Microsoft Surface Pro X, opinions after first contact. Video and photos..
Contents
- Microsoft Surface Pro X datasheet
- It’s the Surface with the best design
- Microsoft SQ1, the ARM processor that comes to make us forget about Intel
- Slim Pen, an accessory to match but without surprises
- There have been others more powerful or innovative, but this Surface Pro X is the most relevant this year
With Windows RT, things looked bad from the beginning. It was Microsoft’s first attempt to extend the use of Windows to ARM processors, but it was a resounding failure. More than five years have passed since then and Microsoft seems to have learned its lesson. Not only that, in their great event held in New York they have presented us with the new Surface Pro X, a new convertible to which they have dedicated numerous efforts and where the result that we have been able to test has given us very good feelings. From that Microsoft SQ1 chipset that seems to give good performance to that 13-inch touch screen with reduced bezels that leaves the design of the Surface Pro 7 dated.
These are ours first impressions of the Surface Pro X, Microsoft’s 2-in-1 convertible that, like Apple does with its iPad Pro, seeks an appearance closer to laptops to lose the tablet label.
Microsoft Surface Pro X datasheet
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Surface Pro X |
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Screen 
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13 “PixelSense 3: 2 2,880 x 1,920 pixels 
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Processor |
Microsoft SQ1 (Qualcomm) 
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Graph |
Adreno 685 iGPU |
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RAM 
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6/8 GB LPDDR4X |
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Storage |
128/256/512 GB removable SSD 
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Cameras |
Rear: 10MP, aufocus Front: 5MP |
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Drums 
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Up to 13 hours plus fast charge |
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Dimensions and weight |
287 x 208 x 7.3 mm 
774 g |
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Connectivity |
2 USB-C, Surface Connect, Surface Keyboard connector, 1 Nano SIM, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Snapdragon X24 LTE Modem |
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Others |
Windows Hello for facial recognition, 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium, Surface Pen |
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Price |
€ 1,149 (8 / 128GB) € 1,499 (8 / 256GB) 
€ 1,649 (16 / 256GB) € 1,999 (16 / 512GB) |
It’s the Surface with the best design
One looks at the Surface Pro 7 and beyond the addition of the USB Type-C port it is practically the same model as other years. The same is not the case with the Surface Pro X where yes there has been that reduction of frames that was so requested in the Surface range. We have a device with a 13-inch screen that occupies practically the entire front and the frames, especially the sides, have been significantly reduced.
The panel chosen is 13 inches in a 3: 2 rectangular format with a resolution of 2,880 by 1,920 pixels, which gives us a not inconsiderable 267 dpi. Live it looks spectacular, with very high quality and good gloss level (450 theoretical maximum nits). In the absence of further testing, Microsoft seems to have made efforts in this section. And it is that at the end of the day, as they explain from the company, it is the largest touch screen ever created for a Surface Pro.
The Surface Pro X can be used as if it were a 13-inch tablet or add the new Alcantara case, which in addition to adding a keyboard and trackpad, also incorporates a small hole to place the Slim Pen. By itself, the Surface Pro X isn’t particularly heavy. In addition, it is striking how thin it is: 7.3 millimeters thick (5.3mm at the thinnest edge) is very little for a device of this size and the truth is that it feels very light. A weight that logically increases when we add the keyboard cover and is already closer to what we have in many ultrabooks. In comparison, the Surface Pro 7 measures 8.38mm thick and its bezels are much thicker.
The Alcantara case is a Type Cover like the ones we already had on the rest of the Surface. It has backlit keys and a multi-touch trackpad. We would have liked to find a trackpad with a larger size, but the sensitivity is quite correct. Something similar happens with the keyboard, the keys do not have enough travel to match that of other devices such as the Surface Laptop, but considering the thickness, the experience it offers is very good.
We have a device built in aluminum and the feeling it gives at all times is solid. The construction is excellent and worthy of a product that starts at 1,149 euros.
The construction of the Surface Pro X is top notch. The screen is of quality, it is a fairly light device and both the trackpad and the keyboard of the Alcantara Type Cover transmit good sensations.
At the level of connections, we find two USB Type-C ports located on the left side, the Surface Connect on the right side, at the bottom the connector where it connects to the case and a nanoSIM slot with which we can get LTE connectivity. The latter is a key point that clearly differentiates it from the Surface Pro 7. It has caught our attention that we don’t have 3.5mm jack port.
One of the novelties of the Alcantara case is the addition of a small hole where the Slim Pen comes, the new Pen for this Surface. We do not have magnetization, but it does recharge wirelessly when it is resting in that place. To use it, we simply have to remove it from the hole, taking advantage of the small space around the edges. The interesting thing is that the case folds down and we can hide that space from the Slim Pen. The case will simply be slightly tilted but for all intents and purposes it will make us believe that the Pen has never been there.
