At last year’s event, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Pro 6 – a device that was barely any different from the one which came before it, and guess what? The Surface Pro 7 is another iterative update for 2019. However, as the old adage goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. In many ways that is what users want: the basic Surface Pro design is fine and according to Microsoft, it’s “the most popular 2-in-1 on the market”. What’s more, the tweaks that have been made seem considered.
Price & Availability
Microsoft confirmed that following the launch event, the Surface Pro 7 was already available for pre-order but will be available to buy from October 22. Pricing starts at $749/£799, but as ever, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of specs, raising the cost to as high as $2299/£2249.
New brain, more space
As expected, the Surface Pro 7 presents us with a familiar magnesium alloy form but this time comes with the latest 10th-gen Intel Ice Lake processors, not to mention the company has finally seen fit to ditch the standard DisplayPort and grace the Surface Pro with USB-C instead.
Along with the wider array of i3, i5 and i7 Ice Lake chips to choose from, you’ll also be able to fit your 7 Pro with either 4GB, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, as well as an SSD that’s 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB in size. When it comes to building your dream 7 Pro, certain combinations of processor, RAM, storage and even colour (black or Platinum) can only be had in select configurations.
Connections & Colours
As already mentioned, the 7 Pro is the first of the line to feature a USB-C connection (finally) but the 2-in-1 does still retain a single USB-A port too, as well as the standard Surface connector for power and for use with some proprietary accessories. Microsoft says the Surface Pro 7 now offers instant-on and, for the first time, fast-charging – promising 80% charge in just over half an hour. Interestingly, the year’s Pro actually offers 10-hours of longevity – slightly less than last year’s model quoted.
A little more subtle are the shades of the complimentary Type Covers that are launching alongside the 7 Pro; with a darker grey finish, a green-tinted cobalt blue offering and a burgundy red option that definitely pulls in a burnt umber quality too. These covers also now deliver a deeper 1.3mm of key travel.
Tempted by the Surface Pro 7? See how we found its predecessor, the Surface Pro 6, and check out everything else that Microsoft just unveiled, like the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro X and the new dual-screened Surface Neo and intriguing Surface Buds.
