This lady should have 10million subscribers. I literally don’t buy anything she hasn’t reviewed. So to all the companies out there, if you don’t get her your product I won’t buy it.
I really think it's worth mentioning that these products, especially previous surface devices, take a massive price cut later in the year (Black Friday). The prices are much more reasonable if people wait for sales season.
That’s true. I picked mine up for quite “cheap”. This is in Australia though. Picked up a 16gb i5 model with 256gb ssd, a keyboard and pen. Slightly under $2000 Australian. So that’s about $1300 US. It’s replacing my mobile studio pro, and it’s doing a good job. The pen is surprisingly good.
@@smplfy it’s just a tool. I make my money back by doing work on it. If you want a bad idea for investment is buying tech products for the appreciation in value. Is holding onto an iPhone for 10 years so you can make a couple of hundred bucks profit, really worth your time and effort that much? 😅
I had my sp pro 8 ( i5 256 gb)for a week now and I am loving it. I upgraded from an old sp 5 i5 with 4 gb ram and boy do I feel the difference.I already had an older gen pen and so didn't see the need for the new slim pen and don't regret it. I also went a different direction with the keyboard and instead bought the cheaper Brydge SP+ which is sturdy and makes my sp8 feel like a real laptop. So there are wyas to get optimum performance and save costs.
@@e.h.5680 You still us it? I have mine as well. Still lovely to look at but it's so underpowered that even after a hard reset I just couldn't deal with it.
People keep comparing the Pro to the Studio and other convertibles, and it's always weird to me. I suspect the reason the Pro isn't "niche" is that, like me, people want a free-standing tablet where typing isn't a nightmare and can be done quickly. My surface is often resting on weird places while I'm doing something else without the keyboard and I slap it on just to type something like this. The built-in kickstand and magnetic keyboard are still a killer app. The iPad doesn't do it, convertibles with attached keyboards don't do it. The only equivalent is the Galaxy Tab S7+ with the book cover, and then you're stuck on an Android tablet which, let's be honest, is way less convenient than being on full-on Windows. That's why I've had all three of those devices and I keep coming back to the Surface Pro. It is very expensive, though. If they sorted out Windows on ARM I think something like the Surface Go would be a better deal. As it is, for my use case, the Pro is just the single best computing device on the market.
@@Brian-jv8iy Having used an iPad (and other Windows convertibles) before... yeah, it's not the same at all. The stand on the surface holds any angle or position you want, it can stand up on next to zero footprint, it will stand up on your lap with or without the keyboard and it obviously doesn't make the thing any thicker than it is, being built-in. It actually makes for a pretty decent handle grip if you're free-handing the thing. And the easy on/off non-wireless backlit keybouard with a touchpad is also a whole different ballpark, aided by the fact that it's running a full desktop OS. You can sort of get there on an iPad and there are things the iPad does better, but my original point is that everybody keeps assuming that slapping a stand on a case or having a foldable permanent keyboard does the same things the Surface Pro does, and that's not true at all in practice. The details matter here.
I thought the surface go uses Intel x86 processors though not ARM?. I considered buying the i3 one for quite a while but ended up deciding not to after sorting out some software issues on my pro 5
@@NiSE_Rafter Sorry, I mistyped that. I meant the Pro X, not the Go. The Go is a (very underpowered) Intel, even in this latest generation. For that form factor the iPad is a better choice, even with the worse form factor.
I remember the days when you first reviewed the early Surface Pro. I took notes and presented it to the company for purchase. Almmost a decade later, I am now in a different company and still taking notes from you and they still bought the Surface Pro 8 from the recommendations. Great review as always!
Finally a review that compares it to a laptop rather than a damn iPad. Thanks Lisa, great work as always, was waiting on your review before pulling the trigger on the order, shame no 16gb on the i5 🤔
It's compared to ipads because of the lack of power for the price. The value comes from being tablet-like. Now that HP x2 Folio, Latitude 2 in 1, and other competitors exist it can be compared to similar hardware
I... didn't even knew there was a 8 gig option still, I thought 16 was the new base for some reason! 😅 So I went to check my options. And damn me. Damn fucking me! An i7 with 16GB of RAM plus pen/cover combo is 1800 bucks. Jesus! Love the idea of the device, with those specs it's basically a high end drawing tablet for much more comfortable Windows eco-systems, but it ain't "high end" enough to be worth that price point imho. Gonna have to find some good deal when it launches here in Europe!
@@theinktician It is compared to iPads because most RUclipsrs are Apple fanbois who don't know the difference between a big iPhone and a real computer. As for lack of power, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. There is no tablet sized computer as powerful, portable, small, light, and versitile as the SP8. 1. The Latitude is not a computer-tablet, it is a 2-in-1 laptop. 2. The x2 Folio does not have an Intel 11th Gen i5/i7 processor, it has an Intel Core M5-6Y54 processor (which is a joke).
I am thinking steam deck and a tablet paired together. You get a nice Samsung tablet with equally good pen support and a faster pc that you could use to play games.
Vocational trade teacher here, I find the surface pro is an absolute fantastic device for teaching. I used my i5 SP7 through Covid lockdowns where I had to work and connect with my students online. Having a stylus, MS whiteboard, OneNote and PowerPoint inking greatly helps communicate concepts both online and in person. The only issue I have with the SP8: no micro SD card, but that's honestly something I can work with. I'll definitely investigate getting the top spec i7 SP8, but I'm in Australia and it's ridiculously expensive for us. Even more so that the keyboard and new pen are additional costs to factor into the price.
Great review. I am buying a house and I noticed that the developer had issued Surface Pros to all of their staff like contractors and seller agents. It really makes sense for people in those positions who mostly use them as a desktop with a monitor and then carry them to write notes using the pen. I like tablets but since I mostly use a machine like this as a laptop, I prefer a more traditional 2-in-1 or convertible. I currently have a first gen Surface Book which is getting a little long in the tooth but is good enough for what I need.
The battery of the base portion of my Surface Book was bulging at the base last year. Got rid of it because of how unsafe that is, and just used the tablet portion with a bluetooth keyboard. Now that battery is bulging. It's a known issue but yeah, it's on its last legs so I'm kind of deciding what I want between a Surface Laptop Studio and the Surface Pro 8.
I would also like to add Windows 11's new touch support really helps when using this as a tablet. The new gestures (they're essentially what you would find on the trackpad, but usable with your fingers on the touchscreen now) especially make a big difference. Improvements to window management help as well.
The surface pro 4,5,6,7 and tried the X model were ok for me I moved to a HP Elite x2 g4 LTE and was blown away. I like it so much I got a new Elite x2 g8 16gb i7 3.0mhz and 2 TBssd. I do not see myself going back to Surface Pro's. My new G8 is awesome and a workhorse for a road warrior. I got an open box for 1998.00. Love my Gem cut Spectre.
Always appreciate Lisa's reviews. Been a long time Surface fan, and it's nice to have someone who gets what they're about while still giving a fair, honest, and in-depth review. It's about time to upgrade my SP4 so thanks for the review!
2 steps forward and 1 step backwards. why remove the USB and micro SD card, I assumed the target audience would use those a lot. It's nice that they upgraded to 120hz and fixed the jittery diagonals.
USB A isn't a thing on tablet PCs any more and is being removed from many high end laptops too. The target audience uses SD cards, MicroSD was a lot less popular. Agreed it should've remained but doubt it was used much. I use MicroSD with an SD adapter in my camera for this reason but I doubt most do who want the higher speeds.
Buying an SD-card hub is way better than a single slot on your tablet. The SD-card will get cooler while using outside of tablet. Beside that, connecting your device with micro SD-card like camera or smartphone is way safer and healthier, because those devices can protect your SD card while transfering files. Unless you want your SD-card dying faster with their limited lifespan. To conclusion, SD card slot isn't that useful as you might think for professional standards.
