Microsoft Surface Pro 8 13" i5 256GB/8GB (Platinum)

It only has four cores, and the power that these cores use causes the tablet to heat up. Also, it only has 8GB of (non-upgradeable) RAM, although for my use case, this is OK...for now.Otherwise, it is a good Windows tablet. It has a Core processor, not a Pentium. It has a default display scaling of 200 percent, so legacy apps will not appear blurry. (I am both systems administrator and software engineer; I know all about this problem.) It has good colour reproduction. It has USB 4 / Thunderbolt 4. It has an upgradeable SSD.And I can do work on it and also watch movies. Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase.

A Nearly Perfect Windows Computer

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 ... 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 8Marco

Daniel's review of 13" Surface Pro 8 - Intel® Core™ i5, 256 GB SSD, Graphite

Pros: Perfect combination of a windows PC and a tablet. The performance is great even for gaming. The stand on the back is a great function. The device looks great. The attachable keyboard works well as a case to protect the screen. Easy to set up. No bloatware like a standard laptop. Works great with keyboard/mouse or just as a touchscreen tablet. The keyboard is easily attachable/detachable.Cons: I am very happy with the device and only have 3 minor improvements. Better battery life. It typically lasts around 6 hours when gaming. This is fine but it would have been great if it was 10+ hours. Charger would be better if just a standard usb-c. Saying that usb-c does actually charge the device as well. I think being a Microsoft device the O365 software should be ... MorePros: Perfect combination of a windows PC and a tablet. The performance is great even for gaming. The stand on the back is a great function. The device looks great. The attachable keyboard works well as a case to protect the screen. Easy to set up. No bloatware like a standard laptop. Works great with keyboard/mouse or just as a touchscreen tablet. The keyboard is easily attachable/detachable.Cons: I am very happy with the device and only have 3 minor improvements. Better battery life. It typically lasts around 6 hours when gaming. This is fine but it would have been great if it was 10+ hours. Charger would be better if just a standard usb-c. Saying that usb-c does actually charge the device as well. I think being a Microsoft device the O365 software should be free. I just use the online version which is though.

Great Laptop, interesting power item

Great Laptop! Fast, very portable and easy to use.Only comment, which is only FYI, is that using the USB-C port to charge brings up a message saying that it is slow charging, giving the impression that the power supply that came with it fast charges. I checked the power with a meter and it pulls the same power as the power supply that came with it, but Windows 11 doesn't indicate that the Microsoft power supply is slow charging, but it is. Just seemed a bit squirrely to me for Microsoft to not flag their power supply for doing the same thing. To get the fast charge you need to get a Microsoft power supply over 100W and its really not much of a benefit.So, instead of hauling around the bulky power supply and cable, just use a USB-C power supply (65W) and cable. ... MoreGreat Laptop! Fast, very portable and easy to use.Only comment, which is only FYI, is that using the USB-C port to charge brings up a message saying that it is slow charging, giving the impression that the power supply that came with it fast charges. I checked the power with a meter and it pulls the same power as the power supply that came with it, but Windows 11 doesn't indicate that the Microsoft power supply is slow charging, but it is. Just seemed a bit squirrely to me for Microsoft to not flag their power supply for doing the same thing. To get the fast charge you need to get a Microsoft power supply over 100W and its really not much of a benefit.So, instead of hauling around the bulky power supply and cable, just use a USB-C power supply (65W) and cable. Much easier to haul around if you travel or don't bother paying the extra for the original style if your original PS breaks.

K's review of 13" Surface Pro 8 - Intel® Core™ i5, 256 GB SSD, Platinum

Pros: - Looks and feels premium- Very quick to boot up with face recognition- No hiccups when 20+ tabs open on the browser - The increased vertical height is helpful for my remote working app- Ultraportable- The webcam quality is nice- Voice recording quality for Powerpoint slides is good- Keyboard is good to type on- Backlit keyboard- Lap-able despite being a detachableCons: - Battery is quick to drain. With continuous use may struggle to last an entire workday. You need to put it on the battery saver mode and turn off the screen whenever you are not actively using it to last 8+ hours. My Chromebook lasts days so I am not used to this. On all the other categories the Surface Pro is way better considering I bought it at a discount with the keyboard included.

