Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 is the latest iteration in the company's line of high-end Windows tablets. As with previous versions, the Surface Pro 9 aims to bridge the gap between a tablet and a laptop by offering the best of both worlds. It is a highly capable device that can serve as a primary computing device for many users, especially those who require portability and productivity. In this comprehensive review, we will take a closer look at the Surface Pro 9 configuration with an Intel Core i7-1255U Alder Lake CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, which is currently on sale for US$1,299 on Amazon.
Design and Build Quality
The Surface Pro 9 has a familiar design that has remained largely unchanged since the Surface Pro 4. It is a slim and lightweight device that is easy to carry around. The tablet measures 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches and weighs 1.7 pounds. The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy magnesium alloy chassis that feels premium to the touch.
The Surface Pro 9 features a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels. The display is bright and sharp, with good color accuracy and viewing angles. It also supports touch and stylus input, making it ideal for note-taking, sketching, and other creative tasks.
Performance and Battery Life
The Surface Pro 9 configuration we are reviewing here comes with an Intel Core i7-1255U Alder Lake CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. This is a high-end configuration that can handle demanding tasks with ease. We ran several benchmark tests to evaluate the performance of the device, and the results were impressive. In the Geekbench 5 CPU test, the Surface Pro 9 scored 1755 in the single-core test and 6327 in the multi-core test. In the PCMark 10 productivity test, it scored 4398, which is among the highest we have seen for a Windows tablet.
The Surface Pro 9 also has a good selection of ports, including a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port. The tablet also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
However, the battery life of the Surface Pro 9 is a bit disappointing, especially considering its high-end specs. In our battery test, which involves looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness and 50% volume, the device lasted for only 7 hours and 15 minutes. This is lower than what we have seen from similar devices such as the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, which lasted for over 11 hours in the same test.
Software and Features
The Surface Pro 9 runs on Windows 11, which is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system. Windows 11 is designed to be more intuitive and user-friendly than previous versions, with a revamped start menu and taskbar, as well as new features such as Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, which make it easier to multitask.
One of the standout features of the Surface Pro 9 is its support for the Surface Pen, which is sold separately. The Surface Pen is a highly accurate and responsive stylus that can be used for note-taking, drawing, and other creative tasks. It attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet and charges wirelessly when not in use.
