As expected, during today's official event, Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 4 tablet, which is thinner (8.4 mm), lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. Contrary to previously appeared rumors, the new product did not receive a frameless design, like the Dell XPS 13, but, nevertheless, retained the same proportions while the diagonal of the PixelSense display increased from 12" to 12.3", which, moreover, is protected by 0.4 -mm Gorilla Glass 4 and supports a resolution of 2160 × 1440 pixels.
The plug-in Type Cover keyboard has also undergone changes - in addition to being thinner, it has a larger touchpad that supports up to five simultaneous touches, as well as a fingerprint scanner, which is necessary for authorization to function in Windows Hello.
The hardware basis of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is the Intel processor of the latest generation Skylake, while the amount of RAM installed in it can reach 16 GB. The maximum capacity of the built-in storage is 1 TB, and the wired interfaces include four USB 3.0 ports and two DisplayPorts. In addition, the Surface Pro 4 includes an updated Surface Pen stylus that recognizes 1024 levels of pressure and is compatible with the Cortana voice assistant, which can be launched by simply pressing and holding the button located on it. When inactive, the pen is attached to the side of the tablet using a magnet.
In its most basic configuration, the Surface Pro 4 costs $899 and will go on sale after October 26th.
Along with the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft also announced the Surface Book convertible laptop. It is equipped with a detachable 13.5-inch touchscreen display with a pixel density of 267 ppi and support for Surface Pen, a 12-hour battery, an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor (Skylake) and a discrete NVIDIA graphics accelerator with GDDR5 memory. The latter, unlike the rest of the laptop's electronic components, is located in the keyboard unit, which also has backlit keys.
Device: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Grade: 4,5/5
Price: $1300
The combination of an Intel Skylake processor, a new Type Cover keyboard, and an even faster SSD helps Surface Pro 4 take performance to new heights.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet lived up to its expectations: it inherited its well-deserved success and went even further, offering potential buyers significant increases in productivity and other improvements.
Since the release of Surface Pro 3, the market for such devices has expanded significantly. Soon there will be new - and very interesting - “clones” of Surface: Lenovo Miix 700 and Vaio Canvas. Meanwhile, the Surface family has added a new member to Microsoft: a two-in-one device (read: laptop) boasting long battery life and an expensive discrete graphics processor. And if Surface Pro 4 is simply machina sapiena, then Book is machina maxima.
Perhaps the Surface Pro 4 is destined to continue to live in the shadow of the Surface Book. But to all other competitors, the Surface Pro 4 is ready to demonstrate impressive features, performance and potential that allow it to raise the standard of high-end Windows tablets to a new qualitative level. Let's see if this device can cope with the challenges thrown at it.
Cosmetic renovation on the outside, major renovation on the inside
At first glance, it's easy to confuse the Surface Pro 4 with the Surface Pro 3—the two generations of Microsoft tablets are almost mirror images of each other. Measuring 292 x 201 x 8.4mm and weighing 785g, the new Surface Pro 4 is 0.8mm thinner and 14g lighter than its predecessor.
Taking a closer look, you will notice that Microsoft has reduced the bezel and increased the usable display area from 12 to 12.3 inches. Screen resolution has increased from 2160 x 1440 to 2736 x 1824 pixels. (The extra pixels were enough for me to increase the text scale to 175% from the default 150%.) The new Type Cover keyboard is also slightly wider.
Inside Surface Pro 4 is the sixth-generation Intel Skylake processor, which improves 3D processing speed by 81%.
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Surface Pro 3 (left) and the new Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet
Microsoft has redesigned the Surface Pro 4 to better dissipate heat from the top of the back panel, eliminating hotspots and allowing the Core i5 and Core i7 chips to deliver the best performance possible. This was not possible with the Surface Pro 3.
Of course, we cannot ignore the issue of price. While the Core i3-powered Surface Pro 3 started at $800, the Core M-powered Surface Pro 4 starts at $899. The 8GB Intel Core i5 version we received from Microsoft for testing RAM and a 256 GB solid-state drive are already offered for $1,299. And for the version with Core i7, buyers will have to pay $1,599. For the Type Cover keyboard you will be asked for another $130. However, we consider it as an additional accessory. Microsoft has not yet said anything about integrating an LTE module into the Surface Pro 4, but I think it’s just a matter of time.
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The Surface Pro 4's kickstand flips back more easily, but is otherwise the same as before
Otherwise, Surface Pro 4 looks familiar and comfortable. The power button, like the Surface 3, is located in the upper left corner, next to the volume rocker. On the case there is a standard USB 3.0 port, a miniDisplayPort connector and a slot for microSD cards. The Surface Pro 4, like its predecessor, supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.
The increased width means that the Surface Pro 4 is not compatible with the Surface Pro 3 dock, but the charger appears to be identical. While the Surface Pro 4's power connector is similar to what we saw on the Surface Pro 3, the dock connector is thicker.