Overpriced, in-between functionalities

Here is the thing. I have just had this for not even a full day and I will be returning. Good deal from Costco as a bundle though. But if you had gotten the tablet, the keyboard and S pen separately, it is definitely not worth your money. System is fast, compared to my outdated 2-in-1 laptop. Screen resolution is good except I notice this criss cross pattern on the screen if I look into it close enough, kind of made me feel uncomfortable lol. Keyboard is good with the typing. The S pen though is weird and just doesn't feel comfortable in the hand and not too responsive to certain clicks. So in the beginning I said to myself I wouldn't be using the pen. Some people say on here that it's not a laptop, literally to be put on your lap, and they are definitely right. It ... MoreHere is the thing. I have just had this for not even a full day and I will be returning. Good deal from Costco as a bundle though. But if you had gotten the tablet, the keyboard and S pen separately, it is definitely not worth your money. System is fast, compared to my outdated 2-in-1 laptop. Screen resolution is good except I notice this criss cross pattern on the screen if I look into it close enough, kind of made me feel uncomfortable lol. Keyboard is good with the typing. The S pen though is weird and just doesn't feel comfortable in the hand and not too responsive to certain clicks. So in the beginning I said to myself I wouldn't be using the pen. Some people say on here that it's not a laptop, literally to be put on your lap, and they are definitely right. It has the full functions of a laptop, but if you sit it on your lap and start typing on the keyboard, the keyboard will wobble around because it's so thin and flimsy. So it's only good when it sits on a flat surface. Talking about being a tablet. It's not quite a tablet at all. On screen keyboard is weird and doesn't automatically pop up when you type into the search bar, or maybe it's embedded somewhere in the settings. So if you are a college student, and want to take notes, I would go for an iPad. If you are not a college student, but actually want a laptop more than a tablet, I would go for a full-on laptop. Also, Microsoft Store has very limited apps for note taking, if you are one. For the price of what I'm getting, I'm not too impressed.

Perfect Uni Laptop - Avoid ordering online :)

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!

Regretful purchase

I would only recommend the surface pro if you already have another computer or laptop that can complete other tasks for you.There are far better laptops in the same price-range, with better specs and similar weight. Looks, mobility, and it's annotation abilities is all it's good for, so far I've found. That is what all it's good reviewers were probably looking at. But really, most applications, like adobe or blender, will have this laptop emitting ocean-ambient noises and heating up the back almost as soon as you open them (Don't even think about gaming). I quickly found that I shouldn't have purchased this as my only laptop, especially as a CS major. It's been about 2 months, and I'm thinking about selling it.Also, I didn't think Windows 11 would be that bad. ... MoreI would only recommend the surface pro if you already have another computer or laptop that can complete other tasks for you.There are far better laptops in the same price-range, with better specs and similar weight. Looks, mobility, and it's annotation abilities is all it's good for, so far I've found. That is what all it's good reviewers were probably looking at. But really, most applications, like adobe or blender, will have this laptop emitting ocean-ambient noises and heating up the back almost as soon as you open them (Don't even think about gaming). I quickly found that I shouldn't have purchased this as my only laptop, especially as a CS major. It's been about 2 months, and I'm thinking about selling it.Also, I didn't think Windows 11 would be that bad. But it is that bad.

SSD died after 1 year

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 ... 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.

Very happy with this purchase - good value and expect to use it for several years

I am very happy with the purchase of this used Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with Microsoft Type Cover keybaord and Microsoft stylus pen. Getting a bundle like this is a plus since the keybaord and pen need to be purchased separately when a Surface Pro is purchased new. The condition of this used equipment is very good and the prior owner reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows 11, so it made it easy for me to set-up the machine (just like a new machine). In general terms, I chose a Surface Pro as I currently own a Surface Pro 4 (bought used in 2017) which has served me very well but which is showing some signs of age. On reading various reviews of the models of Surface Pro that have been launched since the Surface Pro 4, I learned that the Surface Pro 8 is very highly ... MoreI am very happy with the purchase of this used Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with Microsoft Type Cover keybaord and Microsoft stylus pen. Getting a bundle like this is a plus since the keybaord and pen need to be purchased separately when a Surface Pro is purchased new. The condition of this used equipment is very good and the prior owner reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows 11, so it made it easy for me to set-up the machine (just like a new machine). In general terms, I chose a Surface Pro as I currently own a Surface Pro 4 (bought used in 2017) which has served me very well but which is showing some signs of age. On reading various reviews of the models of Surface Pro that have been launched since the Surface Pro 4, I learned that the Surface Pro 8 is very highly regarded due to some improved design features (e.g. smaller bezel, Windows 11 pre-installed and replaceable SSD) compared to the earlier models of the Surface Pro. Of course the quality of the build, and the flexibity to be a laptop or tablet (common to the entire Surface Pro line) were also compelling attributes for buying a Surface Pro again. The one downside of the Surface Pro (as mentioned in many reviews) is its cost (when purchased new), coupled with the need to purchase the Type Cover keyboard (a virtual necessity to have in my mind) and the stylus pen (not as important to me, but good to have). Consequently, I have no problem purchasing a used unit of an older model (the Surface Pro 9 was launched recently) as I had done back in 2017 and again now. I got good use and value back in 2017 with the used Surface Pro 4 and I expect the same with this used Surface Pro 8.