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Surface Pro 7 review: Microsoft's king of the 2-in-1s retains its crown

Windows Central Best Award

Terminal yr, I reviewed the Surface Pro six and concluded that "an already infrequent 2-in-ane gets even improve." That is the aforementioned story this yr for the Surface Pro 7, and while that may audio monotonous, information technology reinforces just how crucial and intriguing the Surface Pro is after seven generations.

Now, with the latest iteration going on sale Oct 22, 2022, the Surface Pro 7 has go one of my favorite PCs despite all the dandy choices on the market. The new Intel 10th-Gen processor, Iris Plus graphics, and Intel Wi-Fi 6 go a long way. Oh, there'southward also that neat USB Type-C universal port.

Hither's why the Surface Pro 7 earns a most-perfect rating.

Blazon-C changes everything

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

From $749

Bottom line: While the Surface Pro 7's exterior looks similar last twelvemonth's model (and the year before that), the new 10th Gen Intel processor and Iris Plus graphics bring some serious horsepower to one of the coolest PCs around. The new USB Type-C port greatly expands its abilities, and switching to Intel for Wi-Fi goes a long way to perfecting this already great convertible.

Pros:

  • Exceptional operation for Core i5 version.
  • USB Type-C.
  • All-day eight-hr battery.
  • Instant On and resume.
  • Best 2-in-1 form factor.

Cons:

  • No Thunderbolt 3.
  • No LTE.
  • No Dolby Vision or anti-glare display.
  • Bezels await dated.

Merely the important stuff

Surface Pro 7 what's new for 2022

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Central

The Surface Pro 7 looks exactly similar the Surface Pro vi and Pro 5, but that betrays all the small – but not immaterial – internal changes, which include:

  • USB Type-C iii.1 port (replaces Mini DisplayPort).
  • Wi-Fi half-dozen, 802.11ax uniform.
  • Bluetooth Wireless v.0 technology.
  • Change from Marvel to Intel wireless.
  • Instant On (never hibernates).
  • 10th-Gen Intel processors (10nm "Ice Lake").
  • Iris Plus graphics.
  • DDR4 RAM.
  • Surface Connect+ with fast accuse.
  • Dual far-field Studio Mics.
  • New colour Blazon Covers (poppy crimson and ice blue).

The new imprint feature is USB Blazon-C, which replaces the aging Mini DisplayPort. Microsoft is finally making this modify across its entire Surface line, including Surface Book 2, Surface Pro Ten, Surface Studio two, and Surface Laptop iii.

While this Type-C port is not Thunderbolt 3, it tin can power dual 4K displays (60Hz), deed equally a charging port, use hubs, and transfer information. It'due south now a universal port, and it is quite powerful even if it can't power an external GPU (eGPU).

For those looking for more specifics, the Surface Pro 7's Type-C port supports USB three.1 Gen 2 (10GB/southward) and DisplayPort 1.iv. That also ways it can accept high-capacity Type-C wall chargers ranging from simple smartphone ones at v watts and upwardly to at least 65 watts while using fast accuse. The laptop tin can likely utilise even 100W Type-C chargers, although those are rarer, and it is not articulate if the Surface Pro 7 volition use that extra power. At the very least, it means y'all tin can use a 65-watt Type-C charger and get similar benefits every bit the Surface Connect+ one.

Surface Pro 7 Type-C Source: Windows PrimalThe new Blazon-C port sits above the USB Type-A and Surface Connect+ on the correct side of the Surface Pro 7.

The switch from a Curiosity wireless chipset to Intel is also noteworthy. Microsoft has been using Marvel for the concluding six generations of the Surface Pro, and while it has improved over fourth dimension, information technology likewise acquired some headaches for many users. By switching to the latest Intel flake (AX201), the Surface Pro vii now supports 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz (160Mhz) and Wi-Fi 6, making information technology ready for the future.