I really like the Magnesium alloy casing of the previous Surface models and disliked the "cold" feel of the aluminium unibody iPads. I always associate the particular smooth and warm feel of the Magnesium alloy casing with Surface devices. Also, the fact that they got rid of the micro-SD slot is really a killer for me. I'll keep my Surface Pro 7 until they bring a worthy successor. Such a missed opportunity!
The aluminium probably is better at conducting heat to the surroundings, so it should be less hot to the touch. And the replaceable SSD makes up for the micro sd card reader for me at least.
I love your reviews. I remember watching your review of a Sony touchscreen 2-in-1 back in like 2012 or 2013 that convinced me to buy it. Thanks for your review! I'm highly considering a 16 GB RAM i5 model of the Surface Pro 8.
For creatives, yes, but also an extremely portable yet powerful business laptop, awesome for travelling and doing a lot of meetings with. I also love being able to handwrite notes in a meeting instead of talking to a client overtop of a screen and a clicking keyboard.
Great review Lisa!! You rock and love the unbiased opinion. I just bought SP8 with i7, 16 gb and 256. I love it but agree the price is too high. I like it a lot more than 13inch HP Spectre I had. Build quality on Spectre was a joke for the price.
Im commwnting from a sp5 that needs a new battery... But, that involves literally taking everything apart to access the battery. That can the cost meant i upgraded to a dell xps 13 this past year
Great review! I am always baffled why Microsoft never takes advantage of building a dedicated Windows OS for the Surface Pro line, similar to how Apple takes advantage of being both the OS and Hardware manufacturer. Writing from November 2022, the surface pro 8 prices have been great and are now more affordable given that the surface pro 9 is already out.
I suppose it depends on how you handle it and take care of it - most non-tech-people are pretty bad at that! I had the Surface 2 when it came out for three years, I bought the Surface 3 (non Pro) in 2016, it is still working albeit slow, and I bought the Surface Go when it came out (preorder) and its also still working (to be fair, it has a minor touch defect in the bottom of the screen). Overall, considering I - or my wife- used these devices on a daily basis, I would say they are okay.
How many surface device did you company purchase? I've had mine last 5+ years. In fact, they still work but I stopped using them after buying new ones. I can imagine a case of bad luck if you only had 3 or 4. But if you had much more then I'd be almost statistically impossible to break them all within 2 years.
They are horrible to service. This laptop is not meant to be opened or repaired; you can’t get inside without inflicting a lot of damage. The CPU, RAM, are soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades a no-go. Big techno waste.
@@maxpink Same is true for most devices nowadays, especially in Apple devices. If you really want repairability and upgradability, you need (e.g.) either a Thinkpad or a Framework laptop.
@@PaSeBlu So true, it's very wasteful. I don't know of a pc with pen input that isn't a glued/soldered mess. But if you need a regular laptop, those are great options
Hi Lisa. thank you for the informative review as always. I used surface pro few years a go and now I need a windows PC with 4K display and most importantly, the best available PEN. The display should be at least 15 inches. my primary use is chrome with about 35 tabs open at a time. No video editing. some light programming. I do research and I take notes on my iPad pro, but I need a bigger screen and equally fluid pen for note taking as well as windows operating system. what do you think would be a good candidate? Thank you.
Surface pro 4 display still impresses me with its default color Calibration. Beautiful and true to life colors. I feel they must have just got better and it’s as good as Oled etc. Love watching films and enjoy front facing speakers. Soon due for upgrade even if it works fine without heavy duty load. Love Surface line.
Not sure. I think surface pros are for people who already use them for years. Who doesn't miss one has no use for one (can continue to use laptops-heavy or light laptops). Surfaces have advantage that keyboard is not in the way (good laptop and good enough tablet). Also disadvantage that it's top heavy (if used on the lap), so tablet can fall over from your knees. So some experience with them is necessary. Also Thinkpad X12, Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 can be options for the right price: have potentially only 1080p display, 16:10 aspect ratio, less brightness.
