At the office, at home or en route, new Surface Pro 7 adapts to the way you work — and delivers more power than ever, with a laptop-class Intel Core processor, all-day battery, Instant On, graphics, and more multitasking connections.. Standout design that won’t weigh you down — ultra-slim and light Surface Pro 7 starts at just 1.70 pounds.Aspect ratio: 3:2. Surface Pro 7 instantly transforms from laptop to tablet to portable studio. Pair with a colorful Surface Type Cover* and Surface Pen* to complete your experience. Fin details in Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB platinum) review. Which one is more stylish – Surface Pro 7 Platinum vs Black?
4 key reasons to buy – Surface Pro 7 Platinum vs Black
- Next-gen, best-in-class laptop: With the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally.
- A more powerful Pro: Faster than Surface Pro 6, with a laptop-class Intel® Core™ processor and improved graphics.
- More ways to connect: With both USB-C™ and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging.
- Standout design that won’t weigh you down: Ultra-slim and light Surface Harper starts at just 1.70 pounds.2
Price and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 RAM SSD upgrade
The new Surface Pro 7 starts at $749 this year, which is $150 less than last year’s base model. Microsoft dropped the Intel Core i3 model last year, and bumped the RAM up to a reasonable 8GB. Sadly, this year we’re back to the Core i3 base model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. I’ve been testing a Core i5 model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage ($1,199), and it’s hard to recommend a Core i3 model with just 4GB of RAM. For most people, the $899 Core i5 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage should be sufficient, providing you’re mostly using cloud storage options. You’ll need to step up to the $1,199 model I’ve been testing for a black variant — the base versions are only available in silver (Surface Pro 7 Platinum vs Black).
Like always with the Surface Pro, the keyboard isn’t bundled so you’ll also need to spend at least $129.99 on a Surface Type Cover. Without it you’re just getting a tablet, and it’s definitely not the primary way you’ll use the Surface Pro 7. Microsoft also sells covers with Alcantara fabric for $159.99, and there are a few new color options this year. I’ve been testing the poppy red Type Cover, which looks like a fall mix of red and orange. Combined with the Type Cover, the realistic entry price is $878.99 for the Core i3 model. You can also purchase an optional Surface Pen for $99.99. All told, the rig I’ve been testing tallies up to two pennies shy of $1,360.
Pros & Cons – Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB platinum)
The Pros, Cons and Oks for the Surface Pro 7 (HR).
Color: Platinum Capacity: 8 GB Ram, 128GB
Configuration: Intel Core i5
Pros
• USB-C, Finally! As a past Surface Pro user, this was never a feature. With a USB-C, like any computer, you can do so much more with this device now. From headphones to connecting external 4k monitors, to charging this and other devices (USB-C chargers are 10x cheaper to get), to even connecting an Ethernet adaptor. About time Microsoft.
• It’s a very sold machine. I go no flex issues, the frame feels sturdy, and overall I felt that I can throw this in a bag and not worry.
• It’s light. Not IPad light, but enough that you won’t feel worried that you’re not going to bend it.
• The microphone set up on the Pro is a big upgrade. Skype calls from my parents came crisp and clear in an indoor, TV on, volume. The web video is what it is, but the microphone setup is a thumbs up.
• Cortana listens to you pretty well. I’m learning Spanish so translating even simple questions, from English to Spanish, Cortana does a lot better than either using Alexa or Google Assistant. Also questions about directions, weather, and others were spot on.
• Excellent display. The screen is bright, outstanding saturation/color balance, and also offers ambient light sensing when it gets dark. When you go to settings you can modify it for a specific time, or it will automatically adjust when the sun goes down in your location.
• Microsoft mastered the kickstand on this. Numerous ranges of all angels, and is even quite steady when it’s placed on my lap.
• microSD reader (for upgraded memory option)
• Headphone Jack. I find this feature a must if you’re planning to edit videos on this.
• Solid State Drive (SDD) on a tablet size is one of the best things. If you have to choose, always an SSD, regardless of memory size. Faster, cooler, and
• Charging on this is very fast. From 0 to 50% it took around 45-50 minutes. Note that I was using the charging cords that it came with. Don’t expect the same results when using an off-brand.
• A lot of horsepower for a tablet. Inside is an Ice Lake processor. To summarize, it features smaller transistors that makes multi-tasking an non-issue. Trying out for the first time with around 10 apps running (Madden, Netflix, Live Maps, Grand Trims Mo, etc.), the machine had no lag or hiccups. Largely the effects of this chip will be appreciated in the next 2 years from when you get this tablet.
• The processor allows Wi-Fi 6 to be enforced on this tablet. This area is still new but within the next year, this tablet will already be up to date with the hardware. Meaning stronger upload and download rates.
• The speakers shoot sound directly to my face. Turning on Spotify, I got a decent quality in sound. With rock and country, I got a very balanced, and a lot of power in the volume. For the average listener it’s quite good. Not IPad level but still good to make the list.
• I can see the 3:2 screen a benefit for those who want to read, show notes, and display documents at work. Not many tablets can provide this without losing some quality. For me, I saw no waste in this Surface.
Cons and Oks
• The chunky bezel. Stick to the times Microsoft, this can’t be ignored in 2019. It’s very thick and with competitors providing bezel-less frames, or close to it, this is a major turn off (Not to mention that Microsoft itself has a Surface Pro X with a design that is significantly less in the bezel. (Why not this one?).
• With the bezel issue, the screen size makes the tablet look 2 years older than what it is.
• Last year’s model and this one are 99% the same in design. Remove the USB-C connector and it’ll be 100% the same. A very outdated design as I think Microsoft invested all their money on the internals and just forgot about the redesigning.
• The battery life isn’t great. I’m getting around 8 hours of power. That’s having Wi-Fi always on, web surfing, daily YouTube playing, and a couple of hours with Netflix (plus a couple of smaller apps). It can last a whole day if you control your power and your screen display, but it’s nowhere near what Microsoft is saying.
• Don’t take it outside on a sunny day. That sun glare is too powerful for this display brightness.
• Keyboard and Surface Pen are sold separately. I didn’t test these as you only get the tablet.
• Even though USB-C is a great thing to have, we’re already in the USB 3.1 world. With also no Thunderbolt 3 (quick file transfer) I wish that Microsoft put more effort into the outside design as much as they put in there hardware on this machine.
• I found no issue playing Overwatch on this but trying to play Call of Duty forget it. This isn’t for deep gaming and playing Overwatch killed a decent chunk of the battery.
Bottom Line:
If you’re going to buy this, you need to at least invest in there keyboard cover. It’s disappointing that to fully experience your Pro, you need to put down money on its keyboard and pen. Without a keyboard, from my experience, you’re pretty limited. I used a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, but the portably is limited if you can’t attach them to the Surface Pro.
Also we’re in the age of laptops, tablets, and phones trying to reach the goal to be bezel-less. I have the previous model on hand and I can’t tell them apart in any way. Thanks to these 2019 new laptops/tablets, the bezels on this device make it feel like this tablet is from 2017. I’m also irritated that Microsoft didn’t at least try to improve the design.
But if you can deal with the design (and the battery) issues, you’ll know that Microsoft put all their money on what’s inside the system. From the new core processors, this tablet is a beast. I found it very fast, reliable, and it will stand its ground for 2+ years. For me that’s the beauty of a Surface Pro: a PC in the size of a tablet. I’m always a PC fan and this performs as if I had a laptop on my lap, something an IPad can’t do. If you can deal with the generic bezel look, and put money down for their keyboard, you’re getting a beast of a computer fitting in a tablet.
Overall: An outdated design that packs a lot of power for those who want more than just a generic tablet on the go.
Hope I was a help to you.
Love,
Honest Reviewer
Specifications – Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB platinum)
Key Specs
- Total Storage Capacity128 gigabytes
- Security FeaturesFacial recognition
- 2-in-1 DesignInfoYes
- Screen SizeInfo12.3 inches
- Screen ResolutionInfo2736 x 1824
- Processor ModelInfoIntel 10th Generation Core i5
- Internet ConnectivityWi-Fi
- Operating SystemInfoWindows 10 Home
- Voice Assistant Built-inInfoNo
- Battery TypeLithium-ion
General
- Product NameSurface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch Screen – Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 128GB Solid State Drive (Latest Model)
- BrandMicrosoft
- Model FamilyMicrosoft Surface Pro 7
- Year of Release2019
- ColorPlatinum (Surface Pro 7 Platinum vs Black)
- Color CategorySilver
Feature
- Total Storage Capacity128 gigabytes
- Security FeaturesFacial recognition
- 2-in-1 DesignInfoYes
- Keyboard IncludedNo
- Stylus DockNone
Camera
- Rear-Facing CameraYes
- Rear Facing Camera MegapixelsInfo8 megapixels
- Rear Facing Camera Video ResolutionInfo1920x1080 (1080p)
- Front-Facing CameraYes
- Front Facing Camera MegapixelsInfo5 megapixels
- Front Facing Camera Video ResolutionInfo1080p
Display
- Screen SizeInfo12.3 inches
- Screen ResolutionInfo2736 x 1824
- Screen TypePixelSense
- Stylus InputInfoBuilt for Windows Ink (Active)
Performance
- Battery LifeInfo10.5 hours
- System Memory (RAM)Info8 gigabytes
- Processor BrandIntel
- Processor ModelInfoIntel 10th Generation Core i5
Connectivity
- Internet ConnectivityWi-Fi
- Compatible Wireless Standard(s)InfoWireless-A, Wireless-AC, Wireless-B, Wireless-G, Wireless-N
- Bluetooth EnabledInfoYes
- Bluetooth VersionInfo5.0
- Headphone JackYes
- Interface(s)Info3.5mm audio, DisplayPort, USB Type A, USB Type C
Compatibility
- Operating System CompatibilityWindows
- Operating SystemInfoWindows 10 Home
- Expandable Memory CompatibilitymicroSD, microSDXC
- Voice Assistant Built-inInfoNo
Power
- Charging Interface(s)InfoProprietary
- Battery TypeLithium-ion
Included
- Stylus IncludedNo
- Included SoftwareMicrosoft Office 365 30-Day trial
- Additional Accessories IncludedPower supply
Dimension
- Product HeightInfo0.33 inches
- Product WidthInfo11.5 inches
- Product DepthInfo7.9 inches
- Product WeightInfo27.2 ounces
Compare Surface Pro 7 Platinum vs Black
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3″ (Latest Model) Black | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen – Platinum | Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – 13.5″ Touch-Screen – Cobalt Blue with Alcantara | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Memory Size | 16 GB | 16 GB | 512 GB |
| CPU Model Manufacturer | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| CPU Speed | 1.3 GHz | 0 MHz | 1.3 GHz |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 2736×1824 pixels | 2736 x 1824 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Screen Size | 12.3 inches | 12.3 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 512 GB | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Item Dimensions | 7.90 x 11.50 x 0.30 inches | 7.90 x 0.33 x 11.50 inches | 12.10 x 8.80 x 0.57 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.70 lbs | 1.74 lbs | 2.79 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Home |
| Processor Count | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| RAM Type | SODIMM | Unknown | Unknown |
| Wireless Communication Standard | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | — |
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB platinum) review
Display
The Surface Pro 7’s 12-inch, 2736 x 1824 display looked rich and colorful during my testing, whether I was surfing the web, crunching away at work or watching videos. The Surface Pro 7 notched 395 nits of brightness on our light meter, which is better than the average laptop but behind last year’s Surface Pro 6 (408 nits) and the iPad Pro (484 nits). Our Pro 7 color tests told a similar story, as it reproduced a solid 97% of the sRGB color gamut but failed to top the Pro 6 (136%) or the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (113%).