Category Surface Pro 7
Operating system Windows ten Home
Display 12.3 inch Pixelsense, 3:2 aspect ratio, 2736x1824 (267 PPI)
Processor 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1
10th Gen Intel Cadre i5-1035G4
10th Gen Intel Cadre i7-1065G7
Memory 4GB LPDDR4x
8GB LPDDR4x
16GB LPDDR4x
Storage 128GB SSD
256GB SSD
512GB SSD
1TB SSD
Rear photographic camera 8MP autofocus (1080p)
Front end camera 5MP (1080p)
Security Windows Hello face authentication camera
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Wi-Fi half dozen
Ports 1 USB-C
One USB-A
I microSDXC
1 Surface Connect+
Surface Keyboard connector
iii.5mm headphone jack
Battery Up to x.5 hours
Size eleven.5" 10 7.9" ten 0.33" (292 mm x 201 mm x 8.5 mm)
Weight i3, i5: 1.70 lb (775 g)
i7: ane.74 lb (790 g)
Colors Platinum
Black

The change to 10th-Gen Intel processors is expected merely not to be disregarded. Equally demonstrated in our benchmarks, this is a meaning improvement in performance that nosotros have non seen in some time. The aforementioned goes for the new Intel Iris Plus, which offers a pocket-sized heave for graphics of concluding year's Intel UHD 620.

Surface Pro 7 charger Source: Windows CentralThe included 65W charger for Surface Pro 7 is the same equally prrevious years.

Microsoft also added "fast charge" to the Surface Connect port (now called Surface Connect+). It uses the same 65-watt charger as previous Surface Pros, but information technology tin can now charge the battery quicker.

A feature that was briefly glossed over by Microsoft is the new "Instant On" ability, thanks to a combination of that Intel tenth-Gen processor and some tweaking Microsoft has done. The Surface Pro seven never enters hibernation like every other Windows PC or Surface before it. Instead, it is always in instant standby, so there is never whatsoever waiting for it to engage when you open the Surface Type cover. Whether you leave the Surface Pro 7 for two minutes or seven hours, it volition ever be ready to employ, like to how Qualcomm ARM PCs behave. This change is an extraordinary feature that makes the Surface Pro 7 similar to how an Apple tree iPad Pro operates.

The upgrade to DDR4 RAM (upwards from DDR3), improved dual "Studio Mics" for Skype or calls on Microsoft Teams, and calculation two new colors to the Surface Blazon Cover line are small tweaks, just still positive ones.

Looks the same merely that'due south OK

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 design

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Cardinal

The overall design for the new Surface Pro 7 is the aforementioned as the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Pro five. Colors for the Surface Pro's chassis are still matte blackness, which was introduced last yr, or the traditional platinum color.

The power and volume keys are located on the top left of the Surface Pro. The Type-C, Type-A, and Surface Connect+ ports are located on the correct side while the optional Surface Pen can magnetically stick to the left side.

Interestingly, the new Surface Pro X, which is made from the ground up for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx, steals the design thunder from the Surface Pro. Information technology's rumored Microsoft volition bring similar design changes to the Pro line in late 2022. While thinner bezels would have been lovely for the Surface Pro, it'southward tough to be upset with its design, which works well fifty-fifty in 2022.

Great simply could be amend

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 display

Surface Pro 7 display Source: Windows Central

Of all the changes to the Surface Pro vii, the lack of any to the brandish – particularly when compared to other PCs – is the biggest frustration. It's even so a superb screen and enjoyable to use, but Microsoft is falling backside the competition, not leading. The brandish is effectively the aforementioned as Surface Pro half dozen. Some enhancements in power consumption and modest tweaks likely have occurred, but there are no apparent differences.

You lot should not overlook the Surface Pro 7... it'southward the best nonetheless.

The 12.3-inch LCD screen supports a resolution of 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI) with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Microsoft yet offers two presets for the colour gamut, including sRGB for color accuracy (photo editing) and "enhanced," which brings punchier colors and more contrast ideal for movies or regular usage.

Our brightness measurements pegged the Surface Pro 7's max output (100 pct) at 410 nits, while its minimum (nothing pct) is barely visible at ii.eight nits. While practiced, the Surface Pro is beginning to fall behind competitors, who are achieving 500+ nits of brightness. That as well translates into the lack of HDR400 (where 500 nits are needed) and the lack of Dolby Vision certification, something that is more than mainstream.