The stand remained almost the same: on the Surface Pro 3 it easily deflected by 30 degrees, and to rotate to a maximum of 150 degrees it was necessary to apply much more serious force. On the Surface Pro 4, the stand rotates from 0 to 150 degrees with equal ease. I don’t know if this can be considered an advantage, because the Surface Pro 3’s rigid hinge held the tablet securely in one place, while the Surface Pro 4’s tilt angle had to be periodically adjusted when constantly touching the screen. But the new version can easily be given the position you want. When placed on your lap, both tablets feel almost identical.
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Surface Pro 4 is the latest in a long line of Surface tablets
Welcome to the world of Windows 10
The Windows 10 operating system was officially introduced a few months ago, and the Surface Pro 4 tablet was one of the first devices to have it installed by default.
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Presentation of the Pen during the Surface Pro 4 setup process
The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book have a new set of customization screens that serve as a useful introduction to two new features: the Cortana digital assistant and the Surface Pen (which we'll discuss in a moment). Their role is twofold: firstly, it fuels interest in the corresponding functionality. And secondly, by refusing (or not refusing) to consider all issues related to the protection of personal data when using Cortana even before using this function, you are gradually being drawn into the world of Microsoft.
Meanwhile, this world today has become quite good.
Pre-installing Windows 10 means the Surface Pro 4 doesn't need a dedicated hardware Windows button, but instead can use an on-screen button that brings up the Start menu.
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You'll need to confirm your Privacy Policy before you launch Cortana.
Unprecedented power
Without a doubt, the main reason to buy the Surface Pro 4 is the very significant performance increase over the Surface Pro 3.
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For typical operations, there are no significant benefits when switching to a new model. We see a 6 percent increase in performance in the PCMark Home Conventional test at the recommended screen resolution and a 3 percent decrease in the PCMark Work Conventional test. The Surface Pro 3 had a 1.9 GHz Core i5-4300 Haswell processor and 8 GB of RAM, while the Surface Pro 4 had a 2.4 GHz Core i5-6300U Skylake processor with 8 GB of memory. Let us also remind you that the Surface Pro 4 displays slightly more pixels on the screen.
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The longer the strip, the higher the performance
However, in the 3Dmark Sky Diver test, performance increased by 32%, and in the Cloud Gate test - by 36%. When we tried to speed up the Surface Pro 3, the performance gap reached 81%.
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The longer the strip, the higher the performance
This is largely due to the improved liquid cooling system used in Surface Pro 4. Inside the Surface Pro 3's chassis, heat collects at the back of the device, causing the fan to spin, and the tablet limits the speed of the processor to prevent overheating. The Surface Pro 4's liquid cooling pipes conduct heat to the rear panel. As a result, the back panel becomes warm, but there is no need to run the fan.
If the Surface Pro 4 had to deal with the same thermal issues as the Surface Pro 3, it would certainly be reflected in the lengthy Handbrake media encoding test. However, we don’t see anything like that here.
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The shorter the bar, the higher the performance
This means you won't notice any difference when running apps like Office on different versions of the Surface. But when you run any CPU- and integrated graphics-intensive app on the Surface Pro 4, from light gaming and web browsing to running 3D apps, you'll see a noticeable performance boost.
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Here's how the Surface Pro 4 heats up
You can also play games on the tablet. When running Crysis 2 (1280 x 720, high quality, DX11 disabled) the game played at 34 fps, Dishonored (1600 x 1200) showed a result of 30 fps, and only Batman: Arkham Origins (1024 x 768, all options are disabled) the frame rate dropped to 30 per second. If you're the type of person who doesn't mind playing old games that you bought on the cheap, the Surface Pro 4 is a pretty good option.
One cannot fail to note the high speed of disk operations. Both our Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 test machines came with 256GB SSDs. In the CrystalMark 5 test, the Surface Pro 4 achieved a read speed of 1578 MB/s from a Toshiba SSD and a write speed of 311 MB/s. This is almost three times faster than the Surface Pro 3 (552 MB/s read and 136 MB/s write).
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The longer the strip, the higher the efficiency
But the battery life was disappointing. In the standard MobileMark 2014 test, which simulates working with Office applications, the new version of the tablet lasted 481 minutes (8 hours and 1 minute), while the Surface Pro 3 lasted 519 minutes. We have not tested the Surface Pro 4, built on a Core M3 processor, but I can assume that it will be inferior to our device in performance and will outperform it in battery life.
Updated Type Cover and a step back to the Surface Pen
I used the Surface Pro 3 as an everyday device for about a year and a half, training my fingers on the Type Cover keyboard. And although it cannot fully boast the rigidity of a laptop keyboard, the difference between them is not that great.
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The Surface Pro 4's Type Cover keys are backlit and spaced fairly far apart
I would like to note that the size of the keys on the Surface Pro 4 keyboard has decreased and is a square with a side of 16 mm (while the Surface Pro 3 had a side length of 18 mm), and the spaces between the keys have increased, reaching approximately 3 mm (for the keyboard for Surface Pro 3 keys are located almost close to each other). Thus, the keyboard has become more spacious, and the distance between the center of the two keys has reached 19 mm.
The Surface Pro 4's keys are a little harder, but I don't feel any discomfort. Looking at the backlight beams coming from under the Surface Pro 4's Type Cover keys, I kept realizing that crumbs could get caught in those crevices. Interestingly, the gaps on the space key are almost invisible, while on other keys the gaps are really quite noticeable.
