Surface Pro 8 – The most powerful Pro – Microsoft Surface (2023)

FAQs

Is Surface Pro 8 powerful enough? ›

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review: Verdict

Used solo, it's an excellent tablet, but when combined with the Surface Pro Signature keyboard it's a thoroughly competent and powerful laptop replacement, while the Surface Slim Pen 2 turns it into a handy graphics tool.

Surface Pro 8 – The most powerful Pro – Microsoft Surface.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a good laptop for school use. It's easy to carry around since it's thin and lightweight, and its aluminum chassis feels sturdy, with excellent build quality.

Surface Pro 8 is a 2-in-1 business laptop built to adapt.

The answer is, most definitely, yes! As a hybrid between a laptop and a tablet, the Surface Pro 8 is the best example of a tablet that can replace a laptop, especially since it runs Windows 11 and not Windows RT (which was meant for certain tablets).

Surface Pro 8 is designed to highlight the best of Windows 11 and combine the power for a laptop, the flexibility of a tablet, and everything in between.

However, the Microsoft is a tablet with a kickstand and detachable keyboard, while the HP is more of a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. The Microsoft provides a better user experience overall because it has a sharper and brighter display, a more comfortable keyboard, and a more responsive touchpad.

There's no question here: if you want raw performance, the MacBook Pro models are the way to go, or at least the 14-inch and 16-inch models. The Surface Pro 8 is available with quad-core Intel 11th Gen processors, all with HyperThreading so that they can act as eight virtual cores.

Like past Surface Pro models, the keyboard cover isn't included with the Surface Pro 8. Neither is the pen.

Up to 15 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage.

How long will a Surface Pro 8 last? ›

Microsoft says the Surface 8 Pro battery lasts for up to 16 hours based on typical usage at 150 nits with auto-brightness and adaptive color disabled. However, our tests conclude that the tablet lasts for 9 hours, 6 minutes, and 33 seconds (at 60Hz) by continuously surfing the web.

It is fine to keep it plugged in. Surface has firmware and software designed to maximize battery life and the power supply is "smart" and won't overcharge.

The Surface Pro is a tablet with a detachable keyboard, while the Surface Laptop is a traditional clamshell. The Surface Pro is better with a sharper, brighter display that has a wider color gamut and goes up to a 120Hz refresh rate, better-sounding speakers, and two USB-C ports that both support Thunderbolt 4.

The starting price version of the Surface Pro 8 ($1,199.99 / £1,299) comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD.

The Surface Pro 9 is a Windows 11 2-in-1 PC with a detachable keyboard, but it's definitely not for people who want a conventional laptop. It retains the same design as the last couple of generations but the internals have been updated including Intel's 12th-generation Core processors.

The RAM is soldered in and cannot be upgraded.

If you need a machine for work, you can really buy either a Surface Laptop or a Surface Pro as they'll both do well with productivity. But if you specifically need an ultra-portable work PC, Surface Pro PCs are the better buy — they're lighter, and they'll still help you get your work done and help you relax later.

The new product is squarely aimed at workers who want a hybrid device that can span the computing demands of work and home life. It's also for people who use Office products regularly, such as students who want a tablet with the capabilities of a PC, as well as excellent gaming capabilities.

Elsewhere, the Pro 8 also has a 10-megapixel rear camera (which the Pro X had but not the Pro 7). This can capture 4K video (as well as 1080p) video. Like both of its predecessors, the Pro 8 also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which can capture video in 1080p for Zoom calls and the like.

Microsoft has released quite a number of the Surface series. One is the Surface Pro 8, the latest version after the Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 8 is a new product that was released on September 22, 2021. Because Surface Pro 8 is a new product, Surface Pro 8 can only receive Windows 10 build 19042.

Is the Surface as good as a laptop? ›

The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The Surface Pro 9 bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well. The new version doesn't differ much from the Surface Pro 8 (7/10, WIRED Recommends), apart from an updated processor and a new 5G option.

The Surface is better for most uses, with a high refresh rate 120Hz display that's sharper, brighter, and more color accurate, a much better touchpad, and a far superior webcam and microphone that are better for video conferences. Additionally, it's much more portable since it's lighter and more compact.

The Surface Pro 9 is better, but a lot more expensive. The Surface Pro 9 is the better detachable tablet 2-in-1, in terms of its inking experience, performance, and battery life. It's also more expensive than the XPS 13 2-in-1, which does offer 5G connectivity in its Intel version.

Both offer excellent brightness and support for HDR content, but only the Surface Laptop 5 includes touch-screen functionality. Apple's Mac lineup is famously missing touch-screen controls, making the Microsoft Surface a better choice if you want more hands-on interaction.

Dell XPS 17 9720

In our view, the Dell XPS 17 is one of the best alternatives for the MacBook Pro. It's got power, thanks to its Tiger Lake chips and NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics, and it's got the looks too, with a a thin and light design that will make even the biggest Apple fan take notice.

Because Microsoft envisioned it as a full-fledged PC and equipped it accordingly, it was expensive --- typically $2,000 or more. Despite that price tag, it couldn't really replace a desktop or laptop. It only found use in niche markets. There were other problems as well.

We can't say which is stronger but the Surface Pro devices using Corning Gorilla Glass for its screen. For the screen protector, Microsoft does not manufacture its own screen protector and as a Microsoft support site, we aren't able to provide a single recommendation.

