2017 Microsoft Surface Pro Review

Lisa Gade reviews the new Surface Pro, released in June 2017. This is the successor to the Surface Pro 4, and boasts quieter, cooler and faster operation and Intel 7th generation Kaby Lake dual core CPUs. Battery life is also much better. It has the same design (with minor changes like more rounded edges and a deeper reclining kickstand) and the same basic display specs: 12.3” IPS Pixel Sense display running at 2736 × 1824, SSDs and your choice of 4, 8 or 16GB RAM. As ever, the keyboard is sold separately, and the new Signature Edition Type cover is $159 (available in a variety of colors). The basic black keyboard is $129. The pen is no longer included, and the improved 2017 Surface Pen is $99 and offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt in applications that support that feature, and lower force of initial activation. Surface Pro pricing remains unchanged. The base Intel Core m3 is $799, and our Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD is $1,299. Core i7 models with Intel Iris Pro 640 graphics are available at higher prices. The Surface Pro is compatible with the Surface Dock, and it still has a charging/dock connector, 1 USB 3.0 port, 3.5mm audio and a mini DisplayPort (no USB-C).