You can also use the old Surface Pro 3 Type Cover keyboard with the new Surface Pro 4, saving you over $100.
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Microsoft Surface Pro 4 boasts a larger trackpad, and a durable wrist rest means you don't have to worry about how to place your hands
The trackpad is wider and smoother, and is about 30% larger than the Surface Pro 3 trackpad. Fingers glide across its surface like a gaming mouse on a dedicated pad.
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Magnets press the Surface Pen to the side of the tablet, holding it in place with their gravitational pull
I'll admit right away that the new Surface Pen, which magnetically attaches to the side of the Surface Pro 4, didn't excite me much. On the Surface Pro 3, the stylus was securely attached to the tablet using a hinge. As for the Surface Pro 4's stylus, it's easy for it to slip off and disappear into the depths of your backpack, although if you place the Pen on top, this is unlikely to happen. However, I still think that the best place for a stylus is a hole in the case, as is done on Samsung Galaxy Note series devices.
The Surface Pen is the fourth-largest input device for Surface tablets, behind the trackpad, keyboard, and touchscreen. I really like some of the features it supports. For example, if you turn the stylus over and move it across the screen, it will erase everything written like an eraser. Pressing the button at the top of the stylus launches the OneNote app, and double-clicking it saves a screenshot. When pressed and then held, Cortana voice search is activated, which is quite convenient.
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Swiping the back of the Surface Pen across the screen erases digital ink
The Surface Pro 3's screen seemed to respond better to stylus movements, especially when entering handwritten text. However, Surface Pro 4 supports PixelSense technology, which makes handwriting easier. It works flawlessly, but I personally had no complaints about the stylus for the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 either. Perhaps I did something wrong, but the Surface Pro 4 stylus did not seem as convenient when working on glass as the Surface Pro 3. Some people also complain that the Pen’s right button does not work.
Can I use my old SP3 stylus with the new Surface Pro 4? It is possible, but not fully. My Surface Pro 3 stylus also wrote on the Surface Pro 4, but that was all. I suspect that the Surface App for Surface Pro 3 will need to be updated to run the Cortana digital assistant using the Pen.
With both styluses, the trace left on the screen lags behind the movement of the pen when making wide, amplitude gestures. If you didn't like the distortion that occurred when you pressed hard on the Surface Pro 3 display, we're happy to report that it's gone away in the Surface Pro 4.
The Surface Pen's battery is not rechargeable, so you'll need to replace it when it runs out of power. According to Microsoft, this will happen in about a year. We were initially mistakenly told that the Pen's battery was not replaceable and, unlike the Surface Pro 3's stylus, it was non-removable, which left us a little confused. But, as it turned out later, the cap still moves, and after that the battery is removed. For $10, Microsoft sells a Pen Tip Kit, which may be a more convenient solution than the Pen, but I personally never had the opportunity to try it out.
And a little more about functionality. The Surface Pro 4 comes with an 8-megapixel auto-focus rear camera, while the Surface Pro 3 comes with a 5-megapixel camera. (In addition, both the new and old models have a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.) I often encourage taking notes using OneNote, and the new Surface Pro 4 allows you to video record lectures as well. I advise you to pay attention to this. In the lecture hall, your tablet is tilted, and the camera can record the lecture, supplementing your notes with video recordings!
The front camera can be used to recognize a user based on their facial features using the Windows Hello biometric solution. Additionally, Microsoft plans to begin shipping a Type Cover keyboard with a built-in fingerprint scanner for $160.
The new docking station will provide additional convenience
There was something predatory about the way the original Surface Dock's jaws sank into the tablet. The new docking station behaves much more courteously with the device.
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Death Star: Surface Pro 3 Dock
This time, Microsoft is calling the new dock a power supply. And this is not far from the truth. Compare the docking station with its power adapter - they are made of the same piece of plastic and look like twins.
Moreover, from a functional point of view, the new docking station is superior to the old one. It is equipped with four USB 3.0 connectors and two miniDisplayPort connectors. To this should be added a Gigabit Ethernet interface and a Kensington lock. (You can still use the tablet's existing USB port.) The dock connects to the Surface Pro 4 via the secure Surface Connector using a short cable.
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The new docking station has almost the same shape and dimensions as its power supply
The advantage of this solution is that the Surface Pro 4 can be installed in any position, whereas when connected to the old docking station, the position of the device remained fixed. I liked it. But the new dock doesn't seem to work with the Surface Pro 3 - I was able to connect it to the tablet, but the mouse and keyboard connected to it didn't work.
Is it worth taking the docking station with you? Together with the power adapter, it weighs more than a kilogram and is heavier than the tablet itself, which weighs 785 g. (And if you add the Type Cover keyboard to the tablet, which weighs 285 g, its weight increases to 1.07 kg.)
Is it difficult for you to decide? Then another option: the eTauro docking station weighs less and costs less. It's almost as effective as Microsoft's $200 dock, although it lacks an Ethernet port.
