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Microsoft Surface Pro X: At First Glance
The well-known Microsoft Surface Pro series of 2-in-1 PCs is back with a lot of bangs and controversies as well. The 2019 Microsoft Surface Pro X has seen some important changes while still keeping some of the good stuff from its predecessor – Microsoft Surface Pro 7.
However, the Microsoft Surface Pro X still comes at a rather expensive price tag. Moreover, Microsoft still sells the Type Cover and stylus pen separately.
Hence, at the time we published this review in August 2021, the Microsoft Surface Pro X starts at a price of $988.49. Having informed you of its price, let’s proceed into the details and specifications of the Microsoft Surface Pro X.
Microsoft Surface Pro X: Design, Dimension & Weight
The past four iterations of the Microsoft Surface Pro series have been somewhat identical in looks. This has made Microsoft Surface enthusiasts thirst for a long deserving change.
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- Choose your keyboard color: Poppy Red, Ice Blue, Platinum, and Black. (1)
- Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and large trackpad for precise navigation and control.
- Typing and writing in one without the bulk, Surface Pro Signature Keyboard delivers fast and accurate typing like a traditional, full-size keyboard, plus natural on-screen writing with Surface Slim Pen 2 (sold separately).
- Work your way anywhere. Surface Pro Signature Keyboard clicks into place instantly and stays securely attached so you always have your pen and keyboard with you. Use with Surface Pro 8 or Pro X Kickstand for a full laptop experience.
- Close to protect screen and conserve battery, or fold back completely for a tablet.
The good news is, the change is here and now the Microsoft Surface Pro X looks way better than the previous Surface Pro models.
The Microsoft Surface Pro X still maintained the general construct of the Surface 2-in-1s. But, now it features a few design ticks here and tucks there that are pleasant to see.
In the first place, the new Microsoft Surface Pro X is lighter and slimmer than its predecessor and it is characterized by more roundness to its edges. It is made of a sleek anodized aluminum chassis in matte-black whose only downside is the persistent attraction of fingerprints.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe Microsoft Surface Pro X is still a functional tablet when you decide to use it in tablet mode. The high-resolution PixelSense touchscreen display ensures crisp and clear texts as well as color-detailed pictures and videos.
Additionally, the 13-inch display is surrounded by thinner bezels on its top and bottom than you’d find on its predecessor. Impressively, the top bezel houses a 5 MP front camera with support for Windows Hello for facial recognition.
The cameras on the Microsoft Surface Pro X are noteworthy. The high-quality 1080p resolution front camera contradicts the 720p resolution on most laptops.
Thereby, it ensures clear video calls even while indoors. The 10 MP back camera is also a show of high-quality 4K resolution.
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It supports the screen while it is propped up and it easily adjusts to different angles. However, the issue of “lapability” is still a reality.
Lapability is a term used by Panos Panay (Microsoft’s VP) to describe how comfortable the surface Pros are when used on the lap.
Another feature that completes the tablet experience is the stylus pen. The new stylus features a lot of improvements than the previous.
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In contrast to the fabric loop storage on the predecessor, there is a special slot for the stylus pen on this edition’s type cover. Specifically, the special slot houses and charges the stylus pen.
The stylus pen is magnetically attached to the slot thereby making it stay in place while moving the device around. As soon as you place the pen in its slot, it charges automatically.
The stylus pen has a button that can be used to imitate a traditional eraser when you flip the pen. Also, it glides smoothly on the touchscreen and its pressure sensitivity is top-notch.
Overall, the stylus pen delivers a seamless writing and drawing experience. However, it requires an extra cost to own the stylus since it isn’t included in the package.
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In desktop-replacement mode, the Microsoft Surface Pro X uses a type cover that Microsoft dubbed as the Signature type cover. However, just like the stylus pen, the type cover also comes at an additional cost.
The updated type cover does so many things similar to that of the Surface Pro 7. However, there are no Alcantara material type covers like we saw on the predecessor.
