Microsoft revitalises 2-in-1 lineup with Surface Pro 7 and 4G-ready Pro X
The new Surface Pro machines vary in impact from modest hardware refresh to brand new product
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is here, and it hasn’t arrived alone. At a press event in New York, Microsoft unveiled the latest Surface Pro 2-in-1 range, including the successor to last year’s Surface Pro 6 and a sparkling new tablet with 4G compatibility and a vendetta against the iPad Pro.
First up, the Surface Pro 7. On the spectrum of total stylistic overhauls, this year’s Surface Pro refresh hardly registers. The Pro 7 retains the chunky bezels and gunmetal grey rear of its older sibling, although it does also finally include a USB Type-C port.
Far more interesting, however, is the Surface Pro X, a smaller, more modern take on the Surface Pro family. With slim bezels, narrower dimensions and a matte black rear panel, the Pro X is clearly Microsoft’s answer to the latest iPad Pro. Inside, you’ll find a custom-made Microsoft SQ1 processor, a hybrid Snapdragon chip with an AI accelerator which represents a first for the Surface range. The new chip grants the Surface Pro X always-on 4G support, which in turn means you can browse the web sans Wi-Fi.
The Surface Pro X has a 13in display (measured diagonally) with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 and a contrast ratio of 1,400:1. It has the slimmest bezels of any 2-in-1 laptop around and includes a camera that records in 4K UHD. Oh, and it can be purchased with a new Type Cover that hides a brand-new Surface Slim Pen stylus.
Both products retain the same SSD-type storage as their predecessors and both support the Microsoft Type Cover and regular Surface Pen as usual. The Pro 7 and Pro X also support fast charging, which gives you 80% battery after less than one hour of charge.
Here’s the full specs list, courtesy of Microsoft:
Surface Pro 7 | Surface Pro X | |
Processor | Intel i3-1005G1/i5-1035G4/i7-1065G7 | Microsoft SQ1 |
Graphics | i3: Intel UHD Graphics i5/i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | Adreno 685 iGPU |
Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB SSD | 128GB/256GB/512GB SSD |
Memory | 4GB/8GB/16GB LPDDR4X | 8GB/16GB LPDDR4X |
Display | 12.3in 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense touchscreen | 13in 2,880 x 1,920 PixelSense touchscreen |
Network | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE (with eSIM support) |
Ports | USB Type-A, USB Type-C, 3.5mm jack | 2x USB Type-C, nano SIM, Surface Connect |
Dimensions | 292 x 200.7 x 8.4mm | 287 x 208 x 7.3mm |
Weight | 775g/776g/790g | 774g |
The Surface Pro 7 is available to preorder now for $749, and the Surface Pro X will be available in November for an unknown sum. No word yet on a UK release date or price.