Microsoft SQ1, the ARM processor that comes to make us forget about Intel
Windows laptops have traditionally used Intel processors, based on the x86 architecture. However Windows 10 Pro also works with ARM-based chipsets, as is the case with the Snapdragon 8cx. A slightly different solution has been chosen for the Surface Pro X. We have the new Microsoft SQ1 chipset, manufactured by Qualcomm and with artificial intelligence.
According to the technical characteristics, we are facing an ARM chipset that works at 3GHz and with 2 Teraflops of graphic power. A huge amount for an ARM processor of 7 watts (They promise up to three times more power than the Surface Pro 6). This is thanks to the use of the Adreno 685 iGPU, a graph that following its numbering would be slightly more powerful than the Adreno 680 Extreme of the Snapdragon 8cx, one that in turn is twice as fast and 60% more efficient than that of the Snapdragon 850.
Now, how does it behave? The truth is that very well. We are facing a test unit, with very few applications installed. It’s too early to comment on anything specific, but at no time have I had the feeling of being in front of a processor with a different architecture.
I have not detected lag and the performance has been equal to that offered by an ultrabook with an Intel chipset. We have opened the browser, multiple applications at the same time and used several image editing applications. In all of them the experience has been good and making us think that Qualcomm has enough capacity to execute multiple desktop tasks.
The Surface Pro X promises to be capable of running heavy webs, editing and moving multiple 4K displays connected via the USB Type-C port. However, it is still an ARM chip and this implies that there are no native games with OpenGL. Although Windows 10 Pro works almost the same, the supported applications are more limited. Yes we found Chromium and the new Edge browser, which have been natively compiled for ARM. An example of how in the end the difference between one Windows and another will be marked by developers.
In the absence of testing it with heavy applications and games, the performance of the Surface Pro X is excellent and at no time does it give the feeling of being in front of a different architecture.
It is not the first Windows device with an ARM processor that we have seen recently. Samsung showed us the Galaxy Book S this past August and promises us a much greater autonomy. Sure, it’s thicker and slightly heavier. But while the figure that Samsung promotes is 23 hours, with the Surface Pro X the autonomy data they give us is 13 hourss. Much less, although not comparable since the first ones are for video playback and Microsoft gives us the average use data. One section, that of the battery, that the Surface Pro X would round off with a fast charge capable of reaching 80% in an hour.
Regarding storage, We start from 128GB and there is no possibility of expansion. However, Microsoft will allow authorized technicians to exchange the SSD for another. Without technically preventing a knowledgeable user from making that change.
Slim Pen, an accessory to match but without surprises
In this Surface Pro X we are presented with the Slim Pen. This is Microsoft’s digital pen for drawing and use on the device. It arrives together with the Alcantara Cover and has its own space where it can be deposited and loaded. Unlike with the Surface Pro 7, here we have no magnetic charge on one side. Personally I have mixed feelings, on the one hand I prefer the magnetization of the previous model but on the other hand I like that the Pen can be easily hidden.
The Slim Pen as such is a slightly flat pencil, somewhat short and with an area at the top that will help us to erase. The sensitivity is correct, although in this respect Microsoft has not been surprising as the level of precision does not seem to be at a higher point. Having tried the Apple Pencil and the S-Pen, I think these two are better options.
The Slim Pen of the Surface Pro X offers a good level of precision, but it gives us the feeling that it is a point behind other brands such as Samsung or Apple.
Yes, it is appreciated that Microsoft has presented different novelties around the Slim Pen, mainly small tools in its office suite. For example, with Microsoft Word or Excel we can write the numbers by hand and the Surface Pro X will recognize them and add them in the box. Simple but very useful. In the same way, if we make a small squiggle like erasing a word, phrase or number, the Surface will also recognize it and erase it for us.
There have been others more powerful or innovative, but this Surface Pro X is the most relevant this year
The Surface Pro 7, in its version with the Intel i7 processor, is more powerful than this Surface Pro X. Why is this convertible interesting then? We can think of something similar about the new Surface Neo and Duo with double screens. Microsoft has unveiled a large number of products at its Surface event and surely all the flashes have gone to the most innovative models. What happens is that until the end of next year we will not be able to thoroughly test those convertibles.
Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s bet to show us that Windows with ARM is ready for the front line of battle.
The Surface Pro X is the Surface model where Microsoft has put more effort this year. Satya Nadella’s company wants to lead the devices of the next decade, but they know that there is still a while before Windows 10X is the main option. Although, they do not want to continue betting everything on a Surface Pro 7 that is already a veteran and does not offer the mobility that we do have in other alternatives.
This Surface Pro X is the model halfway between what’s next and what we know works. A 2-in-1 convertible that maintains the high build level of the Surface family but enters the path of mobility by offering its own ARM processor, a high-quality touchscreen, and a version of Windows 10 that looks mature enough to expand its compatibility with other architectures. A Surface with LTE and a design closer to what many users would like.