It's disappointing that the developers haven't been able to rid the tablet of a flaw inherent in its previous versions: the Surface Pro 4, like its predecessor, suddenly loses the cursor from time to time, and its trackpad and keyboard stop working. This happens quite regularly, but after disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard, as a rule, everything starts working again. However, sometimes a reboot may be required.
What to buy? You can't go wrong with Surface Pro 4
So far, we've been looking at the Surface Pro 4 in a vacuum, comparing it only to the Surface Pro 3. However, in the real world, the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book will have to face powerful competitors. Apple, for example, offers customers MacBook Pro and iPad. However, I will try to avoid such a comparison. If you like iPad, buy iPad. Windows, iOS and OS X are completely different systems, and their hardware should be discussed in that context.
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Want to see how the Surface Pro 4 compares to the Surface Book? Follow our reviews
It would be more accurate to compare the Surface Pro 4 to the growing class of Surface clones: and the Vaio Canvas. Alas, I have not yet had the opportunity to get acquainted with these devices.
And finally, which is better to buy: Surface Pro 4 or Book?
For its part, Microsoft has tried to simplify the answer to this question. Compared to the Core i5-equipped Surface Pro 4, you'll pay an extra $400 for the Book, but you'll get longer battery life and a real laptop. The price difference between a Surface Pro 4 with a Core i7 processor and a comparable Surface Book with a discrete graphics card is already about $600. For me personally, battery life is very important, but the price!
Of course, any ratings are always tied to a specific point in time, and this is especially true for the Surface Pro 4. The new tablet is much better than its predecessor - the increased performance outweighs the shortcomings of the Pen and rather mediocre battery life. But will this model be able to prove its right to remain the best in comparison with Surface clones? I don't know yet. However, if newcomers manage to compete with the Surface Pro 4, this will only benefit the entire Windows ecosystem.
Device: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Grade:4,5/5
Conclusion: The combination of an Intel Skylake processor, a new Type Cover keyboard, and an even faster SSD helps Surface Pro 4 take performance to new heights.
Advantages:
. the new Intel Skylake processor provides a significant increase in performance;
. the Type Cover keyboard now looks more like a laptop keyboard;
. the Surface Dock has become “semi-portable.”
Flaws:
. In terms of battery life, the Surface Pro 4 is inferior to the Surface Pro 3;
. The Surface Pen stylus attached to the device sometimes slides off the tablet;
. The cursor, as before, periodically disappears.
The fourth representative of the Surface Pro line was released in the fall of 2015. It absorbed all the best from the previous model (Microsoft Surface Pro 3) and, thanks to the most advanced hardware developments, became even closer to the laptop family than to the tablet industry.
Accessories
Not every laptop can compete with the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 in its maximum configuration. 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics - this set of specifications allows you to not limit the scope of use of the tablet at all. The minimum configuration has a more modest set of hardware (Intel Core M3 processor and 4 GB of RAM), but it also looks very modern, considering that all this was placed in a metal device case with a thickness of only 8.45 mm. On the case there was room for a full USB 3.0 port, as well as a Mini DisplayPort, a 3.5 mm audio output and a slot for microSD cards.
Screen and pen
The Windows 10 operating system is well adapted for use on a tablet. The 12.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2736x1824 allows you to work comfortably with your finger, using a keyboard with a mouse, or using a stylus. On one charge of an AAAA battery, the pen works for up to one and a half years. It can recognize up to 1024 degrees of pressure and is attached to the side of the tablet using a magnetic suction cup. The reverse side of the stylus erases what was written earlier. The IPS display is built using PixelSense technology, in which each pixel is calibrated to achieve coverage of more than 100% of the sRGB color space.
Safety
The tablet received a couple of interesting “goodies” in terms of security. This Windows Hello infrared camera, which reacts to the face of the owner of the device, as well as fingerprint scanner, built into the keyboard cover. Its keys have 5 customizable backlight levels.
Power
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is designed to be a full-fledged laptop replacement. And he copes with this task 100%. The hardware installed in the gadget is even enough for video editing, so we can recommend the tablet to absolutely everyone who is looking for a powerful and productive device.
From Microsoft, which can rather be classified as laptops. And now the time has come for the next version of the device, called Surface Pro 4. The new product differs from the previous model by a slightly larger display, a new hardware platform, and a number of other changes. Microsoft does not hide that the Surface Pro 4 was created as a potential replacement for laptops and ultrabooks, so it was especially interesting to check whether it could cope with this task.
Contents of delivery
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 meets the user in a small cardboard package, inside which you can find the tablet itself, as well as a charger and a Surface Pen stylus.
Unfortunately, the keyboard is not included with the tablet and must be purchased separately.
Design and materials
Externally, Surface Pro 4 is difficult to distinguish from the third version, even the width and height of the tablet remain the same, they are 292.10x201.42 mm, but the thickness has decreased from 9.14 mm to 8.45 mm.
At the same time, a slightly larger display with a diagonal of 12.3 inches fits into the same body dimensions. This means there's less room for bezels around the screen, and they've actually gotten thinner, so much so that there's not even room for a traditional Windows touch button. Overall, although the Surface Pro 4 looks quite a bit different from its predecessor, the design of the new product has become better, not least thanks to the smaller display bezels.
