Microsoft Surface Pro X
X is not gonna give it to ya
LOOK, WE WERE REALLY excited about this one. The Surface Pro series has long offered some of the best tablets in the biz, their detachable keyboards providing a sleeker experience than most two-in-one convertible laptops. While the Surface Pro 7 delivered high-quality performance across all areas, thanks to its 10th-gen Intel Core CPU, its chassis was familiar, all hard silver edges and chunky bezels. The Pro X looked like the breath of fresh air that the Surface really needed: a total redesign of the exterior and peripherals, coupled with a custom-built processor using a hybrid of Microsoft and Qualcomm’s technology.
It should have been awesome. Yes, we knew the ultrathin new design was going to cause a hit to computing performance, and the lack of Intel’s Iris Plus integrated graphics was a shame, but the Pro 7 and Pro X appeal to somewhat different target audiences anyway. The Pro 7 is a bulkier, more powerful machine, while the Pro X was clearly designed for the consumer who absolutely must have the bestlooking tablet on the morning commute.
But there’s a glaring problem with the Pro X, an elephant in the room that Microsoft seems uncomfortable to address. The Microsoft SQ1 processor that powers this hybrid tablet is the first of its kind, a 3GHz ARM-based chip with integrated graphics. Unfortunately, that means we’re looking at an ARM-based OS running adapted versions of Windows 10 and Microsoft Office.
If you’re not familiar with ARM-based systems, allow us to give you a quick breakdown of the benefits; in other words, why Microsoft chose to utilize one for the Pro X. In theory, ARM processors are cheaper, more power efficient, and faster, although that last one comes with a caveat: ARM chips perform one task at a time to speed things up, which can cause issues if you want to multitask. These chips are most commonly found in mobile devices such as smartphones, Android tablets, and handheld games consoles.
So, here’s the problem: The SQ1 can’t run 64-bit software. That means no Photoshop (or any of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite), no AutoCAD, and very few benchmarks for us. We weren’t able to get any games running on it at all—a stark contrast to the surprisingly good casual gaming performance that the Pro 7 offers. While you’ll note that we did manage to get a figure out of 3DMark’s Fire Strike benchmark, be aware that the tablet crashed twice before successfully completing the test.
A small handful of ARM-enabled software is good to use, and the Pro X can run older 32-bit programs via a hidden emulator, but even that turns out to be a bit wonky. The 32-bit version of Chrome was noticeably slower than Edge, despite the Pro X model we reviewed having plenty of memory.
If you think you can get along fine with 32-bit software, that should be fine. In theory. The benefits of the ARM platform could outweigh the compatibility issues, but unfortunately they just don’t. The Pro X doesn’t feel remotely faster than the Pro 7, and the supposedly “all-day” battery life is weak, failing to cap 10 hours even with reduced brightness. The only notable benefit is the SQ1 chip’s built-in LTE connectivity, which allows you to plug in a SIM for some 4G wireless. The lack of a headphone jack truly sucks, though.
The external hardware is undeniably impressive. The Pro X sports a sleeker new chassis, only available in black, with a much smaller bezel than the previous Surface models. The screen within that bezel is bright, colorful, and responsive to touch control. The detachable keyboard cover and Surface Pen have also had a facelift, with the new Slim Pen snapping magnetically into a wireless charging dock on the keyboard. As such, they now come as a unit, although the pair will set you back $270.
Pricing on the Surface Pro X is similarly harsh, with the cheapest model costing $999. Our review model uses 16GB of RAM alongside a 256GB SSD—not much storage for the high price of $1,499. When the performance struggles to match that of laptops worth less than $500, the rest of the price is feasibly supposed to make up the ultralight design, but ultimately? It’s not worth it, and frankly, we’re disappointed. –CHRISTIAN GUYTON
Microsoft Surface Pro X
PROFESSOR X Excellent exterior design; great peripherals; LTE is good.
X RATED Significant compatibility issues; no headphone jack; unimpressive battery.
$1,499, www.microsoft.com