23/06/2022
Design
Already know about the Surface Pro line? You can skip the next few lines of this review, but let’s not assume everyone is clued up on the Microsoft line-up.
The Surface Pro 8 is a tablet that can turn into a laptop. Microsoft was doing this stuff convincingly long before Apple got up to speed with its iPad Pro line and keyboard add-on.
Its keyboard base is a must-have, but does not come with the tablet part as standard. It hooks up to the main part using magnets. The Surface Pro 8 stylus is more of an optional extra, but this time there’s a slot in the keyboard for the pen. When the keyboard is bumped up to provide a better typing angle, this little cubby hole it totally hidden too. It’s slick design in action.
The kickstand is what you don’t see in other hybrids of this type. It’s a sturdy plate of metal that pulls out from the back of the screen and will hold at just about any angle – the perfect compromise of strength and the ease with which it adjusts.
Microsoft uses, as ever, a magnesium-aluminium alloy for the Surface Pro 8’s casing. This keeps the weight at a fairly low 890g while delivering good strength and an expensive feel. The sides are a little curvier this time, though, softening out the screen surround contours.
It’s not a dramatic change, but Microsoft has also got on board with the screen bezel improvements seen in “normal” laptops, to squeeze in a larger display. The last generation Surface Pro 7 had a 12in screen, this one has a 12.3in screen.
It doesn’t bump the Surface Pro 8 into a new category, but that’s the whole point. This thing is the size it is for a specific reason, to provide incredible portability while still being just about large enough to let the keyboard accessory have well-spaced full-size keys.
