MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X REVIEW: WINDOWS 10 AND ARM IN A LIGHTWEIGHT 2-IN-1
The world of laptops is appreciated by a wide range of users. However, aside from gaming desktop replacements, everyone is looking for two essential factors: portability and battery life. The market has therefore been moving in this direction for some time now, presenting solutions that "borrow" the benefits of ARM architecture from the world of mobile devices but maintain an operating system typical of a computer. techbizcenter
We have already tried several solutions of this type, but so far we had not yet had the opportunity to put under stress the 2 in 1 Microsoft Surface Pro X of the second generation , which arrived in Italy in October 2020. wireless webcam
We have put the most expensive variant to the test., or the
Platinum with Microsoft SQ2 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal
memory. The price is equal to 2099 euros on the official website of the Redmond
company. The Signature keyboard with Slim Pen must be purchased separately: the
cost is 299.99 euros . To take home the "complete product" we used
sales strategy for this review, therefore, the total price is 2398.99 euros. For those who
want to spend less, remember that there are variants with a lower price, so if
you are interested it is good to take a look at Microsoft's portfolio.
Design and connectivity
Refined. Light. Always online . These terms best embody the
essence of Microsoft Surface Pro X, a product that made us exclaim a sincere
"wow" from the first contact. Once extracted from the package, a
slight reflection has in fact highlighted the elegant platinum color,
particularly enhancing the Microsoft logo. The "premium" feeling is
all there, thanks to precise lines and quality materials, which give excellent
satisfaction to the touch. On the other hand, anodized aluminum with a carbon
composite thermal cooling system is not found that often.
The only aspect of the design that is a bit 'turn up the
nose is the front, given the edges are not exactly contained. However, it is
normal for such a device and as soon as the display is turned on all doubts
disappear.
After holding the 2 in 1 for some time, the user will notice
the weight of only 774 grams without the keyboard , which makes the product
among the most comfortable in terms of portability. Of course, the dimensions
of 287 x 208 x 7.3 mm could give a hard time in use in certain contexts, but we
assure you that Microsoft Surface Pro X can be used very well.
We almost forgot: both front and rear, in the upper part
there are the cameras and all the sensors of the case. As for the speakers, you
should take a look at the top left and right: yes, the Redmond company has
managed to "hide" them well.
Taking a look at the sides, on the left we find the volume
rocker and two USB Type-C ports, while on the right we find the input for the
Surface Connect power supply and the power button. At the bottom we can find
the magnetic coupling for the keyboard, while to reach the slot for the nanoSIM
it is necessary to protrude the lower part of the device, which also acts as a
support, and use the appropriate pin present in the package.
The slot can accommodate a single 4G LTE SIM: the latter is
enough and advances to always keep the 2-in-1 connected. If you already have an
eSIM, Surface Pro X supports this technology. The slot also includes 512GB
memory. The SSD is particularly small in size and can be removed in no time by
unscrewing a single screw. An engineering masterpiece from Microsoft.
As for the packaging, the classic white box has various manuals
inside, a pin for opening the SIM compartment, a charging cable and a 65W
charger . Small gem: the latter has a USB port, so you can also recharge other
devices, from smartphones to power banks. In short, Microsoft has thought of
everything. Of course, the presence of only USB Type-C ports may not please
everyone, but we must admit that during our test we never had any problems,
given the wide spread of this standard and the availability of any adapters of
any kind.
Technical features
A high-caliber design must be accompanied by respectable
hardware. For this reason, Microsoft has decided to do everything right and
implement in this second generation of Surface Pro X the Microsoft SQ2
processor based on ARM architecture , flanked by an Adreno 690 GPU. The model
we have had the opportunity to test also has 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 512GB of
SSD. This is a configuration that can guarantee solid performance in everyday
use, which allows you to run Windows 10 Home on ARM properly. We also remind
you that during the purchase it is also possible to choose other
configurations, which include different components under the body.
On the front there is a 13-inch PixelSense touch screen with
2880 x 1920 pixel resolution and 3: 2 aspect ratio. The visual quality is at the
top, including a maximum brightness that allows you to use the 2 in 1 even in
environments where the lighting conditions are not the best. Just turn on the
screen to make all doubts disappear: we watched movies and TV series without
problems, noting a panel of high caliber.
The touch response is precise and fast and the presence of
an adaptive brightness sensor should not be underestimated. The wide viewing
angles are also not bad.
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS GLONASS are in place, as are
two far-field studio microphones. Microsoft has also thought about the cameras:
there is a 5MP front sensor and a 10MP rear lens. The first can record video in
1080p and allows facial recognition using Windows Hello , while the second has
autofocus and records video up to 4K.
The quality is great for a laptop. It also does not
disappoint the stereo audio sector consisting of 2W speakers with Dolby Audio,
which allows an immersive experience of high caliber. Some might make the
absence of the audio jack turn up their noses, but we actually didn't hear it
too much during our test.
Autonomy and experience of use
A good 2-in-1 must have a good battery life to be truly
complete. Surface Pro X is a device that can be used in so many contexts, also
given the presence of 4G LTE, that it is difficult to provide you with precise
data. However, Microsoft estimates up to 15 hours of use under typical
conditions: we actually often got to around 6/7 hours with our use. These are
good values when compared to intense use like ours, since we put the device
under stress also due to the review. In short, the autonomy is good and
certainly the average user will be able to bring home the classic working day.
The "classic" use, ie Office, multimedia content
and Web browsing, allows you to go even further. Speaking of Office, purchasing
the device gives you access to a 30-day trial of Microsoft 365 Family. For the
rest, a full charge is completed in just over an hour, the temperatures have
always remained within the norm and the Surface has proved silent in
essentially all contexts.
As for the target to which Microsoft's proposal is aimed,
Surface Pro X winks at productivity, as well as at those looking for a
comfortable and functional 2 in 1 . This laptop is a godsend for those who
usually do the classic office use, as well as for those who travel a lot and
want a reliable computer always at hand. The powerful configuration set up by
the Redmond company for this second generation is an excellent combination in
terms of power and consumption, not to mention comfort.
In this regard, if you want to make the most of the device,
it is good to also buy the Surface Signature keyboard with Slim Pen . In fact,
the latter is hooked by magnetic attachment to the bottom of the Surface Pro X
and allows you to "transform" it into a sort of notebook. Backlit
keys, stylus that connects automatically with the device, large trackpad and
refined Alcantara coating are the strengths of a responsive and precise
keyboard, which we found perfect when writing.
The stylus works optimally and can be stored in the
appropriate housing, which among other things "disappears" simply by
moving the keyboard forward, by means of magnetic coupling. Another nice touch
from Microsoft in terms of design.
At this points, you are probably wondering if the Redmond
company has made the perfect product, since we have not found any particular
smudges. The answer is actually that Microsoft's Surface Pro X's biggest flaw
lies precisely in its greatest strength.
In fact, if the components allow on the one hand to have a
performing device, light and always connected, on the other the ARM
architecture brings with it some limits in terms of compatible applications.
You may in fact encounter problems with the Adobe suite, as well as with gaming.
Several programs are not compatible and the reason is the
youth of this type of product. The purchase is therefore recommended for those
who are sure to find their favorite programs, perhaps by downloading them from
the Windows Store. To give you a concrete example, gaming is reduced to the
bone: we practically only played Among Us with this device, since titles like
Paladins and the like are not compatible.
Some just fail to install, while others return errors when
trying to start them. In any case, if you are looking for full compatibility
with all programs, the choice is certainly not lacking, even for what concerns
the Surface range.
