Want a real hybrid machine? Well, the wait is over — Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10 is now available
UPDATE: Save $200 on Select Surface Pro 4 Laptops Right Now
Microsoft is running a pretty epic sale on select Surface Pro 4 models inside its store. Basically, you can save around $200 on a few of the high-end models right now, so if you're in the market for an upgrade, now's the time!
You can check out all the Surface Pro 4 deals by clicking here.
Read on after the break for a full breakdown of what makes the Surface Pro 4 tick.
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Apple grabs headlines. That’s what it does. And this week has been dominated by the release of the company’s biggest ever tablet, the iPad Pro. Apple says with the iPad Pro you no longer NEED a laptop; the iPad Pro does everything you need, apparently — providing you splash out for a keyboard and Apple Pencil, that is. But it still runs iOS, a mobile platform, like other iPads already in circulation.
The iPad Pro is bigger, though. Apple hopes this will attract some users over. To be perfectly honest I am completely, 100% not sold on this concept. iPads are meant to be portable aren't they? So what the hell is the point of making something this size when for around the same price you can buy the Chromebook Pixel or even a MacBook Air? And that's before you consider that Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 is now widely available and that said hybrid machine, like the MacBook Air and Pixel, to an extent, run a full-fat desktop OS.
In addition to this Apple has lifted two of the iPad Pro's key USPs from two of its major competitors: Samsung (the stylus and sheer size of the display) and Microsoft (the hybrid-end of the Pro's capabilities, split screen multitasking, the keyboard). Not that I mind this. Nothing wrong with borrowing good ideas from your peers, it's just that Apple does it in such a smug manner you can't HELP but say something!
But, HEY, at least Apple has re-invented the pencil for a new generation, right!? Speaking of the Apple Pencil, here's what iFixit's recent teardown discovered about the gizmo:
"Apple Pencil has two emitters in the tip that enable the iPad Pro to determine the pencil nib's angle and orientation relative to the display, and adjust the pen stroke according to iFixit. iPad Pro has a digitizer that likely determines the distance from each emitter to the screen," reports Mac Rumors. "At the core of the Apple Pencil is a tiny 0.329 Wh lithium-ion rechargeable battery that holds just 5% of the charge of an iPhone 6s battery, next to a small cylindrical black and gold antenna. There is also a small ribbon cable that connects the Apple Pencil's battery with its Lightning connector for charging."
On the subject of specs, the report said: "On the other side of the battery is the Apple Pencil's tiny folded logic board that weighs just one gram, yet houses more than five components, including an ST Microelectronics low-power 32-bit ARM-based Cortex-M3 microcontroller and Qualcomm Bluetooth 4.1 chip from Cambridge Silicon Radio."
The iPad Pro is PLENTY powerful. But it is STILL running a mobile OS. Now, I don’t know about you but the last time I tried to actually do “work” on a mobile OS it didn’t quite go to plan. You CAN do work on them of course but not at the same rate or consistency as you can with a full desktop OS at your disposal. This is where Microsoft’s Surface line of hybrid tablets come into play — they’re tablets AND laptops that run Windows 10, a full-fledged desktop-grade operating system.
Now in its fourth-generation, the Surface Pro line has been through a few scrapes in recent times — most notably the ill-fated RT models. However, Microsoft has now found its feet and the Surface Pro 4, which is available from today, looks to be an absolute productivity MONSTER.
Microsoft outlined three KEY areas where its Surface Pro 4 excels at launch:
- Exceptional performance. With the new 6th Generation Intel® Core™ m, Core™ i5, and Core™ i7 processors, Surface Pro 4 is not only more powerful than Surface Pro 3 — it’s quieter, runs cooler, and is even more efficient. With up to nine hours of battery life for video playback and the optional Surface Pro 4 Type Cover (sold separately), you can get more work done without interruption.
- Experience Windows 10. With full Windows 10 Pro, Surface Pro 4 is compatible with virtually all your favorite software. You can run apps and desktop programs like Microsoft Office side-by-side, and the enterprise-level security of Windows Hello helps keep your contents secure. Plus, full pen support and the redesigned Surface Pen packing 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity enable you to write directly on Web pages in the Microsoft Edge browser or access your personal digital assistant, Cortana, with the click of a button.
