Surface Pro 8: At the Microsoft Surface live event on October 12, we may see the Surface Pro 9 for the first time. You can read our initial review of the current-gen model here; we liked it in 2021 and still do.
Microsoft updated the Surface Pro 8’s outdated look. This is the biggest change to this top-of-the-line tablet in years, with thinner edges and Thunderbolt 4.
The laptop is still part of Microsoft’s core range of Windows devices and one of the greatest Windows tablets. With its sleek style and quick technology, it seems like a new generation of Windows tablets. This is the greatest Surface Pro in years, despite losing some older connectors. It has Windows 11 pre-installed.
Design of Surface Pro 8
Surface Pro has stagnated in recent generations. Surface Pro 6 and 7 were spec revisions of Surface Pro 2017. Four years ago, the Surface Pro was a new gadget. It needs a major overhaul, particularly compared to the new iPad Pro, which Microsoft has mostly ignored.
Surface Pro 8 provides much-needed design enhancements. The new graphite colour looks amazing. Microsoft has focused on milder colours in prior years, but this year’s deeper colours look great.
The chassis’s rounded edges make it more pleasant to grip for extended periods than flat sides with sharper angles.
Surface Pro 8: Performance
Surface Pro 8 performance is challenging to reconcile with its portability. You want it quick, but not so fast that battery life suffers and it becomes too hot to manage.
Microsoft re-engineered the Surface Pro8’s internals to enhance the processor’s TDP from 15W to 23W.
Microsoft claims a 2x performance gain over the previous laptop’s low-power Ice Lake processors. The laptop falls short of that ambitious premise.
The Surface Pro 8 is over 50% quicker than the Surface Pro 7 in Cinebench R15, a test we’ve discarded and replaced with Cinebench R23. GeekBench 4 is quicker, though not as much.
Surface Pro 8: Battery Life
The Surface Pro 7’s battery only lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes in the PCMark 8 test. The laptop beats PCMark 10 with 8 hours and 15 minutes, so you can work all day without a charger.
This is likely because Microsoft follows the Intel Evo programme and limits the display refresh rate to 60Hz by default. With how portable the Surface Pro 8 is, it’s comforting to know it won’t run out of juice in a few hours, since the charger may add weight.
The laptop lasts 6 hours and 32 minutes on our video playback test, but that’s still a Netflix binge.
Purchase it if..
- You’re an artist: When paired with the Surface Pen, the laptop is great for illustrators and graphic designers. Any travelling artist needs this.
- You want a pure Windows 11 experience: With Windows 11 coming out, there will be plenty of new gadgets, but none will be as pure as the Surface Pro 8. Microsoft’s OS should be used like this.
- You want the ultimate 2-in-1: This is the greatest 2-in-1 Windows tablet/laptop, particularly with the Type Cover.
don’t purchase it If…
- You thought the Surface Pro 7 was expensive: Surface Pro 7 wasn’t cheap, but Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,099 (£999, $1,649) Worth it, but not for those on a tight budget.
- You don’t want to spend money on essential accessories: The Type Cover and Surface Pen are key to the laptop experience, but they cost hundreds of dollars.
- You’ll mostly be using it as a laptop: Although the Type Cover is comfy, the Surface Pro 8 isn’t ideal for lap use.
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