Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review: A bargain at £649

Latest news: Microsoft has got an excellent deal to clear out old Surface Pro 4 stock. Right now at the Microsoft Store, you can buy the 128GB Core m3 model for £649 – including the Type Cover in black, blue, red or teal. If you feel like adding an extra £25, you can upgrade to a Type Cover with Fingerprint ID or a Pro Signature Type Cover in one of three colours. No Surface Pen included, but for the price you can’t really complain. 

This is an excellent deal, but it won’t last long. Act fast if you’re interested, or read on to find out why the Surface Pro 4 is still worth buying in 2017.

The original review continues below

The improvements evident in the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 are mostly small and incremental, then, but don’t, whatever you do, make the mistake of thinking they’re “only” iterative. As Apple has proved time and time again, constant iteration leads to products that end up head and shoulders above the competition. That’s where the Surface Pro 4 finds itself, and it’s why its stablemate the Microsoft Surface Book – though quite, quite lovely – isn’t at the same level just yet.

In case you haven’t seen a Surface Pro, or you’ve been hiding from the multi-million-dollar advertising campaign Microsoft has run since the first one launched, it is designed to be the tablet that can replace a laptop. It runs Microsoft’s desktop OS software, Windows 10, and as such allows you to run any Windows application on the planet, as well as apps from the Windows Store.

That makes it a very different proposition to the Apple iPad Pro, which only runs iOS apps. It’s all at once a powerful laptop replacement that you can use in a business environment to run legacy Windows apps, browse networks and copy and paste files, and a consumer tablet you can use to run casual games and watch Netflix. It’s truly a one-size-fits-all machine.

The Surface Pro 4 is built around an Intel processor – in our case, the latest Skylake Core i5-6300U – although you can go up to an i7 or even step down to a Core m3. Prices start at £729 on Amazon UK inc VAT (on Amazon US $849) it’s  for the model with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD and rise to £1,799 for an i7 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. As usual, you’ll have to add on £110 for the (pretty much essential) Type Cover, which means a top-of-the-line Surface Pro 4 won’t leave you much change from £2,000. Microsoft is indeed following the Apple model with this one.

Surface Pro 4 review: Design and build quality

That’s not to say, though, that you’re not getting value for money – you’re getting a design and build quality that’s at least as good as Apple’s. Although the design of the Surface Pro 4 doesn’t stray too far from that of the Surface Pro 3, there are little touches that improve it.

There’s still the same beautiful kickstand, which you can adjust to almost any angle, so it’s close to being a laptop-like experience. You can even angle it all the way back, which makes the Surface Pro very usable without your keyboard attached in a lap – think the iPad with a Smart Cover on it, folded back, and you have an idea of the angle at which it sits.

How does it compare with the competition, though? Well, it’s a sight better than the iPad Pro’s keyboard stand. Although I don’t mind typing on that keyboard, the lack of adjustability – it’s set at one angle – backlight and touchpad set it at a significant disadvantage.

And, while Google has made a much better attempt with the Google Pixel C’s great magnetically attachable keyboard, which allows you to adjust the keyboard at any angle and has a rigid, solid base, it suffers from similar shortcomings. It also lacks a touchpad and backlighting, and its small size means it isn’t as comfortable to use as the Surface Pro 4’s Type Cover.

The body is the same as its predecessor, as is the array of ports: USB 3, mini-DisplayPort, and a microSD slot hidden under the stand. Microsoft hasn’t taken the opportunity to shift to USB Type-C, which I think is a shame. The lack of USC Type-C means we’re also stuck with the weird proprietary power connector, rather than being able to charge from a wide variety of chargers. Oh well, perhaps next time.

One small design tweak that’s welcome, though, is the addition of a few magnets on the left-hand side. These hold the Surface Pen – which is included with the device – firmly to the side. How firmly? Strongly enough that, on a flat desk, I can drag the Surface Pro 4 along just by holding the pen and pulling. It isn’t quite as secure as an internal docking slot, but it comes close enough for me to stop complaining about not having a place to put the pen.

