The Surface Pro series has redefined the 2-in-1 space since launching 10 years ago in 2012. I‘ve witnessed firsthand the evolution across multiple generations, using various models for work and leisure. Now packed with Intel’s latest silicon, the new Surface Pro 9 looks compelling. But should you buy it?
As an industry analyst with two decades of experience covering personal computing trends, I get asked this question a lot these days. So I’m dedicating this guide to provide a comprehensive look at Microsoft‘s newest flagship 2-in-1.
A Brief History of Excellence
Microsoft entered the hardware scene with the original Surface RT back in 2012. But it was the initial Surface Pro model that kickstarted their success in the 2-in-1 space.
Early models focused on establishing the form factor – pairing the portability of a tablet with the productivity of a full-fledged laptop. Iterative improvements refined the foundation over successive generations.
The recent Surface Pro 8 (2021) brought 120Hz displays, Thunderbolt support and more to the table. And now in 2022, the Surface Pro 9 takes things up a notch packing 12th Gen Intel processors and 5G connectivity.
But numerical upgrades aside, the Surface Pro stays true to its roots. The 2-in-1 device promises to deliver lightweight mobility and ergonomic versatility across a range of professional and leisure use cases.
So while alternatives exist today from Apple, Dell, HP and more players, the Surface Pro remains a specialized productivity tool for many. Let‘s examine what the latest variation packs under the hood!
Surface Pro 9 Models – A Granular Breakdown
Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 9 series on October 12, 2022 with sales starting later that month. This time you have two main processor options – 12th Gen Intel Core or Qualcomm Snapdragon – available across multiple memory, storage and connectivity configurations.
Pricing ranges all the way from $999 for the base Intel model up to $2299 for a fully decked out Intel variant. The Snapdragon model with 5G support starts at $1399.
Here is a breakdown of the key model differences:
Compared historically, the pricing is on par with equivalent configurations of the Surface Pro 8 last year. But education and holiday sale pricing could drop prices further by 10-15%.
Now that availability timelines are clear, let‘s examine what exactly the Surface Pro 9 packs under the hood.
A Sleek yet Durable Aluminum Design
Over the last decade, the Surface Pro lineup has become synonymous with premium and portable technology products. The latest iteration continues that pedigree with a slim form factor crafted out of durable aluminum metal.
At just 9.2mm thick and starting around 1.95 lbs weight, the Surface Pro 9 is easy to throw into a bag and carry around all day.
Over 18 months of R&D went into sculpting the angular slate-style chassis. Microsoft claims it is built to last, having undergone reliability testing under various extremes of temperature, humidity and vibration.
And feedback so far suggests the device indeed feels solidly put together. The anodized finish does mean the metal back can get frequently smudged. So those with OCD may need a skin or case to fully admire the minimalist looks! You have color options like Forest, Graphite, Platinum and Sapphire to choose from.
Overall while the design language is evolutionary, there are small touches that improve the experience. Let‘s explore further.
Display Upgrades – Brighter, Smoother and More Responsive
The latest Surface sports a gorgeous 13-inch PixelSense touch display. It gets a resolution bump up to 2880 x 1920 pixels – a welcome increase over the Surface Pro 8‘s 2736 x 1824 pixels.
And improvements abound beyond just crispness.
For one, the panel brightness goes up to 450 nits now. That’s a good 25% brighter than the Surface Pro 8, allowing comfortable visibility even under sunlight. Color reproduction is excellent too covering 99% of the sRGB spectrum.
The screen retains 3:2 aspect ratio from predecessor models. This makes it less widescreen than 16:9 displays but gives you more vertical area for scrolling web pages and documents.
The bezels measure 6.71 mm on the sides which helps keep device footprint contained. And you get buttery smooth visuals care of the 120Hz refresh rate which also enables snappier touch response compared to 60Hz displays.
In fact Microsoft claims the new Surface Pro 9 further enhances touch sensitivity to be more accurate especially around the edges using advanced hardware and algorithms. The improved palm rejection also means fewer accidental inputs when using surface pen for note taking or drawing.
Overall for work, creative apps or content streaming, the upgrades add up to a stellar viewing experience wherever your travels take you.
Potent 12th Gen Intel and Snapdragon Internals
The processing hardware is perhaps the biggest change this generation receiving a timely update to Intel‘s newest 12th generation Core processors based on the Alder Lake architecture.
Both i5 and i7 processor options are available scaling performance as needed. The quad-core i5 promises a good blend of responsiveness and efficiency for most everyday workloads. While the 10-core i7 unlocks higher clock speeds to accelerate intensive workloads.
Here is a detailed spec overview:
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U up to i7-1265U
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
RAM: 8GB / 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128GB up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Microsoft claims up to 50% faster application load times thanks to the overall generational hardware uplift. Both CPUs benchmark well against last year’s models as well other portable PCs in multi-core tests.
The specialty 5G model opts for the Snapdragon powered Microsoft SQ3 instead promising “all day” 19 hour rated battery life. But it tops out at 8GB RAM.
Now let’s analyse real-world usage feedback from developers…
Overall, the newest 12th Gen internals keep the device competitive well into 2023. But customization is limited with soldered memory and storage. So choose your configuration carefully!
Battery and Connectivity – Finally Ready for All Day Use?
The Surface Pro proposition has always been maximum mobility. But historically battery life has required some compromises especially when using cellular connectivity away from wall outlets.
Microsoft is promising over 15 hours of typical usage on the latest Intel models. That‘s around 2 more hours of stamina compared to the Surface Pro 8.
And reviews so far validate these numbers holding up reasonably well for average productivity workloads. Just don‘t expect gaming or other graphics intensive usage to sustain anything beyond 5-6 hours realistically.
As for ports, the Surface Pro 9 ticks all boxes – WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, dual USB 4.0 Thunderbolt ports. LTE connectivity sees an update to 5G removing any performance bottlenecks. The speeds rival what’s achievable on a premium smartphone!
So if you are stepping into coffee shops, libraries or shared workspaces to get the daily grind done, the Surface Pro 9 finally appears fully equipped for all-day remote productivity away from the desk.
Accessorizing the Surface Pro – Signature Keyboard and More
The Surface proposition has also banked on enabling flexible computing configurations via specialized accessories. And buyers of the Pro 9 enjoy full cross-compatibility too.
Here are some add-ons worth considering tailored to different use cases:
Surface Pro Signature Keyboard
The Surface keyboard case securely attaches magnetically dressing up the tablet as a laptop. Microsoft perfected the tactile key feel over generations. And it works wonderfully for long typing sessions. Just don’t expect the stability of a true unibody keyboard base.
Surface Slim Pen 2
Microsoft‘s latest pen iteration builds on the well-received Slim Pen formula by adding haptic feedback for a more natural inking feel. The updated pen also enables some cool proximity based gestures thanks to the in-built programmable accelerator. Well worth it for notetaking and drawing needs.
Surface Dock 2
For setting up productive workspaces, this compact docking station expands connectivity allowing you drive multiple monitors and accessories over a single cable. The hassle-free expansion is a must-have for some.
There are plenty more first-party and third party accessories to further augment the experience like designer sleeves, premium charging stations and portable monitors. Identify your needs upfront before finalizing purchases.
How Does the Surface Pro 9 Stack Up Against Competition?
While the Surface series pioneered the 2-in-1 space, there is no shortage of alternatives in 2022 from Apple, Dell, HP and other manufactures targeting similar buyer demographics.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 fold is probably closest matching the premium aspirations blending tablet portability with laptop funcationality. Then there are detachable keyboard solutions like the iPad Pro 12.9 when paired with the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Of course there is no shortage of conventional clamshell laptops like the ever popular Dell XPS 13 Plus either. So where exactly does the Surface stand amidst the competition?
Here is a detailed head-to-head comparison:
| Specs | Surface Pro 9 | iPad Pro 12.9" | Thinkpad X13 Fold | Dell XPS 13 Plus | MacBook Air M2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.95 lbs | 1.5 lbs | 2.9 lbs | 2.59 lbs | 2.7 lbs |
| Thickness | 9.2 mm | 6.4 mm | 17.4mm | 15.28 mm | 11.97 mm |
| OS | Windows 11 | iPadOS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | macOS Ventura |
| CPU | 12th Gen Intel Core | M2 Apple | 12th Gen Intel Core | 12th Gen Intel Core | Apple M2 |
| Display | 13" Touchscreen | 12.9" Touchscreen | 13.3” Touchscreen | 13.4” Non-Touch | 13.6” Non-Touch |
| Battery (Rated) | 15.5 hours | 10 hours | 16 hours | 14 hours | 18 hours |
| Starting Price | $999 | $1099 | $1899 | $1199 | $1199 |
Beyond the specifications, after testing the devices hands-on for some weeks, I can share additional subjective evaluations as your friendly neighborhood technologist.
The X13 Fold is bulkier but slightly more performant for intensive workloads. The iPad Pro offers longer battery life although locked to iPadOS. The XPS clamshell is more rigid for intensive typing but less convertible.
Overall based on user priorities, each device carves out its niche. Butgettingthe best balance of mobility, utility across computing scenarios, the Surface Pro still moves the yardstick meaningfully forward.
And that brings me to summarizing some real user feedback across both pros and limitations.
Pragmatic feedback from Early Adopters
With any new product launch, opinions widely vary depending on individual computing habits. Collating early user reviews reveals some clear recurring patterns though on what the Surface Pro 9 gets right along with few pain points.
Where Surface Pro 9 excels 🙌
- Premium build quality and gorgeous display
- Versatile form factor transitions smoothly from tablet mode to laptop mode
- Fast and responsive performance for everyday office work
- Good battery life of ~15 hours under typical usage
- Extensive accessory ecosystem expands functionality
- Integrates well across Microsoft products and services
Room for improvement 🚨
- Occasional bugs with sleep and wake functionality
- Warm bottom with intensive workloads throttles performance
- Weak graphics performance limits gaming usage
- LTE connectivity could be faster for some regions
- No MicroSD or headphone jack
On the whole, the positives seem to readily outweigh negatives for productivity-focused buyer segments given the thoughtful refinements. Gamers and streaming content creators may need to evaluate alternatives.
Recommendation – Well Worth the Investment for the Right Buyer
The Surface Pro 9 impresses on most dimensions maintaining Microsoft’s foothold as a pioneer of the 2-in-1 computing category. Compared to predecessor models you get noticeable improvements –
- Faster overall performance via 12th Gen Intel silicon
- Longer battery runtime topping out at ~19 hours (LTE model)
- Vibrant 120Hz touch display with improved palm rejection
- Native support for 5G connectivity plus Wi-Fi 6E
- Pairs perfectly with existing Surface accessories
As with any purchase, be realistic about needs though before hitting checkout. If gaming or editing 4K videos is critical, a creator laptop with discrete graphics makes more sense. And if traditional laptop form factor is non-negotiable, alternatives like Dell XPS provide better rigid keyboards.
But for almost everyone else eyeing a balanced lifestyle device seamlessly transitioning between entertainment, office documents and video calls, the Surface Pro 9 gets my wholehearted recommendation! Its refined versatility helps you stay productive whether working from home, office workstations or makeshift setups on-the-go.
I hope you found this hands-on analysis useful sizing up Microsoft’s newest vision for modern computing. Let me know which specs or insights caught your eye by tweeting @trustytechnologist. And feel free to reach out with any other questions in your buying research process!
