matte Black Platinum

*Real-world battery information below.

Surface Laptop Go vs. Surface Pro X design and features

The Surface Laptop Go is a rather petite notebook, and is the lightest of the Surface Laptop lineup (including the Surface Laptop, Laptop 2, and Laptop 3). Weighing in at 2.45 pounds (1.11kg) it's not as portable as the Pro X, but it's still not going to be much trouble for anyone constantly on the move. Wi-Fi 6 connectivity sets you up for a fast wireless future, but there's no LTE connectivity. For that you need to go with the Pro X and its Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE modem, able to handle eSIM and Nano-SIM alike.

Because the Laptop Go is a notebook, you get everything you might need in one package. Conversely, the Pro X is a 2-in-1 device with its Type Cover keyboard and Surface Slim active pen generally sold separately (or bundled at a higher cost). A stand on the back of the Pro X props up the tablet portion for a notebook experience with Type Cover attached. At least you get a backlit keyboard with the Pro X, something the Laptop Go is missing. Typing is excellent on both devices, but if you're often working after hours, the lack of lighting could be an issue.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Ports are similar across devices, and in typical Surface fashion you won't be getting the most modern selection. The Laptop Go has a single USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm audio, and Surface Connect. The Pro X has dual USB-C, Nano-SIM slot, and Surface Connect, ignoring those who still use wired headphones with a lack of 3.5mm jack. At least you can easily expand connectivity with something like a Surface Dock 2 that hooks up with the proprietary Surface Connect port.

If you're interested in photography or video work with your Surface device, the Pro X has the Laptop Go cornered. The Pro X has a front-facing 1080p camera ideal for video conferencing, plus an IR camera is included for facial recognition through Windows Hello. The back of the tablet has another camera that can handle 4K video. The Laptop Go has just one front-facing 720p camera. It does a good enough job, but the Pro X is what you want if you don't have a good backup camera on another device.

The Pro X was originally available only in a Matte Black color, but a mid-generation Pro X hardware refresh has also brought a Platinum chassis color and some new Type Cover finishes. The Laptop Go has from the start been available in Ice Blue, Sandstorm, and Platinum colors.

Surface Laptop Go vs. Surface Pro X display and inking

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Surface products always excel in the display department, but between these two devices the Pro X is the winner. It has a larger 13-inch screen with 2880x1920 resolution, resulting in 267 pixels per inch (PPI). The 3:2 aspect ratio is ideal, allowing you to fit more on your display. It's touch and it offers inking capabilities, further upping the versatility of the device.

The Laptop Go's display is a bit more basic, but still above what you'd usually expect from a device in the price range. It's sized at 12.4 inches with a resolution of 1536x1024, resulting in 148 PPI. That's about half as sharp as the Pro X, but at 12.4 inches it nevertheless looks great. Unfortunately, the Laptop Go's touch display doesn't have the option for inking. If you want to jot down notes, sketch drawings, and enjoy some of the best apps for the Surface Pen, it's the Pro X you want.

Surface Laptop Go vs. Surface Pro X performance and price

Windows Central Executive Editor Daniel Rubino has reviewed both the Surface Laptop Go and first-gen Surface Pro X, with the SQ2 version review coming in the near future. Focusing first on battery life, the Laptop Go managed between 7 and 8.5 hours according to a battery report generated by Windows, and about 8.75 hours in PCMark 10's battery rundown. That's with screen brightness at 150 nits.

Our testing of the Pro X revealed about 10 hours of battery life when sticking to ARM64 and UWP apps, dropping down to about 7 hours when using only emulated 32-bit x86 apps. On that note, keep in mind that Microsoft's SQ1 and SQ2 processors are tweaked versions of Snapdragon 8cx CPUs, meaning you will be emulating some apps. Performance isn't quite as good when not running natively, but the Pro X is still snappy for just about all productivity work. On a positive note, work is underway to make popular apps compatible with ARM, and x64 emulation for Windows on ARM is also on the way.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

The Laptop Go is available with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU, and in most cases it's going to overpower the SQ1 in terms of raw performance, both on the CPU and integrated GPU sides. However, it will be interesting to see how well the SQ2 version of the Pro X, with boosted CPU and GPU performance, will compare. Something the Pro X has going for it is the ability to upgrade the SSD, whereas the Laptop Go's storage is permanent.

As for pricing, the Laptop Go with Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage starts at about $550. Moving up to something a bit more impressive (4GB of RAM and eMMC storage will seem slow), a model with Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD costs about $900.

The Pro X begins at about $1,000 for a model with SQ1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. That's still more than the Laptop Go, plus you need to factor in the cost of a Type Cover and Surface Slim Pen if that's the way you're going. Expect to pay about $270 altogether for the accessories. Jumping up to the SQ2 model, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD costs about $1,500. It's clear that while the Laptop Go doesn't come with as many premium features, its considerably lower price easily makes up the difference.

Surface Laptop Go is right for those who want an affordable premium notebook

If you don't want to deal with some of ARM's limitations and prefer to use a standard notebook, the Laptop Go should be more appealing. It doesn't have as nice of a display (and no inking), it's lacking LTE connectivity, and there's no keyboard backlight, but it's nevertheless a quality Surface device with excellent mid-range performance.

Portable, Affordable Notebook

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go

Looking for something with the same design as the Surface Laptop but easier on the wallet? Look no further with the Surface Laptop Go with its 12.4-inch display, Intel Core i5 processor, aluminum and polycarbonate exterior, Omnisonic speakers, and Windows Hello-enabled fingerprint reader.

Surface Pro X is right for professionals on the move

As long as you don't mind the higher price and can live with emulating some apps, the Pro X is a versatile 2-in-1 device that you can use anywhere thanks to LTE connectivity. Larger high-res display with inking, upgradeable SSD, and stellar cameras make up the difference in price.

ARM-Powered 2-in-1

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Windows Central Podcast 200: Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop Go, iPhone 12

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:33:52 +0000

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, the Surface Pro X with the new SQ2 processor is here, and it's the most platinum computer Microsoft has ever made. Dan and Zac review Surface Laptop Go and talk about a new Windows 10 build for Insiders, plus using Bing on Xbox.

They also evaluate Apple's lineup of iPhone 12 models and how they stack up for Microsoft users. Finally, they introduce a new segment called "Thing of the Week"!

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on October 16th 2020.

Hosts

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

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

Windows Central Podcast 198: New Surface hardware, more OEM hardware

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 14:16:03 +0000

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, it was a week chock full of new hardware this week with a refreshed Surface Pro X and an official announcement of the rumored Surface Laptop Go. Other manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP showed off laptops with 11th Gen Intel processors. Especially interesting are the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and HP's Spectre x360 14, which has a 3:2 OLED display.

They also discuss Windows 10 build 20226 and Windows Timeline support being removed from Microsoft Launcher on Android.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on October 2nd 2020.

Hosts

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

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

Microsoft Teams for ARM64 appears to be live already – here's how to get it

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 18:14:07 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft Teams for ARM64 is apparently live.
This new version is optimized to run natively on Windows on ARM PCs.
We have confirmed it runs as 64-bit on Surface Pro X.

It was only yesterday that Microsoft announced that its Microsoft Teams app was nearly ready to get an ARM64 compiled version for Snapdragon-based PCs. Today, a working version has been found on Microsoft's website for download.

First noticed on reddit, the app lives under Microsoft's Teams Office repository under production releases. The file is labeled "Teams_windows_arm64.exe", but the truth becomes a reality when installing it. Not only does this version install, but checking under Task Manager > Details > Platform, you can see Microsoft Teams running as 64-bit.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Previously, running Teams on a device like Surface Pro X would show it as 32-bit because it runs in emulation.

The version number of the app appears to be 1.3.00.26064.

It's a bit too early for us to put it through its paces for performance, but for those with Windows 10 on ARM PC, you can try the file yourself. You'll need an existing Microsoft Teams account to get started or sign up for a free account.

Microsoft Teams (ARM64)

Microsoft Teams allows you to collaborate with colleagues, upload files, send messages, and chat through video. It integrates with Office 365 and several other cloud services. This version is made for AMR64 devices like Surface Pro X and Samsung Galaxy Book S.

Surface Laptop Go, Surface Pro X shown off by Panos Panay and in sizzler videos

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:56:50 +0000

What you need to know

New videos from Microsoft show off the Surface Laptop Go and updated Surface Pro X.
Microsoft's Panos Panay leads one of the videos from Microsoft's Building 87.
The Surface Laptop Go and upgraded Surface Pro X will be available on October 13 and be preordered now.

Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Go and the upgraded Surface Pro X today. In a new video on the Microsoft Surface channel, Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay breaks down both new devices. Panay is joined by Microsoft CVP Robin Seiler and VP Pete Kyriacou to introduce the new Surface hardware.

The Surface Laptop Go is a smaller and lighter laptop from Microsoft's Surface team that starts at a more affordable $549. The Surface Pro X maintains its form factor, but now has an option with the new SQ2 processor and a faster GPU. The updated Surface Pro X starts at $1,499, though the entry-level model with the SQ1 starts at $999.

If you prefer a snappier sizzler video, you're in luck. Microsoft shared sizzlers for both new devices within the longer video with Panay and on their own.

The new Surface devices are available for preorder now.