Another thing that has changed here is how the type cover attaches to the tablet. Contrary to the magnetic connector on the predecessor the new type cover has a magnetic flap instead.
The magnetic flap folds up to connect to the rest of the tablet. Moreover, the magnetic flap on the type cover houses the special slot occupied by the stylus pen.
When it comes to the type cover’s keyboard, it is similar to its predecessor. It features a chiclet-styled keyboard with three levels of the backlight.
The keys have tactile feedback and satisfactory key travel. Overall, the keyboard is as good as its predecessor’s and typing on it is enjoyable.
The glass touchpad below the keyboard has integrated mouse buttons that are nicely clickable. The surface of the touchpad is smooth and responsive with support for gesture controls.
Moving on to the port availability, there are two USB Type-C ports and a Surface Connector for charging the device through a surface charger. There’s also an LTE sim card slot hidden under the magnetic flap.
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- All-new surface slim pen features a thin, light profile. It stores securely and recharges in the built-in storage tray of surface Pro X signature keyboard with slim pen.
- Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and large trackpad for precise navigation and control.
- Surface Pro X signature keyboard with slim pen delivers fast and accurate typing like a traditional, full-size keyboard, Plus natural on-screen writing.
- Surface Pro X signature keyboard with slim pen clicks in place instantly, and stays securely attached so you always have your pen and keyboard with you. Use with Surface Pro X kickstand for a best-in-class laptop experience on the go.
- Close to protect screen and conserve battery, or fold back completely for a take-anywhere tablet.
Sadly, in contrast to its predecessor, the Microsoft Surface Pro X lacks an SDcard slot and a USB Type-A slot. However, the most disappointing omission is the absence of a headphone jack.
When it comes to its dimension and weight, the Microsoft Surface Pro X measures 287 x 208 x 7.3 mm. Additionally, it weighs 774 g.
Comparatively, it is slimmer and lighter than the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 7 is 8.5 mm thick and weighs between 775 to 790 g.
In summary, the Microsoft Surface Pro X is designed as an improvement of its already nice predecessor. It is good-looking and the essential type cover and stylus pen complement it nicely.
Impressively, it is also slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. However, it is sad that the chassis is a fingerprint magnet and it lacks an SDcard reader or a headphone jack.
Putting all these into consideration, I’ll rate the Microsoft Surface Pro X an eight out of ten in this aspect.
Microsoft Surface Pro X: Processor (CPU) Performance
The major objective of Microsoft in creating the Surface Pro X was to integrate a mobile processor with Windows. Hence, Microsoft has partnered with Qualcomm to develop a custom chip for the Microsoft Surface Pro X.
This implies that Microsoft Surface Pro X does not use processors like Intel or AMD. Instead, it uses an SQ1 or an SQ2 processor, developed by Qualcomm.
Specifically, the 2019 release of the Microsoft Surface Pro X ships with the SQ1 processor. Meanwhile, the 2020 release of the Microsoft Surface Pro X ships with the more powerful SQ2 processor.
The 8 Cores SQ1 processor has a base frequency of 1.80 GHz and a maximum frequency of 3.0 GHz. On the other hand, the 8 Cores SQ2 processor has a base frequency of 2.42 GHz and a maximum frequency of 3.15 GHz.
The model I tested shipped with the SQ1 processor.
As a basis for benchmarking the processor, I performed a Geekbench 4 test. Geekbench 4 is a comprehensive set of benchmarks for a quick and accurate measure of the processor and memory performance.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBased on the Geekbench 4 multi-core test, the Microsoft Surface Pro X scored 11,727 points. Comparatively, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 – another ARM-based device running the Snapdragon 850 processor – scored 7,405 points.
Consequently, Microsoft Surface Pro X performed better. However, its performance is below the other x86 devices I checked it against.