The body materials in Surface Pro 4 have not changed. The entire back of the tablet is covered with a magnesium alloy cover, and the retractable stand is also made from it.
The display and frames around it are protected by tempered glass. Plastic can be found only on the upper edge of the case, where the radio modules are located; in addition, there is also a plastic power button and volume control.
Connectors
As you'd expect from a tablet, the Surface Pro 4 doesn't have a ton of ports, but Microsoft did find room for a USB 3.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort on the right side of the case. There is also a proprietary magnetic charging connector.
On the right side there is a 3.5 mm mini-jack for headphones.
On the bottom edge there is a magnetic connector for connecting a keyboard.
In general, the set of connectors is minimal, but it will be enough to connect an external monitor and storage device.
If you need more ports for desktop use, you can purchase a proprietary docking station for this. The latter has 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 Mini DisplayPorts and one Ethernet. But, unfortunately, there was no place for HDMI on it.
Keyboard cover
Separately, Microsoft offers a proprietary Type Cover keyboard cover with a built-in touchpad for the Surface Pro 4. In the whole concept of tablets, Surface is a very important accessory. Therefore, it’s definitely worth considering buying it, because without a keyboard with a touchpad, the Surface Pro 4 loses a noticeable part of its functionality and can no longer adequately compete with laptops. But what's good about a branded keyboard?
Firstly, it also serves as a cover that protects the display when you carry the tablet with you. Secondly, this keyboard was specifically designed for Surface; it attaches to the tablet using magnets and does not require separate power. The outer cover is fleecy and pleasant to the touch, while the inner cover is slightly rubberized and contains an island-style keyboard and touchpad. The cover itself is quite thin, but at the same time has a rigid base, which makes it more comfortable to work with the Surface Pro 4 on your lap.
The keyboard, despite the small thickness of the cover, has a clearly visible smooth movement, while its keys are located at a sufficient distance from each other, and the layout itself is standard for compact laptops.
Overall, typing with the Type Cover is just as comfortable as typing on other chiclet keyboards. It should be noted that the keys here are also backlit, and there are five levels of backlighting at once - from the minimum to the brightest.
The Type Cover's touchpad on the Surface Pro 4 is better than the Pro 3's, with sensitivity and positioning accuracy on par with the Surface Book's.
And it is, by far, one of the best touchpads you can find on a Windows device today.
Ease of use
Like any converged device, the Surface Pro 4 has some design compromises. Operating the device on your lap is not as comfortable as using a laptop. After all, the display unit, which contains all the electronics, is heavier than the cover with the keyboard.
At first, it’s even a little scary to put the Surface Pro 4 on your knees; it seems that the tablet will eventually overhang and fall to the floor. The stand that extends out of the case does not help completely, although it has a wide opening angle. Those who like to work with a laptop in a supine position will not be able to feel as comfortable on the couch with the Surface Pro 4.
Otherwise, the Microsoft tablet is very comfortable to carry thanks to its relatively small size and weight of only 786 grams.
Surface Pro 4 runs on the Windows 10 operating system (Pro version), a review of which you can read.
Display and stylus
The Surface Pro 4 has a 12.3-inch IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 2736x1824 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio. This screen is a little unusual for watching videos, but it is better suited for working with programs and websites. The minimum brightness of the matrix, according to our measurements, is 8.7 cd/m2, and the maximum is 367 cd/m2. The contrast reaches 1:1167.
Factory calibration is performed at a good level, the display provides 100% coverage of the sRGB color space, its color temperature is 6500K, and the gamma is at 2.1. The screen backlight is uniform.
Working with the Surface Pro 4 display is very comfortable; the Windows 10 operating system is already well adapted for high resolutions, so despite the 200% increase in the interface, the interface and applications do not look washed out. But problems may arise with programs that have not been updated for a long time; their interface will be small and difficult to read. But this is not so much a problem for Microsoft as for developers.
The included Surface Pen has changed slightly compared to the version for Surface 3 Pro. One of its faces is flat to make it easier to magnetize it to the tablet body, and there is only one mechanical key left on top. The stylus uses N-trig technology, and it understands 256 degrees of pressure, which is quite enough for handwritten notes and amateur drawing.
The mechanical button on top of the Surface Pen is responsible for launching the OneNote note-taking app with one press and for taking a screenshot with two. In addition, the button can be used as an “eraser” when handwriting or drawing, which is very convenient.
The Sitlus runs on one AAAA battery.
Windows Hello
The Surface Pro 4 has an infrared camera specifically for the Windows Hello option in Windows 10, which unlocks the device by reading the user's face.
This function works really well, the only thing is that you need to bring your face closer to the camera and if you wear glasses, you will have to take them off.
Platform and performance
The Surface Pro 4 we tested was powered by a 6th generation Intel Core i5-6300U processor with a frequency of 2.4 GHz (3 GHz in TurboBoost mode), 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 ( 1 GB), as well as a 256 GB SSD drive. This configuration is more than enough to solve most user tasks, including photo editing and video editing.