- Best-in-class screen. With a stunning 12.3-inch PixelSense™ Display and 3:2 aspect ratio for comfortable viewing, Surface Pro 4’s screen builds on the innovative design of the Surface Pro 3 screen. One of the brightest and most accurate displays Surface has ever made, it features 267 ppi and 1300:1 contrast ratio, supports 100 percent sRGB color, and has 5 million pixels.
“Thinner than the Surface Pro 3 at 8.4mm, the 12.3-inch tablet will have a 267-ppi display with PixelGlass technology - supporting 1024 levels of pressure,” noted KYM’s sister site, IT PRO. “The top-end version of the tablet will come with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, powered by a 6th generation Core i7 Intel processor.”
Microsoft reckons the Surface Pro 4 is 30% faster than last year’s model and over 50% faster than Apple’s MacBook Air.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Full Specs List
| Display size/resolution | 12.3-inch 2,736x1,824-pixel touchscreen display |
|---|---|
| CPU | 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-6300U |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB |
| Graphics | 128MB Intel HD Graphics 520 |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Networking | 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) |
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Design, Display & Keyboard
As is typical for new edition mobile products, the Surface Pro 4 is thinner and lighter than its predecessors, measuring 292 x 201 x 8.4mm and weighing 766g, compared to the Surface Pro 3's 292 x 201 x 9.1mm and 794g. Although it does pack a bigger 12.4in display with a higher 2736 x 1824 pixel resolution, Microsoft has managed to squeeze it into the same sized bodyshell as the previous model.
As well as ensuring it hasn't grown to more bloated proportions, this also means that, handily, existing Surface 3 accessories (including the keyboard) are backwards compatible; so you can use the new keyboard with a Surface 3, or a Surface 3 keyboard with the new Surface Pro 4 -- you just won't get some of the new features, like the fingerprint scanner, if you use the older kit.
Keeping on trend with the happenings in the mobile space, the new keyboard carries a fingerprint scanner built directly into it. The key spacing is now wider with improved travel, and the trackpad is made from glass while being 40% bigger.
Microsoft says the contrast and brightness of the display have been improved, as well as touchscreen responsiveness. On top of this, there's some intelligent built-in tech and sensors, the combination of which is dubbed "PixelSense", which Microsoft said can detect the difference between pen input and a fingertip, then optimises everything for the type of input detected.
Interestingly there's a new stylus pen accessory (which magnetically attaches to the tablet) with an improved 1,024 level pressure sensitivity, an eraser in the rear end, and a built-in microphone to allow you to issue Cortana commands -- making it more fully featured than Apple's "pencil".
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Processor, Storage & Hardware
The Surface Pro 4 also packs some pretty high-end processor hardware with a new Intel SkyLake chipset family including both Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 chip options -- which Microsoft says gives 50% faster performance than a MacBook Air, as well as an uplift in speeds over the previous Surface model.
Your options here are quite varied with a selection of onboard storage, RAM, and chipset variants. Here's the full list:
- 128GB Storage, Intel Core M3, 4GB RAM
- 128GB Storage, Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM
- 256GB Storage, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM
- 256GB Storage, Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM
- 256GB Storage, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM
- 512GB Storage, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM
- 1TB Storage, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Connectivity, Battery & Cameras
Connectivity is a similar story to the Surface Pro 3, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, a full-size USB port, display output and microSD card port. However, disappointingly Microsoft has opted not to offer 4G capability even as an option, and there's no support for the new USB Type-C port connector either, meaning if you were to pick up one of the new Windows 10 Lumia phones you would need a separate charger for each. It's a proprietary charging port for the Surface Pro 4 once again.
Speaking of the battery, while Microsoft has not revealed specific battery specs it has simply once again claimed you'll get nine hours of use on a single charge. The Surface Pro 4 is on sale today in the UK from most mainstream high street retailers. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing structure for the many different models you can buy:
- 128GB 6th Generation Intel Core M3 with 4 GB of RAM - £749/$899
- 128GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 4 GB of RAM - £849/$999
- 256GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM - £1,079/$1,299
- 256GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 8 GB of RAM - £1,299/$1,599
- 256GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM - £1,449/$1,799
- 512GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM - £1,799/$2,199
- 1TB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM - $2,699
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