Surface Pro X

Surface Pro X. © Microsoft.

The Surface Pro X is a slim Windows 10 tablet with a detachable keyboard and stylus and, more importantly, an ARM processor. In fact, the SQ1 ARM chip was specifically developed by Microsoft jointly with Qualcomm for the Surface Pro X. Its design is based on the Snapdragon 8cx, the SoC in the Galaxy Book S. The Redmond giant has already used ARM, for example in its Surface RT and Surface 2, but these were lower-end PCs, while the Pro X is positioned as a high-end solution. And Microsoft swears that the general compatibility and stability issues experienced with the first ARM machines have been addressed. As for design, the new machine is extremely slim (7.3mm) and light (770g), with a 13-inch touchscreen (2,880x1,920px). It has two USB-C ports, quick recharge and LTE connectivity. Battery life is about 13 hours, owing mainly to the ARM architecture. The Surface Pro X, now available for pre-order, will be released on November 5. While the basic price comes in at USD1,000, you’ll have to add USD140 for the Pro X keyboard and another USD150 for the Surface Slim stylus. You have options for RAM and storage: 8 or 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128, 256 or 512GB of SSD. No options for the colour, though: matte black.

⇨ Ars Technica, Jeff Dunn, “Hands-on with Microsoft’s barrage of new Surface devices.”

⇨ The Verge, Chaim Gartenberg, “The Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s answer to the iPad Pro.”