Place your Surface Pro 8 screen on a table and lift the kickstand to reveal the SIM door. Insert the included SIM ejector tool into the small hole on the SIM door to detach it. Push your SIM card into the SIM card slot until it clicks.

With Fast Charging, you can charge your battery up to 80% in about an hour on most devices.

Why are Surface pros so slow? ›

Your Surface may be too hot. Move your Surface to a cooler spot, wait five minutes, and see if it runs faster. When possible, plug in your Surface. If you are running a memory-intensive app, such as streaming video or playing a game, try closing it for a few minutes.

We're happy to guide you. How you use your Surface will determine whether you have to shut it down or leave it on sleep mode. If you're not going to use your Surface for a while, you may want to turn it off. If you're just stepping away for a small amount of time, then putting it on sleep mode will be more appropriate.

Pros: great screen, good performance, Thunderbolt4/USB-4, excellent keyboard (essential additional purchase), excellent kickstand, Windows Hello, solid build, great stylus (optional purchase), removable SSD.

The eye-catching Pro X design has been combined with an Intel processor (i5, in my case, although i7 is also an option). A number of other internal configurations are available, but O opted for 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. This amount of RAM for general purposes is completely fine.

but surface pro 8 supports only 1 extended monitor.

Smart charging is always active and turns on automatically when it detects your device is plugged in for prolonged periods or used at elevated temperatures. With that being said, I could say that the device is still safe to charge overnight because of this feature.

That rendered it trash because the battery isn't replaceable. The SP is at least easier to disassemble, but the battery is glued in place so replacement is still incredibly difficult.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Battery Replacement Kit

To replace the battery yourself, you'll need a new battery and some tools. A Surface Pro 4 battery price of approximately $90 along with the cost of repair tools and will likely be the cheapest repair option. We recommend using: iFixit opening tool.

The MacBook's M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are significantly better at handling heavy tasks like video editing and 3D rendering than the Surface's Intel chips. Additionally, the MacBook's display, touchpad, and speakers are significantly better, and it has a more flexible port selection and a much longer battery life.

Microsoft officially announced the Surface Pro 9 at its hardware event on 12 October 2022. It was unveiled alongside the Surface Laptop 5, Surface Studio 2+ and several other accessories. The device is now available in the US and UK: Buy the Surface Pro 9 in the US.

Is the Surface Pro a computer or tablet? ›

The Microsoft Surface Pro is a tablet with features that turn it into a PC, capable of running any of the four million Windows programs.

Surface Pro 8 is designed to light up the best of Windows 11, enabling you to work, play, and create in ways most natural to you. Laptop, tablet, or portable digital canvas. You choose – it's your computer.

Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, and every angle in between, with the iconic Kickstand and larger 13” touchscreen.

With built-in Wi-Fi, you can connect your Surface to a Wi-Fi network and browse the internet, get apps from Microsoft Store, send email, access other computers and devices on your network, and much more: Connect to a Wi-Fi network. Connect to a cellular network. Disconnect from a wireless network.

Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, and every angle in between. Choose the one that's right for you.

Use your Surface as a tablet

Press and hold the Detach key until the light on the key turns green. Pull the screen away from the keyboard. You'll have a few seconds to detach it before it reconnects automatically.

Your Surface may be too hot. Move your Surface to a cooler spot, wait five minutes, and see if it runs faster. When possible, plug in your Surface. If you are running a memory-intensive app, such as streaming video or playing a game, try closing it for a few minutes.

The eye-catching Pro X design has been combined with an Intel processor (i5, in my case, although i7 is also an option). A number of other internal configurations are available, but O opted for 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. This amount of RAM for general purposes is completely fine.

Final thoughts: Buy the Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 8 is a great 2-in-1, and it's very cheap when on sale, but the Surface Pro 9 is the latest and greatest Surface from Microsoft. It's almost identical to the Surface Pro 8 but has newer CPUs, comes in more striking colors, and offers a 5G option if you want it.

How can I make my Surface Pro 8 faster? ›

Switching to High Performance mode is relatively easy; simply click the battery icon on the Windows taskbar, then click 'More power options', then 'show additional plans'. 'High performance' is right under it.

Most users need about 8 GB of RAM, but to use several apps at once, you might need 16 GB or more. If you don't have enough RAM, your computer will run slowly and apps will lag.

The RAM is soldered in and cannot be upgraded.

How much RAM do you need? Generally, we recommend 8GB of RAM for casual computer usage and internet browsing, 16GB for spreadsheets and other office programs, and at least 32GB for gamers and multimedia creators.

I would think with proper care and maintenance that a Surface Pro would function properly for several years (2 to 3). They utilize the latest Intel processors (same used by Apple) and the latest Windows OS. The battery would be the main limiting factor as like all batteries it has a limited number of charge cycles.

Your Surface Pro 8 comes with Windows 11 preinstalled and there is no Windows 10 image available for the device in Surface Recovery Image Download (microsoft.com). However, you may use the Windows ISO file to install Windows 10 on the device.

With Fast Charging, you can charge your battery up to 80% in about an hour on most devices.

Yes, you can usually charge your Surface with the USB-C port. However, we highly recommend using the charger that came with your Surface because the charging speed with a USB-C cable can be very slow, depending on the power supply and cable you're using.

Up to 18 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in August 2022 using preproduction software and preproduction 13.5” Intel® Core™ i5, 256GB, 8GB RAM device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby.