Microsoft Updates Surface Pro With Powerful CPUs, Long Battery Life

Just weeks after Microsoft unveiled a new Surface Laptop computer, the company is back at it with a 2-in-1 hybrid Surface Pro that can be used as either a notebook or a tablet. The unit, which replaces the Surface Pro 4 introduced in October 2015, comes with a 12.3-inch screen and more than 13 hours of battery life. The Surface Pro supports Microsoft’s line of Surface accessories, including Surface Pen for digital writing, and runs Windows 10. Microsoft is offering multiple Intel CPU options up to the fastest Core i7 model. It can also be equipped with up to 16GB of RAM for those who don’t mind paying a premium for the extra memory. Read on to learn what Microsoft has built into the Surface Pro.

Microsoft has designed the Surface Pro as a hybrid tablet/notebook for professionals. It comes with the Surface Pro Signature Type Cover, a detachable keyboard that doubles as a dust cover, and has physical keys and a touchpad for controlling the cursor. Since the Surface Pro is a hybrid, its screen has full touch controls and it can be propped in tent mode.

The Surface Pro comes with several processor options based on how much power customers want. The base model has an Intel Core m3 chip with 4GB of RAM. The Intel Core i5 version includes a choice of 4GB or 8GB of RAM. The Intel Core i7 model is available with either 8GB 16GB of RAM. Microsoft says the computer should deliver 50 percent better performance than the Surface Pro 4.

The Surface Pro comes with a 12.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2,736 pixels by 1,824 pixels. That equals 267 pixels per inch, ideal for high-resolution video content. Its screen is a touch display that can respond to both touch and Surface Pen input.

The Surface Pro offers full support for a wide array of Microsoft Surface accessories, including the Surface Pro Signature Type Cover. Additionally, a Surface Pen is available to write on the screen and the Surface Arc Mouse controls the cursor. Surface Pro also supports the Surface Dial for quick access to contextual app information.

It’s no surprise that the Surface Pro running the Windows OS, but Microsoft is shipping the device with Windows 10 Pro, not the consumer-friendly Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 S. That should make corporate users happy.

The Surface Pro will 13.5 hours of battery life during continuous video playback, according to Microsoft. The company clocked the hours on a Surface Pro equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory. Actual battery life may vary depending on the model customers choose.

The Surface Pro will ship with several storage options. The base model ships with 128GB of storage that can be increased to 256GB for a few bucks more. Microsoft is also offering 512GB and 1TB options for customers that need extra storage.

Microsoft said the Surface Pro is one of the more mobility-friendly devices it’s ever offered. Microsoft re-engineered the Surface Pro to make it “ultraportable,” with the Intel Core m3 model weighing just 1.69 pounds. The Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 models weigh 1.73 pounds. At its thinnest point, the Surface Pro is 0.33 inches thick.

The Surface Pro supports 802.11ac WiFi and includes a full-size USB 3.0 port and microSD card reader. It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 8-megapixel rear-facing shooter. On the security front, the Surface Pro includes a TPM chip and Windows Hello face sign-in.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro line is available now for pre-order. The base model, which includes the Intel Core m3 processor, 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, costs $799. The most expensive version, which has an Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM, is priced at $2,699. Microsoft plans to release the Surface Pro on June 15.