Surface Laptop Go

Looking for something with the same design as the Surface Laptop but easier on the wallet? Look no further with the Surface Laptop Go with its 12.45-inch display, Intel Core i5 processor, aluminum and polycarbonate exterior, omnisonic speakers, and Windows Hello-enabled fingerprint reader.

Preorder

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available – now better

New toys

Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle

Surface Pro X in platinum with new SQ2 processor arrives October 13th for $1,499

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:05:10 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft is refreshing Surface Pro X with its new SQ2 processor, faster GPU.
Surface Pro X SQ2 comes in a new platinum color option.
3 new color options for Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen.
Surface Pro X SQ2 comes out on Tuesday, October 13th. Preorders are now live.

Microsoft's Surface Pro X powered by a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon processor named SQ1, is getting a slight refresh for 2020. The new Surface Pro X gets a small bump in processing speed thanks to the SQ2 processor – a likely riff on the recently announced Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 – and a new, more traditional Surface colorway with platinum.

To add some confusion to the mix, Microsoft is not discontinuing the SQ1 models in matte black. Indeed, both will be sold together with the SQ2 models taking the place of the higher-priced SKUs, while the SQ1 models are more entry-level pricing.

Surface Pro X (2020) what's new

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

Like the SQ1, the SQ2 is a "custom processor developed in coordination with Qualcomm Technologies" and is typically clocked higher and is more performant than the standard Snapdragon 8cx. From Qualcomm's press announcement on the chip:

The new configuration of the Surface Pro X, powered by SQ2, continues to leverage the best features of Snapdragon compute, including intelligent camera experiences, like Microsoft's Eye Contact, powered by leading Qualcomm AI technology. As a Secured-core PC, the Surface Pro X also delivers enterprise-grade security, leveraging our dedicated secure hardware, firmware, and software capabilities. When added to the performance, efficiency, and connectivity users have come to expect from Snapdragon-enabled Windows PCs, the enhanced AI, camera, security, and audio experiences of the Surface Pro X address the growing demands and expectations of our current work environment. And with dependable cellular connectivity enabled by the Snapdragon X24 LTE modem, the Surface Pro X joins the expanding portfolio of Always On, Always Connected PCs built on Snapdragon compute DNA, meaning your device can keep up with you.

The GPU for the new SQ2 model is also getting an upgrade from the previous Adreno 685 to a beefier Adreno 690.

Besides the new platinum color for the chassis, Microsoft is also expanding the Surface Pro X Signature Type Cover with three new hues with Platinum, Ice Blue, and Poppy Red matching the Surface Pro 7 line. Each of those keyboards also has the Surface Slim Pen dock built-in for quick and easy access.

Category	Surface Pro X
Operating System	Windows 10 Home on ARM (Consumer) Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial
Display	13-inch PixelSense 3:2 aspect ratio 2880x1920 (267 PPI)
Processor	Microsoft SQ1 Microsoft SQ2
GPU	Adreno 685 Adreno 690
Memory	8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage	128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD (removable)
Rear Camera	10MP autofocus (1080p and 4K video)
Front Camera	5MP (1080p)
Security	Windows Hello face authentication camera
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x nano SIM, 1x Surface Connect, Surface Keyboard connector
Battery	Up to 15 hours typical use
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)
Weight	1.7 lbs (774g)
Colors	Matte black Platinum
Availability	Oct 13th and beyond
Pricing	Starts at $999 ($1,499 for SQ2)

All of that is in addition to Surface Pro X already being the "thinnest and most connected 2:1" Microsoft has shipped – thanks to the Qualcomm-powered processor with built-in 4G LTE Gigabit internet.

Interestingly, while the processor is updated to SQ2, there is no support for 5G, which likely requires more significant reengineering due to the antenna requirements. The new Pro X still does not have Wi-Fi 6 and instead ships with the older Wi-Fi 5 despite Qualcomm bringing Wi-Fi 6 support to its Windows Compute Platform.

One other small change is battery life. Microsoft is now rating battery life for Surface Pro X – for all SKUs, including the older model – at 15 hours instead of the previous 13. This improvement was gained through "software improvements."

Windows on ARM momentum

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft has been busy these last few weeks with a lot of news around Windows 10 on ARM-powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.

At Ignite, Redmond announced its App Assure Program, which supports companies and developers, is now compatible with ARM. That free program goes a long way in working with companies to port their apps to ARM64, including solving roadblocks and development issues.

Microsoft Teams is also getting an ARM-optimized version in the coming weeks. While Microsoft Teams currently runs on Surface Pro X devices, it is not optimized for ARM64, causing some performance issues.

The biggest news is Microsoft has announced support for x64 app emulation arriving in November (Windows Insider Program). Current Windows on ARM devices can emulate 32-bit Windows apps but fail for x64 apps crucial to businesses and professionals. Once enabled, x64 app emulation should solve many of the incompatible app problems between traditional x86 laptops and ARM-based ones.

Next week, Microsoft is giving a keynote at DevSummit (formerly Arm TechCon) focusing on "Building for an ARM Ecosystem." The overview is as follows:

Our industry is going through a fundamental transformation as it pivots towards a focus on the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge, a shift that is enabling scenarios and experiences that were not possible a mere 5 years ago. The Arm ecosystem plays a central role in this transformation, and over the last decade, Microsoft has continually invested in building the operating system and developer platform to realize the full potential of Arm technology. In this session, we will highlight Arm devices and scenarios powered by the Windows operating system, the core value proposition behind the Arm platform, and some of the key initiatives supporting the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge transformation powered by the Arm ecosystem.

Surface Pro X (2020) pricing and availability

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

Surface Pro X is available on October 13th in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Additionally, Surface Pro X will be available on October 27th in the following countries:

Austria
Germany
UK
Ireland
Netherlands
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
Norway
Sweden
Poland
Italy
Portugal
Spain
France
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE

China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are slated to receive Surface Pro X on November 1st.

Pricing and configuration are as follows. The entry-level tier starts at $999 for the SQ1 model, while SQ2 starts at $1,499 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The only difference between the consumer and commercial SKUs is the former ships with Windows 10 Home, while the latter is Windows 10 Pro (+$99 license) with additional enterprise support.

Surface Pro X Consumer

CPU	RAM/Storage	Price
SQ1	8GB/128GB	$999
SQ1	8GB/256GB	$1,299
SQ2	16GB/256GB	$1,499
SQ2	16GB/512GB	$1,799

Surface Pro X Commercial

CPU	RAM/Storage	Price
SQ1	8GB/128GB	$1,099
SQ1	8GB/256GB	$1,399
SQ2	16GB/256GB	$1,599
SQ2	16GB/512GB	$1,899

Like other Surface products, when bought through Microsoft, customers get a 60-day return policy with their purchase (undamaged, original packaging) via the Microsoft Store Promise for Surface. Eligible students, parents, teachers, and the military may qualify for a 10 percent discount through Microsoft.

Preorder

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available – now better

New toys

Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen Bundle

Microsoft unveils refreshed Surface Pro X and new Surface Laptop Go hardware line-up for the fall

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:00:02 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft has announced a refreshed Surface Pro X with SQ2 processor.
It has also announced the 12.45-inch Surface Laptop Go at $549.
A handful of Microsoft-branded accessories have also been announced today.

It's that time of year again. New Surface hardware is upon us, and while we're not getting the same amount of hardware as last year, we are getting some interested refreshes and new products ranging from a new Surface Laptop to a new Designer Keyboard. Here's all of today's hardware announcements from Microsoft, in one convenient place.

Video overview of new Surface Pro X, Laptop Go

Here is the official Microsoft announcement video from the Surface leadership team before we dive into more details. In this nine-minute video, you get to see what is new with Surface Pro X and the new Surface Laptop Go, including colors, features, and more.

Surface Pro X with Microsoft SQ2

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

The new Surface Pro X is much like the old one, with the only physical difference being that it's now available in Microsoft's staple Surface color, Platinum. The biggest upgrades are on the inside with Microsoft's new SQ2 processor that features a more powerful Adreno 690 GPU. Microsoft is also touting better battery life at 15 hours, which apparently also applies to the first Surface Pro X too.

Learn more about the new Surface Pro X

SKU	Price ($)
SQ1/8/128GB	$999
SQ1/8/256GB	$1,299
SQ2/16/256GB	$1,499
SQ2/16/512GB	$1,799

Interestingly, the original Surface Pro X with Microsoft SQ1 is sticking around and will now serve as the processor found in the two bottom-tier Surface Pro X SKUs. The new Microsoft SQ2 chip is available on models with 16GB RAM, meaning you'll be paying at least $1,499 if you want the newer processor. That said, it doesn't look like there's much of a difference between the SQ1 and SQ2 outside of a minor performance bump.

Also new for Surface Pro X are more Type Cover colors. Up until now, Surface Pro X has only had black accessories to match, but now that the product is available in Platinum, Microsoft is also introducing the usual premium Type Cover colors to go with it. Those colors include Platinum, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue. Unfortunately, the Surface Slim Pen is still black regardless of the Type Cover color.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 on ARM is getting 64-bit emulation support next year, and it will enter preview in November. That's huge news for the Surface Pro X, which up until now has had an "app problem" due to it not being able to run x86 64-bit applications.

