Microsoft’s Newest Surface Pro is Lighter, Faster & Thinner Than Ever

Microsoft updated its Surface lineup with a laptop recently but the Pro lineup had largely been kept untouched since the Surface Pro 4 came out. Well, the productivity powerhouse is finally being updated and it’s starting with a new name: the Surface Pro.

Gone are the numbering series of the models of past. The new Pro comes as the fastest, lightest and thinnest product in its lineup. It also has a kickstand mechanism which allows tilt of up to 165-degrees.

The same 3:2 aspect ratio display is retained here as the past version. The 12.3″ IGZO panel comes with 2736 x 1824 resolution with 100% sRGB color gamut coverage. It also supports the new Surface Pen (sold separately for $99) which detects the angle and tilt for better shading and realism.

Internals and Storage

Under the hood, Microsoft has updated the Surface Pro with a choice of 7th-generation Core M, Core i5 or Core i7 processors, with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 on the top-end model. Memory options range between 4-16 GB LPDDR3 memory, while the PCIe NVMe-based storage can be had starting at 128 GB up to 1 TB.

There’s a duo of 5 MP and 8 MP cameras on the front and back, with support for Windows Hello on the front camera. There are stereo Dolby Audio Premium speakers alongside the display. The OS running is full Windows 10 Pro, rather than 10 S.

Connectivity Options and Battery Life

Connectivity needs are met by a headphone jack, USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, microSD slot, and a charging/docking outlet. Microsoft still doesn’t consider USB-C to be the mainstream standard. There’s also 5 GHz Wi-Fi ac, optional LTE and Bluetooth 4.0. Battery life is said to last 13.5 hours on a single charge.

Microsoft’s new accessories list include new Surface Type Covers, which include Alcantra fabric. The Pen, Covers and the convertible itself can be had in matching colors, too. The new keyboard will set you back by $129. Last generation’s keyboards will still work, as will the Surface Dial in its entirety.

The Surface Pro starts at $799.99, which is lower than the last Surface’s starting point.