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows CardinalWIth USB Blazon-C, you tin can at present use portable displays similar the Lenovo ThinkVision.

Color accuracy is a decent 98 percent for sRGB, 73 percent for AdobeRGB, and 72 pct for DCI-P3. While those are good results, they are beneath that of something like the new Dell XPS thirteen 2-in-i, which achieved 100 per centum sRGB coverage with AdobeRGB at 76 percentage and DCI-P3 at 81 percentage.

The Surface Pro 7's brandish is also still glossy with no anti-glare layer. Companies like HP, Dell, and Lenovo are investing heavily in anti-glare technology. The tech keeps the benefits of glossy displays, such as accurate color reproduction and wide color gamut, while also reducing reflectivity. That power helps to lessen eye fatigue, and unfortunately, Microsoft has nothing to contribute hither.

Another trend that Microsoft is missing out on is the push towards OLED displays. However, many users prefer the more natural look of LCD, making that more than a subjective and personal critique.

New colors

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 pen inking

Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pen Source: Windows Primal

If y'all desire to use digital ink on the Surface Pro, you lot need to shell out an extra $99 for the Surface Pen (although there are cheaper alternatives.

For 2022, there are two new colors for the Surface Pen that match the new Type Covers: poppy ruddy and ice blue.

There is nothing new with the Surface Pen this year, so those who are upgrading tin easily utilise their electric current Surface Pen and Surface Blazon Covers, saving $260.

The pen withal has the same 4,096 levels of pressure, supports tilt, rotation, and Bluetooth. Activation force – the corporeality of pressure required earlier the pen activates – is 9 grams. Microsoft too maintains just ii.1 milliseconds of inking latency from final year'south model due to the inking co-processor that's part of the Surface Pro 7 display. That co-processor connects the GPU to the screen'south digitizer and helps speed upward pen calculations.

Best Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen Alternatives in 2022

Microsoft has steadily improved both the firmware for Surface Pen and fabricated meliorate apps with more significant back up, such as Microsoft To Do, OneNote, and Sticky Notes 3.0.

Microsoft too has a new Surface Slim Pen designed for the Surface Pro Ten. While that pen works with the Surface Pro, it doesn't seem to brand much sense to spend the actress greenbacks for information technology over the regular Surface Pen. The changes are more often than not in the pattern.

New colors

Surface Pen 2022

Unleash your creativity

Merely considering Microsoft has a new stylus out, doesn't hateful you necessarily need to purchase it over the classic Surface Pen. This stylus all the same has splendid potential for creative work.

So fast its instant

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Type Embrace, Windows Howdy, and resume

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Fundamental

Typing on the Surface Pro 7 is all the same just as excellent as it has been for the last few years. The keys are three-stage backlit with 1.3mm of travel.

The new Type Covers don't take whatever new features or improvements. The trackpad, which uses Microsoft Precision drivers, is the same physical size as last year's and still works wonderfully considering the size restrictions.

Following the Blazon Covers from Surface Pro 5 and Surface Pro vi, the Pro 7'due south new Type Embrace besides had dedicated keys for changing the display brightness.

Everything you need to know nigh Alcantara

The new Type Covers too characteristic the Alcantara cloth cloth, making them actress comfy. Retail price is $160 and is not included with the Surface Pro, making it an additional just necessary buy for most people. For those looking to salvage some money or who prefer a black cover with no Alcantara, Microsoft nevertheless sells that Blazon Encompass for $130.

Surface Pro 7 and Windows Hello Source: Windows CardinalWindows Howdy, instant-on, and dual Studio Mics for the Surface Pro seven.

Windows Hello facial recognition is nevertheless nowadays thank you to the 8MP (1080p) front-facing photographic camera and sensors. That system is now flanked by two microphone holes for what Microsoft is referring to as Studio Mics. Those mics give a considerable improvement for video teleconferencing.