Surface Pro X with SQ2 is available for pre-order now, and goes on sale October 13.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2

Surface Laptop Go

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

Surface Laptop Go is the "new" device to join the Surface family this holiday, featuring the same great design as found on the Surface Laptop 3 but at half the price. It has a 12.45-inch display with rounded corners, an Intel Core i5 under the hood, and up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The big news is that the Surface Laptop Go starts at just $549, making it a great entry-level laptop for students.

Learn more about the new Surface Laptop Go

SKU	Price ($)
4/64GB	$549
8/128GB	$699
8/256GB	$899

Unlike the standard Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Laptop Go doesn't include Windows Hello facial recognition. Instead, it has a fingerprint reader built right into the power button. It's also using a combination of both aluminum and polycarbonate for the exterior chassis to help keep costs low. It's aluminum on the lid, and polycarbonate on the base. The 12.45-inch display is also a low 1536 x 1024 resolution.

But to achieve that $549 starting price, Microsoft had to make further cuts for the entry-level model. The $549 model doesn't include the fingerprint reader, meaning it has no Windows Hello bio-authentication at all. In addition, it also comes bundled with 4GB RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. 4GB RAM is passable for some people, but eMMC storage is a tougher pill to swallow.

That said, there are higher tiers available, and the immediate step up to 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD for $699 also includes the fingerprint reader, so we recommend checking that out if you're interested. All consumer models come with Windows 10 Home in S mode, but there is a commercial model available with Windows 10 Pro and up to 16GB RAM. All models come with an Intel Core i5.

Surface Laptop Go is available for pre-order now, and goes on sale October 13.

Surface Laptop Go

Microsoft Accessories

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

SKU	Price ($)
Designer Keyboard	$69.99
Number Pad	$24.99
Ergonomic Mouse	$49.99
4K Display Adapter	$69.99

Microsoft is also announcing a handful of new PC accessories today, many of which pair very well with Microsoft's own Surface hardware. We've got a new Bluetooth keyboard, the Designer Compact Keyboard, and number pad, which feature contemporary designs and can pair with up to three devices to switch between easily. There's also a new Bluetooth ergonomic mouse that features the same shape as the Surface Precision Mouse, but at a cheaper price.

Elsewhere, Microsoft is updating its Wireless Display Adapter with a 4K model, meaning it can now stream 4K content to a TV or monitor of your choice. The Wireless Display Adapter is a great accessory for streaming your Windows 10 PC to a larger display. Finally, Microsoft is updating its Surface Mobile Mouse with a new Sandstone color which matches the Sandstone option on Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Laptop Go.

Learn more about the new accessories

Surface in more markets

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft has announced that Surface is coming to more European markets to address global demand. Here's the list of new markets:

Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Greece
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia

Learn more about Surface coming to more markets

And that's everything being announced today. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Windows x64 emulation for Windows on ARM coming in November, Microsoft Teams too

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:27:21 +0000

What you need to know

x64 emulation is coming to Windows on ARM PCs in November (Insider program).
Microsoft Teams natively compiled for ARM64 is also coming soon.
The news builds on recently announced Snapdragon PCs and support for the App Assure Program.

Microsoft has announced what we have been expecting for some time: x64 app emulation is coming to Windows 10 on ARM PCs. The news came through a blog post from Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay. The plan is to start rolling out the feature in November through the Windows Insider program, with a likely commercial rollout for Spring 2021.

Currently, Windows 10 on ARM laptops can only emulate 32-bit Windows apps in addition to running native apps compiled for ARM64. But many high-end applications and apps for enterprise rely on 64-bit-only editions, which are incompatible with ARM. That now changes and will open the gates for many more apps to run on devices like Surface Pro X, Samsung Galaxy Book S, and Lenovo Flex 5G.

There is no further detail on the limits and performance expectations of x64 emulation, but like 32-bit, it is likely to take a slight performance hit. Newer Windows 10 on ARM PCs with Qualcomm's just-announced Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 should help with that as that chip is faster and more efficient.

Besides the x64 emulation, Microsoft will "soon release a native Microsoft Teams client optimized for Windows 10 on ARM" – an issue we complained about last year. Back in July, Microsoft noted that Microsoft Teams for ARM64 was planned, but no further details were given. Now, at least, it seems we are much closer to that release happening. Microsoft Teams is a crucial app during this work-from-home shift, and devices with Windows 10 on ARM are becoming increasingly important to enterprise and business users. While Microsoft Teams currently runs on ARM PCs, the performance is not nearly as good a natively compiled app.

Microsoft also announced Visual Studio code has also been updated and optimized for Windows 10 on ARM.

The news around Windows on ARM has been building. A week ago, Microsoft announced its App Assure Program was expanding to support Qualcomm Snapdragon PCs. The program helps devs and businesses streamline, optimize, and fix apps brought to the Windows on ARM architecture.

Likewise, new Windows on ARM PCs are expected from Microsoft with a refreshed Surface Pro X, the new Acer Spin 7, and a new convertible from HP

Windows 10 on ARM

Microsoft Surface Pro X

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available

Surface Pro X delivers the most exciting design for the Surface Pro yet. While the ARM processor is faster than expected for many casual users, a Surface Pro 7 will be a smarter buy. But for those who need a light, thin, LTE-enabled productivity laptop, the Surface Pro X offers a unique set of features not found anywhere else. It's not a bad PC; it just needs the right owner.

Surface Pro X with Microsoft SQ2 chip and Platinum color option is on the way

zac.bowden@futurenet.com (Zac Bowden) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 13:00:05 +0000

Microsoft's ARM-powered Surface Pro X is getting a refresh this fall with an updated Microsoft SQ2 processor, the introduction of a "platinum" color option, and new Type Cover colors that bring it in line with the standard Surface Pro color offerings already on the market. According to my sources, the new Surface Pro X won't feature any significant design changes, with contacts describing the refresh as a relatively minor one.

The most significant change aesthetically will be with the introduction of the platinum color choice on Surface Pro X. Platinum has been available on the standard Surface Pro since the Surface Pro 3, so its omission with last year's Surface Pro X was unique and unfortunate for anyone who prefers it over black.

Surface Pro X's Type Covers are also being updated with similar colors already available with the standard Surface Pro. The Type Covers between Surface Pro and Surface Pro X are still different; however, as the devices themselves feature different designs. Perhaps Microsoft is trying to give off the impression that Surface Pro X is "ready for mainstream" with the introduction of new colors and accessories.

Part of the reason why this may be happening is that Microsoft is more confident in the new Surface Pro X's performance. I'm told it will be shipping with the Microsoft SQ2 processor, which is likely based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 with improved performance over last year's Microsoft SQ1 chip.

App emulation improvements?

I don't know what exactly Microsoft is going to change with the SQ2 over Qualcomm's stock offering with the 8cx Gen2, but it will likely follow a similar trend to last year's chip. Interestingly, I'm also hearing whispers that Microsoft is gearing up to announce x86 64-bit app-emulation, which might enter preview later this year.

If true, the introduction of 64-bit app-emulation will solve the "app problem" that Windows 10 on ARM still has. Some applications are 64-bit only, and right now, Windows 10 on ARM can only emulate 32-bit apps. If Microsoft is ready to preview 64-bit app-emulation, the new Surface Pro X becomes a much more attractive sell, especially if the SQ2 chip is tuned for improved performance when emulating those apps.

Regarding 5G support, I've not heard anything concrete yet. If it does, the new Surface Pro X would be Microsoft's first 5G Surface.

I'm told that the new Surface Pro X will arrive in the October timeframe alongside a new sub-$600 12.5-inch Surface Laptop codenamed Sparti, designed for students in the education market. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro X refresh? Let us know in the comments.

Windows 10 version 2004 rolling out to some Surface Pro X devices

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 16:28:03 +0000

What you need to know

Surface Pro X owners are seeing an option to update to the Windows 10 May 2020 Update.
The update has been blocked from Surface Pro X devices up until this point.
The block could still prevent some devices from receiving the update.
Some other Surface devices are also seeing the latest Windows 10 update.

Owners of Microsoft's Surface Pro X haven't been able to update to the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (Windows 10 version 2004) due to a block by Microsoft. That block appears to have been lifted or eased, as several Surface Pro X owners have been able to grab the latest version of Windows 10 on their devices. A Reddit thread (via WindowsUnited) includes several comments from people able to receive the update.

Microsoft blocked the Windows 10 May 2020 Update from several devices due to a variety of issues. One set of issues affected devices that have more than one Always on, Always Connected Network adapter.

At one point in early July, it appeared as if the block was lifted, but Microsoft added text to a support page, which explained that despite an issue being resolved, that other safeguards could block devices from the update.

Now, at least some Surface Pro X owners have received the update, indicating that the block has been lifted, or at least eased.

The block also seemed to have been lifted from some other Surface devices. We noticed one of our Surface Laptop 3 devices also received the Windows 10 May 2020 Update recently.

Microsoft Teams finally getting compiled for ARM64 Windows 10 … eventually

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 18:21:03 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft Teams is planned to get ARM64 support.
Currently, Teams must run in emulation on devices like Surface Pro X.
There is no ETA on when to expect the recompiled version.
Microsoft still has a problem making its own apps optimized for Windows on ARM.

Late in 2019, the team behind Electron, which drives many cross-platform apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams, announced that it has been recompiled for Windows on ARM. But since its announcement, we have seen virtually no companies recompiling for ARM64, including (and embarrassingly) Microsoft.

