This has been one of the best years for the Surface Pro line, not only Microsoft is selling it at a great pace, but other companies are chasing it and introducing similar devices like we have seen with Google’s Pixel C, Apple’s iPad Pro, Lenovo’s Miix 700, Dell’s XPS 12, and many others. Now, the software giant is introducing the Surface Pro 4 that improves everything from its predecessor. The new tablet is thinner and lighter, faster, and quieter. It’s the tablet that can replace your laptop.
Surface Pro 4 incorporates a larger screen, 6th Generation Intel Skylake processors, Windows 10, specially crafted camera for Windows Hello, a new Surface Pen and a pen storage.
Microsoft’s Panos Panay unveiled the Surface Pro 4 during the Windows 10 Devices event in New York City, who also reminded us that with Surface the challenge of whether to choose a tablet or a laptop as our main computing device is gone.
The Surface Pro 4 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and while it’s still a 12-inch tablet, the company was able to fit a 12.3-inch display by reducing the size of the bezel allowing 60 percent more pixels in the same footprint. You’ll also notice that the physical Start button has been removed from the device, as in Windows 10 the Start button is always visible and rotates when you change the tablet orientation.
The advantage of Surface Pro 4 being the same size as the Surface Pro 3 also means compatibility, therefore customers will be able to use the same Type Cover, power port, and dock station with the new tablet.
In addition, the company has introduced a redesigned and more steady Type Cover with improved key spacing, 40 percent larger trackpad, and with a fingerprint scanner to bring Windows Hello to Surface Pro 3. There is also a new Surface Dock that connects to the power / data port and it works with previous versions of the tablet.
Now that we have some new information about Surface Pro 4, let’s get to the technical specifications for the new tablet to see the new hardware improvements.
Surface Pro 4 technical specifications
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Dimensions | 11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 in (292.10 x 201.42 x 8.4 mm) |
| Weight | 6th Generation Intel Core m weight: 1.69 lbs. (766 g) 6th Generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 weight: 1.73 lbs. (786 g) |
| Mechanical features | Magnesium body, kickstand with full-friction multiposition hinge, magnetic attach for keyboard fold stability |
| Color | Silver |
| Physical buttons | Power, Volume |
| Display | Screen: 12.3-inch PixelSense Display Resolution: 2736x1824 (267 ppi) Contrast ratio: 1300:1 Aspect ratio: 3:2 100 percent sRGB color, individually calibrated Touch: 10-point multitouch with GPU-based processing |
| Processor | 6th Generation 2.2-GHz Intel Core i7-6650U processor with Intel Iris graphics 540 6th Generation 2.4-GHz Intel Core i5-6300U processor with Intel HD graphics 520 6th Generation 900-MHz Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor with Intel HD graphics 515 |
| Graphics | Intel HD graphics 515 (Intel Core m3) Intel HD graphics 520 (Intel Core i5) Intel Iris graphics 540 (Intel Core i7) |
| Memory | 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | Solid-state drive (SSD) PCIe 3.0: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB |
| Security | TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security |
| Pen | Surface Pen 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity Magnetic storage |
| Network | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible Bluetooth 4.0 LE wireless technology |
| Battery | Up to 9 hours of battery life for video playback |
| Cameras | Windows Hello face-authentication camera (front-facing) 8.0 megapixel rear-facing auto-focus camera, with 1080p HD camera 5.0 megapixel front-facing 1080p HD camera |
| Audio | Stereo microphones Stereo speakers with Dolby audio |
| Ports | Full-size USB 3.0 Mini DisplayPort microSD card reader (UHS-I performance) Stereo headphones/microphone jack Type Cover Surface Connect for power and docking |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer |
| Power Supply | 24W power supply (Intel Core m3) 36W power supply with USB charging port (Intel Core i5 and Core i7) |
| In the box | Surface Pro 4 Surface Pen Power supply Quick Start Guide Safety and warranty documents |
| Pricing | 128 GB 6th Generation Intel Core M3 with 4 GB of RAM $899 ERP 128 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 4 GB of RAM $999 ERP 256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM $1,299 ERP 256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 8 GB of RAM $1,599 ERP 256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM $1,799 ERP 512 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM $2,199 ERP |
As we can see from the tech specs, Surface Pro 4 is a killer tablet. It’s 30 percent faster than the Surface Pro 3 and 50 percent faster than the MacBook Air. The thickness of the tablet has been reduced from 9.1mm to 8.4mm, and Microsoft said the only reason it’s stopped there is to be able to fit a full size USB 3.0 port on the side.
One of the big advantages of the Surface Pro 4 is that now you can connect up two 4K monitors using the DisplayPort, while still powering the tablet’s display.
Customers will also be happy to know that the new tablet comes with pen storage, as Microsoft is finally ending the Pen Loop. Now there is a new pen with a strong magnet that you can store on side of the tablet. The new Pen with 1,024 levels of pressure is not rechargeable, but the battery will last for a year. The pen also now includes a tail eraser and you can press and hold the eraser to call Cortana on Windows 10.
As we have seen in previous versions, Surface Pro 4 will include the Pen, but you will still need to buy the Type Cover separately for an extra $130, $160 for the Type Cover with fingerprint reader, and $200 for the Surface Dock.
Surface Pro 4 is available for pre-order now from the Microsoft Store and Amazon, and it will become available in October 26th. Pricing starts at $899 for the Intel Skylake Core m3 model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and all the way to a Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $2,699, which is the same price as the most expensive Surface Book model.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].