The Surface Pro vii also includes a world-facing 5MP (1080p) camera ideal for whiteboard and OneNote use. Both information technology and the front end-facing camera are some of the best on any PC on the market.

Windows Hello activation is now even speedier than last year's model. These small details are what dissever Surface Pro from everything else on the market. By the time you drop the Blazon Cover and open Windows Hello, Surface Pro 7 will take already logged you lot in even after hours of nonuse. Information technology's a fantastic experience and easily the fastest system I take tried.

New colors

Surface Pro Signature Type Cover

With Alcantara cloth finish

The Pro vii brings a couple of new Signature Type Embrace options, available in poppy red and ice blueish colors. You withal become a backlit keyboard and a Precision touchpad.

A massive operation boost

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 benchmarks and battery

Surface Pro 7 battery Source: Windows Central

Microsoft is one of the first to adopt Intel's new 10nm tenth-Gen Core U-series processors. At that place'south always a lot of hype around new Intel products, only the tenth Gen series delivers on that excitement. A Surface Pro seven with a fanless Core i5-1035G4 volition trounce last year's Surface Pro 6 with an actively cooled Cadre i7- 8650U processor. That's an astonishing event.

Both Geekbench 4, Geekbench v, and PCMark 10 testify that Intel'due south 10th Gen serial brings a serious performance boost. The fact you lot can now buy a fanless Cadre i5 Surface Pro and get more performance than last year's Core i7 – all for a lower price – is a massive win for consumers.

Geekbench five

Geekbench 5.0 (CPU) (Higher is ameliorate)

Device CPU Single core Multi core
Surface Pro 7 i5-1035G4 ane,191 4,441
Surface Pro 7 i7-1065G7 1,205 iv,852
Surface Pro 6 i7-8650U ane,113 3,519
Surface Pro half-dozen i5-8250U 904 3,440
Surface Laptop iii 13.5 i5-1035G7 1,177 iv,413
Surface Laptop 3 Ryzen 5 769 two,720
Dell XPS 13 2-in-one 7390 i7-1065G7 1,209 3,571
Dell XPS 15 7590 i9-9980HK 1,176 7,624

Geekbench 4

Geekbench 4.0 (CPU) (college is improve)

Device CPU Single core Multi core
Surface Pro vii i5-1035G4 5,245 17,350
Surface Pro half dozen i7-8650U 5,037 xiii,864
Surface Pro 6 i5-8250U 4,287 14,031
Surface Pro 5 i5-7300U four,302 8,482
Surface Pro 5 i7-7660U 4,513 9,346
Surface Pro 4 i5-6300U three,319 half-dozen,950
Surface Laptop three 13.5 i5-1035G7 v,265 17,345
Surface Laptop 3 fifteen Ryzen-five iii,985 12,079
Surface Laptop 2 i5-8250U four,203 13,233
Surface Laptop i5-7200U 3,725 7,523
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 i7-1065G7 5,459 19,097
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U v,139 16,339
Dell Breadth 7400 ii-in-one i7-8665U five,469 15,800
HP Spectre x360 13t i7-8565U 5,056 14,767
Lenovo Yoga C930 i7-8550U 4,787 15,028

PCMark

PCMark 10

Device Score
Surface Pro vii i5 iii,992
Surface Pro 6 i7 3,644
Surface Pro 6 i5 3,501
Surface Laptop 3 fifteen 4,006
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 4,427
Dell XPS 15 7590 5,521
Dell XPS thirteen 2-in-1 7390 4,427
Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-ane 3,764
HP Pavilion x360 14 iii,558
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 3,468

GPU

Geekbench 5.0 OpenCL (higher is better)

Device GPU Compute score
Surface Pro 7 Iris Plus 7,613
Surface Pro 6 Intel UHD 620 5,396
Surface Laptop 3 15 Vega ix 11,334
Surface Laptop three 13.5 Iris Plus 9,811
Dell XPS thirteen 2-in-1 7390 Iris Plus x,406
Dell Inspiron 13 7390 two-in-1 Intel HD 5,632
Dell Precision 3541 NVIDIA Quadro P620 12,469