In the PCMark 8 Home 3.0 test, the tablet scores 2841 points, which is a very good result. In terms of performance, the device is not inferior to laptops in its price category.
In the 3DMark CloudGate 1.1 graphics test, the device produces 5647 points, which is typical for the integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics 520. Those who like to play should pay attention to more powerful or specialized solutions. However, graphics from Intel are sufficient for high-resolution rendering; there are no problems with the display or speed of the graphical shell of programs.
The Surface Pro 4 operates almost silently, and although the cooler kicks in under high load, it is quieter than the vast majority of laptops.
At maximum load, the tablet body at its hottest point does not heat above 38 degrees Celsius.
Autonomy
The built-in battery in Surface Pro 4 has a capacity of 5087 mAh, which will be enough for about 9 hours of operation in reading mode, or a little more than 2 hours at maximum load. In normal use, this will result in 5-6 hours of battery life, which is not enough for a full working day.
The tablet charges using the included charger for about two hours. The latter connects to the Surface Pro 4 via a proprietary magnetic connector and also has a USB 2.0 port on its body, through which you can charge other devices.
Eventually
Back in our Surface Pro 3 review, we determined that this line of devices is not well suited for the classic use case as a tablet. Not least because of the small number of tablet programs, as well as the relatively large weight. But as a replacement for a laptop or ultrabook, this option has a right to exist. With the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft has done even better to make the model compact, powerful and easy to use, not least thanks to a good display, keyboard and touchpad. However, the price is at the same level as a good laptop, as well as not very high autonomy, which prevents the Surface Pro 4 from being called the best compact computer.
Liked:
Housing materials
Dimensions and weight
Surface Pen stylus included
Display
Performance
Cover with a good keyboard and touchpad
USB 3.0 port
Did not like:
— Keyboard cover must be purchased separately
— Autonomy could be higher
- High price
The editors would like to thank the online store Reader.ua for providing the device for review.
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Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (256GB / Intel Core i5 - 8GB RAM) Notify when on sale |
| Type | Tablet |
| Screen diagonal, inches | 12,3 |
| Matrix | PixelSense |
| Screen covering type | glossy |
| Screen resolution | 2736×1824 |
| Touchpad type | capacitive |
| Multi touch | + (10 touches) |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 |
| Kernel type | Skylake |
| Frequency, GHz | no data |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Graphic arts | Intel HD Graphics 520 |
| Pre-installed OS | Windows 10 Pro |
| RAM capacity, GB | 8 |
| Built-in memory capacity, GB | 256 |
| External ports | USB 3.0, 3.5mm mini-Jack, mini DisplayPort, CoverPort, Surface Connect |
| Card reader | microSD |
| Front-camera | 5 |
| Rear camera | 8 |
| Light sensor | + |
| Orientation sensor | + |
| Built-in speakers | + |
| Dock station | option |
| Stylus included | + (Surface Pen) |
| Ethernet | — |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 |
| 3G/4G(LTE) module | — |
| GPS | — |
| NFC | — |
| Battery capacity, mAh | no data |
| Battery voltage, V | no data |
| Battery life | up to 9 hours of video playback |
| Weight, g | 786 |
| Dimensions, mm | 292.1×201.42×8.45 |
| Case color | silver |
| Front panel color | black |
Surface Pro 4 is a Windows-based tablet that converts into a laptop using a detachable keyboard. This is the fourth generation of the model. Microsoft has made a new attempt to offer users a universal 2-in-1 device that can act as both a tablet and a laptop. Real success for a Microsoft product is only at the third stage of its development. Surface Pro 3 has received good user reviews and good sales. The fourth generation model has not undergone a radical redesign, but nevertheless has been improved in many respects.
In our review, we will tell you what it is, what changes have been made to its design and technical characteristics, and we will evaluate the pros and cons of the tablet using the example of the modification of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 M3 4Gb 128 Gb.
Equipment
In the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 package, the user will find the tablet computer itself, a charger, a proprietary Surface Pen stylus, and a set of instructions. not included. It will have to be purchased separately.
Surface Pro 4 modifications
The fourth generation tablet was released in as many as 10 modifications. Surface Pro 4 comes with three processor options. Modifications also differ in the amount of RAM, three options for graphics cores and hard drive capacity. You can choose a tablet with an Intel Core i5, i7 or M3 processor with a hard drive capacity of 128 GB to 1 TB.
We provide a complete list of Surface Pro 4 modifications in the table:
Design
In terms of design, the new tablet is not much different from the old one, which is not surprising. The design has earned positive user reviews. It's hard to notice any significant changes from a quick look at the Surface Pro 4: the same silver magnesium alloy body. You won’t want to let go of this practical and discreet tablet; magnesium is extremely pleasant to the touch.
The cone-shaped shape of the tablet adds comfort to use. The edges of the case are inclined from the screen to the rear surface. Thanks to this, Surface Pro 4 is very comfortable to hold. Another pleasing element is the original ventilation slots, made in the form of a strip on the top and side edges of the case.
