Expect more from your computer Surface Pro 8 is designed to light up the best of Windows 11, enabling you to work, play, and create in ways most natural to you. Laptop, tablet, or portable digital canvas. You choose – it’s your computer. 11th Gen Intel Core processors More power than ever for intensive workloads, combined with built-in active cooling, deliver unprecedented levels of performance in an ultra-portable and versatile package. All-day battery Stay connected to what matters all day with up to 16 hours of battery life and Fast Charging to go from low battery to full faster. High-speed connections with two Thunderbolt 4 ports Create your ultimate productivity setup with multiple 4K monitors, always have large creative files on hand with an external hard drive, or create a dream gaming setup with an external GPU. All in an ultra-portable design Starting at just 1.96 lb.
Expect more from your computer Surface Pro 8 is designed to light up the best of Windows 11, enabling you to work, play, and create in ways most natural to you. Laptop, tablet, or portable digital canvas. You choose – it’s your computer. 11th Gen Intel Core processors More power than ever for intensive workloads, combined with built-in active cooling, deliver unprecedented levels of performance in an ultra-portable and versatile package. All-day battery Stay connected to what matters all day with up to 16 hours of battery life and Fast Charging to go from low battery to full faster. High-speed connections with two Thunderbolt 4 ports Create your ultimate productivity setup with multiple 4K monitors, always have large creative files on hand with an external hard drive, or create a dream gaming setup with an external GPU. All in an ultra-portable design Starting at just 1.96 lb.
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The lowest price for Microsoft Surface Pro8 I5/8/512 W11 Pro Commercial Platinum (Ebq-00010) right now is $1,332.05 at Desertcart.ae, compared across 2 retailers.
The all-time low was $1,332.05 on 14 May 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 14 May 2026.
Microsoft Surface Pro8 I5/8/512 W11 Pro Commercial Platinum (Ebq-00010)
Expect more from your computer Surface Pro 8 is designed to light up the best of Windows 11, enabling you to work, play, and create in ways most natural to you. Laptop, tablet, or portable digital canvas. You choose – it’s your computer. 11th Gen Intel Core processors More power than ever for intensive workloads, combined with built-in active cooling, deliver unprecedented levels of performance in an ultra-portable and versatile package. All-day battery Stay connected to what matters all day with up to 16 hours of battery life and Fast Charging to go from low battery to full faster. High-speed connections with two Thunderbolt 4 ports Create your ultimate productivity setup with multiple 4K monitors, always have large creative files on hand with an external hard drive, or create a dream gaming setup with an external GPU. All in an ultra-portable design Starting at just 1.96 lb.
Expect more from your computer Surface Pro 8 is designed to light up the best of Windows 11, enabling you to work, play, and create in ways most natural to you. Laptop, tablet, or portable digital canvas. You choose – it’s your computer. 11th Gen Intel Core processors More power than ever for intensive workloads, combined with built-in active cooling, deliver unprecedented levels of performance in an ultra-portable and versatile package. All-day battery Stay connected to what matters all day with up to 16 hours of battery life and Fast Charging to go from low battery to full faster. High-speed connections with two Thunderbolt 4 ports Create your ultimate productivity setup with multiple 4K monitors, always have large creative files on hand with an external hard drive, or create a dream gaming setup with an external GPU. All in an ultra-portable design Starting at just 1.96 lb.
Last updated at 14/05/2026 09:23:00
Surface Pro 8-13" Touchscreen - Intel Evo Platform Core i5-8GB Memory - 512GB SSD - Device Only - Graphite (Latest Model)
Free delivery between 25–28 May
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 for Business - Windows 11 Pro Version (Connectivity: WIFI, Central Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i5, RAM: 8GB, Memory Storage:
Free delivery between 19–25 May
originally posted on bestbuy.com
From the start, I've been a Surface Pro fan. From the surface pro 3, 4, then 6, I have always been a fan of the high resolution screens, compact yet comfortable type keyboard, and slim, high quality construction. As the years went on, I did feel that the large bezels were becoming more and more dated, and with more recent smart phones and gaming monitors sporting higher refresh rates, I came to avoid using my surface pro 6 in favor of mt smart phone and it's high resolution, high refresh rate screen. With the announcement of the surface pro 8, I knew things were about to change. Thinner bezels, larger screen, same footprint, and of course that gorgeous 120 hz display were game changers. I pre-ordered on day 1, and having used the surface pro 8 with (sold separately) ... MoreFrom the start, I've been a Surface Pro fan. From the surface pro 3, 4, then 6, I have always been a fan of the high resolution screens, compact yet comfortable type keyboard, and slim, high quality construction. As the years went on, I did feel that the large bezels were becoming more and more dated, and with more recent smart phones and gaming monitors sporting higher refresh rates, I came to avoid using my surface pro 6 in favor of mt smart phone and it's high resolution, high refresh rate screen. With the announcement of the surface pro 8, I knew things were about to change. Thinner bezels, larger screen, same footprint, and of course that gorgeous 120 hz display were game changers. I pre-ordered on day 1, and having used the surface pro 8 with (sold separately) the type cover, I cannot say I was disappointed. Body: New aluminum instead of old magnesium means heavier, but more solid construction. The weight is a bit more than previously, but still light enough to hold on your laptop in tablet mode and browse the internet in front of the tv. Light enough to fit into a nice slim bag and carry around to work or the coffee shop alike. Construction, as always is solid and leaves nothing to be desired. The kick stand is as stiff and reassuring as always. Display: The bulk of the improvements are in the screen. Surface displays have always been higher pixel density than their contemporaries. The Surface Pro 8 offers the same impressive pixel density as before, only now covers a larger area, with smaller bezels, and with a 120Hz display. I can honestly say that the 120 Hz display is the single greatest asset any laptop can have, as long as resolution and specs are otherwise decent. Even scrolling around Facebook, writing emails, or zipping around Windows 11 are an absolute joy with the higher refresh screen. Viewing angles are very good, though maybe not as wide as an OLED screen. Contrast ratio is very good for an LED display. Having played around with the recently released Samsung Galaxy Books with their OLED screens, I can definitely say that this display is FAR superior to that one, with or without OLED. the refresh rate and resolution are easily the most important aspects of any display. As for the touch screen, it is responsive as always, no complaints. Battery: I tend to use the Surface Pro 8 in short bursts, either a few hours at the coffee shop or in front of the