After waiting for months, Microsoft has finally publicly announced the new Microsoft Surface Pro 9. The most up-to-date Microsoft flagship windows tablet comes with a bunch of new features, upgrades, and new colors in a very long time. Surface Pro 9 is a very exciting machine and an exciting iteration of the Surface family.
The most significant thing you will come across is the new Microsoft Surface Pro 9 also offers both Intel and Arm-Powered models. We have seen how Microsoft is introducing arm-based devices lately, and this shows their confidence with Arm is as high as Intel. But as we know only a processor is not the main component of a tablet, so let us have a closer look at the new Surface Pro 9, and see if it is worth upgrading from the older Surface Pro 8.
Surface Pro 9: Features
2-in-1 Adaptability
- Super lightweight and thin design starting at 1.94 lb. (878g). This tablet can replace your laptop.
- 13” PixelSense Touchscreen with a near bezel-less edge-to-edge design. The touchscreen is designed to be used with Surface Slim Pen and Windows 11.
- Use the Surface Slim Pen to sign, sketch, or navigate. The pen supports wireless charging in the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard and can be stored securely.
Long-lasting Battery
- Get up to 15.5 hours of battery thanks to the Intel 12th Gen Processor
- Get up to 19 hours of battery thanks to the 5G with Microsoft SQ 3.
- With the long-lasting battery, you don’t have to wait to charge along the way.
The Most Powerful Pro
- Experience blazing-fast performance with the Intel Evo 12th Gen Processor.
- Enjoy both full desktop productivity and gaming on this tablet.
- Charging accessories, dock to high-powered displays, or transferring large files easily thanks to the 2 x USB-C ports. For Thunderbolt 4 ports, choose the Intel variant.
5G Keeps You Connected
- Stay connected all day, anywhere, with Microsoft SQ 3 high-speed 5G connectivity.
Surface Pro 9: What’s New?
Compared to the Surface Pro 8, Microsoft has introduced a lot of newer features and upgrades. But for some, these upgrades may not be enough. Let’s take a look at what’s new with the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
New Arm & Intel Chipsets
As mentioned above, the most significant change with the new Surface Pro 9 is two processor variants, Intel and Arm. Both models have received noticeable upgrades from their predecessors. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 WI-FI model sports an Intel-based 12th Gen processor, which itself is a big upgrade from the Surface Pro 8.
The 12th Gen comes with 10 cores and 12 threads while the older Surface Pro 8 had only 4 cores and 8 threads. Similar to arm-based processors, the 12th Gen Intel processors come with separate efficiency and performance cores which help to achieve that incredible battery. If compared to the Surface Pro X, it is an even bigger upgrade. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 provides 85% faster CPU and 60% faster GPU performance, which is a massive boost over the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 in the Surface Pro X.
Better Display for the Arm Variant
There isn’t a huge difference between the Intel and Arm variants in terms of specs, but the display is a better one in the 5G model. The 5G variant Microsoft Surface Pro 9 features a dynamic refresh rate and up to 120Hz making scrolling and animations much smoother.
In addition, the panel also is capable of Surface Slim Pen 2 features including Tactile Signal. Tactile Signal is a type of haptic feedback that Microsoft uses to help simulate the feel of a pen on paper when writing and it works impressively. Intel model also comes with some exclusive features like the Dolby Vision IQ and Auto Color Management.
New Colors for Intel
One of the most anticipated updates is the addition of new colors. The two brand new color options are Sapphire and Forest which joins the existing color options Platinum and Graphite making it a total of 4 colors to choose from. To complete the look of your The most significant thing you will come across is the new Surface Pro 9 also offers both Intel and Arm-Powered models. Microsoft Surface Pro 9, Microsoft has also introduced the same colors on the Signature Keyboards. But, there is a caveat. All the colors mentioned are only exclusive to the Wi-Fi model only, except for the Platinum.
Lost the Headphones Jack
One of the most common trends that every company is starting to follow is to ditch the headphone jack, and Microsoft has done the exact thing with the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Surface Pro 9. The 3.5mm jack that everyone loves is finally gone. It is a weird choice considering the chassis is identical to the older Surface Pro 8.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Design
Compared to the Surface Pro 8, the design is identical for both Intel and Qualcomm variants this year. The Intel variant weighs 878g making it extremely portable and lightweight. Its dimension looks like it is designed for tabletop use as the screen is big enough which makes it difficult to hold close like a phone. Another thing to keep in mind is that the touchscreen in Windows 11 is not as optimized as IOS or Android.
