Surface Pro X gets first firmware updates with focus on stability, battery

By published

Improvements right out of the box.

Surface Pro X open on table
Surface Pro X open on table (Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • The first set of firmware updates are now available for Microsoft's new Surface Pro X.
  • These updates focus on improving system stability and battery performance.
  • The updates are available to download via Windows Update now.

Just a day after its release, the first firmware updates are now available for the new Surface Pro X (opens in new tab). As is usual with these types of updates, the focus is firmly on improving system stability. There's also a single update geared towards improving battery performance.

Here's a look at all of what's new, as detailed in Microsoft's release notes (opens in new tab):

  • Surface UEFI– Firmware: 3.444.140.0 improves system stability.
  • Surface System Aggregator – Firmware: 14.57.139.0 improves battery performance.
  • Surface Pro X Integration – System devices: 20.63.139.0 improves stability when in hibernation.
  • Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685 GPU – Display Adapters: 26.18.800.0 improves system stability.
  • Surface Pro X Power Engine Plug-in Device: 1.0.0800.0 improves system stability.

The Surface Pro X is an evolution of Microsoft's Surface Pro design language, slimming down the bezels and bundling the hardware in an overall smaller package. That's largely because of the new Microsoft SQ1 ARM chip that powers the machine, making it the first Surface Pro to run Windows 10 on ARM. The Surace Pro X also pairs with Microsoft's new Surface Slim Pen, which takes a flatter form than previous Surface Pens and can be wirelessly charged in a cradle above the detachable keyboard.

The Surface Pro X is available to buy now with prices starting at $999.

Windows 10 on ARM

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Microsoft Surface Pro X

The thinnest and lightest Surface Pro available

Available in a few different configurations, the thinnest and lightest Surface Pro to date is now available to order.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the Editor in Chief for Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. Got a hot tip? Send it to daniel.thorp-lancaster@futurenet.com.
18 Comments
  • These updates should have been applied to the Surface Pro X before they were sent out to the reviewers, because at least one of them (I think from Engadget) complained about stability issues and others bemoaned the battery. I wonder how much of a difference they would make now.
  • I heard from Tablet pc review forum site where several people tried the Surface Pro X too that their (Engadget and Verge) reviews are not matching their own experiences with it (they also tried benchmarks etc). I would guess it is because Engadget and Verge had an older unstable version or faulty units. But maybe also because those tech sites have sometimes just bad reviews (leaving out or missing out on important details). With these type of products I would personally only take WC and Notebookcheck seriously (the former for general usage and the latter for technical details).
  • Not surprising. I don't take the reviews from Engadget or the Verge that seriously either. They have given bad reviews to products that I have personally found to be great. I also give more credence to WC because they are at least more objective, balanced and nuanced (Daniel Rubino was the only reviewer that actually pointed out the "instant-on" thing for Surface Pro 7 devices, whereas everyone else ignored or failed to mention it). It's all subjective in the end and dependent on your particular use case.
  • You can keep showing great benchmarks as much as you want but when it actually gets in the consumer's hands and they try to use it like they would an Intel computer, the truth comes out.
  • So far so good (after 36 hours). It beats my SP4 in every respect so far. Couldn't be happier. I'm confident I can retire my SP4. I'm a standard business user that uses Office, email, web, and consume a few store apps here/there. All my apps I use regularly from my SP4 loaded flawlessly on the ProX.
  • Good to hear. Mine arrived today and I haven't fired it up yet. I'm also upgrading from an SP4 and pretty much run standard business software (office and email). I'm double-minded about keeping the SPX - your comments are encouraging.
  • Just test every app / thingy you want to run on it and see if it works for you (note that initially W10 can be slower because it needs to index files for its searching system etc, you can check with the task manager to compare cpu usage). Also I would guess stuff stuff like e.g. Edge gives better performance + batterylife than Chrome with windows on arm.
  • There is also an ARM64 version of Firefox availble. Only usage of Chrome is discouraged at the moment as it is still an x86 32 bit app. Of course thats going to change in the coming months when Edge Chromium arrives.
  • Cool, it is nice to hear some real experiences about it.
  • They should only put ARM processors in the Go Line. That way expectations wouldn't be as high.
  • I get the sentiment, but there is no ARM processor that is up to the task that is that cheap. The SQ1 is probably quite expensive to produce, which means no cheaper ARM devices for a few generations
  • Microsoft could always go with a midrange Qualcomm processor, but since this is the surface line we are talking about, they would probably want something custom maybe we may see the SQ one chip in a future surface go device, who knows?
  • Which, also means...we need to wait for ARM to mature. Getting it now is a waste.
  • And what if i want an high-end ARM CPU in my Windows machine? It is all about choice - limiting choice is never good.
  • 'Right out the box'?? Aren't we talking about an update here!? Sounds a very welcome update though.
  • Ahh man, if the reviews we've seen so far hold up, this device is going to be a major letdown for Dan Rubino. He looked so hyped at the initial reveal back in October.
  • After an evening of using SPX, I can say that I've seen it hang or freeze a number of times. Overall performance is a solid 'okay', not overly slow or quick. I really hope the update makes it a bit more stable. I also am still waiting on my pen/keyboard so I'm very interested to see what drawing is like on it. Apparently Adobe Fresco isn't yet available for ARM 64, which is a shame. I hope that doesn't take too long. I have VS code installed and set up for JavaScript development, so I'll be very interested to see how that goes as well
  • This is exactly why I didn't trip when that video came out about a guy having some stuttering with Asphalt 9. Firmware updates are common and work out the kinks. Might bite on one of these, but trying to hold out until Neo arrives.