TV, then back onto the charge. At the full 120Hz refresh rate along with high brightness (which I tend to use more often than not), I got maybe 3-4 hours out of the machine. I am more interested in the experience than the endurance, though needs may vary. Keyboard: Though the tablet-style use case has improved with the new Surface Pro 8 alongside Windows 11, the keyboard is still generally a must for most productivity. The Surface keyboard Pro (or whatever it is called these days) continues to be the best option. Backlit keys, satisfying action, good key travel, I have absolutely no complaints. Software: Windows 11 makes it's introduction with the new Surface line. I had been using the Windows 11 beta for a few weeks, and the last few updates has brought the beta in line with release day functionality and stability. At first I didn't particularly like the new start menu, and frankly it doesn't really add much to the mix, but the core of Windows has always been ease of use. I have my most frequently used apps and website on the start menu, about 8 or 9. and nothing else. The recommended apps section on the bottom is entirely useless to me, and it seems many feel this way as well. I am hoping that they give us the option to completely remove the recommended apps area, and instead allow us to put a few of the (admittedly decent) widgets there instead of leaving it a big waste of space. Otherwise, the interface is snappy, responsive, and doesn't really leave me wanting much more. As for the widget section on the left of the screen, it is reasonably functional, but again I'd much rather have a few key widget in the start menu and nothing more. Windows generally has been a good way of accessing apps, files, and website, and it is no different with Windows 11. Conclusion: The Surface Pro 8 is a nearly perfect Windows 11 computer. Portable, light weight, powerful, sturdy, and somewhat well priced for the specs. The high res, high refresh rate display are game changing, and I think competing hardware makers (dell, hp, lenovo) have a long way to go before they can compete dollar for dollar with the Surface Pro 8 Marco
originally posted on bestbuy.com
I got this for my programming job to be able to work remotely and at the office. I also got it's keyboard. I had the slim pen 1 and it is magnetically held and charged by the keyboard. The surface pro is of highest quality. The chasis is solid metal. The screen is extremely bright with near perfect viewing angles. The battery life will last about 8-10 hours with light web use or watching YouTube at 50% brightness or lower. The hard drive is removable. The face ID works well and along with the encryption built into windows I feel that my data is safe even if device is lost or stolen. It weighs almost nothing and I barely notice the fan turn on. With heavy usage the battery does drain. The processor is extremely fast. The solid state drive is fast with almost no ... MoreI got this for my programming job to be able to work remotely and at the office. I also got it's keyboard. I had the slim pen 1 and it is magnetically held and charged by the keyboard. The surface pro is of highest quality. The chasis is solid metal. The screen is extremely bright with near perfect viewing angles. The battery life will last about 8-10 hours with light web use or watching YouTube at 50% brightness or lower. The hard drive is removable. The face ID works well and along with the encryption built into windows I feel that my data is safe even if device is lost or stolen. It weighs almost nothing and I barely notice the fan turn on. With heavy usage the battery does drain. The processor is extremely fast. The solid state drive is fast with almost no loading times. I bought this for software development and visual studio runs perfectly with no lag. I like how I have the keyboard tucks way the slim pen at all times. I bought a 13" sleeve and the entire package is extremely light. Best buy had $300 off so it convinced me to purchase it. A week later they further reduced the price for me as their website had another $30 off, so I brought in my receipt and had them price match it. The speakers are the best speakers on a laptop I have ever heard. They are 2 watt speakers and have some oomph and are super clear. I only wish that there were more ports, especially USB A, as I still need those, so purchased adapters for now. What I don't like is windows 11. I did not realize it is not a finished OS compared to windows 10 and forces MS One Drive for the desktop.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
With the exception of not including an attachable keyboard, this is a 2-1 tablet with the operating system of a computer. It’s thin and portable making this a great device for on-the-go work. As an artist and amateur writer, this is a better choice for me than a typical tablet. I’ve never really liked writing/paint-shop applications using tablets/ipads and I didn’t like the hassle of converting app files to transfer to my main computer. About three years ago, I had purchased a 5th Gen Surface Pro and fell in love with the functionality of this type of tablet style computer and I was excited with given the opportunity to try out the new Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11. Compared to the 5th gen, the Surface Pro 8 has a larger display but the device is not much bigger. ... MoreWith the exception of not including an attachable keyboard, this is a 2-1 tablet with the operating system of a computer. It’s thin and portable making this a great device for on-the-go work. As an artist and amateur writer, this is a better choice for me than a typical tablet. I’ve never really liked writing/paint-shop applications using tablets/ipads and I didn’t like the hassle of converting app files to transfer to my main computer. About three years ago, I had purchased a 5th Gen Surface Pro and fell in love with the functionality of this type of tablet style computer and I was excited with given the opportunity to try out the new Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11. Compared to the 5th gen, the Surface Pro 8 has a larger display but the device is not much bigger. The display has less of a border which can be troublesome if you don’t lock the device to prevent pressing the display while holding it while repositioning on the couch or moving locations (something that I’m going to have to get use to). The display itself is definitely more vibrant than the 5th gen, with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. (In the photos with two Surface Pros, the 5th gen is on the right and the Surface Pro 8 is on the left). When using Corel Painter 2022 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020, the processor held up as expected without lag and the cursor kept close to the pen. I only had one glitch that continued to occur with Corel Painter where after a while of using, the color palette would be stuck on one color being displayed in the center triangle even though it would paint with the selected colors. This may be more of a Windows 11 compatibility with the program or just the program itself, though a little annoying it isn’t a show stopper. There are two Thunderbolt ports which I will admit is a far better connection than HDMI for display and USB for data transfer, but this also means that I may have to find another way of loading discs on here since I only have a USB disc reader. Battery life seems pretty good. From mostly surfing the web and Windows settings then a little time playing around with the photo editing software, I