Keyboard, touchpad and pen
The 4-inch-wide touchpad provided plenty of real estate for my fingers and offered a satisfying click, while the soft-touch wrist rests made it easy to type comfortably. The lack of a Ctrl key on the right side annoyed me, as I’m used to relying on that key for copying, pasting and general formatting. But otherwise, this keyboard cover is so good that I wish it came with every Surface Pro 7 by default and wasn’t a separate add-on.
I found the Type Cover’s keys a joy to type on, thanks to their deep travel and springy feedback. I blazed through the 10fastfingers.com typing test at 103 words per minute (a bit above my usual rate) virtually error-free and felt totally comfortable no matter how fast I hammered away.
The optional $99 Surface Pen made it easy for me to jot down a quick to-do list in Sticky Notes. It reacted naturally to different levels of pressure when I doodled in Paint 3D using a virtual pencil. I really like the programmable shortcuts that the Pen’s eraser-like button offers, such as long-pressing to pull up Sticky Notes or performing a quick click to open Microsoft Whiteboard.
Audio
The bouncy radio pop of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” fell similarly flat on the Surface Pro 7. While Swift’s airy vocals were mostly audible, I could once again barely hear any bass, and the speakers’ low volume didn’t do justice to the normally bright string arrangement.
The Surface Pro 7’s speakers are fine for a short YouTube or Netflix binge, but they’re too quiet to help you get immersed in your favorite music and movies. Due to their overall low volume and lack of low end, the Pro 7’s speakers completely dulled the powerful metal-pop of Issues’ “Tapping Out.” While the guitars and vocals came through cleanly, there wasn’t enough bass or drums to make me want to bang my head.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB platinum) Performance review
The Pro 7 performed similarly well on benchmarks, scoring a strong 17,225 on the Geekbench 4 general performance test. That’s a big bump from last year’s 8th Gen Core i5-powered Pro 6 (13,761) and roughly on a par with the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1.
Packing an Intel Core i5-1035G4 CPU (a mouthful of a number to let you know this is 10th gen) and 8GB of RAM, our Surface Pro 7 handled my usual multitasking crunch without a sweat. I didn’t encounter any major slowdown during day-to-day use, even as I jumped between more than a dozen Chrome tabs, streamed five videos across Twitch and YouTube, and hammered away in Slack and Google Docs.
The Surface Pro 7 isn’t exactly on par with one of our best gaming laptops, but its integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics can handle non-intensive games at decent settings. The 2-in-1 ran racing game Dirt 3 at 36 frames per second, which is perfectly playable but not quite as smooth as the upward of 47 fps we saw from the XPS 13 2-in-1.
The 256GB SSD in Microsoft’s detachable transferred about 5GB of files at a decent 267MB per second, again trumping the Pro 6 (203) but falling behind the Dell’s 512GB SSD (463).
Battery life
While the Surface Pro 7 will get you through most of a workday on a charge, you’ll want to have a portable charger handy for longer trips. Microsoft’s 2-in-1 endured through 7 hours and 52 minutes of Wi-Fi web surfing on our battery test, which is down significantly from last year’s Surface Pro 6 (9:20) and far behind the iPad Pro (13:14) and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (10:57).
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet (12.3 128GB Platinum) customer review
XPS 13 vs Yoga C940 vs Surface Pro 7 2-in-1’s
Color: PlatinumCapacity: 16 GB Ram, Configuration: Intel Core i7
Comparing Dell XPS 13, Lenovo Yoga C940 14 and Surface Pro 7 2-in-1’s all with i7-1065G7 CPU/GPU.
