{"id":4551,"date":"2022-06-28T07:32:21","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T07:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uptymes.com\/edu\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-review-full-laptop-review-price-and-specs\/"},"modified":"2022-06-28T07:32:21","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T07:32:21","slug":"microsoft-surface-pro-4-review-full-laptop-review-price-and-specs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uptymes.com\/edu\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-review-full-laptop-review-price-and-specs\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Full Laptop review, Price and Specs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The original Surface Pro was bulky. Its battery was limited. The keyboard was annoying, the display wasn\u2019t great, and performance was just okay. It was expensive. Worst of all, it was forced to run Windows 8, an awkward operating system poorly suited for dedicated touchscreen use.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \">\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#Design\" title=\"Design\">Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#Type_Cover_triumphant\" title=\"Type Cover triumphant\">Type Cover triumphant<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_The_pen_is_mighty\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The pen is mighty\">Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The pen is mighty<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_The_display_receives_an_unnecessary_but_appreciated_upgrade\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The display receives an unnecessary, but appreciated, upgrade\">Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The display receives an unnecessary, but appreciated, upgrade<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#Im_a_Surface_hear_me_roar\" title=\"I\u2019m a Surface, hear me roar\">I\u2019m a Surface, hear me roar<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_Skylake_rises_to_the_top\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Skylake rises to the top\">Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Skylake rises to the top<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_A_solid_solid_state_drive\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, A solid, solid state drive\">Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, A solid, solid state drive<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"#Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_Not_great_for_games\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Not great for games\">Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Not great for games<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"#Small_device_small_battery\" title=\"Small device, small battery\">Small device, small battery<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"#Windows_10_is_still_great_but_Microsofts_firmware_isnt\" title=\"Windows 10 is still great, but Microsoft\u2019s firmware isn\u2019t\">Windows 10 is still great, but Microsoft\u2019s firmware isn\u2019t<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"#Warranty\" title=\"Warranty\">Warranty<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yet, for all its faults, the\u00a0Surface Pro was also revolutionary.<\/p>\n<p>If Microsoft was as stodgy as its reputation suggests, it would\u2019ve given up on the Pro and set its sights on some other pie-in-the-sky project. Instead, it hunkered down, analyzed the problem, and tried again. And again. And again. After just two and a half years we\u2019re now on the fourth iteration. On average, a new Pro has arrived every eight months.<\/p>\n<div class=\"simplePullQuote h-nonessential\">\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 is a microcosm of the change Microsoft is trying to spur inside its own walls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A look at the latest model\u2019s specifications makes the improvements clear. Aside from a move to Intel\u2019s 6<sup>th<\/sup>-generation Core chips \u2013 significant, because Microsoft skipped the fifth\u00a0generation entirely \u2013 the new model has a long list of updates. The keyboard is more spacious, the touchpad is larger, the display is both bigger\u00a0and more pixel dense, the pen is more sensitive, and the base hard drive offers twice the capacity as before.<\/p>\n<p>But the Surface Pro 4 also finds itself competing in an increasingly diverse field. Its revolutionary nature has forced other companies to respond. Apple and Google have their own, mobile-first interpretations due this holiday season, and PC manufacturers have started to clone the Pro in droves. Can the original keep up with the imitators?<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-good-bad good\">\n<h4 class=\"title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Highs\"\/>Highs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"items\">\n<li class=\"item\">New Type Cover is wonderful<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">Pen is standard and works well<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">Pixel-dense display<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">Loud, clear speakers<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">Strong performance in all areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-good-bad bad\">\n<h4 class=\"title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lows\"\/>Lows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"items\">\n<li class=\"item\">Still heavy compared to dedicated tablets<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">Battery can drain quickly in real-world use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Design\"\/>Design<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft is obviously comfortable with the design of its Surface notebooks. Like the less powerful <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/computing\/microsoft-surface-3-review\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"follow external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Surface 3<\/a>, which debuted over the summer, the Pro 4 doesn\u2019t look much different than its predecessor. The new model is a hair thinner, and a few hundredths of a pound lighter, but its dimensions are otherwise the same.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 is still bulky for a tablet. Virtually everything based on mobile hardware is thinner and lighter, even the <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tablet-reviews\/apple-ipad-pro-review\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"follow external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">iPad Pro<\/a>, which has a similar display size.\u00a0For a PC tablet, though, the Surface Pro 4 is pretty svelte.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s small enough depends on how you plan to use it, and perhaps even your own dimensions. People who find a regular iPad a bit unwieldy are going to find this massive. I managed alright. More recent competitors like the <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tablet-reviews\/samsung-tabpro-s-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Samsung TabPro S<\/a>\u00a0and <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/laptop-reviews\/huawei-matebook-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Huawei Matebook<\/a>\u00a0indisputably feel slimmer in-hand, and are easier to handle.\u00a0But the Surface Pro 4 is a lot easier to handle than any 2-in-1 with a 360-degree hinge, like Lenovo\u2019s Yoga series.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft has set up the Pro\u00a0properly for use as either a PC or tablet. Though its overall size has hardly changed, the new model jumps from a 12-inch to a 12.3-inch display. That\u2019s accomplished through thinner bezels which look more attractive, but still provide enough room to grip the Surface Pro without grazing the touchscreen.<\/p>\n<p>The device also benefits from thoughtful location of buttons. The power and volume keys are located on the upper left edge when the device is held in landscape orientation or used as a PC. That becomes the upper right flank when it\u2019s turned and used in portrait orientation, which is typical for tablets. In either case, the buttons are accessible, yet not positioned where they\u2019ll be accidentally bumped.<\/p>\n<div class=\"simplePullQuote h-nonessential\">\n<p>Using the stylus is as intuitive as using a real pen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Connectivity is a bit more awkward. The USB and Mini-DisplayPort jacks are on the right flank when the Surface Pro is used with the keyboard. That works well enough, but it means anything attached will jut out from the bottom if the device is used as a tablet in portrait orientation. The combo headphone\/microphone jack is difficult\u00a0in either case, as its always located near the top edge of the device, leaving the user to tangle with the cord. There are only so many places to put a port on a slate.<\/p>\n<p>The power brick\u2019s connector works well. Its magnetically aligned and multi-directional, so it\u2019s easy to insert and doesn\u2019t send the entire device flying if you happen to trip over it and tug it out. It\u2019s past time for this type of design to\u00a0become the standard for both tablets and laptops, but most of the Pro 4\u2019s PC competition is saddled with a stiff, stubborn plug. Better still, the brick itself offers a USB port, so you can charge your phone without using the USB 3.0 port on the Surface Pro 4 itself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Type_Cover_triumphant\"\/>Type Cover triumphant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>Keyboard quality has long been our most serious issue with the Surface Pro line. Microsoft always used a strange keyboard layout that lacks significant gaps between keys, making it more difficult to discern between them. Previous Type Covers also made poor use of the available space, so both the keyboard and touchpad weren\u2019t as large as they could be.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The new Type Cover \u2013 which is compatible with the old <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tablet-reviews\/microsoft-surface-pro-3-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Surface Pro 3<\/a>, by the way \u2013 entirely fixes the problem. It better uses the available space, so it\u2019s larger and offers plenty of room\u00a0between keys. The touchpad is bigger, especially in height. Like the previous version, the new Cover is powered over a simple connector that attaches magnetically, and it can be used flat or propped at an angle for a more ergonomic experience.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-credited-image aligncenter\">\n<p><a class=\"wp-image-852258 aligncenter size-large is-zoomable\" href=\"http:\/\/icdn8.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-keyboard-top-angle-1500x1000.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn2.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-keyboard-top-angle-640x640.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Surface Pro 4\" data-image-id=\"852258\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The improved Cover transforms the Surface Pro. The Pro 3\u2019s cover asked the user to bargain with it. \u201cOkay, kid,\u201d it said, \u201cI\u2019ll give you a touchscreen, but you gotta put up with this keyboard.\u201d The Pro 4 asks no such compromise. It works as well as most dedicated laptops and has a major edge over\u00a0many competitors including the iPad Pro, Samsung TabPro S, and Huawei Matebook, all of which feel flimsy by comparison. The <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/laptop-reviews\/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-tablet-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet<\/a>\u00a0is the only device we\u2019ve tested that beats\u00a0the Surface Pro 4\u2019s Type Cover.<\/p>\n<p>Lenovo\u2019s X1 wins mostly because it\u2019s more comfortable on your lap. Microsoft\u2019s adjustable hinge needs a flat surface to be stable. That can be a problem if you want to mash the keys while reclining on your sofa to enjoy an episode of\u00a0<em>Deep Space Nine<\/em>. Microsoft contends this issue isn\u2019t a big deal because laptops are actually used on a tablet or desk the majority of the time, and for the most part, that\u2019s true. But it can be annoying \u2013 even damaging, as a shift in posture can send the unsteady Pro 4 tumbling off your lap and onto the floor.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_The_pen_is_mighty\"\/>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The pen is mighty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The pen, too, has been improved. It has four times the sensitivity of that which shipped with the Surface Pro 3. It also includes a \u201creal\u201d eraser that works just like you\u2019d expect it to. While the older model\u00a0<em>looked<\/em>\u00a0as if it had one, it in fact used a button, a design that went against decades of muscle memory.<\/p>\n<p>These changes are a big upgrade \u2013 the eraser, especially. Microsoft\u2019s software has continued to mature, as well, so pen input works far more smoothly than it did with the original Surface. Now, for the first time since its launch, using a stylus doesn\u2019t feel like a constant hassle. It\u2019s handy and, when using the Surface Pro 4 as a tablet, often preferable to the virtual keyboard.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-7\" class=\"gallery galleryid-852240 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large\">\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"http:\/\/icdn9.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-pen-trackpad-1500x1000.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-852265\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn8.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-pen-trackpad-720x720.jpg\" alt=\"microsoft surface pro review pen trackpad\" data-image-id=\"852265\" width=\"720\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"http:\/\/icdn1.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-pen-dock-side-1500x1000.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-852264\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn9.digitaltrends.com\/image\/microsoft-surface-pro-4-pen-dock-side-720x720.jpg\" alt=\"microsoft surface pro review pen dock side\" data-image-id=\"852264\" width=\"720\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some issues do persist. If you stay in Microsoft\u2019s eco-system of apps, like Edge and OneNote, the pen works almost without flaw. Third-party applications are not always as compatible. The Google Chrome browser, for example, absolutely refused to initiate pen input in any of its text entry fields. Slack, an organization app used by companies worldwide, seemed finicky about detecting the pen\u2019s \u201cclicks.\u201d And if you were hoping to play games with touch\u00a0<em>or<\/em>\u00a0pen input, forget about it. Very few properly are designed for it.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the Surface Pen is arguably the best in the business. The pen itself is well balanced, feels sturdy, and places its button in locations that are ergonomically comfortable. But what\u00a0sets it\u00a0apart from others is that Microsoft doesn\u2019t intend the Surface to be used\u00a0<em>without<\/em>\u00a0the pen (with most competitors, he stylus is an optional add-on). That means\u00a0Microsoft can aggressively design features that benefit it. <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/computing\/windows-10-anniversary-update-look\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Microsoft\u2019s Windows 10 Anniversary Update<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the first big update to Windows 10 \u2014 is a great example. Windows Ink, its headline feature, is all about the pen.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re not using the pen, it can be stowed magnetically on either flank of the Surface Pro 4. We\u2019re still not happy with the security of this approach, as the pen is a bit too easy to knock off. We can imagine plenty of disasters involving errant limbs that send the pen flying into drinks, sewer grates, or food processors. The pen can be clipped in the Type Cover when it\u2019s closed, instead, and that\u2019s the more secure option.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_The_display_receives_an_unnecessary_but_appreciated_upgrade\"\/>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The display receives an unnecessary, but appreciated, upgrade<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro 3\u2019s screen was not a weak point of the device, but Microsoft decided to improve it anyway. Aside from the increase in size from 12 to 12.3 inches, the display has upped its pixel count to 2,736 x 1,824. That\u2019s 267 per inch, which is far more than needed when the Surface is used as a laptop. It\u2019s still not the best in the tablet category, but it beats most, including the iPad Pro.<\/p>\n<div class=\"simplePullQuote h-nonessential\">\n<p>The new Type Cover is a huge leap over the previous, and better than some laptops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot more to the screen than pixel count, and\u00a0the new Surface nails the details. We recorded a high maximum brightness of 349 lux alongside a maximum contrast ratio of 940:1. Most figures are among the best we\u2019ve recorded from any laptop, tablet or 2-in-1. Color accuracy was the only soft spot, as the average difference of DeltaE 6.49 was high.<\/p>\n<p>All these results are good, but the competition isn\u2019t giving Microsoft an easy time. Samsung\u2019s TabPro S is the standout. It\u2019s the first 2-in-1 with an OLED display, and its contrast ratio is off the charts. The <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/laptop-reviews\/dell-latitude-12-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Dell Latitude 12 7000 Series 2-in-1<\/a>, Lenovo ThinkPad X1, and <a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/laptop-reviews\/vaio-z-flip-review\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">Vaio Z Flip<\/a><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=852240&amp;action=edit\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0<\/a>also\u00a0manage to beat the Surface Pro 4 slightly in color gamut, contrast, and overall color accuracy.<\/p>\n<p>Our impressions were as expected based off the results. A high contrast ratio should mean the appearance of deep black levels and brilliant whites, and the Surface Pro 4 delivered, creating a sense of depth in movies and images. The color issues made themselves apparent, however, through poor reproduction of skin tones. Actors often looked more like wax figures rather than real people.<\/p>\n<p>That said,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0picky about color, and\u00a0we\u00a0doubt most would notice. The Surface Pro 4\u2019s high contrast and pixel density, on the other hand, will\u00a0be obvious to anyone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Im_a_Surface_hear_me_roar\"\/>I\u2019m a Surface, hear me roar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>Despite its small size, the speakers in the Surface Pro 4 made an impact. They were loud at maximum volume and produced clear, crisp audio with minimal distortion, even in bass-heavy music. Human voices were reproduced with particular clarity, which makes sense. This is a business machine, after all, and Skype is useless if others can\u2019t be heard.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_Skylake_rises_to_the_top\"\/>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Skylake rises to the top<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 makes several important hardware changes over the Pro 3. It can equip up to 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB, and the base hard drive now offers 128GB instead of 64GB.<\/p>\n<p>Those are nice upgrades. The base model has received an arguable downgrade, however, because it now has a Core m3 processor rather than a Core i3. Whether that\u2019s a downgrade is arguable because the m3 represents a trade-off. The base clock is only 900MHz, and its graphics component is weaker than other Core chips. But battery life may improve as a result of the power-sipping chip.<\/p>\n<p>We\u00a0can\u2019t tell you more than that. Microsoft predictably shipped the mid-range Core i5-6300U pair with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB hard drive. We threw the chip into our benchmarks and found it a strong, if not exceptional, performer.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s clearly two tiers of results here. One is represented by the Core i5 and i7 chips in the Surface models, and the Vaio Flip Z. The other, slower tier is shown by the Core m3 and m7 chips in the Lenovo, Huawei, and Samsung.<\/p>\n<p>The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 tablet does keep up and even exceed the Surface Pro 4 with Core i5 in the Geekbench and 7-Zip tests. However, the ThinkPad\u2019s weakness is revealed in Handbrake, a sustained video encoding test. Under that scenario the ThinkPad, along with Huawei\u2019s Matebook, comes up against the limitations of its Core m7 chip, and finishes substantially behind the Surface Pro 4.<\/p>\n<p>In brief, the Surface Pro 4 with Core i5 performs much like any laptop with the same chip. It\u2019s plenty quick, but doesn\u2019t set any records.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_A_solid_solid_state_drive\"\/>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, A solid, solid state drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>Our Surface Pro 4\u2019s 256GB solid state drive also did well in benchmarks. CrystalDiskMark\u2019s sequential test recorded an average read speed of 928 megabytes per second and an average write of 449MB\/s.<\/p>\n<p>Those figures are not the best we\u2019ve seen, but they\u2019re near the leading edge. Only the Vaio Flip Z substantially outperformed the Surface Pro 4.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Pro_4_review_Not_great_for_games\"\/>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, Not great for games<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>Gaming is not something the Surface is built to handle, but it does have the latest incarnation of Intel\u2019s mainstream mobile graphics, in this case called Intel HD 520. Like the processor itself, the IGP produces respectable but modest results.