It can be disappointing as Microsoft kept the design the same as the last model and made no further improvements. Nonetheless, the design is very minimalist and looks sleek. There are few connectors around the edges and all your peripherals, hard drives, and external displays can be connected with the Thunderbolt 4 port. There are more I/O available than usual tablets so it shouldn’t be a problem for you.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Configuration & Performance
For the Intel variant, the base model comes with an i5-1235U processor while the higher-end model comes with i7-1255U processors. Intel U series processors are aimed to provide maximum power efficiency and battery life, so you shouldn’t expect to play high-end games with this tablet. Both models rely on the integrated Intel Xe Graphics which is good enough for daily activities and productivity work.
Both the variants feature snappy LPDDR5 RAM, but upgrading from the base 8GB to a minimum of 16 GB will improve the snappiness significantly. Also, both models come with internal SSD for storage ranging from 128GB to 1TB.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 vs Surface Pro 8: Specification
| Surface Pro 9 | Surface Pro 8 | |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home (Consumer)Windows 11 Pro (Business)Windows 10 Pro (Business, Wi-Fi only) | Windows 11 or Windows 10 |
| Processor | Wi-FiConsumer12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U12th-generation Intel Core i7-1255UBusiness12th-generation Intel Core i5-1245U12th-generation Intel Core i7-1265U5GMicrosoft SQ3 processor neutral Processing Unit (NPU) | Dual-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i3-1115G4 Processor Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1145G7 Processor Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7 Processor |
| Graphics | Wi-FiIntel Iris Xe graphics5GMicrosoft SQ3 Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Intel® UHD Graphics (i3)Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics (i5, i7) |
| Storage | Wi-Fi: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD (removable)5G: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD (removable) | Removable solid-state drive (SSD) options:128GB or 256GB 512GB or 1TB |
| RAM | Wi-Fi: 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR55G: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x RAM) |
| Audio | Dual 2W stereo speakers with Dolby AtmosDual far-field mics with Voice Clarity5G model: Windows Studio Effects (Voice Focus) | Dual far-field Studio Mics2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos®6 |
| Display | 13-inch PixelSense Flow display, 3:2 aspect ratio resolution: 2880 x 1920 (267 PPI)Dynamic Refresh Rate up to 120HzCorning Gorilla Glass 5 | Screen: 13-inch PixelSense™ Flow DisplayResolution: 2880 x 1920 (267 PPI)Up to 120Hz Refresh Rate (60Hz default)Adaptive Color |
| Biometric Authentication | Windows Hello facial authentication camera | Windows Hello face authentication camera |
| Ports | Wi-Fi model: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 (USB Type-C)5G model: 2 x USB-C 3.21 x Surface Connect port1 x Surface Keyboard port5G model: Nano-SIM slot | 2 x USB-C® with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt™ 43.5mm headphone jack1 x Surface Connect port surface Type Cover port compatible with Surface Dial off-screen interaction1 |
| Battery | Wi-Fi: Up to 15.5 hours of typical device usage5G: Up to 19 hours of typical device usage | Wi-Fi: Up to 16 hours of typical device usageLTE Advanced: Up to 14 hours of typical device usage |
| Connectivity | Wi-FiIntel Wi-Fi 6E 802.11axBluetooth 5.15GIntel Wi-Fi 6E 802.11axBluetooth 5.1Location: GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeidouNanoSIM and eSIM support | Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible Bluetooth Wireless 5.1 technology LTE Advanced with removable SIM and eSIM support9,13Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X20 LTE Modem9 |
| Colors | Wi-FiPlatinumGraphiteSapphireForest5GPlatinum | Colors: Platinum, Graphite (only available on select configurations) |
| Weight | Wi-Fi: 1.94lbs (879 grams) 5G (sub-6GHz): 1.84lbs (878 grams) 5G (mm-Wave): 1.95lbs (883 grams) | 1.96 lb (891 g) |
| Dimension | 287.02 × 208.28 × 9.4 mm (11.3 × 8.2 × 0.37 inches) | 11.3-inch x 8.2-inch x 0.37-inch (287 mm x 208 mm x 9.3 mm) |
FAQ
What is the lifespan of a Surface Pro?
Taking good care of your Microsoft Surface Pro 9 properly would make it last for several years (3-6). The latest 12th Gen Intel processors are capable enough to last as long as 5 years or more. Although, the battery could be the limiting factor as they get worn out quickly. Replacing the battery around 3 years later might be necessary depending on your usage.
Final Thoughts
The Surface Pro 9 is designed for productivity and regular creative activities as the integrated GPU is not powerful enough to play high-end video games. The Surface Pro 9 has a few advantages that could make it the perfect option for the right user. It can be a great portable Windows tablet if you like to take notes by hand or want a lightweight laptop alternative that is capable enough to run windows software which we mostly use on our desktop machines. Although, it does not have the flexibility of other tablets or the power to compare with a similarly priced gaming laptop.