That seems to be about to change. Just a few days after I lamented the status of Microsoft Teams for devices like Surface Pro X, Lenovo Flex 5G and Samsung Galaxy Book S, Rish Tandon, corporate vice president of Engineering for Microsoft Teams gave some guidance. In response to a question on Twitter, Tandon noted that Microsoft Teams for ARM64 is in the works.

Yes, that's in the work - don't have a date for you yetYes, that's in the work - don't have a date for you yet— Rish Tandon (@rishmsft) July 23, 2020 July 23, 2020

Of course, no timeline was provided, so its exact stage of development is unknown. However, considering up until this point Microsoft has never even committed publicly to making Microsoft Teams for ARM64, this is, sadly, progress.

An ongoing problem

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Microsoft Teams does run on devices like Surface Pro X, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, but it needs to run in Win32 emulation with reduced performance. Users can also opt to use Microsoft Teams as an "installed app" through the new Chromium Edge browser and its Progressive Web App feature. Still, issues with notifications and windowing are not uncommon.

Companies like Electron and UNITY have released the tools to developers to bring native apps and games to Windows on ARM, but so far, it has been a slow burn. Even the new Skype is running on Electron with reduced performance.

Microsoft has been quite egregious with such inconsistencies. Its new Xbox (Beta) app for Windows 10, for instance, won't even install on a Windows 10 on ARM PC. Rumors suggest Microsoft may integrate its Project xCloud into said app for handiness. If accurate, that means Windows 10 on ARM PCs won't be able even to leverage Xbox game streaming, which seems like a massive oversight.

At the very least, such lagging support for Microsoft Teams, Skype, Xbox, etc. signifies a lack of coherent vision at Microsoft. New platforms are only supported when convenient for the teams behind them.

Microsoft even had to be prodded to release its Chromium-Edge browser for ARM64 even as Surface Pro X was hitting stores. It was only eight months ago Microsoft began filtering non-compatible Microsoft Store apps for Windows on ARM users.

As I remarked on last week's podcast, Apple would not do this. When Apple launches its custom ARM devices and OS launch later this year, it is highly unlikely it will be in the same position as Microsoft.

Microsoft announced it would begin supporting ARM in December 2016, with the first PCs announced a year later. Since then, there has been steady progress, but it is also clear that Microsoft could be doing a lot more to support its own platform and hardware.

But hey, at least we now know that someday, Microsoft Teams will run natively on Surface Pro X. Sarcastic golf claps all around.

Surface Pro X gets AI magic to make some serious eye contact in video calls

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:29:08 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft is testing a feature with Windows Insiders that can help your eye contact game in video calls.
Available for the Surface Pro X, Microsoft uses the PC's SQ1 processor to make your eyes look like you're staring at the camera, even when you're gazing at your screen.
Insiders in the Dev channel can turn this feature on in the Surface app on their Surface Pro X.

Microsoft is about to make maintaining eye contact in your video calls much easier — if you own a Surface Pro X, that is. The company is now testing a feature with Windows Insiders that leverages AI to make your eyes look like they're staring at the camera, even if you're watching your screen.

"Powered by artificial intelligence capabilities of the Microsoft SQ1 processor, Eye Contact helps to adjust your gaze on video calls so you appear to be looking directly in the camera on your Surface Pro X," Microsoft said in a blog post announcing the latest features in the Windows Insider Dev channel.

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

It appears the feature will work with any app, so long as it uses the front camera. In the settings menu used to toggle the feature, Microsoft clarifies that it only works while your Surface Pro X is in landscape orientation. The eye contact toggle is available via the Surface app at any time.

Because the eye contact feature relies on the Microsoft SQ1 processor inside of the Surface Pro X, it's unclear if Microsoft intends to eventually ship this to other PCs. However, in a time when more people are working from home than ever — and subsequently participating in more video calls — it's a handy feature to have.

Sleeker Surface

Surface Pro X

On the go

The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.

Surface Pro X June 15 update fails to apply, leaving Windows Update in a loop

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:11:40 +0000

What you need to know

A Surface Pro X update offered through Windows Update is failing to install.
There's no associated error message, but the update prompt continues to show up in Windows Update after restarting.
It appears this might be limited to people enrolled in Release Preview, but it's unclear if others are affected right now.

If you're hitting a weird update loop with your Surface Pro X, you're not alone. When attempting to install an update labeled as a "System Hardware Update" and dated June 15, Windows will prompt for a restart and fail to apply the update. Rather than presenting an error message, however, Windows continues to restart without issue and simply prompts you to restart again to apply the update in Windows Update.

Several Reddit users have reported seeing the issue so far. We've also been able to confirm the problem with two different Surface Pro X PCs enrolled in the Release Preview Insider channel. It's unclear if it's limited to Release Preview Insiders right now, but that appears likely.

Source: Windows Central The Surface Pro X update that fails to apply. (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The update's failure to apply doesn't appear to actually hinder using your Surface Pro X at all. Instead, you'll just continue to see Windows Update prompting you to restart to apply the update. Otherwise, your PC should continue to work as normal — you just won't be able to kick the update prompt.

If and when Microsoft provides an update on the issue, or if it resolves, we'll update this post.

Surface Pro X and Surface Studio snag pair of new firmware updates

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 19:39:31 +0000

What you need to know

Microsoft pushed new firmware updates to the Surface Pro X and Surface Studio today.
These updates bring various improvements to system stability and battery performance.
You can grab these updates now via Windows Update.

Microsoft released a fresh set of firmware updates for both the Surface Pro X and first-gen Surface Studio today. The updates largely focus on improving system stability across both PCs. However, the Surface Pro X also received some extra attention to battery performance, audio performance, and more.

Here's a look at what's new in each set of updates according to the Surface Update History page.

Surface Pro X

Qualcomm Adreno 680 GPU: 26.18.1040.0000 - improves the Microsoft Teams app experience and resolves intermittent display issues.
Qualcomm Aqstic: 1.0.0770.0000 - improves device audio performance.
Qualcomm Aqstic: 4.0.0710.0000 - improves device audio performance.
Qualcomm Hexagon 690 DSP: 1.0.1040.0000 - resolves device bugcheck.
Qualcomm Hexagon 690 DSP: 1.0.1040.0000 - resolves device bugcheck.
Qualcomm Memory and File System Device: 1.0.1040.0000 - resolves device bugcheck.
Qualcomm System Manager Device: 1.0.1040.0000 - resolves device bugcheck and device crash.
Qualcomm Wi-Fi B/G/N/AC (2x2) Svc: 1.0.1020.0000 - addresses potential security updates and improves connection reliability.
Surface Pro X Qualcomm Aqstic: 1.0.0820.0000 - improves device audio performance.
Surface Qualcomm Aqstic: 1.0.820.0 - improves device audio performance.
Surface System Aggregator: 14.105.139.0 - improves battery performance and reporting.
Surface UEFI: 3.477.140.0 - improves system stability.

Surface Studio

Intel iCLS Client Extension: 1.56.87.0 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel ICLS Client - Software devices: 1904.12.0.1208 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel Management Engine Interface – System: 1914.12.0.1256 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel Camera IR – System devices: 1.0.31.1 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface Integration Service Device – System devices: 5.91.139.0 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface ME - Firmware: 11.8.70.3626 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface UEFI – Firmware: 119.3195.768.0 - addresses security updates and improves system stability.

This is the first set of firmware updates for the Surface Pro X since April, and the first for the Surface Studio since January. Both updates are available to download from Windows Update now.

Microsoft Surface Pro X picks up May firmware update, lets 'Your Phone' now make phone calls

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Thu, 21 May 2020 21:20:49 +0000

What you need to know

A new firmware update is available for the Surface Pro X.
The update improves usability and performance.
Microsoft Your Phone can now make and take calls through Surface Pro X.

Microsoft's Surface Pro X has a lot going for it, but one overlooked area where it was lagging is Your Phone support. As we reported in March, Surface Pro X was unable to make or take calls through Your Phone without it being garbled and incomprehensible. That promised fix now appears to be available.

A new "hardware update" is rolling out through Windows Update for Surface Pro X. Our test machine is on the Windows Insider Release Preview, so it could mean this update is not rolling out for production yet (indeed, there are no notes on Microsoft's update tracker).

The new firmware, which is referred to as "System Hardware Update – 5/14/2020", refreshes the following on Surface Pro X:

UEFI: 3.462.140.0 goes to 3.477.140.0
SAM: 14.58.139.0 goes to 14.105.139.0
Wi-Fi Driver: 1.0.860.0 goes to 1.0.1020.0

Likewise, Your Phone updated to version 1.20051.88.0 and, when combined with new firmware, allowed us to make calls clearly through Surface Pro X (we tried yesterday without much success).

It's likely those updates also address other bugs, or bring further refinements to Surface Pro X, but we'll have to wait until Microsoft gives details to know more.

Sleeker Surface

Surface Pro X

On the go

The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.

Controlling your phone

Your Phone Companion

Merging phones and PCs

Your Phone allows you to sync text messages, photos, and notifications from your phone to your Windows 10 PC. It can also make phone calls, allowing you to keep your smartphone in your pocket.

A phone hub

Your Phone

Merging phones and PCs

This app on your PC allows you to make phone calls, send text, see phone notifications, and browse your smartphone's photos.

Microsoft Surface Book 3 vs. Surface Pro X: Which is better for you?