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, the two tiers of performance are visible. The Samsung TabPro S and Huawei Matebook fair badly, and even the Lenovo can\u2019t catch up to the Surface Pro 4. But there\u2019s also a third tier, one the Vaio Flip Z sits claims as its own. Its Core i7 came with Intel\u2019s HD 550, and it proved a big step up from HD 520, delivering a boost of 75 percent.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4\u2019s integrated graphics can launch most modern games, and will deliver a tolerable experience in some if detail is kept at medium or low. Don\u2019t expect to play any recent titles at high detail, and the most demanding games will be playable only if in-game resolution is reduced to 720p \u2013 if they\u2019re playable at all.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Small_device_small_battery\"\/>Small device, small battery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 isn\u2019t going to throw your back out, as it weighs about 1.7 pounds without accessories, and just over 2.3 pounds with Type Cover and Pen included. Its light weight, combined with its slim profile, makes it easy to chuck in a bag for a trip. Even the power adapter is small.<\/p>\n<p>A large 38 watt-hour battery provides juice on the go. That\u2019s a respectable capacity, but the high-resolution display sucks down power, so the Pro 4 quotes the same nine-hour maximum as the Pro 3.<\/p>\n<p>We had some problems in\u00a0our real-world tests. In one instance we\u00a0managed to squeeze six hours and a half using the Peacekeeper browsing benchmark. However, on other\u00a0occasions we drained the battery in three and a half hours using a simple web browsing and YouTube viewing loop.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, the promised\u00a0nine hours is optimistic, as the Pro 4 fell well short of that in every test scenario. Our subjective experience was the same, as we found the device can\u2019t handle a work day on a single charge. Instead it falls well short, often lasting barely more than half a day. On one short-lived occasion we worked on several open Word documents while also slacking off by watching YouTube videos. That killed\u00a0an\u00a0entire charge in under three hours.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the Surface Pro 4\u2019s competitors face similar issues. The Peacekeeper web browsing benchmark killed the Huawei Matebook is three hours and nine minutes, while Lenovo\u2019s ThinkPad X1 Tablet lasted just three hours and four minutes. This is one area where the iPad Pro remains the undisputed champion, as it lasted almost nine and a half hours under the same test.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Windows_10_is_still_great_but_Microsofts_firmware_isnt\"\/>Windows 10 is still great, but Microsoft\u2019s firmware isn\u2019t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The introduction of Windows 10 has benefit the entire Surface lineup. Previous models were hampered by Windows 8 and 8.1, neither of which offered a good blend of desktop and tablet experience. The newest version of Windows still has its flaws, but it does a lot to help the Surface line fulfill its mission, and it makes Windows 8.1 look positively obtuse.<\/p>\n<p>While Microsoft\u2019s update of Windows achieves its goals, the Surface Pro 4\u2019s firmware and software is less reliable. Upon initial review, I noticed a number of quirks, such as a pulsing\u00a0backlight at low brightness settings and considerable battery consumption during sleep.<\/p>\n<p>These have been fixed, but other issues remain. The system occasionally fails to wake from sleep. Bluetooth connectivity drops out once in a blue moon, which means the keyboard can\u2019t be used. And so on. Microsoft has issued a great many updates, and some issues have been fixed, such as the Wi-Fi dropouts with initially experienced. But there\u2019s still work to do, and at this point it\u2019s not clear it\u2019ll ever be done.<\/p>\n<p>These problems spoil\u00a0the experience of using the device. Anyone hoping Microsoft\u2019s full control over both sides of the device will result in Apple-like polish is bound to be disappointed.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Warranty\"\/>Warranty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 is covered by a one year limited warranty against manufacturer defects. Further warranty extensions are available as an option. This, of course, is standard for the industry. Very few laptops come with more than a year of standard coverage.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"\/>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro 4 is a microcosm of the change Microsoft is trying to spur inside its own walls. Time and time again, it missed the opportunity to leap on a new trend in consumer technology. But not with Surface. This time, Microsoft is a leader. It\u2019s setting the trend. And unlike its new competitors, it\u2019s had a few years to work out the kinks. Though it\u2019s not perfect, the fourth incarnation of the Surface Pro is a great piece of hardware, and easily defeats every other 2-in-1 currently available.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review, The original Surface Pro was bulky. Its battery was limited. The keyboard was annoying, the display wasn\u2019t great, and performance was just okay. It was expensive. 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