I had a surface pro 4 many moons ago but it haemorrhaged battery life even when I’d shut it down, it used to lose around 30-40% overnight Microsoft tech support tried everything and It was replaced twice but same problem. Was very weird. Surface pro 7 & 8 look nice, especially the 8 with the 11gen intel but as usual they are so expensive but that goes with the form factor. Great review as usual Lisa 👌
I am an IT Manager and we have a split of Surface (Pro 4-6), Surface Books (1- 3), Surface Laptops and Dells. All of the Surface devices drain their battery while they are off. I have to plug in all of the unused devices every few weeks to bring up their charge to 100%. I have also lost 2 devices after they dropped to 0% charge. They just wouldn’t boot up (even after performing CPR on the device (look up CPR on Surface Pro to see what it is.)). This power drain has been one of my biggest complaints with the Surface line.
@@eyhtwozed2606 Not quite sure. Could be "connected standby". This would require editing the Registry to change the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower - CsEnabled DWORD to "0" but then you won't be able to put your device to sleep.
How's the initial activation pressure for the pen? Pretty terrible on earlier generation surfaces - could it be a reasonable alternative to the wacom mobile studio?
Thanks for this review, I’m going to hold on to my SP7 i7 maxed out. Wanted this SP8 for light gaming with my EGPU but not for those prices. Yikes what was Microsoft thinking?
Hey Lisa, there r lot of complaints regarding massive overheating to a point, in some cases, the screen detaches. What's ur experience, with using SP8 for longer time?
Hi, I'm late to the party, but would the pro 8 cope with bulk editing in lightroom? hows the colour? My day job it could handle but not sure about my photography business?? thoughts welcomed - thanks and a great review!
Yes it is. I speak as a Surface Pro 6 owner. I use a Surface mainly for the pen feature, and the new digitizer and Slim Pen 2 combo are a big step up. The other reason is Thunderbolt 4. If those are important to you, then it's worth the upgrade. For horsepower, less so-- the new one is faster, but a Pro 6 is still very responsive.
@@viazel2796 No, it's not worthwhile to upgrade from the Pro 4 but it is worthwhile to upgrade to the much newer and more powerful Pro 6 to the Pro 8. Because... that's how anything works.
Subscribed. You are REALLY putting the work in reviewing devices, with the added artist's take from a technically proficient, well-balanced gal. Professional-grade review. Bear in mind, nobody should buy this device without the kbd/pen combo and minimally 16Gb / 515Gb. The Dock 2 is also a must for anybody wanting to use this a standalone device. So what? You either want one machine or many...
It depends on what you do. You want a laptop first environment, get the studio. You want a tablet first environment, get the pro 8. I would personally go with the studio as I need a mostly laptop setting. Plus the 2200 dollar variant with the RTX 3050 is the one you should get if you want the studio. Plus don't buy them at launch, as there are a few discounts available. Wait for festival discounts or offers.
I enjoy using the Surface Pro lineup products, especially when conducting online lessons alongside in-person participants. The Windows OS allows proper multi-tasking (casting screen to the TV or projector in the classroom while sharing the same page on Google Meet, plus a document for self reference, all in the meantime fully switchable) with a gorgeous touch screen & a stylus. I tried an iPad, but the experience had never been complete. The Surface Pro 7 also has a great battery life. Thinking about getting a Pro 8, but wanna know if the pen can charge without the type cover slot? Besides, a colleague of mine dislikes the flatness of the new Surface Pen. Does it feel uncomfortable to hold?
Great review as usual. I had a Surface as a work machine a couple of years back, and did think about one when I left that job. I like the softer feel of the materials, but I'm not paying extra for a keyboard.
Lisa from an artist perspective, do you recommend the Surface Pro 8 or the Galaxy Book Pro 360? I am unsure which I should go with. Having to pay that extra cash for the pen with the Surface Pro is a pain but if it's better for art then maybe it's worth it.
I'd love to hear how many monitors this can fire (and in other reviews). In order to be able to use it *all* the time I'd want my 3 screen set up with a docking station and my 2 screen terrace set-up just on USB 3 Thunderbolt. I know MacBookAir is limited, and reason why the Surface Pro 8 couldn't fire 3 lo-res monitors? Currently using 49" 3840 x 1080 flanked by 2 x 27" 1920x1080 No need for USB, as mouse and keyboard are logi MX via bluetooth. Thanks, great review.
