Microsoft Surface Pro X
8.00 / 10 Read ReviewsThe Microsoft Surface Pro X is the company's best-looking Surface Pro device that supports LTE and runs on an ARM processor, but it comes at a hefty price tag.
Key Features- LTE support
- User-upgradeable storage
- Brand: Microsoft
- Storage: 512GB
- CPU: Microsoft SQ2
- Memory: 16GB
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery: 15 hours
- Ports: 2 x USB-C, nano-SIM
- Camera (Rear, Front): 10MP, 5MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 13 inches, 2880x1920
- Consistent battery life
- Thin and light design
- Great front-facing camera system
- ARM still doesn't support certain legacy applications
- The device tends to stutter every once in a while
The Surface Pro X is one of the most expensive connected PC's on the market in 2021, but should you buy one?
There's no denying, the Surface Pro X is Microsoft's best-looking Surface Pro device to date, and it has a hefty price tag to show for it. When it was released back in 2019, the issue users had been dealing with was its inability to run legacy applications natively on ARM. With the release of the updated 2020 edition of the Surface Pro X, many of those issues remain.
But this computer is undoubtedly the future of computing, and Microsoft has made significant strides to prove that.
Using the device for over a month, the Surface Pro X feels like Microsoft's lavish answer to Chromebooks rather than something like Apple's M1 Macs; it's really in a unique, quirky category of its own, and hopefully, by the end of this review, you'll have determined if this device is for you.
This device was provided to MUO for review by Microsoft Canada.
Design and Comfort
When it comes to design, the Surface Pro X is still hands-down the best-looking Surface device. Compared to the dated looks of the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X is slim, light, and comes in a new Platinum finish, which gives it a much more flashy appeal.
The Surface Pro X packs a 13-inch, 1440p, 3:2 aspect ratio display, and it is stunning. Frankly, this is the best-looking display on any Surface device out right now, and that has everything to do with the thin bezels. Unlike the Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop 4, or even the Surface Book 3, the Surface Pro X has slim side bezels and a moderately tamed top bezel, which houses the webcam and microphone array. Combined with the Surface kickstand, the Surface Pro X is perfect for jotting down notes, sketching doodles, or streaming shows.
Microsoft didn't provide any accessories like their Signature Keyboard or the Surface Pen to test out during the review period, but if the typing experience is anything like the other Surface devices, you're in good hands. You can find out more about Microsoft's keyboard quality in our Surface Laptop 4 review.
Overall, two years later, the design of the Surface Pro X still looks fresh. This device is modern, minimal, and perfectly made for the mobile lifestyle.
User Upgradability
Historically, the Surface lineup has always been under criticism for its poor user repairability and upgradeability, but to some extent, Microsoft has made it easier to gain access to certain parts of the device. The RAM is soldered on, but you can access the SSD of the Surface Pro X by using a SIM ejector tool and opening up the metal plate that sits behind the kickstand. Here, you can access the SSD, and the nano-SIM card slot allows the device to connect to a cellular network.
Specifications and Performance
When it comes to the specifications and performance of the Surface Pro X, this is where things get complicated and a little weird. The 2020 Surface Pro X uses the SQ2 chip that was co-engineered by Qualcomm and Microsoft. Compared to the previous SQ1 chip, there's a slight performance boost, but overall you shouldn't expect anything close to the speed of something like Apple's M1 offerings.
Our review unit came with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can spec up the SQ2 devices with up to 512GB, but there are no RAM upgrades here.
In my testing, the Surface Pro X delivered subpar performance, but generally speaking, it was inconsistent; the best way to describe using this computer would be to treat it like a Chromebook that runs Windows. The device runs fine when you throw web-based apps on it. I got through entire workdays just fine when I was on the browser (preferably Edge, since it's better optimized on ARM), using social media, watching Netflix, and getting on Zoom calls. When it comes to web-based tasks, you will encounter very few performance issues, but I will note that occasionally, I experienced random hangs while watching videos.
When it comes to running apps, I had very few problems with most of the apps I tested. Microsoft polished the software experience when it came to running Windows on ARM, and it shows here. Apps from the Microsoft Store are generally fine, but that's a limited selection, and getting support for these legacy applications will still take some time.
I tried light photo editing in Adobe Photoshop now that Windows on ARM is supported, but the performance isn't impressive. Apple's M1 Macs are still cheaper and superior in terms of performance compared to Microsoft's current offering.
It is apparent that the Surface Pro X is a web-first device. While it's pleasant to work on a computer that looks and feels like the Surface Pro X, Windows on ARM still has a long way to go before it can be a viable replacement to x86 chips.
Ports and Connectivity
Onto ports: this is where things get a bit odd. The Surface Pro X has two USB-C ports; the Surface Connect port, used for charging; and a nano-SIM for cellular connectivity. None of the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 3 or 4, but you can power two 4K monitors using the Surface Connector if you buy Microsoft's Surface Hub accessory.
The most curious thing about the Surface Pro X is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sure the iPad Pros also don't have a headphone jack, but with a computer that runs full-fledged Windows and is marketed towards people with mobile offices, the exclusion of a headphone jack is bizarre when almost everyone needs to connect with online classes or meetings. Of course, you can connect headphones via Bluetooth or USB-C, but it would be great to see the headphone jack return to a future device.
When it comes to connectivity, this is where the Surface Pro X shines. I didn't get to extensively test out the cellular connectivity of the Surface Pro X, but the device supports LTE, and you can insert a SIM card to directly get access to the internet instead of tethering to your phone. Having an always-connected PC has the benefit of making out-of-office workflows much more smooth and elegant; this is perfect for getting onto meetings while you're on a commute or being able to publish work while you're somewhere remote.
Overall, the Surface Pro X has made significant strides in making Windows on ARM more refined. However, until Microsoft can match Apple's level of integration, both on the software and hardware side, the Surface Pro X remains a fancy and rather expensive Chromebook replacement that runs Windows.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, you won't be disappointed here. Microsoft claims to have 15 hours of screen-on-time with the Surface Pro X, but you're more realistically going to get about half of that at around 7-8 hours since most apps still aren't optimized for ARM and therefore require more processor-intensive emulation.
While 7-8 hours isn't anything special, the Surface Pro X can deliver that consistently in my testing. It also helps that Microsoft includes a fast 65W power supply in the box that enables fast charging.
Audio and Video Features
One of the most prominent advantages the Surface Pro X has over other PCs is its camera and microphone array. This device genuinely has one of the best webcams on a Windows computer, and when it comes to audio, the device can pick up on your voice and deliver clear vocals. Microsoft also has this software feature that allows you to correct your eye contact when you're in a video call, and it works surprisingly well. The device is equipped with a rear 10MP camera, which has autofocus and 4K video, but it's better if you use it for scanning documents.
The Surface Pro X's speaker system is also great. They support Dolby Atmos, and this makes the device ideal for consuming content or getting clear audio during video conferences.
Should You Buy the Surface Pro X?
The Surface Pro X is undoubtedly a unique piece of hardware, and won't be suitable for everyone's workflow.
While ARM on Windows has come a long way, there are still fundamental issues that need to be addressed before devices like the Surface Pro X can be recommended to more people.
Overall, I recommend the Surface Pro X to those that live in the browser, or in other words, have the majority of their workflow based within web apps. The Surface Pro X is great for that, but if you're looking for a more well-rounded device, you're better off looking elsewhere.
Considering the Surface Pro X is $1600 and doesn't include its main accessories, Apple's M1 Macs still offer the best value for ulta-portable all-round performance.
