Microsoft Surface Pro 8: Microsoft unveils its most powerful Surface Pro yet

Microsoft has taken the wraps off the biggest change to its classic Surface Pro convertible range since 2014’s Surface Pro 3. The Surface Pro 8, which was officially unveiled at a Microsoft event on 22 September, represents a giant leap forward for the line and boasts a quad-core 11th-generation Intel Evo processor. The company claims that this new silicon results in the Surface Pro 8 being more than two times faster than 2019’s Surface Pro 7, making it an ideal showcase for Windows 11.

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But that’s not the only improvement to the 2-in-1. The Surface Pro 8’s 13in PixelSense touchscreen is 11% larger and now offers a silky-smooth 120Hz maximum refresh rate – perfect for using the new Surface Slim Pen 2. This chunky stylus promises to give you the same feeling as scribbling a note on paper and magnetically slots away in the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard to charge.

Microsoft seems to have all the homeworking bases covered, too: a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports means you can hook up the Surface Pro 8 to multiple 4K monitors or even an external GPU for playing games. Recognising that videoconferencing is now an integral part of our working lives, it also supports Full HD calls with improved low-light performance. The colour options are similarly businesslike, with a choice of two smart hues, platinum or graphite, and prices start at £999, with a release date of 28 October.

Meanwhile, if you’re hitting the road, its battery can last for up to 16 hours and charge from zero to 80% in a little over an hour, according to Microsoft. We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on a Surface Pro 8 to see if the firm’s claims stack up, but it seems like a significant improvement that’s tailor-made for the new version of Windows.