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:00:03 +0000

Surface Book 3

Modular Powerhouse

The modular Surface Book 3 is available in two different sizes and is equipped with powerful hardware, including dedicated GPU. If you need ultimate performance from your Surface device and don't mind less mobility, this should be your first choice.

Pros

13.5- and 15-inch models available
Dedicated GPU and 10th Gen Intel CPU
Wi-Fi 6
Solid battery life
Beautiful touch display

Cons

Costs more
Not as portable
No LTE

Surface Pro X

Portable 2-in-1

The Surface Pro X is an ARM-based 2-in-1 PC that brings a quality touch display, LTE connectivity, and better mobility thanks to a sleek build. It's not as powerful as the Book 3, but it is far better cut out for those who don't stop moving around.

Pros

Cheaper starting price
Beautiful touch display
LTE connectivity
Better mobility

Cons

No Wi-Fi 6
No dedicated GPU
No 3.5mm audio or microSD card reader
ARM has some limitations

Surface Book 3 vs. Surface Pro X tech specs

	Surface Book 3	Surface Pro X
OS	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro (Business)	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro (Business)
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 Core i7-1065G7	Microsoft SQ1
RAM	8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR4x	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD
Display size	13.5 inches 15 inches	13 inches
Display resolution	3000x2000 (13.5-inch) 3240x2160 (15-inch)	2880x1920
Aspect ratio	3:2	3:2
Graphics	Intel Iris Plus Graphics (Core i5) NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q (Core i7) NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q (Core i7) NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q (Business)	Adreno 685
Ports	Two USB-A 3.1 USB-C 3.1 3.5mm audio Two Surface Connect SD card reader (UHS-II)	Two USB-C 3.1 Surface Connect Nano SIM
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 Xbox Wireless (15-inch)	Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.0
LTE	No	Snapdragon X24 LTE
Audio	Front-facing speakers Dolby Atmos Dual far-field Studio mics	Front-facing speakers Dolby Audio Dual far-field Studio mics
Camera	Front-facing 5MP (1080p) Rear-facing 8MP (1080p)	Front-facing 5MP (1080p) Rear-facing 10MP (1080p)
Biometrics	IR camera	IR camera
Battery	70Wh (13.5-inch) 80Wh (15-inch)	38.2Wh
Dimensions	12.3 x 9.14 x 0.51 - 0.90 inches (312mm x 232mm x 13 - 23mm) 13.5 x 9.87 x 0.57 - 0.90 inches (343mm x 251mm x 15-23mm)	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)
Weight	13.5-inch Core i5: 3.38 pounds (1.53kg) 13.5-inch Core i7: 3.62 pounds (1.64kg) 15-inch Core i7: 4.20 pounds (1.9kg)	1.7 pounds (0.77kg)
Color	Platinum	Matte Black

Features and design

The refreshed Surface Book 3, available in 13.5- and 15-inch sizes, is a modular PC that can act as a tablet with keyboard base detached, or a powerful Ultrabook with base attached. This lends it some versatility, and the internal hardware is split up so that you'll have everything you need in the display portion, with dedicated GPU, ports, and extra battery in the base. There's really not much of a physical difference between the Book 2 and Book 3, so if you're familiar with the older model, you should feel right at home here.

The Pro X is a continuation of the standard Pro lineup, which is closer to a standard 2-in-1 device with all hardware contained in the tablet portion. It has a stand on the back that folds out to prop up the tablet, which works brilliantly with the attachable keyboard that is sold separately. Whereas you need the base connected to the Book 3 to get the full experience, the Pro X is comfortable on its own.

The Pro X has two USB-C 3.1 ports, Surface Connect, and a slot for Nano-SIM, while the Book 3 includes two USB-A 3.1, USB-C 3.1, two Surface Connect (one on the tablet and one on the base), and a UHS-II card reader. You'll get far better native connectivity from the Book 3, though both devices work with the refreshed Surface Dock 2 if you need to add even more ports. Keep in mind that the Book 3, in either size, weighs considerably more than the Pro X. The Pro X is also thinner, making it easier to tote around with you wherever you go. Add in LTE connectivity that comes standard, and you have a device that's easy to operate anywhere you go.

Front- and rear-facing cameras on the Book 3 deliver 1080p quality video, as do the Pro X's cameras. While the front-facing cameras on both devices are set at 5MP, the rear-facing camera on the Pro X hits 10MP while the Book 3 hits 8MP. Both devices include dual far-field Studio microphones for quality voice pickup while on calls or video. For added security, the Book and Pro X both have an IR camera that works with Windows Hello for facial recognition.

The Surface Book 3 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, while the Pro X is stuck at Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. Because the 15-inch Book 3 has a beefy dedicated graphics card (GPU) perfect for gaming, it has Xbox Wireless controller support.

Display and inking

Microsoft doesn't mess around with displays for its Surface products, so you shouldn't worry too much about screens and capabilities. The Book 3 and Pro X displays have a 3:2 aspect ratio, high resolution, and 10-point multi-touch and inking.

The 15-inch Book 3 delivers the highest resolution at 3240x2160, totaling up to 260 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The 13.5-inch Book 3 has a 3000x2000 resolution, with 267 PPI. The Pro X has the smallest display at 13 inches, with a 2880x1920 resolution and 267 PPI.

The Surface Slim Pen was introduced alongside the Pro X. Like the original Surface Pen (which also works with the Book 3), it offers tilt support for shading and 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The active pens are cross-compatible and will ultimately offer the same natural inking experience.

Performance and price

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

The ARM-powered Pro X, with its Microsoft SQ1 processor (CPU) — basically a beefed-up Snapdragon 8cx — is a capable machine that can handle productivity work with ease. However, ARM has some limitations. OpenGL games won't work on ARM, and x86 apps must be emulated. In any case, the Pro X is going to be able to handle anything you throw its way as long as you don't get into anything specialized or particularly intensive.

The Book 3 is built to be powerful, so comparisons between the two devices aren't quite fair. If you need the most performance possible, you'll want to opt for the Book 3. The 13.5-inch model includes either a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, with up to an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q dedicated graphics card (GPU) with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. If you opt instead for the larger 15-inch Book 3, it comes with a Core i7 CPU, up to 2TB of storage, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The 15-inch Business version of the Book 3 also comes with the option for a NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM. If you're working with specialized design or development software, this is the PC you want.

All that power doesn't come without a price. The 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 starts at about $1,600, while the 15-inch model starts at about $2,300. These prices do not include any accessories. The Surface Pro X, without keyboard or pen included, starts at a much more reasonable $1,000. You don't get nearly the same performance, but if you're not working on anything particularly intensive, that shouldn't matter nearly as much.

Opt for the Surface Book 3 if you value performance

Both sizes of the refreshed Book 3 are bulkier and considerably more expensive, but you get a larger display, a lot more performance, and more ports. If you need a powerful laptop that can act as a replacement for your desktop, the Book 3 should be your first choice.

Modular Powerhouse

Surface Book 3

New hardware, same great design

The refreshed Surface Book 3 adds powerful, updated hardware to a design that we know and love.

The Pro X is a better choice for those on the move

Thanks to standard LTE connectivity, light and sleek build, and hardware suited for productivity tasks, the Pro X is an attractive option for anyone who doesn't mind the compromises that come with ARM.

Windows 10 on ARM

Surface Pro X

Thin and light computing

The Surface Pro X is a versatile 2-in-1 PC that's cut out well for a life of productivity work on the move.

Surface Pro X receives firmware update that improves Microsoft Teams and stability

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) — Fri, 01 May 2020 14:03:16 +0000

What you need to know

A new firmware update is available for the Surface Pro X.
The update improves the Microsoft Teams app experience and includes several stability improvements.
You can grab the update now through Windows Update.

Microsoft's Surface Pro X has a new firmware update available. The update improves the Microsoft Teams app experience and includes several updates that improve the device's stability. The list of changes is relatively lengthy, at least when compared to some other firmware updates. Along with those already mentioned, the update's changes include improvements to adaptive brightness and Bluetooth connection reliability.

Here's a look at the release notes from the Surface Update History page:

Qualcomm(R) Adreno (TM) 680 GPU - 26.18.0901.8000 - improves the Teams app experience.
Qualcomm(R) Bluetooth UART Transport Driver - 1.0.830.0 - improves BT connection reliability.
Qualcomm(R) Bus Device - 1.0.1000.0000 - improves system stability.
Qualcomm(R) Hexagon (TM) 690 DSP - 1.0.1020.1000 - improves system stability.
Qualcomm(R) Hexagon (TM) 690 DSP - 1.0.1020.1000 - improves system stability.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.0 - improves system stability while using the camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.0 - improves system stability while using the camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.0 - improves system stability while using the camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.0 - improves system stability while the using camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.1 - improves system stability while the using camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.1- improves system stability while using the camera.
Qualcomm(R) Spectra (TM) 390 ISP - 1.0.900.1 - improves system stability while using the camera.
Qualcomm(R) System Manager Device - 1.0.820.0 - improves system stability.
Qualcomm(R) System Manager Device - 1.0.900.0 - improves system stability.
Qualcomm(R) Wi-Fi B/G/N/AC (2x2) Svc - 1.0.860.0 - improves connection reliability.
Surface Camera AVStream Mini Driver - 1.0.900.1 - improves system stability while using the camera.
Surface Hid Mini Driver - 3.10.139.0 - improves system stability.
Surface Integration Driver - 20.74.139.0 - improves adaptive brightness.
Surface Light Sensor - 1.35.139.0 - improves adaptive brightness.
Surface Radio Monitor - 3.13.139.0 - improves connectivity performance in the tablet mode.
Surface UEFI - 3.462.140.0 - improves system stability.