Specifically, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 which runs an Intel Core i5 processor scored 17,350 points in the same test. Meanwhile, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 which runs an Intel Core i7-8650U scored 19,097 points.
Finally, it is not difficult to see how the ARM-based SQ1 processor performed below the Intel processors. However, it outperformed the ARM-based competitor – Samsung Galaxy Book 2.
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Hence, I’ll rate the Microsoft Surface Pro X an eight in this aspect.
Microsoft Surface Pro X: Memory (RAM) Performance
On the memory part, the Microsoft Surface Pro X ships with a single unremovable LPDDR4X 2,133 MHz memory running in dual-channel. The laptop ships in standard memory size of either 8 GB or 16 GB.
Emphasis on the inability to upgrade the Microsoft Surface Pro X’s RAM since it is soldered to the motherboard. Therefore, ensure to buy the model with the right amount of RAM you need – either 8 GB or 16 GB.
The unit I tested shipped with 16 GB RAM. With 16 GB of memory, my test model was a great multitasking device.
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Consequently, the Microsoft Surface Pro X ran smoothly without concerns about the multiple activities running at the same time.
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- Transform Surface Pro 9 into a full laptop.
- New Sapphire and Forest[1] colors are made with partially biobased Alcantara material.[2]
- Designed for Surface Pro 9, Surface Pro 8, or Surface Pro X.
- Surface Slim Pen 2 (not included) recharges in the built in storage tray.
- Full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and large touchpad.
Based on the nature of the ARM-based SQ1 processor, the Microsoft Surface Pro X was unable to run our industry-based PCMark benchmark. Hence, no benchmark results.
However, the multitasking ability of the Microsoft Surface Pro X is impressive. Therefore, I’ll rate it a seven in this aspect.
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Microsoft Surface Pro X: Storage Options & Performance
In terms of storage, the Microsoft Surface Pro X ships with 512 GB SSD storage. For upgradability or storage expansion, the far you can get on the Surface Pro X is to swap out the 512 GB SSD for a 1 TB.
The only fuss is that the M.2 SSD on the Microsoft Surface Pro X is smaller than other M.2 SSDs. Therefore, you might not find it very easy to get one.
The microSDs have been particularly useful on the previous Surface Pro iterations. Sadly, the Microsoft Surface Pro X has no SDcard slot.
As a basis for benchmarking the SSD, I used the CrystalDiskMark benchmark. CrystalDiskMark is an open-source benchmark tool for evaluating storage drive’s performance.
The result from the benchmark test records a sequential read speed of 2,023 MBps for the Microsoft Surface Pro X. Additionally, it recorded a sequential write speed of 832 MBps.
Comparatively, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 recorded a sequential read speed of 722 MBps. Also, it recorded a sequential write speed of 205 MBps.
Apparently, the storage performance of the Samsung Book 2 has been limited by its slower eMMC storage, compared to the SSD in Microsoft Surface Pro X.
I also checked the performance of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 in the same benchmark. The Surface Pro 7 recorded a sequential read speed of 2,040 MBps and a sequential write speed of 809 MBps.
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Consequently, the Surface Pro 7 only managed a slightly higher read speed than the Microsoft Surface Pro X. Meanwhile, the write speed recorded by the Surface Pro X is slightly higher than that of the Surface Pro 7.
Finally, the storage performance of the Microsoft Surface Pro X is noteworthy. It performed better than the competing ARM-based processor device and competed favorably with its predecessor.
Hence, I will rate it a nine in this aspect.
Microsoft Surface Pro X: Graphics Card Performance
When it comes to graphics, the Microsoft Surface Pro X uses the integrated Adreno 685 or Adreno 690 processors. Adreno 685 is the integrated GPU for the SQ1 processor while Adreno 690 is the integrated GPU for the SQ2 graphics.
Since my test unit shipped with the SQ1 processor, here we are looking at the Adeno 685 graphics. As a basis for benchmarking the GPU, I used the 3DMark benchmark.