got around maybe 8 to 10 hours before I had to charge. I am still getting use to the locations of the settings and the overall appearance of things in Windows 11, but it does appear that there are a few features/settings missing that were available in Windows 10. To me it is as if Windows 11 is an attempt to appear more like a Mac operating system while still holding the Windows functionality and not downgrading to the Windows 8 app-like interface. One of the biggest changes is to the Windows Explorer interface replacing the ribbon with simple icons and removing some of the options (screen shot included, you’ll also notice that I’ve already moved my task bar from pins being centered back to the usual left side). One downside is that the pen and keyboard is sold separately, but it is worth mentioning the functionality with the device. To compare the Surface pen that I had purchased three years ago which is styled more like a Wacom stylist, the Surface Slim Pen 2 glides better on the devices surface making it smoother to utilize in graphic design. The only complaint that I have is that the pen lacks the scale of pressure sensitivity and tilt that a Wacom pen has. I like that the Surface Slim Pen 2 has a built-in battery and will charge when docked in the keyboard charging tray when connected to the Surface Pro 8. I would like to see some improvements to the pen to be more geared towards artist, but the pen functions well enough and can be used for writing notes. The keyboard feels a bit sturdier than the model I purchased 3 years ago. Keys are still back lit and I’m glad that the back light function button has been moved to right next to the Esc button instead of in the middle of the function keys. This will make it so much easier to not have to guess which key that it is in the dark. There is an added bonus that the keyboard now magnetically latches to the Surface Pro when closed together and the track pad is a little bigger.
| Display resolution | 2880 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel density | 267 ppi |
| Number of built-in speakers | 2 |
| Number of microphones | 2 |
| Speaker power | 2 W |
Surface Pro 8-13" Touchscreen - Intel Evo Platform Core i5-8GB Memory - 512GB SSD - Device Only - Graphite (Latest Model)
Free delivery between 25–28 May
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 for Business - Windows 11 Pro Version (Connectivity: WIFI, Central Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i5, RAM: 8GB, Memory Storage:
Free delivery between 19–25 May
From the start, I've been a Surface Pro fan. From the surface pro 3, 4, then 6, I have always been a fan of the high resolution screens, compact yet comfortable type keyboard, and slim, high quality construction. As the years went on, I did feel that the large bezels were becoming more and more dated, and with more recent smart phones and gaming monitors sporting higher refresh rates, I came to avoid using my surface pro 6 in favor of mt smart phone and it's high resolution, high refresh rate screen. With the announcement of the surface pro 8, I knew things were about to change. Thinner bezels, larger screen, same footprint, and of course that gorgeous 120 hz display were game changers. I pre-ordered on day 1, and having used the surface pro 8 with (sold separately) ... MoreFrom the start, I've been a Surface Pro fan. From the surface pro 3, 4, then 6, I have always been a fan of the high resolution screens, compact yet comfortable type keyboard, and slim, high quality construction. As the years went on, I did feel that the large bezels were becoming more and more dated, and with more recent smart phones and gaming monitors sporting higher refresh rates, I came to avoid using my surface pro 6 in favor of mt smart phone and it's high resolution, high refresh rate screen. With the announcement of the surface pro 8, I knew things were about to change. Thinner bezels, larger screen, same footprint, and of course that gorgeous 120 hz display were game changers. I pre-ordered on day 1, and having used the surface pro 8 with (sold separately) the type cover, I cannot say I was disappointed. Body: New aluminum instead of old magnesium means heavier, but more solid construction. The weight is a bit more than previously, but still light enough to hold on your laptop in tablet mode and browse the internet in front of the tv. Light enough to fit into a nice slim bag and carry around to work or the coffee shop alike. Construction, as always is solid and leaves nothing to be desired. The kick stand is as stiff and reassuring as always. Display: The bulk of the improvements are in the screen. Surface displays have always been higher pixel density than their contemporaries. The Surface Pro 8 offers the same impressive pixel density as before, only now covers a larger area, with smaller bezels, and with a 120Hz display. I can honestly say that the 120 Hz display is the single greatest asset any laptop can have, as long as resolution and specs are otherwise decent. Even scrolling around Facebook, writing emails, or zipping around Windows 11 are an absolute joy with the higher refresh screen. Viewing angles are very good, though maybe not as wide as an OLED screen. Contrast ratio is very good for an LED display. Having played around with the recently released Samsung Galaxy Books with their OLED screens, I can definitely say that this display is FAR superior to that one, with or without OLED. the refresh rate and resolution are easily the most important aspects of any display. As for the touch screen, it is responsive as always, no complaints. Battery: I tend to use the Surface Pro 8 in short bursts, either a few hours at the coffee shop or in front of the TV, then back onto the charge. At the full 120Hz refresh rate along with high brightness (which I tend to use more often than not), I got maybe 3-4 hours out of the machine. I am more interested in the experience than the endurance, though needs may vary. Keyboard: Though the tablet-style use case has improved with the new Surface Pro 8 alongside Windows 11, the keyboard is still generally a must for most productivity. The Surface keyboard Pro (or whatever it is called these days) continues to be the best option. Backlit keys, satisfying action, good key travel, I have absolutely no complaints. Software: Windows 11 makes it's introduction with the new Surface line. I had been using the Windows 11 beta for a few weeks, and the last few updates has brought the beta in line with release day functionality and stability. At first I didn't particularly like the new start menu, and frankly it doesn't really add much to the mix, but the core of Windows has always been ease of use. I have my most frequently used apps and website on the start menu, about 8 or 9. and nothing else. The recommended apps section on the bottom is entirely useless to me, and it seems many feel this way as well. I am hoping that they give us the option to completely remove the recommended apps area, and instead allow us to put a few of the (admittedly decent) widgets there instead of leaving it a big waste of space. Otherwise, the interface is snappy, responsive, and doesn't really leave me wanting much more. As for the widget section on the left of the screen, it is reasonably functional, but again I'd much rather have a few key widget in the start menu and nothing more. Windows generally has been a good way of accessing apps, files, and website, and it is no different with Windows 11. Conclusion: The Surface Pro 8 is a nearly perfect Windows 11 computer. Portable, light weight, powerful, sturdy, and somewhat well priced for the specs. The high res, high refresh rate display are game changing, and I think competing hardware makers (dell, hp, lenovo) have a long way to go before they can compete dollar for dollar with the Surface Pro 8 Marco