You can grab the update through Windows Update, though Microsoft points out that Surface updates are released in stages. If you don't see the firmware update now, check back in after some time to grab the update.

Sleeker Surface

Surface Pro X

On the go

The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.

Surface Pro X snags fresh UEFI firmware update

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:11:37 +0000

What you need to know

A new Surface Pro X firmware update is now rolling out.
The update brings an updated version of the Surface Pro X's UEFI.
There are no official release notes yet, but the update likely improves system stability in some manner.

A fresh firmware update is rolling out for Microsoft's Surface Pro X. There are no official release notes for the update available yet, but we have confirmed that it updates the system's UEFI. It's likely this update improves the Surface Pro X's system stability in some manner.

In Windows Update, you'll see the download listed as a "System Hardware Update" dated for April 9, 2020. Once installed, you'll see the UEFI version move from 3.444.140.0 to 3.462.140.0.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

If you have a Surface Pro X, you can grab this update now via Windows Update. We'll attach the release notes to this article once Microsoft makes them available.

Sleeker Surface

Surface Pro X

On the go

The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.

Apple's iPad Pro becomes more like a Surface, and that's a problem for Microsoft

daniel@windowscentral.com (Daniel Rubino) — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:01:08 +0000

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.

Source: Apple The new Apple iPad Pro with $350 Magic Keyboard. (Image credit: Source: Apple)

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.

LiDAR for Life

Apple iPad Pro (2020)

An iPad camera that is now as good as an iPhone's.

The 2020 iPad Pro has a faster processor, an advanced camera system, a LiDAR scanner for AR, and support for an actual cursor experience with the Magic Keyboard with Trackpad.

Better and faster than ever

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Type-C and 10th Gen Intel are game-changers

Microsoft has finally added a loaded-out USB Type-C port to the Surface Pro 7. When combined with Intel's latest 10th Gen processor and GPU, this year's Core i5 blows away last year's Core i7 all without a fan. Minor tweaks to the RAM, going to Intel for Wi-Fi 6, and Instant On ability make this Surface Pro 7 an absolute joy to use.

Can the Microsoft Surface Pro X play Minecraft?

zacharylboddy@outlook.com (Zachary Boddy) — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 11:00:03 +0000

Can the Microsoft Surface Pro X play Minecraft?

Best answer: When it comes to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, the deceptively powerful GPU inside the Surface Pro X ensures you actually have a pretty great experience in Minecraft. However, an apparent lack of support for specific video drivers inside Qualcomm's ARM-based processors means, as of now, the Surface Pro X is a no-go for the Java Edition of Minecraft. If you're wanting to get into modding and be able to have more control over Minecraft, you're still better off getting a dedicated gaming laptop or something with a bit more oomph, like the fantastic Razer Blade 15.Slim and powerful: Surface Pro X ($999 at Microsoft)A true gaming machine: Razer Blade 15 ($1600 at Razer)Minecraft for all: Minecraft: Bedrock Edition ($20 at Microsoft)

Mixed results

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Microsoft's Surface Pro X is an interesting computer, because it represents the first time we've seen Windows on ARM (Microsoft's effort to port Windows 10 over to more efficient mobile processors) in a truly premium computer, with a premium price tag to boot. In our Daniel Rubino's review of the Surface Pro X, which goes into all the technical details, a common thread emerges a lot: compatibility. The Surface Pro X runs best when it can natively run programs and apps on its ARM processor, but for a lot of older, legacy software it needs to use an emulator, which leads to a pretty big dip in performance. Beyond that, there are some things the Surface Pro X simply can't do right now because of its mobile processor.

With all that said, we had to ask an oh-so-important question: can the Surface Pro X play Minecraft? It turns out the answer to that question is as complicated as the PC is. On Windows 10 computers, there are two versions of Minecraft. The legacy Java Edition is the one that started it all. Also, there is the new-and-improved Bedrock Edition that offers cross-play support with Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS devices all in one game. For most people, the Bedrock Edition is the better choice, and for those people, the Surface Pro X delivers in spades.

Ho Young Won demonstrates the Surface Pro X gaming, including Minecraft at 7:30.

Since the Bedrock Edition runs natively on Android and iOS phones, it can do the same on the Surface Pro X. That means taking full advantage of the Surface Pro X's surprisingly monstrous GPU without a massive hit on battery life. Using a keyboard and mouse, the touch controls, or a good ole' Xbox One controller with Bluetooth, all of them work pretty well on the Surface Pro X, and all of the Bedrock Edition's paramount features like cross-play and private servers are here. With the Surface Pro X's advantages, like always-connected LTE and a super slim form factor, you can enjoy Minecraft no matter where you are.

When you talk about the legacy Minecraft: Java Edition is when things very quickly fall apart for the Surface Pro X. On the surface (that pun has never been done before,) there should be nothing stopping the Surface Pro X from playing the Java Edition. That version of Minecraft is strictly 32-bit, but through emulation and a little bit of a performance hit, there shouldn't be an issue. Except there's more to running legacy programs like Minecraft: Java Edition than just emulation.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The Surface Pro X allows you to download, install, and run the Minecraft Launcher with zero issues whatsoever. It'll even let you click play and load up the game. But the moment the game actually tries to start, the entire launcher crashes and restarts. Every. Time. This doesn't seem to be an issue with the Surface Pro X's power, or even the emulation layer, but rather an entirely different issue relating to the Qualcomm SQ1 processor inside of it. It seems that Qualcomm doesn't include support for a specific set of video drivers called OpenGL in the SQ1, and without those drivers, Minecraft: Java Edition simply won't run.

While it's possible that support for these drivers will be added in the future, that shouldn't be counted on. Like always, we recommend a product based on what it can do today, not what it might do in the future. Right now, the Surface Pro X can't do Minecraft: Java Edition.

So if you need to have the Java Edition of Minecraft to truly enjoy yourself, the Surface Pro X simply isn't the computer for you. You're much better off investing in a proper gaming PC like the Razer Blade 15. If you still need something with a focus on portability like the Surface Pro X, even something carrying full Intel or AMD processors like the Surface Pro 7 is a better choice. The Surface Pro X is fantastic for the right people, and handles Minecraft: Bedrock Edition with aplomb, but it is by no means a gaming machine.

Windows 10 on ARM

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Perfect for gaming on-the-go.

The Surface Pro X does a fantastic job handling the more versatile Minecraft: Bedrock Edition that's available on most devices but fails hard when it comes to the legacy Java Edition. Besides that, it's an incredible PC for the right person.

For real gaming power

Razer Blade 15 (2019)

For all your gaming needs, including Minecraft.

If you're looking for a real gaming PC that you can pack up and easily take with you, the 2019 Razer Blade 15 is the best option available right now.

Available everywhere

Minecraft

A game you can play anywhere with anyone.

The only thing that could make Minecraft even better is if you could play it in more places. Wait, you can? That's right, because Minecraft is available on almost every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Get it everywhere, play it anywhere.

Surface Pro X, Sprint, and my eSIM hell

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 18:00:03 +0000

I haven't been shy about my newfound love for the Surface Pro X. For me, it's currently the best PC for getting work done on the go, despite its limitations. That said, the Surface Pro X is also responsible for giving me the biggest headache I've had from any piece of tech in recent memory.

I'm talking about the Surface Pro X's eSIM, which sounds like an incredibly convenient way to get connected, but feels a little half-baked at the moment. Instead of setting up my PC and getting connected instantly, I spent a week troubleshooting, going back and forth with Sprint, and eventually walking away completely frustrated. Allow me to regale you with my tale.

Surface Pro X and where things went wrong

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

If you aren't familiar with what an eSIM is, it's essentially an embedded version of the SIM card you'd pick up from your mobile carrier to get connected to their network. The advantage of an eSIM is that you can easily sign up for service and connect to a network on your own, typically directly from the cellular network settings on your device. I've run through this process before with an iPad for a family member, and it was seamless.

I can't say the same for my experience with the eSIM settings in Windows. At first, setting up the eSIM from Windows' cellular settings is pretty straightforward. You pick one of the three currently compatible carriers, sign up for service, and then you should be connected to that carrier's LTE network. For me, that carrier was Sprint, which offers a tantalizing unlimited tablet LTE plan for $15 per month.

Beyond the setup process, however, things get a lot hairier. The issue I ran into was that my Surface Pro X never actually connected to Sprint's network after the signup process. At first, it seemed this would be a simple issue to rectify, but I soon learned it would be an impossible feat.

Surface Pro X is responsible for giving me the biggest tech headache I've had in recent memory.

After initially failing to get a connection established, I reset my PC and returned to the cellular settings. From there, I chose Sprint again, assuming I'd get some sort of sign-in screen. Indeed, I was greeted with two options to sign in with my Sprint account, but there was also a rather odd message accompanying the two sign-in selections. It read, "It looks like you are an existing customer trying to replace your SIM card. Enter the requested information to sign in."