[SP7 PROS:]
-Best 3:2 aspect ratio is better for productivity (but screen is uncomfortably small) > XPS 16:10 > Yoga 16:9
-IR camera for Windows Hello face sign-in, though not useful when docked or when screen is not at the correct angle
-Least weight 2.4 lbs > 3 lbs for others
-Quietest fan > Yoga > XPS (loudest)
[SP7 CONS:]
-Worst battery life (even worse than SP6)
-Smallest 12.3″ display with thick bezels
-No 4K UHD option (but I recommend FHD with any brand/model for battery life, you can always dock to a larger monitor)
-No Thunderbolt 3 with PD/DP (no eGPU)
-Keyboard and pen sold separately
[XPS PROS:]
-Up to 32GB RAM > 16GB on others
-Slimmest
-Fingerprint reader on power button > Yoga on palmrest > SP7 on non-included $160 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID
[XPS CONS:]
-No USB-A (deal breaker for me)
-No black exterior option. The white interior option keyboard is hard to see with the white backlighting
-No far field microphones for Alexa or other assistants
-Included charger is only 45W (less than 65W with Yoga/SP7)
[YOGA PROS:]
-Best screen-to-body ratio (89%) > XPS 84.9% > SP7 76.76%; although the hinge factors into this
-Largest screen 14″ > XPS 13.4″ > SP7 12.3″
-Deepest key travel, most comfortable keyboard > XPS > SP7
-Better Arrow Keys + Home/End/Pg Up/Pg Down layout
-INCLUDED garaged pen with internal charging > magnetically attached and not included with purchase on others
-Best in class speakers. Rotating soundbar with Dolby Atmos sounds amazing! Gets loud!
-Built-in camera shutter
-Coolest under heavy load > SP7 gets warm > XPS hottest
-Fastest Rapid charge (2 hours in 15 minutes)
-Largest 65 WHr battery > XPS 51 WHr > SP7 45 WHr
[YOGA CONS:]
-Shortest 16:9 aspect ratio with large “chin” bezel at bottom of screen face
-No MicroSD slot compared to others
-Anti-glare customizable option no longer available
[CONS OF ALL:]
-No HDMI
-No dedicated GPU option, though Thunderbolt 3 on XPS and Yoga allows external GPUs for gaming. Not available on SP7. eGPU great for gaming, allows modular upgradability of graphics cards in the future, although they lose ~20% FPS compared to PCIe.
[PRICING:]
For i7, 16GB, 512GB with Windows 10 Home:
YOGA 4K $1785 > XPS 4K + pen $1900 > SP7 FHD + type cover + pen $2160
[CONCLUSION:]
The SP7 was the most expensive when you add the keyboard and pen. The XPS FHD with 32GB RAM came in at $1730. I would like to see a 32GB 4K 512GB option since I don’t need that much on-device storage.
All have performance improvements over their predecessors thanks to the new 10th gen Intel i7 processors, LPDDR4x RAM and WiFi 6. The Surface Book 2 is too dated to compare here and is clunkier.
It’s a toss up between the XPS for its 32GB RAM with taller screen, or the Yoga with its USB-A port, better keyboard, and garaged pen, among other things. The extra RAM comes in useful since the integrated graphics will use some of that. The 16GB models easily ran up to 80% CPU, RAM and GPU when driving 2 external monitors and simultaneously running Chrome with tabs, Office apps, iTunes and light gaming. It often sits at 8GB RAM under normal use.
Some may appreciate all the ports being on one side as with the Yoga, or having ports on either side as with the XPS. The dedicated volume rockers on the SP7 comes in handy. The lighter weight of the SP7 made it the first to be grabbed on the go for content consumption or note taking, but I prefer the Yoga for content creation with it’s larger screen and comfy keyboard. If you’re docking all day and only occasionally need to be on the go then I recommend the XPS for its 32GB RAM. The perfect laptop is not quite here yet.