I got this for my programming job to be able to work remotely and at the office. I also got it's keyboard. I had the slim pen 1 and it is magnetically held and charged by the keyboard. The surface pro is of highest quality. The chasis is solid metal. The screen is extremely bright with near perfect viewing angles. The battery life will last about 8-10 hours with light web use or watching YouTube at 50% brightness or lower. The hard drive is removable. The face ID works well and along with the encryption built into windows I feel that my data is safe even if device is lost or stolen. It weighs almost nothing and I barely notice the fan turn on. With heavy usage the battery does drain. The processor is extremely fast. The solid state drive is fast with almost no ... MoreI got this for my programming job to be able to work remotely and at the office. I also got it's keyboard. I had the slim pen 1 and it is magnetically held and charged by the keyboard. The surface pro is of highest quality. The chasis is solid metal. The screen is extremely bright with near perfect viewing angles. The battery life will last about 8-10 hours with light web use or watching YouTube at 50% brightness or lower. The hard drive is removable. The face ID works well and along with the encryption built into windows I feel that my data is safe even if device is lost or stolen. It weighs almost nothing and I barely notice the fan turn on. With heavy usage the battery does drain. The processor is extremely fast. The solid state drive is fast with almost no loading times. I bought this for software development and visual studio runs perfectly with no lag. I like how I have the keyboard tucks way the slim pen at all times. I bought a 13" sleeve and the entire package is extremely light. Best buy had $300 off so it convinced me to purchase it. A week later they further reduced the price for me as their website had another $30 off, so I brought in my receipt and had them price match it. The speakers are the best speakers on a laptop I have ever heard. They are 2 watt speakers and have some oomph and are super clear. I only wish that there were more ports, especially USB A, as I still need those, so purchased adapters for now. What I don't like is windows 11. I did not realize it is not a finished OS compared to windows 10 and forces MS One Drive for the desktop.
With the exception of not including an attachable keyboard, this is a 2-1 tablet with the operating system of a computer. It’s thin and portable making this a great device for on-the-go work. As an artist and amateur writer, this is a better choice for me than a typical tablet. I’ve never really liked writing/paint-shop applications using tablets/ipads and I didn’t like the hassle of converting app files to transfer to my main computer. About three years ago, I had purchased a 5th Gen Surface Pro and fell in love with the functionality of this type of tablet style computer and I was excited with given the opportunity to try out the new Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11. Compared to the 5th gen, the Surface Pro 8 has a larger display but the device is not much bigger. ... MoreWith the exception of not including an attachable keyboard, this is a 2-1 tablet with the operating system of a computer. It’s thin and portable making this a great device for on-the-go work. As an artist and amateur writer, this is a better choice for me than a typical tablet. I’ve never really liked writing/paint-shop applications using tablets/ipads and I didn’t like the hassle of converting app files to transfer to my main computer. About three years ago, I had purchased a 5th Gen Surface Pro and fell in love with the functionality of this type of tablet style computer and I was excited with given the opportunity to try out the new Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11. Compared to the 5th gen, the Surface Pro 8 has a larger display but the device is not much bigger. The display has less of a border which can be troublesome if you don’t lock the device to prevent pressing the display while holding it while repositioning on the couch or moving locations (something that I’m going to have to get use to). The display itself is definitely more vibrant than the 5th gen, with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. (In the photos with two Surface Pros, the 5th gen is on the right and the Surface Pro 8 is on the left). When using Corel Painter 2022 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020, the processor held up as expected without lag and the cursor kept close to the pen. I only had one glitch that continued to occur with Corel Painter where after a while of using, the color palette would be stuck on one color being displayed in the center triangle even though it would paint with the selected colors. This may be more of a Windows 11 compatibility with the program or just the program itself, though a little annoying it isn’t a show stopper. There are two Thunderbolt ports which I will admit is a far better connection than HDMI for display and USB for data transfer, but this also means that I may have to find another way of loading discs on here since I only have a USB disc reader. Battery life seems pretty good. From mostly surfing the web and Windows settings then a little time playing around with the photo editing software, I got around maybe 8 to 10 hours before I had to charge. I am still getting use to the locations of the settings and the overall appearance of things in Windows 11, but it does appear that there are a few features/settings missing that were available in Windows 10. To me it is as if Windows 11 is an attempt to appear more like a Mac operating system while still holding the Windows functionality and not downgrading to the Windows 8 app-like interface. One of the biggest changes is to the Windows Explorer interface replacing the ribbon with simple icons and removing some of the options (screen shot included, you’ll also notice that I’ve already moved my task bar from pins being centered back to the usual left side). One downside is that the pen and keyboard is sold separately, but it is worth mentioning the functionality with the device. To compare the Surface pen that I had purchased three years ago which is styled more like a Wacom stylist, the Surface Slim Pen 2 glides better on the devices surface making it smoother to utilize in graphic design. The only complaint that I have is that the pen lacks the scale of pressure sensitivity and tilt that a Wacom pen has. I like that the Surface Slim Pen 2 has a built-in battery and will charge when docked in the keyboard charging tray when connected to the Surface Pro 8. I would like to see some improvements to the pen to be more geared towards artist, but the pen functions well enough and can be used for writing notes. The keyboard feels a bit sturdier than the model I purchased 3 years ago. Keys are still back lit and I’m glad that the back light function button has been moved to right next to the Esc button instead of in the middle of the function keys. This will make it so much easier to not have to guess which key that it is in the dark. There is an added bonus that the keyboard now magnetically latches to the Surface Pro when closed together and the track pad is a little bigger.
It's heavy for what it should be. Like as a laptop, it's nice and light. As a tablet... it leaves much to be desired. I love the design of the pro7, but unfortunately, it became dated. Plus no real cooling on the processors would bog down the machine. The i5 chips (of the same generation) work better on cheaper machines, for no other reason than better thermals. I wanted a drawing machine, but all the compromises leave much to be desired. I feel like 80% of the people who buy one of these would buy it as a secondary computer/laptop. It's slightly heavier and bulkier than you'd like it to be. It's hard to hold it in your hands for a while, especially if you want to use it as a digital notepad. The 7's size was better suited and perfect for it, the 8's weight feels ... MoreIt's heavy for what it should be. Like as a laptop, it's nice and light. As a tablet... it leaves much to be desired. I love the design of the pro7, but unfortunately, it became dated. Plus no real cooling on the processors would bog down the machine. The i5 chips (of the same generation) work better on cheaper machines, for no other reason than better thermals. I wanted a drawing machine, but all the compromises leave much to be desired. I feel like 80% of the people who buy one of these would buy it as a secondary computer/laptop. It's slightly heavier and bulkier than you'd like it to be. It's hard to hold it in your hands for a while, especially if you want to use it as a digital notepad. The 7's size was better suited and perfect for it, the 8's weight feels significant after a while. Ipad and Android OS leave much to be desired, especially if you want to use things like full MS excel and Word. You can get away with alternatives, but there are always that one or two options the mobile versions sometimes lack. If they made a surface go 3 with these same internals, it would be perfect as a on the road device. I don't hate the kickstand device, but it means the device needs more real estate on small desks/tables, and you can't push the device further back on certain places. I also wish they added just one more set of magnets or a clip for the type cover so when you do open it up all the way behind the device it would stay in place. The bottom main magnets fall off to easily in this mode, and it's not fun in a $1000+ investment, to have that lack of ease of mind. At black friday/pre-christmas prices, I'd recomend buying this product at that deep discounted price. Especially now over the pro 9. The lack of headphone jack was a dealbreaker for me. I prefer watching movies with external speakers when I'm at home, and bluetooth doesn't 100% sinc up every time. (its getting better, but it's not perfect) Honestly, this product seems to be for a very niche audience, and perhaps I'm just not it.
Here are some Pros and Cons from my experience. While I've only had it for a day, it has certainly been a disappointment of a day. Note that a lot of these are applicable to the whole surface line-up not just this exact model and specs: Pros: -13 in Display looks very nice, the 3:2 aspect ratio is great and the HDR on the monitor is really good too. -Has 2 Thunderbolt 4 connectors, which is nice to get IO's that you'd prefer in a laptop by buying a thunderbolt dock/hub. -Stand works well when on desk, but works terribly while laying down, and can be inconvenient when using it on your lap because of the fact that you have to move 2 things (the type-cover and kickstand) when readjusting the laptop. -Doesn't get too hot while running, its warm to the touch, as you ... MoreHere are some Pros and Cons from my experience. While I've only had it for a day, it has certainly been a disappointment of a day. Note that a lot of these are applicable to the whole surface line-up not just this exact model and specs: Pros: -13 in Display looks very nice, the 3:2 aspect ratio is great and the HDR on the monitor is really good too. -Has 2 Thunderbolt 4 connectors, which is nice to get IO's that you'd prefer in a laptop by buying a thunderbolt dock/hub. -Stand works well when on desk, but works terribly while laying down, and can be inconvenient when using it on your lap because of the fact that you have to move 2 things (the type-cover and kickstand) when readjusting the laptop. -Doesn't get too hot while running, its warm to the touch, as you would expect. During a 10 minute Cinebench R23 run, the CPU clocked at roughly 3.3GHz and maintained that during the entire run. So thermals seem to be good on the device. -Runs games pretty well. On CSGO at an equivalent of 1080p for the 3:2 aspect ratio and low settings, I was getting 180 - 250fps while playing with bots. Ori and the blind forest ran super smooth as well along with the good controller support from Microsoft (can't speak for PlayStation controllers but Microsoft doesn't like having native support for them either way.) League of legends (as expected) ran at 120ish fps at high res and high settings, dropping these will give you closer to 200fps. So you can certainly play some games on the device, the iGPu is pretty good for it, but don't expect to run cyberpunk at anything more than 20fps or any other triple A games on anything other than low settings and resolution, but some of them might actually be playable. Cons: -Transition from laptop to tablet is not very smooth, because the type-cover is connected at the bottom, you have to awkwardly pick up each with one hand, and after you've done that you'll realize that there isn't a magnetic connection on the surface itself for your pen. There is a magnet on the side with the surface charger, but that will only support one side of the pen, causing it to rotate and fall off or not fitting at all the other way. You can put the pen on the bottom of the tablet because of the magnets from the keyboard, but this is an inconvenient spot to put it when you have the tablet resting on your stomach if you are doing something while laying down. -Stand and keyboard combo are terrible for laying in bed and using the device, because of the way Microsoft has made the type-cover, on anything but a flat desk it becomes annoying and you have to constantly adjust it. As a "laptop" it certainly doesn't feel that great in your lap. - Can't fast charge from thunderbolt 4, even thought thunderbolt 4 should very certainly have the power capabilities to do so, It seems like Microsoft really wants to use it's proprietary charger over charging from type C. You can charge from it, but as I found out while running Cinebench R23; you will lose charge even while connected via type c. (for anyone curious, It got a score of 5049 which is on par with what it should get.) Charging via type C will result in what the tablet will tell you is "slow charging," after that you are forced to grab your surface charger and use that. -120Hz display does not feel like 120Hz display, it feels more like 60, and the 60 feels like its 50Hz. This could be cause by some of the animations in Windows 11, but for now (October 6th, 2021) it does not feel smooth. -As a tablet, windows is not a well designed and touch friendly operating system. There have been features added to make it more touch friendly, but it still doesn't feel as smooth of a tablet experience as other tablets can provide. ***Note this is not a flaw of windows 11, I ended up really liking the changes to windows 11, but as a tablet OS... well its not, but as a desktop/laptop OS it's great. Should windows implement a separate OS for tablet users, or even a 3rd party software come along that will make it smoother would be nice, but for now it's not. -As a laptop, similarly spec'd products will come at a savings of 500$+ -New pen doesn't feel great (you don't need to use it to know that, just look at it. How can that be comfortable, but if you need me to tell you, its not comfortable) -For artists, you are better off with a standard laptop and a Wacom or similar tablet. You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get Paint Tool Sai working, and even then you might not. Photoshop seems to have touch gestures built in but even with tablet pro, its not the smoothest experience. You will get a much smoother and enjoyable experience from a separate tablet/computer setup or going with an iPad pro and using either procreate or fresco (both of which are apps that have great tablet friendly gestures and can be operated entirely with touch inputs and touch gestures) I'm sure there are things I've missed, and to be fair for the first 2 hours I liked the device, but as you continue to use it, some of the little annoying qualities about it push me off. This is why you shouldn't be fooled during your trip to Best Buy and using it in person for 5 minutes. With that said, there is a reason we can return stuff, so if you really really like the idea of a surface, give it a go. However, do yourself a favor and look at it objectively. For such an expensive product you really have to not care about the downsides of the device. As a flagship device for this price point, some of these are too much to justify such a high price point.
I have been using the surface pro 8 as a university laptop in my chemistry and literature dual degree. As someone who uses this laptop almost every day for 8+ hours I have noticed little to NO degradation of battery life. This laptop makes the perfect device for university lecture theatres and using the stylus with one-note is the perfect way to collect notes. I have found that the stylus tool is particularly useful in tutorials. In terms of purchasing, I had a rough experience ordering online and after waiting almost 2 months for "stock" I ended up going in store. There is no need to spend money on "extra in store warranty etc" as the surface devices are very reliable. They will last for the duration of a degree. In terms of storage 256gb is enough - most ... MoreI have been using the surface pro 8 as a university laptop in my chemistry and literature dual degree. As someone who uses this laptop almost every day for 8+ hours I have noticed little to NO degradation of battery life. This laptop makes the perfect device for university lecture theatres and using the stylus with one-note is the perfect way to collect notes. I have found that the stylus tool is particularly useful in tutorials. In terms of purchasing, I had a rough experience ordering online and after waiting almost 2 months for "stock" I ended up going in store. There is no need to spend money on "extra in store warranty etc" as the surface devices are very reliable. They will last for the duration of a degree. In terms of storage 256gb is enough - most universities have cloud storage now as part of their Microsoft packages so no need to worry about this. I have my own one drive and it works a charm - this is because less documents on the device means quicker experience and less "clutter". I don't often give reviews for products but feel it is necessary to comment on my positive experience with the surface pro so far. It is the only laptop I would own, until Apple allows touchscreen on their macs! Until then, I love my surface, I would 100% recommend it and am even typing this review on the surface keyboard (I have the black colour btw and have found it is the least 'dirty' colour in terms of cleaning). The keyboard is also very easy to get used to and something about the closeness and compactness of the keyboard makes a 2am essay on Shakespeare feel warm, cosy, and ergonomic! Splurge out on this device if you are entering a 3+ year degree!
Goodbye Apple / Portability We struggled with iPads and Macs for a long time. We love to travel, so we found ourselves carrying many lightning cables for our iphones, iPads and kids' iPads. What was frustrating is that after spending 1800 CHF on an iPad Pro, I could not do basic things like put two photos next to each other and make a screenshot of them as one photo. This is ideal for scanning IDs. Each time we sat in the garden at home and went through out photos, we had to bring the iphones, iPads and macs outside with us. Photo editing on the iPad is still limited. Amazing apps like Luminar Neo are missing and photoshop iPad is lacking many features. The new Stage Manager on the MacBook blocks the desktop and on the iPad it is nowhere near a desktop experience. ... MoreGoodbye Apple / Portability We struggled with iPads and Macs for a long time. We love to travel, so we found ourselves carrying many lightning cables for our iphones, iPads and kids' iPads. What was frustrating is that after spending 1800 CHF on an iPad Pro, I could not do basic things like put two photos next to each other and make a screenshot of them as one photo. This is ideal for scanning IDs. Each time we sat in the garden at home and went through out photos, we had to bring the iphones, iPads and macs outside with us. Photo editing on the iPad is still limited. Amazing apps like Luminar Neo are missing and photoshop iPad is lacking many features. The new Stage Manager on the MacBook blocks the desktop and on the iPad it is nowhere near a desktop experience. Surface Pro 7 Experience After bad experiences with the SP7 we were skeptical, but our frustration with apple drove us to try the SP8. This device is nothing short of brilliant. We ordered the base model for 750 CHF after a wonderful experience in the first days, we bought a second one and sold our MacBook Pro 14. Windows 11 / Surface Pro 8 / Microsoft Edge The 120Hz display is amazing, you could stare into this display all day. Windows Hallo is significantly improved. Microsoft Edge is a dream, it opens Pdfs and lets you annotate them, now thumbnails have been added. It is smooth and way better than the annotating experience on the iPad. For years I kept coming back to the iPad because android and windows could not provide something reasonable to annotate Pdfs directly from the cloud. Microsoft has done it. Photo Editing / Lightroom We have about 30'000 photos in our lightroom CC (not lightroom classic) catalog. Lightroom on this base model is so smooth. The default windows app has been improved but is still a joke. Nothing beats Apple Photos for semi pros and amateurs when it comes to organizing photos (smart albums, etc.). However, Lightroom, CC syncs across all devices and is amazing.
I bought this directly from Microsoft in December of 2021 and the SSD died 14 months later. It failed to boot, failed to recover via USB, failed to recognize the SSD completely. I now have to use my 9 year old Dell laptop that's still kicking. When it was working, within the first month, the operating system suddenly died out of the blue and prompted a recovery which, luckily did not wipe my data. Day-to-day usage with Windows 11 was very finicky and annoying: - It won't shut down; The screen kept turning back on. I've disabled all things that could trigger wake-up. This was incredibly bad because it drained all the battery while in my backpack. Why, Microsoft. - Folder needs to ve manually refresh to show the newly downloaded file into the folder you're looking at. ... MoreI bought this directly from Microsoft in December of 2021 and the SSD died 14 months later. It failed to boot, failed to recover via USB, failed to recognize the SSD completely. I now have to use my 9 year old Dell laptop that's still kicking. When it was working, within the first month, the operating system suddenly died out of the blue and prompted a recovery which, luckily did not wipe my data. Day-to-day usage with Windows 11 was very finicky and annoying: - It won't shut down; The screen kept turning back on. I've disabled all things that could trigger wake-up. This was incredibly bad because it drained all the battery while in my backpack. Why, Microsoft. - Folder needs to ve manually refresh to show the newly downloaded file into the folder you're looking at. I've never knew this is such a nuissance. It was never a problem in Windows 7 but somehow Windows makes my experience worse by removing something that was working properly for 20 years. Oh, and the right-click - refresh is now 4 clicks to get to instead of 2. - There's no proper spot to right-click to add current folder into Quick Access. You have to right-click onto an existing quick access folder to add the folder you have opened into it. Previously, you just need to right-click the Quick Access precursor on top of the list of folder in Quick Access. 'Very intuitive, so let's remove it.' - SSD cover won't close after it's popped out with the pin. - Keyboard palm resting surface is deteriorating after 7 months. This is my first Microsoft Surface product and the overall experience was terrible and definitely not worth the price Microsoft demand them for. Subpar quality product. I've built multiple computers since 2005 and very tech savvy. It's quite sad that now Microsoft could incorporate their software into their own hardware platform but they failed miserably. Don't buy this.
Microsoft provided me with this Surface Pro 8 in order to evaluate and provide an unbiased review. I find the Surface Pro 8 to be the most capable and portable device that I can use. If you're looking for a do-anything device, with ample (but less than advertised) battery and a portable form factor this is the thing to get. I've taken multiple Zoom and Teams calls with the Surface and it has the best audio quality for teleconferences of any device I've used -- on all other laptops, desktops or tablets I've used there is an essential need to have a headset in order to hear and be heard. Both the mic and the speakers in the Surface provide clear call quality. My work makes heavy use of the Office 365 suite, including Teams, OneDrive and Sharepoint and I can say that ... MoreMicrosoft provided me with this Surface Pro 8 in order to evaluate and provide an unbiased review. I find the Surface Pro 8 to be the most capable and portable device that I can use. If you're looking for a do-anything device, with ample (but less than advertised) battery and a portable form factor this is the thing to get. I've taken multiple Zoom and Teams calls with the Surface and it has the best audio quality for teleconferences of any device I've used -- on all other laptops, desktops or tablets I've used there is an essential need to have a headset in order to hear and be heard. Both the mic and the speakers in the Surface provide clear call quality. My work makes heavy use of the Office 365 suite, including Teams, OneDrive and Sharepoint and I can say that reviewing and editing multiple documents both in personal onedrive locations and in sharepont is great -- equal to or better to "business grade" devices that many of you are familiar with. Part of my job involves design work and those visually intensive applications also work well in the surface despite it's 13" size. I was hesitant about a 13" device, but I haven't found the size to be a hinderance, and because its so small and lightweight its far easier to pack for travel or to hypothetically carry with me from conference room to conference room if I were back in the office. I've used it without plugging in for a day and I can say that if you're actively working, reviewing powerpoints, updating spreadsheets, using web applications and Teams it won't make it quite through a work day -- but it will last over 6 hours. This means as long as you visit a desk at some point in the day to plugin you don't need to worry about bring a cord with you. Or if you want to goto the coffee shop or park to work you can leave the power at home. The cost of a surface is clearly premium territory, but given the value add that it provides over even comparably prices Apple devices I find it to be well worth it.
If I were a high school or college student, if I were starting out in my career and needed a good workhorse laptop that I could trust to do my daily work, or if I was looking to replace an older, clunkier, heavier laptop, this would be my computer of choice. The Surface Pro series has been a welcome addition to our family: my son's first school computer was a Surface Pro 7 and it was so versatile that it's the device we all lean on a bit in our house for different things. The new Surface Pro 8, especially in combination with the keyboard with slim pen is almost the perfect computer/tablet combo. I say almost perfect because the kickstand is still the thing that gives me the most grief and most utility at the same time. Don't let that stop you... just saying that if ... MoreIf I were a high school or college student, if I were starting out in my career and needed a good workhorse laptop that I could trust to do my daily work, or if I was looking to replace an older, clunkier, heavier laptop, this would be my computer of choice. The Surface Pro series has been a welcome addition to our family: my son's first school computer was a Surface Pro 7 and it was so versatile that it's the device we all lean on a bit in our house for different things. The new Surface Pro 8, especially in combination with the keyboard with slim pen is almost the perfect computer/tablet combo. I say almost perfect because the kickstand is still the thing that gives me the most grief and most utility at the same time. Don't let that stop you... just saying that if you arrive at the Surface Pro 8 without having seen/felt/tested it at Best Buy first, and your expectations are that it's going to sit nicely on your lap as you bingewatch your favorite show on the couch - you're going to have a bit of a wakeup. On a desk or lap desk, hands-down, it's an amazing experience. You can shift it, adjust it, etc... angles less than 90-degrees are a bit trickier because there's no hinged keyboard -- this is most noticeable when your kiddos get squirmy during homeschool and the whole thing slams shut - so there's still something to be desired there. As an aside: this is something of a forced dichotomy in the Microsoft Surface family. The Surface Book is detachable but too heavy to be a serious tablet, and there's nothing to do with the base/keyboard when detached, and also presents an awkward profile when closed. The Surface Laptop doesn't have a rear-facing camera, so despite solving the hinge issue, you still lose functionality... anyone with kids in hybrid (virtual at home/part-time homeschool) recognizes the need for a rear-facing camera for turning in assignments. What's really clear is that Microsoft has done a TON of work to provide very specific markets with very specific tools and very specific workflows and when your workflow and functionality needs line up with the device, it's magical. The Surface Pro 8 is super light, charges very quickly, and seems to have decent battery life even while video conferencing at high brightness. The thunderbolt ports are a nice addition. The screen is very bright and clear, the built-in speakers are clear and deliver good range on music and shows or even just your Zoom chat with David from HR. The bezels are very thin for a laptop of this size, to the point where accessing the slim pen sometimes triggers the touchscreen - though this is mostly an affect of big fingers. The touchscreen is accurate and responsive (especially when in notes mode with the slim pen), and taking notes is a pure joy (yes, even compared to an iPad Pro + Apple Pen setup). Make no mistake, though: you absolutely want the keyboard and pen. As a tablet, it's a fine device, but it really shines with a keyboard attached. While 256GB of storage is nowhere near enough to tackle serious projects and surely requires augmentation from external drives, 16GB of memory seems to serve this particular setup well and the Intel Evo i7 delivers when it comes to games (I tested using Minecraft Dungeons). The Windows 11 experience is zippy launching any of the big Office365 suite products. Audio editing in Reaper seemed to work really well and the Adobe suite ran as expected. My previous experience with the pen + touchscreen combo inside Illustrator on the Surface Book was matched here: it's every bit as delightful to design/draw directly on the Surface Pro (though depending on how MUCH or how LONG you need to draw, you may want the non-slim version of the pen). OneNote really lives up to its potential here. On the software front: Windows 11 + Office365 + OneDrive (or if you prefer, Dropbox) is just so slick. Everything about getting stuff done on the Surface Pro 8 is optimized. Within 15 minutes of unboxing, I had my entire productivity suite ready to roll and everything I needed ready to go to do serious work. The new features for gridding out your desktop (that is: you move an app window to one edge and Windows pops up with options for how to lay out the other open apps) and even just hovering over the "Maximize" button giving you options to segment your screen... I just love it. The redesigned Windows menu will be familiar enough to folks coming from iOS and the functionalities that Windows gives you with the Windows key combos are wonderful timesavers. Having a built-in copy/paste history is a godsend, screenshots, settings, dictation, search... so many useful things at the press of two keys. Overall: I've gleefully added the Surface Pro 8 to my tech lineup. It's a versatile, useful device that screams productivity, and thanks to the advent of the slim pen and keyboard combo, adding the creativity in is a joyful experience. It's rare that (outside of a maxed out, fully LED-kitted gaming machine) a computer can inspire joy, but Microsoft may have hit the winning combo here of great software, powerful hardware, great physical form, and useful accessories all in one device.
| Display resolution | 2880 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel density | 267 ppi |
| Number of built-in speakers | 2 |
| Number of microphones | 2 |
| Speaker power | 2 W |