While I was, as of ten minutes before, a Sprint customer, I wasn't trying to replace a SIM card. Still, I went on trying to sign in with both options available to me.

The first was to use my Sprint username and password, which seemed like the best route at the time. So, I entered my information and clicked the "sign in" button. However, all I received was a red line of text at the bottom of the screen that read, "No message available."

Perplexed, I then tried the second option, which involved putting in my tablet's "phone" number and my account pin number. This time I fared slightly better, making it to the next screen. However, this is where things also turned south: Sprint apparently requires two-factor authentication when using this method, and you can only have a code sent to another device on your Sprint account.

I don't have another Sprint device, so there was nothing listed to send the code to. Still, I held out hope that, somehow, customer service would be able to either give me a code to use or change some settings around to have a code sent to my email address or my AT&T phone number. How naive.

A never-ending loop of frustration

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

I first tried reaching out to Sprint's support team via the chat available from the company's website. While the support agents were pleasant and tried their best to remedy my issue, they ultimately couldn't help me. After several chats over a couple of days, I opted to reach out over the phone.

Once I reached a support agent on the phone, explaining my issue became much easier. However, the first agent I spoke to was just as confounded as I was. Further, I got my first taste of what seemed to be a theme: Sprint's support agents simply weren't familiar with the Surface Pro X.

Eventually, my issue was elevated to a higher level tech support line, and the woman helping me out made the experience as enjoyable as it could be. We tried troubleshooting the issue, but ultimately every potential remedy led back to my issues signing in with my Sprint account in the first place. It was during my chat with this particular agent that I learned Sprint apparently has very little troubleshooting documentation on the Surface Pro X, and I could sense her frustration as we walked through potential solutions.

Ultimately, the second agent I spoke with said that I should be able to go to my local Sprint store, where they would be able to somehow get me a two-factor authentication code and sign in. So, I packed up my Surface Pro X and made my way to my local store. The representative at the store, however, looked downright confused when I pulled out my Surface Pro X and explained the issue.

Instead of attempting to find a solution, she explained that, as a dealer store, they wouldn't be able to help me. Instead, she said, I should go to Sprint's closest corporate store, which is about an hour away. At this point, I was thoroughly done with trying to work this out and called Sprint to cancel my account.

The next day, I did what I probably should have done from the start. I went to my local AT&T store, added a tablet line to my account, and had a physical SIM card installed. All told, it took about 20 minutes and my Surface Pro X picked up an LTE signal immediately.

A fluke, or a half-baked feature?

Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster/Windows Central)

I'm well aware that my particular issue could be a fluke. I have no question that others with a Surface Pro X have been able to sign up for service and get connected with an eSIM with no trouble. Windows Central executive editor Daniel Rubino was able to do so with the same Sprint plan I was attempting to use, but he already had a Sprint account at the time.

However, what I can't get beyond is the fact that I was essentially stuck in a never-ending loop of apparently needing to sign in, but being unable to. Sprint's customer support agents were incredibly pleasant, but weren't able to help and seemed unfamiliar with the hardware. When I showed up at a store, which I was told was the best solution, I was turned away in under five minutes.

This frustrating experience severely dampened my initial enthusiasm for the Surface Pro X.

I'm not sure whether Windows' implementation of the eSIM is to blame, or if it was something on Sprint's end. However, what I can say is that this was an incredibly frustrating experience that severely dampened my enthusiasm for the Surface Pro X for the first week or so. Having used the eSIM in an iPad before, the failure to get going with the Surface Pro X is even more glaring.

Compounding things is that there is currently a distinct lack of carriers with plans available through Microsoft's eSIM settings menu. You can pick from Sprint or what appear to be two MVNO networks, and that's it. If AT&T had been available as an option, I would have simply signed in with my account, added the line, and likely avoided any of the issues I encountered with Sprint.

For now, the physical AT&T SIM has been working great, and I'm convinced it's still the most reliable route to go if you pick up a Surface and want to add mobile data. Having an eSIM is a nice bonus, but only if it works. As it stands now, for me anyway, the eSIM was just a long test of my patience.

Have you had any issues with an eSIM, whether in the Surface Pro X or another device? Let us know in the comments.

Windows 10 on ARM

Microsoft Surface Pro X

On the go

Surface Pro X is the first major overhaul to the Surface Pro lineup in some time. The PC packs a custom ARM processor, LTE connectivity, and a new thin-and-light design.

Microsoft Surface Pro X vs. Samsung Galaxy Book S: Which is a better buy?

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:30:04 +0000

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Slim, Premium 2-in-1

Microsoft's Surface Pro X is the thinnest and lightest Surface device around, and it's meant for those who need an LTE-enabled 2-in-1 device for productivity work. It can do the same things as the Galaxy Book S, but with a higher-res display with 3:2 aspect ratio and a slightly faster processor (CPU). More configurations are available, though you will pay dearly for the higher-end models.

Pros

High-res touch display with 3:2 aspect ratio
Excellent battery life
Outstanding hardware design
More configurations to choose from
4G LTE SIM and eSIM

Cons

Slim Pen and keyboard cost extra
2-in-1 form is not as stable on a lap

Samsung Galaxy Book S

Ultraportable Notebook

Samsung's Galaxy Book S uses a clamshell notebook design, but it's still incredibly thin and light. It delivers more ports than the Pro X, performance is nearly on par for productivity work, and it offers LTE connectivity so you can stay in touch everywhere. The 16:9 aspect ratio and lower-res display might not be as appealing, but this is still a knockout mobile device for anyone on the move.

Pros

Includes microSD card reader and 3.5mm audio jack
Fingerprint reader for Windows Hello
Impressive battery life
No extra cost for keyboard
4G LTE SIM

Cons

16:9 display aspect ratio
Not quite as much performance
Currently only one configuration option

These two PCs have similar hardware inside, but they differ in form factor, display, and some features. Let's break down the specs you can find on each laptop before moving on to a closer look to help you decide which is a better buy.

Surface Pro X vs. Galaxy Book S tech specs

	Surface Pro X	Galaxy Book S
Processor	Microsoft SQ1 Up to 3,000MHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Up to 2,840MHz
RAM	8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x	8GB LPDDR4x
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB SSD	256GB SSD
Display size	13 inches Touch	13.3 inches Touch
Display resolution	2880x1920	1920x1080
Aspect ratio	3:2	16:9
Graphics	SQ1 Adreno 685	Adreno 680
Ports	Two USB-C Surface Connect	Two USB-C 3.5mm audio microSD card reader
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 LTE Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 5 LTE Bluetooth 5.0
Camera	Front-facing 5MP (1080p) Rear-facing 11MP (1080p)	Front-facing 720p
Biometrics	IR camera	Fingerprint reader
Battery	38.2Wh	42Wh
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287mm x 208mm x 7.3mm)	12 x 8 x 0.24-0.46 inches (305.2mm x 203.2mm x 6.2-11.8mm)
Weight	From 1.7 pounds (0.78kg)	2.12 pounds (0.96kg)

Design and features

The Surface Pro X is a bit of a deviation from the standard Pro lineup, but it's still a 2-in-1 device with an attachable keyboard and rear stand to prop it up on flat surfaces. You can treat the Pro X like a tablet — it weighs just 1.7 pounds (0.78kg) — for casual use, then snap the keyboard and touchpad onto the bottom and handle productivity work. You do have to pay extra for the keyboard, though, which adds about $105 to the total price.

The Galaxy Book S sticks with a more traditional clamshell notebook design. If you're not big on tablets and don't want to deal with a stand and attachable accessories, it's likely going to be a better fit. It weighs in at 2.12 pounds (0.96kg), which is actually less heavy than the Pro X with the keyboard attached. At just 0.24 inches (6.2mm) at its thinnest point, the Galaxy Book S can easily be the laptop you choose as a travel partner. Both devices are built to a high standard, and the price reflects the build quality. You're getting a premium PC capable of fitting in anywhere no matter which you choose.

There's not a lot of room for ports on either device, though the Book S offers slightly better connectivity. Alongside dual USB-C ports (like the Pro X), it offers a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader capable of expanding storage up to 1TB. However, keep in mind that one USB-C port on the Book S is used for charging, whereas the Pro X includes Surface Connect that keeps both USB-C ports open for use even when the battery is depleted. The Pro X does not have a card reader for expandable storage, but the internal solid-state drive (SSD) can be accessed for DIY upgrades.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Both devices have a webcam above the display — the Book S sits at 720p while the Pro X has full 1080p — but only the Surface device includes a rear-facing 1080p camera as well. The Pro X also offers IR facial recognition for Windows Hello, whereas the Book S sticks with a fingerprint reader built into the power button. Camera quality will be far better with the Pro X, but as far as biometrics go, you should feel secure with either device.

The typing experience on the Pro X is quite similar to that of the standard Pro lineup of PCs. There's enough travel to remain comfortable, and a Precision touchpad allows for accurate pointing. You get a three-stage backlight and a special slot that holds the Surface Slim Pen. The biggest issue you'll experience is "lapability." The Pro X's kickstand is sturdy on a flat desk, but in your lap, it's not nearly as comfortable or stable as a notebook design. If you foresee a lot of hours with a PC directly on your lap, the Book S should prove to be a lot less frustrating.

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

However, the slim design of the Book S doesn't exactly allow for a lot of key travel. You'll no doubt want to (if possible) try both keyboards in person before making a final decision. In any case, you do get a rather large Precision touchpad well-suited for productivity work with the Book S.

