Microsoft’s Surface Pro has become somewhat of a signature device for the company. Over the years, it has not only changed the way we look at laptops but also changed the way we interact with our computers. It was one of the first devices to blur the line between laptop and tablet. With the Surface Pro 8, Microsoft is further refining its offering by bringing some of the most requested features to the device.
The Surface Pro 8 has the largest display in the history of the lineup. It is equipped with a 13-inch PixelSense Flow Display – up from the 12.3 of the 7. According to Microsoft, the display is 11% larger, 12.5% brighter and 11% higher resolution than the Pro 7. It also supports Dolby Vision and Adaptive Colour Technology. More importantly, it’s the first Surface Pro to come with a 120Hz refresh rate. That said, the high refresh rate will only kick in when needed. It will work in tandem with Windows 11’s variable refresh rate setting to optimise this.
Design-wise, the Pro 8 takes a lot of its design cues from the Surface Pro X – which isn’t a bad thing. The new Pro is slimmer, more ergonomic thanks to some of the design choices. It also comes with a larger keyboard attachment with dedicated space to stow the Surface Slim Pen 2. Speaking of the Slim Pen 2, the stylus now charges in the base and comes with a new, improved haptic motor that is supposed to mimic the intricacies of writing with a pen or pencil. It comes with improved latency and better precision thanks to a redesign of the tip.
On the inside, the new Surface Pro 8 comes with the latest generation Intel Core i processors. You will be able to choose between the i7 and i5. These will be paired with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB on internal storage. When it comes to connectivity, the Pro 8 does away with the ageing USB-A port and opts for two USB-C Thunderbolt ports. This is promising as it indicates that the Surface Pro can support external GPUs and multiple 4K displays. It is also Intel EVO certified.
Pricing & Availability
The Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-order already with units expected to ship starting October 5, 2021. Prices start from USD$1099.99 (MYR4,599.67).