Control elements and connectors on the body:
- power button;
- speaker volume control;
- 1 MiniDisplay port;
- 1 USB 3.0 port;
- 3.5mm headphone jack;
- Surface Connect charger connector;
- slot for flash memory card.
The signature foot-stand on the rear panel has not undergone any changes. It still allows you to place the tablet on the table at any angle, and works smoothly and reliably.
The only negative that I would like to note is the power button. It seems that it is a little loose and is not securely fastened. It performs its functions flawlessly, but this moment may make some people nervous. Overall, the Surface Pro 4 is a well-thought-out device in terms of design, made at the highest technological level.
Weight and size
Surface Pro 4 weighs 774 grams. This is its absolute advantage. The tablet doesn't feel heavy at all. And although it is heavier than the iPad Pro (712 grams), it can be held comfortably even in one hand. Compared to its predecessor Surface Pro 3, which weighed 810 grams, the new product is perceived as more portable. In addition, the new generation tablet has become thinner: 8.5 mm versus 9.1 mm for the Surface Pro 3. The thickness has been reduced due to a redesigned cooling system and a smaller battery.
With the Type Cover attached, the Surface Pro 4's weight increases to 1.08 kg. This is less than, for example, possible competitors: the Dell XPS ultrabook (1.276 kg) or (1.5 kg). The Surface Pen stylus attached to the Surface Pro 4 will add an additional 22 grams of weight.
The dimensions of the Surface Pro 4 with the Type Cover keyboard attached are 14.3 x 292 x 207 mm. Its size remained virtually unchanged compared to the Surface Pro 3, although the screen diagonal on the new tablet was increased from 12 to 12.3 inches. The Dell XPS is larger than the Surface Pro 4 (18.5 x 304 x 200 mm), but has a screen diagonal of 13.3 inches.
In terms of design, the tablet inherited not only the advantages of the Surface Pro 3, but also one disadvantage. It should be noted that in terms of maintainability, this is not the most advanced device. The Surface Pro 4 cannot undergo any major repairs or upgrades. The tablet case cannot be opened, and if some craftsmen manage to do this, it is unlikely that spare parts for the Surface Pro 4 will be found.
Screen
As we already said, the new Surface Pro 4 has a larger 12.3-inch display. The diagonal has increased by 0.3 inches due to the reduction in edging. The screen resolution has also increased to 2736 x 1824 (from 2160 x 1440 on Surface Pro 3). The pixel density of the tablet's display is 267 pixels per inch, which is approximately equal to the iPad AIR screen (264). Like most modern tablet and smartphone screens, the Surface Pro 4 display is glossy, which means it glares in the sun. But even despite this, it can be called impeccable.
English-language reviews cite test data according to which the Surface Pro 4 display is 15% brighter than that of the Surface Pro 3. Thanks to this, the glare we mentioned does not interfere so much with working with the tablet in bright lighting conditions or in the sun. Test results also indicate increased screen contrast. This figure is 1441:1 versus 1077:1 for the Surface Pro 3. The color saturation of the Surface Pro 4 display exceeds that of the iPad AIR 2 screen.
The visual comparison between the Surface Pro 4's display and the iPhone 5's in bright sunlight is truly shocking. The screen of the Microsoft tablet practically does not darken, everything is clearly visible on it! The display is very bright, rich and high-contrast. The screen has ideal viewing angles. Having chosen a tablet from Microsoft, you will not regret at all that you did not buy an iPad or Macbook AIR with their Retina displays.
Surface Pen
The proprietary Surface Pen stylus that comes with the Surface Pro 4 has been significantly improved. It has become 10 mm longer and has gained a little weight (20 grams versus 18 for the previous version). The new Surface Pen supports 1024 levels of pressure instead of the previous 256. Previously, only pens of special graphics tablets could boast of this indicator. The pen is made using N-Trig technology.
If on the Surface Pro 3 the stylus was attached to the tablet using a loop on the keyboard, now it is securely and simply magnetized to the side of the case.
The two buttons that the third generation stylus had have become one hidden key located on the back of the clip. It looks like a long plastic strip, but in reality it is a button. Now Surface Pen doesn't require battery replacement for up to a year.
The functionality of the button on the top end of the stylus has been expanded. One click on it opens the OneNote application. Double tapping allows you to take a screenshot of the screen. Pressing and holding launches the Cortana voice assistant.
The stylus performance is really impressive. Even in the standard graphics editor Fresh Paint, any user who does not have designer skills will be able to fully draw. When you use the stylus to touch the screen, the tip moves with some resistance. It feels like you are writing or drawing on real paper! The Surface Pro 3 pen didn't provide such a realistic feel.
Graphics professionals will be able to truly appreciate the Surface Pen's capabilities. Surface Pro 4, even more than Surface Pro 3, will become for them a device with enormous potential for creativity, allowing them to work with a touch screen and stylus in programs such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator. Now you can do this work using a lightweight, convenient, powerful and portable device - Surface Pro 4.
It is also worth noting that the new stylus is compatible with previous generation models – Surface Pro 3 and .
