Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review: the best Windows 10 tablet PC you can buy - MW
Surface Pro 7 is an update of the excellent Surface Pro 6 with a new processor and finally the USB-C port.
That means the design of the new Surface Pro 7 has changed since the 2017 Surface Pro 5, with Microsoft taking an approach if it hasn't been broken. It's competitively priced from £ 699 and up - but you pay at least £ 125 for the keyboard if you want - unpleasant things aren't included in the standard price.
Microsoft's unique design language continues to stand out. Well-built computers with sharp lines, a lightweight magnesium body with rounded corners and an unrivaled stand for the company.
The 12.3-inch screen is still sharp and beautiful, but the large bezels around the edges now look a bit old compared to the Surface Pro X, traditional laptops and mobile tablets. All versions are available in Microsoft's platinum gray, while some versions also come in black, which is definitely more beautiful.
With 775g without a keyboard, the Surface Pro 7 is only 150g heavier than Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro with similar dimensions. Included with the excellent Microsoft Cover 310g Signature type includes a tablet up to 1,085kg, lighter than most laptops including the MacBook Air 1,25kg and Surface Laptop 3 1,265kg.
The keyboard is the same as last year, making it one of the best laptops, let alone a tablet, with great tactile feel, scrolling and stability, while the trackpad is small, but smooth and sensitive. It is disappointing that it is not included in the price, priced at 125 black tables or 150 Alcantara palettes in red, platinum or blue.
The £ 99 Surface Pen is the same, once again making it one of the best stylus available - precisely, with low latency, tilt and multiple pressure levels. It attaches magnetically to the left edge of the Surface Pro 7, which is fine, but not on a par with the new Slim Pen tray in the keyboard for the Surface Pro X.
Screen: 12.3in LCD 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI)
Processor: Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 (10th generation)
RAM: 4, 8 or 16GB
Storage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TB
Graphics: Intel UHD (i3) or Intel Iris Plus (i5/i7)
Operating system: Windows 10 Home
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front-facing, Windows Hello
Connectivity: Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5, USB 3.0, USB-C, headphones, TPM, microSD
Dimensions: 292 x 201 x 8.5 mm
Weight: 775 or 790g (i7 version)
Processing and battery life
The tested version has Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and is done as you expect from a high-end tablet or laptop. It handles general calculations without slowing, even with 10 apps open with lots of tabs in Chrome and some large images that are open and active in Related Photos, which compares favorably with Apple Pro 13in MacBook Pro and Dell, XPS 13.
But fans are noticeably more noticeable than last year's Core i7 version, the Surface Surface 6, which means the Surface Pro 7 can run hotter. With light computing, they are not audible, but when connected to a 4K monitor or when running slightly more intensive applications, they can be clearly seen in quiet rooms. The tablet never gets too hot to the touch.
Battery life is a bit disappointing, with the Core i7 version lasting about seven hours between charges, which isn't long enough to complete some business days without the need for a charger. The Core i5 version should have longer battery life.
Charging the Surface Pro 7 is not as fast as the Surface Pro X, but it will reach 80% from dying in about 60 minutes and fully charge in less than two hours with the included Surface Connect power adapter. Charging via the 45W USB-C charger happens at the same speed, so you have two good options for charging your tablet.
Unlike the recent Surface Pro X and Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro 7 is very difficult to fix and only received 1 out of 10 points from iFixit repair experts.
There are no components, including batteries that are user replaceable, except for the detachable keyboard and the repairs must be done by authorized service providers.
However, the company operates both exchange and recycling programs for used machines.
Gate
It's not compatible with Thunderbolt 3, but most will be fine with USB-C's bandwidth and standard functionality, it's just a shame that there is only one of them.
The standard USB-A port takes care of older accessories, while the Surface Connect has a power adapter included but can also be used to connect to Surface Dock and other Microsoft accessories. A microSD card slot is also very welcome, especially for photographers.
Observe
- The Surface Pro 7 ships with a standard version of Windows 10 Home with device encryption
- The tablet no longer supports on-screen interaction with Microsoft’s Surface Dial accessory
Price
The Surface Pro 7 comes with various different specifications starting at £ 669 for a Core i3 with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The Core i5 with 8GB of RAM costs £ 789 with 128GB of storage or £ 1,035 with 256GB of storage, the Core i5 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs £ 1,259.
The Core i7 versions all have 16GB of RAM and cost £ 1,299 with 256GB (as tested), £ 1,649 with 512GB and £ 2,024 with 1TB of storage.
All versions are available in platinum with some available in black.
Verdict
The Surface Pro 7 is arguably the best windows tablet money can buy, raised just not that big a leap over the Surface Pro 6.
The form, design, microSD card slot, kickstand, Windows Hello and simply the way it works are still winners in 2020. The screen is still great, however the bezels around it are functional but look a little dated compared to the Surface Pro X.
The big new thing is the addition of a USB-C port, which is well overdue. Though a shame composed not a full Thunderbolt 3 port, but I suspect most won’t care. The battery life on the Core i7 version is not class-leading, so buy the Core i5 version if you want more like a day’s work without the charger.
The biggest downside is that the essential keyboard is not included with the tablet, which pushes the price up by at least £ 125.
The Surface Pro 7 is what last year’s Surface Pro 6 should have been. Consider not cheap, but the Surface Pro 7 is best Windows tablet you can buy.
Pros: great screen, good battery life, brilliant keyboard (essential additional purchase), microSD card reader, excellent kickstand, Windows Hello, solid build, easy to carry, USB-A and USB-C
Cons: no Thunderbolt 3, fairly expensive, keyboard should be included, Core i7 version fans are more audible
MW
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