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Review
Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 review: A class act that lasts longer
Microsoft's Surface range of laptop/tablet hybrids has been improving in increments since the line debuted in 2012. While many punters predicted a new Surface Pro 5 to launch this year after a two year gap from the last model, Microsoft instead refreshed the series, naming its new device simply the Surface Pro.
On the outside the changes may not appear huge, but there is serious attention to detail in the design. The new model is billed with improved performance and claims of a 13.5-hour battery life, something fans have been clamouring for.
While its Surface Laptop is aimed firmly at students, Microsoft has geared the Surface Pro at professionals and those with deep pockets. The new model is £50 more expensive than the old Surface Pro 4 on launch, costing £799, and it will not throw in the Surface Pen, which on its own costs £99.
Design, screen and hinge
Microsoft has gone to pains to point out the design changes to the new Surface Pro. The company's famously enthusiastic head of Surface Panos Panay has said the new device features hundreds of new custom built parts and is far more than just the next in line.
It is certainly a gorgeous device. Sleek and elegant, it takes all the best parts of the old looks while Microsoft has rounded off the edges to give a smooth end product. At just 766 it is lighter than any normal laptop.
One of the most useful element of the Surface range has been that back hinge, which has now been stretched further back to reach a 165-degree angle, meaning you can lie it almost flat. The screen itself looks fantastic, with a 3:2 aspect ration and 267 pixels per inch, more than the 2017 iPad Pro. That said, it hasn't actually changed from the Surface Pro 4.
The screen itself is 12.3 inches with 10 multi-touch points, which I always found extremely responsive to touches using both fingers and the stylus pen, which has been upgraded for even greater sensitivity. Other standard features are an eight megapixel rear facing camera and a five megapixel front facing camera and stereo speakers. The device supports facial recognition using Windows Hello feature.
It comes with a Mini DisplayPort and a USB 3.0 connector and no USB C connection. This could prevent the future proofing of the device as USB C is increasingly adopted.
About that battery
While most of us will hardly notice the external changes, its the major internal changes that have got fans of the Surface excited. Battery life was one of the main sticking points for the Surface Pro 4, with many feeling that such an expensive device designed for all day use just couldn't cut it in terms of staying power.
Microsoft has claimed the Surface will offer 13.5 hours of video playback, a significant step up from the nine hours offered by the Surface Pro 4. It is also the claim that has got plenty of users excited, while the old Surface Pro 4 was excellent in many ways this had proved a major hurdle in encouraging users to abandon laptops and try Surface.
In the time I was with it, the Surface Pro hummed smoothly through 50 per cent of its battery life in a little under five hours of constant use. This is still a step up from the Surface Pro 4, and the Surface Pro easily lasted the day. It compares well to the iPad Pro in this regard.
The one niggle in all this I found was the Surface Pro's magnetic connector. While it is identical to the one on the Surface Laptop, it seemed to fall off and fail to connect properly more often on the Surface Pro.
Performance
The Surface Pro has taken on the latest generation of Kaby Lake processors. The basic model will have Intel Core M3 processors and 4GB of RAM, which may not give the optimal performance if you want to use the Surface for intensive photo or video editing. The model I was given to review had i7 processors and 16GB of RAM, making it powerful enough to whiz through all the tasks I set it without any issues.
On top of this the Surface Pro uses fanless cooling and I found this worked well, although the device did start to warm up after a long video call. But the device was mute throughout, running wonderfully silent.
Typecover and Surface Pen
An ongoing issue with the Surface Pro range (and, to be fair, Apple's iPads) is the additional cost for a typecover. It is harder for Microsoft to get away with this due to persistent marketing of the Surface Pro as a laptop and a laptop alone. While it performs like one when you have the typecover attached, this will cost you an extra £124.99 for the standard model without its luxurious Alcantara fabric.
All that said, the keyboard is still excellent. I found it easy to type on, light and clicky with just enough pressure. I didn't get to test the Signature Alcantara keyboard for the Surface Pro, although on the Surface Laptop this material was also great to work on.
Again, while I was not testing the new Signature keyboard, the trackpad did not feel superior to the laptops that the Surface Pro aims to compete with. It is really good, but I am still hoping for something even better.
The redesigned Surface Pen now features 4096 points of pressure sensitivity. One of the main issues with it is that not enough people actually go out and use it, although Microsoft is now adding lots of new pen features to office, which may encourage more people to get writing. The Surface Pen is now only available as an optional extra.
Verdict
The Surface Pro practically improves on its older cousin in many ways. It is a great device, it runs seamlessly and gives you the power of the Windows 10 operating system that offers a laptop feel. As a professional device combining portability with performance it remains top of its game.
Using the Surface from work to home was a breeze. Flipping away the keyboard and picking it up on the go makes it ideal for meetings and presentations, but for ordinary buyers who want a device for Netflix, reading and web browsing there are other great tablets out there.
The price will definitely be an issue for some. At £799 the entry level model is a premium tablet price, when you consider the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro comes in at £619. Those who want laptop specs for the Surface will have to pay £1,249 for an i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. Plus to fully use this as a laptop as Microsoft calls for you will have to shell out for the keyboard.
This is a superb device and the best Surface to date, yet I finished still wanting more. While it was not named the Surface Pro 5 I felt it might as well have been. Marked improvements to battery life will please loyal buyers, but the Surface Pro came across as a sequel rather than a franchise reboot. On its own merits it remains a great buy, if you feel you need it.
Pros: Quality touchscreen, stunning display, the power of Windows, better battery
Cons: Price, Surface Pen now separate, no USB C
Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro is available from £799 to £2,699 on Microsoft Store, the Signature Typecover is available for £149.99, the Surface Pen is available for £99. You can find the old Surface Pro 4 on Currys from £629.