Keyboard Type Cover
Although the Type Cover keyboard from last year's Surface Pro 3 is suitable for the Microsoft Surface 4, the manufacturer has also introduced an updated version of it - Type Cover 4. The new keyboard cover is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and is very much improved.
There is also a version of the keyboard with a fingerprint sensor on sale -. The letters on the Type Cover keyboard are backlit..
Let's add that Type Cover 4 is also compatible with the previous generation Surface Pro 3. Using it with an old tablet, you get the feeling that you bought a new Surface Pro - the keyboard has become so much better.
Registration and Russian language in Surface Pro 4
When you turn on your tablet for the first time, you will be asked to use an existing one or create a new Microsoft account. It is possible to skip registration and log out to Windows. You can register later. When you turn on the tablet for the first time, the interface language will be English.
Surface Pro 4 of any version, which can be purchased from the online store website, includes paper instructions for initially setting up the tablet and installing the Russian language. You can install the Russian Windows language yourself without any extra effort.
Windows
The Surface Pro 4 comes with a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro and Microsoft Office software, which will be available to the user for free for 30 days. In Windows 10 you will find pre-installed applications Mail, Calendar, Photos and, of course, the new Microsoft Edge browser, which replaced Internet Explorer.
Windows 10 provides a special Tablet Mode for when you use Surface Pro 4 without the Type Cover keyboard attached. In tablet mode, windows expand to fill the entire screen, and the Windows interface itself becomes “touch-oriented” for ease of use with fingers or the Surface Pen.
Tablet Mode on Surface Pro 4:
The tablet comes with the new Windows Hello infrared camera. It allows you to unlock the tablet through recognition of the user's face.
Cameras
Two cameras are responsible for the communication capabilities of the tablet. The front camera, like on the Surface Pro 3, has a resolution of 5 megapixels. It now supports the capabilities of the Windows Hello app, as well as the ability to quickly recognize the user's face when logging into Windows.
The rear camera resolution has been increased to 8 megapixels. After taking a few pictures, we noticed improved color reproduction compared to the previous model's camera. However, the cameras still have room for improvement. In terms of image quality, they are inferior to analogues on most modern smartphones, but in general, they cope with their tasks.
Speakers
Surface Pro 4 has two speakers at the top of the front panel. They produce sound louder and clearer than you'd expect from tablet speakers this small. However, their low and mid frequencies are rather weak, so if you are used to high-quality sound, it is better to connect external speakers or headphones to the Surface Pro 4.
Performance
The Surface Pro 4 ranges from a budget version with an Intel Core M3 processor (which we're testing) to a tablet with an Intel Core i7 processor. There are a total of 10 different modifications available.
There is only one tablet available with the M3 processor. It has 4 GB of RAM, a 128 GB hard drive and integrated Intel HD Graphics 515. The M3 processor version is the only version available in a passively cooled version. Other versions of Surface Pro 4 have a cooling system with a cooler. By the way, due to the fact that it does not have a fan for cooling, the tablet operates almost silently.
The M3 processor copes well with everyday tasks, such as surfing the Internet, working with office programs, and graphic editors. In the PCMark 7 performance test, the Surface Pro 4 with an Intel Core M3 processor scores 4274 points, which is a very good result. For comparison, the Surface Pro 3 Intel Core i5 scores 5066 points in this test (19% higher performance), and the Surface Book scores 5135 (+20%). However, these devices are more expensive. Surface Pro 4 M3 is the most affordable modification of the fourth generation, so its performance is very encouraging in any case.
The Surface Pro 4 M3 graphics test also produced interesting results. As you know, the most important indicator of graphics core performance is FPS. This is an indicator of the number of frames per second that the game running on the tablet depicts. So, in the rather “heavy” game Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, the FPS indicator is about 40 frames per second, and in the game League of Legends it reaches 100.
But if you plan to play games on the Surface Pro 4, then you should choose one of the more powerful modifications. In general, this tablet, in terms of its capabilities and form factor, is hardly suitable for gamers. But for everyday tasks and even for using professional graphics programs like Lightroom and Illustrator, the performance of the Surface Pro 4 Intel Core M3 modification will be enough.
Battery
The Surface Pro 4 has a smaller battery compared to the Surface Pro 3, making the tablet thinner. At the same time, Surface Pro 4 has a larger screen, increased resolution and higher brightness. This would certainly increase power consumption.
However, the one we tested showed pretty good battery life. In medium load mode (Wi-Fi off, average screen brightness), the tablet can work up to 13 hours on a single battery charge.
The Surface Pro 3 Intel Core i5 256 Gb, which we tested last year, worked for about 11 hours in the same mode. Considering the improved screen parameters of the new model, Surface Pro 4 has simply excellent battery life. In this regard, I was very pleased with the tablet.
Ports and connectors
Surface Pro 4 inherits the same set of ports and connectors as the Surface Pro 3. Their location has not changed, with the exception of the volume rocker, which has moved to the top end next to the power button. We have already listed a set of ports. Let's add that the tablet could use another full-size USB port. For a device that claims to be an alternative to a laptop, one USB port is clearly not enough.
The flash memory card slot supports media with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Thus, you can double the internal memory of the device. This is a definite plus.