Overall, though, the design and build quality remain the gold standard for this kind of convertible. The Surface Pro 4 looks, and feels, like an expensive, high-quality product. And that’s because it is – on both counts.

The biggest question mark over the design remains its “lapability”, as Microsoft has taken to calling it. As with the Surface Pro 3, the Surface Pro 4 is helped considerably by the stand’s ability to tilt the screen to a wide range of angles. While it’s now very steady, it’s much longer than a conventional laptop on your lap, which means people who have shorter legs (like me) are likely to find it less comfortable.

Although this is something that’s raised again and again by journalists, how much of an issue it is in the real world is debatable. Most laptops in daily use are on tables – lap use tends to be a much rarer event for ordinary people than it is for journalists. If you’re someone who spends a lot of time using your laptop on your lap, the Surface Pro 4 will be less suitable for you. If on the other hand, you’re largely desk- or table-bound, it will be perfectly fine.

Surface Pro 4 review: Type Cover

I didn’t hate the Surface Pro 3’s Type Cover. I could happily type on it for hours, but was always happy to get back to a proper keyboard. It wasn’t so much the size of the keys or the travel, but the slight feel of flexing that you got when you hit it.

The good news is that Surface Pro 4’s Type Cover largely fixes this. Microsoft has added some much-needed rigidity to the cover – it’s hard to bend it now – which means the keyboard doesn’t bounce in quite the same way. The keys themselves are still a bit clicky, but it’s a pleasant experience, and I’d be more than happy to type on it all the time.

The trackpad is also improved. It’s now a little bigger, and topped with glass, with a much better feel. The improvements to the trackpad move it from the “I want a mouse now, please” category to “yeah, I can use this”. There are a few small nice extra touches here. For example, the function key now has a tiny light on it and acts as function-lock. The backlighting has also improved, although the keys still leak light in a way that will alarm those used to Apple keyboards, with their highly precise lighting.

There’s also the snappily-named Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID. At £135 inc VAT, it isn’t cheap, but it works very well indeed. Enrolling fingerprints operates in a similar manner to Touch ID on an iPad or iPhone, and once done you’ll be able to tap the sensor – located just to the right of the touchpad – to instantly unlock the tablet, even directly from sleep. That’s perfect for right-handed people like me, but a little bit awkward for left-handers.

It’s so good, in fact, that if you’re considering buying a Surface Pro for the first time, I’d recommend seriously considering paying the extra £25 for the privilege. Also worth noting is that both versions of the Surface Pro 4 keyboard work with the Surface Pro 3 as well. So, if you have an older Pro, I’d recommend running out and buying the Type Cover with Fingerprint ID as soon as you can.

Buy now from Amazon – Surface Pro Type Cover with Fingerprint ID

Surface Pro 4 review: Screen

The screen has had a lot of attention lavished on it. As with the previous model, the Surface Pro 4 has a ten-point touchscreen, which is fast and accurate. However, the resolution has been upped to 2,736 x 1,824, delivers a pixel density of 267ppi, and this means absolutely everything looks super sharp and clear, even to old eyes like mine.

And there’s more good news. We measured the brightness at 388cd/m², which is, to put it mildly, great, while contrast hit 1,218:1, which is superb.

Likewise, colour accuracy is excellent. The Surface Pro 4 achieved an average Delta E score of 1.61. Delta E is a measurement of how far away a given colour is away from perfect, so the lower, the better here. Moreover, the Surface Pro 4 screen’s sRGB gamut coverage hit 97.5%, another fantastic score.

In short, if you need a laptop to do colour-critical work on, the Surface Pro 4 is excellent. It’s so good you won’t always want to plug it into an external monitor.

Surface Pro 4 review: Performance and battery life

Microsoft talks about the Surface series as being “no compromise” machines, but whenever you’re creating a compact, light device the laws of thermodynamics mean that compromises will inevitably have to be made. You can make a compact computer fast, long-working or cool – but you can’t do all three at the same time.

