Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) review: Small changes make this the best Surface Pro yet
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Performance charts & Conclusion
Performance Charts
The Microsoft Surface Pro will be tested using our usual suite of benchmarking software. The model we're testing is the highest specced fanless version of the new Surface Pro. Close attention will be paid to how it performs against the Surface Pro 4. Bear in mind that the Surface Pro 4 that we tested from 2015 was powered by a comparable Core i5-6300U processor. Also included in the graphs are results of comparable slim and light notebooks like the ASUS ZenBook Deluxe 3 and LG gram 14.
Here’s a list of all the benchmarks used:
- PCMark 8
- 3DMark (2013)
- Tomb Raider
- Far Cry 2
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) | Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (Core i5-6300U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) | ASUSPro B9440 | ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA | ASUS ZenBook 3 UX390UA | LG gram 14 (2017) | |
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Processor and Chipset |
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System Memory |
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Video & Display |
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Storage |
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Optical Drive |
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Connectivity |
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I/O Ports |
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Battery Type |
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Dimensions |
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Weight |
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Audio | — |
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Miscellaneous | — |
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The best Surface Pro yet
The new Surface Pro might be largely identical to its predecessor, but all its minor improvements had had a pretty big impact on the device. Make no mistake, this is the best Surface Pro device yet.
Not much has changed on the performance front, the new Kaby Lake processor in the Surface Pro offers only marginal increases in performance over the Surface Pro 4’s Skylake processor. However, the fanless passive cooling system does mean that the new Surface Pro is absolutely silent, even when you are playing games or editing videos. If you have ever tried to play games on a notebook in a library, you’ll know how beneficial this is.
That said, the improved efficiency of the Kaby Lake processor and the larger battery does mean that the Surface Pro now enjoys a substantially longer battery life. In our tests, battery life is now up by nearly 1.5 hours or 41%, which is significant. This, coupled with its slightly reduced weight, makes the new Surface Pro a lot more portable than the Surface Pro 4, especially if you look at their Portability Index scores.
The improved hinge is nice too, and creative types will almost certainly love the new Surface Pen. We also like that Microsoft has retained the ports and connectors on the new Surface Pro, which means users can use it with their old Surface Type Covers and whatever peripherals that they pair their Surface Pro devices with. That said, the decision to not include a Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C port seems like a missed opportunity and would have made the Surface Pro even better.
Pricing of the new Surface Pro has been adjusted to make up for the fact that the Surface Pen is no longer bundled. The entry and mid-range models are now slightly more affordable, but the high-spec models are pricier, which is a little odd.
Processor | Memory | Storage | Price |
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Intel Core m3-7Y30 | 4GB | 128GB SSD | S$1,188 |
Intel Core i5-7300U | 4GB | 128GB SSD | S$1,488 |
Intel Core i5-7300U | 8GB | 256GB SSD | S$1,788 |
Intel Core i7-7660U | 8GB | 256GB SSD | S$2,288 |
Intel Core i7-7660U | 16GB | 512GB SSD | S$3,188 |
Intel Core i7-7660U | 16GB | 1TB SSD | S$3,888 |
For example, the model that we are testing with a Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD comes in at S$1,788. Previously, users would have to pay S$1,999 for the same configuration. Even if you take away the cost of the Surface Pen (S$148), the new Surface Pro is slightly less expensive.
On the other hand, the new top-of-the-line Surface Pro with a Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD is now S$3,188. In the past, the Surface Pro 4 with similar specifications and the Surface Pen was just S$2,799. If you ask me, I think that the model we tested represents the sweet spot in terms of performance and value.
Surface Pro 4 owners might probably want to hold back on upgrading to the new Surface Pro, but if you are using a Surface Pro 3 or if you just looking for a really portable Windows notebook, the Surface Pro is highly recommended.
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