Surface Pro 7 Hands-On: A Boring But Necessary Refresh

Microsoft has a new flagship tablet. The company unveiled today the Surface Pro 7, now with a USB-C port and 10th Gen Ice Lake processors. 

The Surface Pro 7 will cost $749 and launch on October 22. 

Surface Pro 7 specs

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Row 0 - Cell 0 Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Starting Price$749
Display12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824
CPU10th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, i7 (Ice Lake)
RAM4GB, 8GB, 16GB
GraphicsIntel UHD or Iris Plus
StorageUp to 1TB
PortsUSB-C, Surface Connect, USB-A, microSD card, headphone
Size0.3 inches
Weight1.7 pounds

Surface Pro 7 Hands-on

Not a lot has changed from the Surface Pro 6 to the Pro 7. The newest release now has a USB-C port instead of a Mini DisplayPort but it keeps the Surface Connector, USB Type-A port, microSD card reader and headphone jack. 

The only other major change to the Surface Pro 7 has to do with performance. Now powered by Intel's 10th Gen Ice Lake CPUs, the Surface Pro 7 should offer a nice performance boost compared to its predecessor, especially when it comes to graphics. You can choose from a range of processors at different price points, including a Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7. The base model Surface Pro 7 will have 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage while the top-end can go as high as 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. 

As with the previous models, the Surface Pro 7 will be compatible with the Surface Pen and detachable Type Cover keyboard. The Surface Pro 7 also has new "Studio mics" for better call quality when you're using apps like Your Phone. 

Outlook

There's not a whole lot to be excited about with the Surface Pro 7, but those who held out on buying the previous version because it didn't have a USB-C port can now spend with confidence.

The other thing that could make the Surface Pro 7 a compelling upgrade are its 10th Gen Intel Ice Lake CPUs, which should big this tablet some serious gaming chops (but not up to what discrete graphics offer). 

Overall, the Surface Pro 7 is a pretty underwhelming refresh, especially when you compare it to all the fascinating things Microsoft announced today, like the Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Neo

Phillip Tracy

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Phillip became a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.