The compromises Microsoft has made with Surface Pro 4 are reasonable, and similar to those of the Surface Pro 3. It’s a little bit faster than the most recent MacBook Air, but in our battery tests gave out after 7hrs 41mins. Out in the real world, you’ll probably squeeze about eight hours of regular use out of it – not quite a full day, for most people, but close.

In other words, both battery life and all-round performance are best described as good, but not stellar. Not quite what we’d expect from a premium laptop replacement such as this, in other words.

Surface Pro 4 review: Verdict

I’ve long been a fan of the Surface Pro line, and the Surface Pro 4 is a very fine machine indeed. Should you buy this, given the arrival of its replacement? I’d say that unless you need the additional performance and battery life of the new version, you could do yourself a favour and pick up a bargain Pro 4. If money is tight, you’ll be getting a very good machine which will last you a good few years. 

See also: Alphr’s ultimate UK guide to the best laptops of 2016

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review: The competition

Since the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has lorded over the 2-in-1 hybrid competition. Its design nous and steady iteration have ensured the Surface remains the yardstick in this particular category of Windows 10 portable.

Microsoft needs to stay on its toes, however, and the reason is that the competition is becoming increasingly stronger. Here’s a rundown of the devices that could threaten its dominance over the coming months and years.

1. Apple iPad Pro

Price when reviewed: £679 inc VAT; Smart Keyboard, £139; Pencil, £79 inc VAT

The iPad Pro is clearly the greatest threat faced by the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, but Apple hasn’t quite hit the hybrid nail on the head just yet. The key reason is the keyboard-and-stand arrangement, which isn’t as elegant or as flexible as the Surface Pro 4’s. There’s also the issue that the iPad Pro runs iOS, which is still in its infancy when it comes to desktop productivity. It’s a very good start, however, and highly competent: it has good battery life, great screen quality and it’s super fast. Microsoft, beware. Click here to read our full iPad Pro review

2. Google Pixel C

Price: £399 inc VAT; keyboard, £119

Apple isn’t alone in seeing the potential of the 2-in-1 detachable hybrid market; Google is muscling in as well. And in the Pixel C, it’s made a mighty fine stab of it, too. The key difference from the Surface Pro 4, other than it runs Android, is its size: this is a tablet with a 10.2in display, and as such it slips into a back even more easily than the iPad Pro. What may persuad you to buy it, though, aside from the lower price, is that Google has got the keyboard attachment completely right, with the tablet fixing to the keyboard’s infinitely adjustable hinge with the strongest magnets imaginable. Click here to read our in-depth Google Pixel C review

3. HP Elite X2

Price: TBC

It isn’t here yet, but HP’s answer to the Surface Pro 4 looks like it could be a superb alternative – and it runs Windows 10, too. As with the Surface, it has a detachable keyboard and integrated, infinitely adjustable stand, and as with Microsoft’s hybrid, it’s thin, light and highly desirable. The difference could be the HP’s magnificent keyboard, which we had a chance to try at a CES 2016 pre-briefing. Click here to read our full HP Elite X2 1012 hands-on review

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 specifications
Processor	Dual-core 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-6300U
RAM	8GB
Memory slots (free)	N/A
Max memory	16GB
Dimensions	292x201x8mm
Weight	1.37kg inc keyboard and power brick
Sound	Realtek HD Audio (3.5mm headset port)
Pointing device	Touchpad
Screen size	12.3in
Screen resolution	2736x1824
Touchscreen	Yes
Graphics adaptor	Intel HD graphics 520
Graphics outputs	Mini DisplayPort
Graphics memory	Shared
Total storage	256GB SSD
Optical drive type	None
USB ports	1x USB3 (1x USB charging port on power brick)
Bluetooth	Yes
Networking	802.11ac Wi-Fi
Memory card reader	None
Other ports	None
Operating system	Windows 10
Operating system restore option	Windows 10 restore
Buying information
Parts and labour warranty	One year RTB
Price inc VAT	£1,189
Details	microsoftstore.com
Supplier	microsoftstore.com
Part number	Surface Pro 4