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Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 scored 2,972 points. Also, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 scored 6,085 points.
Comparatively, the performance of the Microsoft Surface Pro X in the graphics benchmark is impressive. It supersedes that of the integrated Snapdragon 850 GPU as well as the integrated Intel Core i7 GPU.
In terms of the daily graphics performance of the Surface Pro X, you can play movies and other basic graphical activities.
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When it comes to photo editing, Adobe Photoshop has a compatibility problem and will not run properly. However, you can use alternatives like the Polarr Photo Editor Pro.
Similarly, in terms of video editing, high-level video editing applications might not run smoothly. However, you can use alternatives like VideoReDo.
When it comes to gaming on the Microsoft Surface X, you are mostly out of luck here as well. However, you can still get fairly playable frame rates from games like StarCraft and you can also play the games from the Microsoft Store.
Finally, the graphics performance of the Microsoft Surface Pro X in the graphics benchmark was praiseworthy. However, there is a compatibility issue with some graphical applications on the Microsoft Surface Pro.
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- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
Considering all these factors, I’ll rate the Microsoft Surface Pro X a seven in this aspect.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Microsoft Surface Pro X: Battery Life & Performance Review
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is powered by a 38.2 Wh Lithium-ion. It has been advertised to deliver up to 15 hours of battery life under a light workload.
To determine if Microsoft’s claim was feasible, I carried out a battery rundown test. The test involved surfing the web over WiFi.
Consequently, the Microsoft Surface Pro X lasted 7 hours 49 minutes. Comparatively, the performance is below that of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – its predecessor.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 uses a 48.9 WHr battery and it lasted 8 hours 3 minutes in the test.
On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Pro X performed better than the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 tablet. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 tablet uses a 42 WHr battery and lasted 6 hours 35 minutes in the same test.
In terms of charging, the Microsoft Surface Pro X has a fast charging ability. The 65-watt Surface Connect charger that ships with it will charge it up to 44% in just 30 minutes.
As an alternative to the Surface Connect port, you can also charge the Microsoft Surface Pro X using any of its two USB Type-C ports.
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However, working on x86 based apps like Google Chrome will reduce the battery life to about 7 hours.
Putting the test results into consideration, I’ll rate the battery performance of the Microsoft Surface Pro X an eight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Without a keyboard, the Microsoft Surface Pro X weighs 774 g. Meanwhile, when you attach the Signature Type Cover with the inclusion of the Surface slim pen, the size increases to 1,055 g.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesYes, the front-facing camera of the Microsoft Surface Pro X is IR-enabled and it supports Windows Hello for a seamless and secure Login to Windows via facial recognition.
In terms of upgradability, the RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded. However, you can easily remove the in-built 512 GB SSD and replace it with a larger 1 TB capacity. The only problem here is that the SSD size is smaller than most and not easy to come by.
Yes, it is, it uses an SQ1 processor based on ARM architecture. This implies that it doesn’t need a fan or active cooling.
The Microsoft Surface Pro X uses either an SQ1 processor or an SQ2 processor. Both processors are custom-made from the collaboration between Microsoft and Qualcomm.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Surface Pro X has done a lot of things better than the previous iterations of the series. Speaking of which, it has a thinner and lighter design, improved display, better cameras, and a more effective stylus implementation.
However, its drawbacks are not to be overlooked. It is quite expensive especially with the essential features sold separately.
In addition to these shortcomings, its software compatibility issue is a tough one to ignore.
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is not the first Windows laptop to integrate an ARM-based processor. However, Microsoft has attempted to create a more seamless experience.
While I think it has achieved noteworthy success, I still believe there’s so much work to do.
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For the past 30 years I used a variety of desktops laptops & tablets. The Pro X is in my possession since May 2020. I strongly recommend to refrain from buying it. The only computing gadget built by a company, which is not compatible with its own suites of software. Major Ram issues . Hardly any Apps in its store. Bottom line – Never again