The Surface Pro 4, announced today, is a premium slate tablet with the power of a laptop. It's designed for real work in CAD/CAM, content creation, and virtually anywhere else you need the full power of a sixth-generation Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 processor.
This high-end tablet is aimed at the same "do everything" folks who bought the previous Surface Pro models. It features a magnesium-alloy construction, and feels like a solidly cast block of metal when you first pick it up. A 3:2 aspect ratio means that the display is not too wide, so you won't have any trouble holding the tablet in one arm.
The 12.3-inch 2,736-by-1,824-resolution screen is larger than the one on the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, but in a thinner chassis with the same 11.5-by-7.93-inch width and length. That's fortunate, because it means that accessories, like the Type Cover and docking stations, will be compatible with both tablets.
The screen is larger, because Microsoft narrowed the width of the bezel around the screen panel. As a result, the soft Windows key on the front panel has been removed. It's unlikely you'll miss it, since Windows 10 doesn't rely on the Windows key to switch screens as much as Windows 8 did.
The tablet weighs about 1.7 pounds, which is light enough to carry all day. Like the previous model, it has a variable kickstand on the back so you can tilt the tablet back to an almost horizontal level. The new $129.99 Type Cover has the same magnetic 2-step latch on it, the first for electrical signals, and the second to prop up the keyboard for stability. Type Covers are interchangeable between the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4. Key feel is better, now that the keys are separated a bit, chiclet-style. The new glass-covered touchpad is also 40 percent larger and easy to use with either hand.
The new Surface Pen feels good in the hand, and is easy to maneuver. Pen tip to screen parallax is minimal, drawing on the screen is effortless, and on-screen reaction time is instantaneous. It has a squishy button where the eraser would be on a pencil, and you can use it to erase artwork or blemishes in Adobe Photoshop CC. It also erases pen strokes in OneNote and any other compatible programs.
As before, a click of the button unlocks the tablet and brings up OneNote. The Pen is magnetic, and sticks to either side of the tablet, though if you put it on the right side, you'll cover the USB and docking ports. The Pen's right-click button is integrated into the magnetic strip, so it's a very minimal design, while 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity round out the Pen's attributes.
On the whole, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 looks to be a formidable rival to ultraportable laptops and high-end tablets alike. It arrives Oct. 26, but you can pre-order now starting at $899.
For more, check out PCMag's hands on with Microsoft's new Windows 10 Surface Book laptop. And find out why Microsoft's Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones make PCMag's Sascha Segan sad.