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

Device Read Write
Surface Pro 7 two,040 MB/due south 809 MB/south
Surface Pro 6 ane,632 MB/s 814 MB/due south
Surface Pro five 847MB/s 801 MB/s
Surface Laptop three 15 ii,028 MB/southward 806 MB/s
Surface Laptop 3 13.5 two,338 MB/s 1,583 MB/southward
Surface Laptop 2 1,509 MB/s 811 MB/s
Surface Laptop 486 MB/south 244 MB/s
Surface Book i,018 MB/s 967 MB/south
Dell XPS thirteen 2-in-1 7390 2,400 MB/south 1,228 MB/south
Huawei MateBook X Pro (new) 3,416 MB/southward 2,779 MB/due south
HP Spectre x360 13t 3,085 MB/s i,182 MB/s
LG gram 14 2-in-1 558.1 MB/s 523.1 MB/s

.

While I didn't get a adventure to test the new Intel Core i7-1065G7, I can imagine it is the fastest fifteen-watt bit effectually.

Thermals – even on this passively cooled Cadre i5 – are excellent. During a 25-minute benchmark, the organisation was only warm at 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees C). Those numbers could become up in a more heated room or during the summer, but in nearly office environments, those results should hold.

After having the Surface Pro 7 just short of a week, I cannot conclude if it is better for my daily handling. Microsoft is now claiming 10.5 hours of "typical usage." The company is adjusting how it estimates battery consumption, moving away from the misleading video-loop test to a more existent-earth experience. That test now consists of the Surface Pro 7 running a web browser with 10 tabs open and all the Microsoft Office apps running simultaneously.

The new tenth-Gen Intel processor and Iris Plus graphics bring some serious horsepower to one of the coolest PCs around.

For a synthetic battery test, I ran PCMark ten'due south new bombardment benchmark dubbed "Modern Office." That benchmark runs through a similar analysis of web browsing, video conferencing, Microsoft Office apps, with some idle time in between. My results pegged Surface Pro seven with a Cadre i5 at eight hours. That'due south not bad, just the Surface Pro vi with a Core i5-8250U was closer to 10 hours. Information technology'south difficult to conclude if that'due south because the 10th Gen Core i5 runs at a college height clock speed (3.7GHz vs. 3.4GHz), because the drivers are not as optimized still, or a combination of both. Even so, that eight hours is considered "all solar day" by most people.

CPU and GPU usage during an extended PCMark 10 criterion.

The new Intel Iris Plus graphics also deliver a nice heave. Iris Plus falls right between last year'south Intel UHD 620 and NVIDIA GeForce MX150. That means it is OK for photo editing, occasional video editing, and arcade-style gaming.

Anything related to gaming, or heavy GPU usage though is taxing on the battery. Playing the arcade-side-scroller Broforce for 10 minutes dropped the battery by a whopping 10 percent. Stretched out, that ways many games would kill the Surface Pro subsequently 90 minutes on the battery.

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Cardinal Just some of the games that play well on the Surface Pro 7.

Luckily, the new fast charge feature for Surface Connect+ and the Type-C port somewhat saves the Surface Pro 7. Microsoft claims 0-lxxx percent in about an hour, merely my experience places it nearer 0-70 pct. That is still terrific, though, and even after a 30-infinitesimal charge, the Surface Pro 7 jumped from 56 percentage battery to 86 per centum.

Because of the Blazon-C port, users are now likewise free to leverage portable Blazon-C battery packs with the Surface Pro 7, an excellent choice for those abroad from a wall outlet.

Battery drain while not in use seems non-existent or very minimal. Left overnight for vii hours, the Surface Pro 7 lost just iii to 4 percent of the battery.

The SSD for Surfaces has always been simply OK, and that is the case here. The 256GB model yields 2,000MB/s for read, while writes were just at 800MB/due south, far below the industry average. However, most people experience read operation, and in that location the Surface Pro 7 is closer to typical laptops. It's likewise an improvement over the Surface Pro v (847MB/s) and Surface Pro 6 (i,600 MB/s). It should be noted that due to the parallel nature of SSD storage, the 512GB and 1TB options are likely to improve those speeds too.