Both laptops include LTE connectivity by default, making either one a great traveling companion. The Book S has a Nano-SIM slot alongside the microSD card reader but does not offer eSIM. The Pro X has a Nano-SIM slot as well, but it also offers support for eSIM. Users can switch dynamically between the two, making the Pro X a more suitable device for frequent international travelers. Both devices also sport Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Display and inking

As a straight-up comparison of display specs, the Surface Pro X easily wins. It's sized at 13 inches, it's touch-enabled, and it has a 2880x1920 resolution with 3:2 aspect ratio. That's a much boxier format than the Book S, and it's much better suited to the tablet form factor. Combined with an active pen — either the Surface Slim Pen or standard Surface Pen — you're getting a powerful creativity tool with excellent color and up to 450 nits brightness. Note that you can bundle a Pro X with keyboard and pen for about $1,295 or buy the keyboard and pen separately for about $208.

The Galaxy Book S sticks with a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio with 1920x1080 resolution. It's sized at 13.3 inches and includes touch, but according to Samsung does not support an active pen for inking. That's not as big of a deal considering the display on the Book S doesn't fold back to sit flat on a table, but if you do want inking support, you'll have to go with the Pro X. In any case, the Samsung display brings vivid color and excellent contrast, though the lower resolution is noticeable.

Performance and price

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The Pro X and Book S have similar hardware inside that emphasizes battery life and mobility rather than high-end performance. The Pro X uses a suped-up Snapdragon 8cx CPU with a clock speed up to 3.0GHz, whereas the Book S utilizes a standard Snapdragon 8cx with a clock speed up to 2.84GHz. Both have integrated graphics, though the Pro X will slightly edge out the Book S thanks to Microsoft's customization to the Adreno 685. Both devices are fanless and offer near-instant wake speeds.

These are two ARM-powered devices, so running 32-bit x86 apps requires a bit of emulation. There's going to be a slight performance hit compared to running native ARM64 apps, but for the most part, everything should be stable. Performance hovers somewhere around an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, which is easily capable of handling daily productivity work. The Book S is currently only available with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, whereas there are numerous Pro X configurations. Baseline models have 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, while the top model has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

Battery life is a hot topic. While Microsoft claims 13 hours of life from the 38.2Wh battery, you can expect closer to 10 hours when using ARM64 and UWP apps. If you're emulating 32-bit x86 apps, battery life falls to about seven hours. We haven't been able to personally test battery life in the Book S yet, but its larger 42Wh battery and lower-res display will no doubt positively affect longevity. Samsung claims up to 25 hours of video playback time, though real performance numbers will undoubtedly be different.

Baseline Pro X models with 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD start at about $990, and that's not including a keyboard and pen. A Pro X model to match the Galaxy Book S, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, costs about $1,295, and that's with they keyboard and pen included. Still, that's $300 more than the Book S, which goes for about $1,000.

The Surface Pro X is an outstanding 2-in-1 device

For those always on the move, the Surface Pro X is an ideal 2-in-1 laptop. It's certainly not for everyone, but if you need something portable with long-lasting battery life, instant-on, inking, and LTE connectivity, it should be near the top of your list. The display easily beats out that in the Book S, and its design makes it far more flexible. You can use it as a tablet, then connect the keyboard for a full laptop experience.

Slim, Premium 2-in-1

Microsoft Surface Pro X

ARM-powered Surface Pro

For those who need a light, thin, LTE-enabled productivity laptop, the Surface Pro X offers a unique set of features not found anywhere else.

Samsung's Galaxy Book S is an ideal notebook for those on the move

The Galaxy Book S sticks with a clamshell design, yet is incredibly thin and light for easy transportation. It has similar performance hardware (though not as many configuration options), impressive battery life, LTE connectivity, and better port selection. Still, its touch display won't quite match up to that in the Pro X. It is, however, less expensive than a full Pro X setup with keyboard and touchpad.

Ultraportable Notebook

Samsung Galaxy Book S

Finally available to buy

A notebook with excellent battery life, LTE connectivity, FHD touch display, and unbelievably thin chassis. It's all powered by a Snapdragon 8cx CPU.

I switched from Surface Book 2 to Surface Pro X, and I'm in love. Here's why.

dan.lancaster@mobilenations.com (Dan Thorp-Lancaster) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:00:03 +0000

I've been a Surface Book 2 user — and fan — since it was released in 2017. I bit the bullet and preordered the 13-inch model shortly after it was announced, and I never looked back. However, when my Surface Book 2 met an untimely demise due to an unfortunate incident involving a glass of water a few weeks ago (it got very wet), I started re-thinking what I wanted out of a portable PC.

Enter the Surface Pro X. I wound up going with Microsoft's latest iteration on the long-running Surface Pro line, and it's been the perfect fit. Still, it's a relatively big step down in terms of capabilities. Here's why I ultimately decided that it doesn't matter, and why I'm loving the Surface Pro X.

Surface Pro X is the perfect fit

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

When I picked up my Surface Pro X, several people on Twitter rightly pointed out the sudden "lane change". Making the jump from an Intel processor with a discrete graphics chip to Microsoft's custom ARM SQ1 chip (a riff on the Snapdragon 8cx) does have its downsides. But, for me, the positives outweigh the negatives.

The key here is that my laptop is no longer my main PC. I bought the Surface Book 2 when I didn't have a desktop PC to fall back on, so I went for power and maximum app compatibility. Now, I spend more time at a pretty powerful desktop rig than not, so my priorities have shifted drastically.

The three biggest draws for me with the Surface Pro X were LTE connectivity, portability, and battery life. There are several LTE laptops on the market nowadays, but none of them check all three of those boxes quite like the Surface Pro X.

Honestly, I got the SB2 when I didn’t have a desktop to fall back on. I have a pretty beefy gaming rig now, so I just wanted something with LTE that would be good for working on the go.Honestly, I got the SB2 when I didn’t have a desktop to fall back on. I have a pretty beefy gaming rig now, so I just wanted something with LTE that would be good for working on the go.— Dan Thorp-Lancaster (@DthorpL) January 31, 2020 January 31, 2020

My Surface Book 2 felt great to use, but it wasn't exactly the most portable PC in the world, and I started to feel that over the last year or so. The Surface Pro X, by contrast, is a device I can fold up, toss in my backpack, and barely notice it's there the rest of the day. With LTE added in, the portability argument gets even better because I can set up shop nearly anywhere to knock out some work on the go.

The Microsoft SQ1 ARM chip that powers the Surface Pro X is no slouch when it comes to battery life, either. Like some, I initially worried when I saw Microsoft's quoted battery life of "up to 13 hours" when compared to the figures quoted in the 20-hour range on some other ARM laptops. Thankfully, my fears have been unfounded thus far: I can easily go beyond a typical workday on a single charge, and topping back up is fairly fast.

Surface Pro X is a near-perfect device for me.

Beyond my three must-haves, there have been some other pleasant surprises as well. Windows Hello is, for some reason, significantly faster on the Surface Pro X than it was with my Surface Book 2. Combined with instant-on, I can open the Pro X up and get to work in just a second or two. That's something I've gotten used to with phones, but it's incredible to see on a PC.

Surface Pro X definitely has its limitations

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

Despite my love for the Surface Pro X, its not all sunshine and rainbows. There are definitely limitations to consider when looking at an ARM-based laptop, and the Surface Pro X won't be for everyone.

The biggest concern for many will be app compatibility. Native ARM apps feel great to use, but emulating Win32 apps can prove to be quite frustrating. And if you need to use a 64-bit "classic" desktop app, you're out of luck (at least for now).

The good news for me is that I live mostly in my browser, and the new Microsoft Edge works flawlessly with ARM chips. For the few apps I need when working on the go, there are either ARM64 versions available, or I can install them as Progressive Web Apps (PWA) via Edge. I was initially skeptical of this approach, but PWAs have proven to be quite responsive and don't feel out of place alongside true desktop apps.

The biggest stumbling block I've encountered is in my photo editing workflow. I occasionally have to take and edit photos for work, and I previously relied on my Surface Book 2's SD card slot and Affinity Photo to get the job done. With the Surface Pro X, there is no SD card port, and Affinity Photo simply isn't compatible with ARM devices yet.

I've since picked up a USB-C dongle that includes an SD card slot, but it's not the most elegant solution in the world. Without Affinity Photo, I've also had to learn some different apps as well. Polarr has proven a pretty good alternative, but it's not as capable as I'd like. Pixlr is also great for a web editor, but it isn't quite as smooth as a native app.

All of this is to say that you'll have to take inventory of everything that is an absolute must-have app before you take the leap and pick up a Surface Pro X or any other ARM-based laptop.

Happy with Surface Pro X despite the drawbacks

Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

I won't lie: I had a bit of hesitation in choosing the Surface Pro X when looking for a replacement for my Surface Book 2. I fully expected to use it for a week, call it a "neat piece of hardware," and return it for something else. But the weeks keep coming, and I've only come to enjoy using it more and more.

For someone like me, who mainly does a lot of writing and working in a browser, the Surface Pro X is a near-perfect device. Anyone who has legacy apps to worry about, or has to take on some particularly heavy workloads, will still want to look elsewhere. But for my money, the Surface Pro X has been a great fit.

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