Purchase or not?

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 still amazes

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Cardinal

It may be hard to get excited about the Surface Pro 7. But office of that thwarting is that Microsoft effectively figured out what Surface Pro should exist like with the Surface Pro iv and Surface Pro 5 (2017). Since and so, it has been only tweaking it in all the correct ways. Surface Pro 7 is an extension of that.

No other manufacturer has been able to brand such a compelling 2-in-1.

Previous problems like loud fans, underperformance, or miserable battery life put the Surface Pro out of accomplish for my needs. The Surface Pro vii, though, is most everything I want in a portable PC. Performance is first-class, typing and sound are notwithstanding the all-time of the bunch, and battery life gets me through the 24-hour interval.

That Type-C port brings and then many new options to the table, drastically increasing the Pro's abilities. I can now use portable displays like the splendid Lenovo ThinkVision, mobile battery packs, hubs for port expansion, or use my phone charger in a pinch.

While Thunderbolt 3 would have been fantastic, I even so contend that most people want those universal abilities I mentioned. Using an eGPU is cool, merely this is notwithstanding a very niche case, one that I believe will drop dramatically one time Project xCloud's game streaming comes to PCs.

The Windows Hello login and resume speeds (Instant On) are and so fast that I could mistake this for a Qualcomm ARM device. That matters when you are opening and closing the Surface Pro dozens of times a solar day and brings it closer to behavior to the Apple iPad Pro.

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Fundamental

My only letdown is the Pro's display. Don't become me wrong it's splendid and looks fantastic. But the rest of the manufacture is adopting HDR400/Dolby Vision, and anti-glare technology, and Microsoft is non adding to that story. Windows 10 now supports playing HDR games and apps and broad color gamut apps, but the Surface Pro's hardware doesn't. That's unfortunate. If Surface Pro is supposed to represent the best of Windows ten, information technology's declining there.

Surface Pro vii is truly the king of the 2-in-1s.

At that place is also the lack of an LTE selection, simply it is apparent Microsoft is keen on positioning the new Surface Pro X for that use case.

While the bezels await a chip dated, I'm also not taking points off. The fact is, a lot of people don't care that much and it doesn't distract from the usability expeirence. That said, if the display bezels actually bother you, consider either the Surface Pro X or pin your hopes on Surface Pro 8 likely in 2022.

Surface Pro 7 Source: Windows Central

For most users, the Core i5 Surface Pro 7 is the ideal selection. Going by benchmarks, the Core i3 model should too exercise quite well, though it is still just a dual-core chip versus the i5 and i7, which are quad-cadre. The SSD and RAM are not-upgradeable, so buy what you will demand.

The Core i7, which is likely enormously powerful, also brings a fan, so keep that in heed if you dislike the idea of an actively cooled arrangement. That model is likely ideal for those who want to use a desktop dock where the Surface Pro volition exercise double duty as a portable and desktop PC daily.

Overall, I am more than impressed by the Surface Pro 7 than I expected when I started this review. It'due south simply terrific. It proves that the Pro's pattern is not merely here to stay but that this the best iteration of it. While the toll is still high ($i,200 for a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, not including Type Cover and Pen), that "Surface revenue enhancement" is well earned. No other manufacturer has been able to make such a compelling two-in-i like the Surface Pro 7, despite many attempts.

Amend and faster than always

Microsoft Surface Pro seven

Blazon-C and tenth Gen Intel are game-changers

Microsoft has finally added a loaded-out USB Type-C port to the Surface Pro 7. When combined with Intel's latest 10th Gen processor and GPU, this year's Cadre i5 blows abroad last year's Cadre i7 all without a fan. Small tweaks to the RAM, going to Intel for Wi-Fi 6, and Instant On ability brand this Surface Pro 7 an accented joy to use.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-pro-7

Posted by: shotwellenbraing.blogspot.com

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