Hello Lisa, I've been trying to find out something about this tablet, but not a single reviewer seems to have covered that point. Does the pen stick to the right edge of the tablet like on the Pro X, or can you only store it in the compartment on the keyboard?
Looking for at least 15" - 16" screen, productivity for use of Microsoft 365 suite, not a gamer, quick response, with possibilities to use for video editing/making and to use for IT applications/programs such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Wireshark, Kali Linux, etc. Surface Pro 8? Surface Go? Surface Laptop Studo?
Lisa need ur help.. I need to buy a 2 in 1 ... I reviewed and watched lot of videos.... which one is the bets option?.. coz I understand we don't have a complete 2 in 1.. I mean and ipad pro is the best tab... and a mac pro maybe is the bets lap jaja but apple don't have a 2 in 1... so... I dont know if I should buy a thinkpad x12 or a surface pro?
are folks using these on jobsites for construction projects? If so - worried about performance outside in sunlight? Able to use if it's raining/sprinkling? What about handheld use on a jobsite - can you take realtime photos and add to reports with ease? battery life takes a hit vs an ipad pro 11. screen takes a huge hit in sunlight vs ipad pro 11. access to the pencil doesn't appear to be magnetic? The thing weights 2lbs? That's HEAVY vs the ipad pro 11 - if I have a desktop PC at my office - am I gaining anything with the surface pro vs an ipad pro 11?
Thank you very much Lisa, very informative. If you had to compare the Surface pro 8 and the HP Specter x360 14T, which would be better for a two-in-one (office work and drawing) needs? Thank you
Hi I have a surface pro 8 i just found out after finding getting the mini micro slot area this none to put in to tranfer or keep data files i wud like to transfer to another computer this surface doesn't have a usb to put in a flash drive. How would i store tranfer files liken a usb flashdrive?
Hi, I am wondering whether this device, the version with 32gb ram, can be used for software engineering (I am not playing any games). I am actually looking for a small device and I like the pen which I can use to draw sketchups. I have another question regarding the charger, if I buy it in the US, can I use it in Europe? does it support 110-240V? Thank you :)
Thanks for the recent Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio reviews, still trying to figure out which one to get! They are all "similar but not the same".
Hello, I am a Ph.D. student and I need something that I could simply use as a tablet to write on (just like a pen and paper so that do not carry paper with me anymore) and at the same time be able to use a laptop that has a keyboard and can also use the statistics or other software in the class. I was thinking to get an iPad pro and a MacBook but buying both could be expensive. Is SP8 able to do both jobs? How long can it last? I have heard that Apple products are going to last for a long time (maybe even10 to 15 years). What would you suggest? I would appreciate your help
Still rocking my thinkpad t430, thinking i could go with it at least one more year before upgrading to this surface or a new revision of the thinkpad x12
Excellent review ,and a very knowledgeable individual, I have had a Surface Pro 4 for about 5/6 years abd its been excellent and I am thinking of upgrading to the 8 as the screen has started flickering which is a shame as its been excellent until now , is there any fix or will I be using it as a second back up computer from now on , thank you for any assistance and advice and well done on the review
Nice review. Should i return my 2019 Surface Pro 7 256GB matte black when it only gives me like 3-4 hours of battery time while typing in words / surfing chrome at the university? so Annoying....
How would you compare performance and overall usability to the Surface pro 7? I have the SP7 i7 16GB and am really tired of the fan noise, heat, and short battery life.. Trying to find the justification...
I trust Lisa's judgment like my mother. No fluff or click bait, just honest and well thought.
Exactly.
The GOAT tech reviewer for sure.
Loved you comment!! :-)
Agreed
If Steve is my tech Jesus, Lisa is my tech Mom.
This lady should have 10million subscribers. I literally don’t buy anything she hasn’t reviewed. So to all the companies out there, if you don’t get her your product I won’t buy it.
ok!
It’s gotta be harsh living in your house with no toilet paper.
@@oldcountryman2795 Device manuals and packaging material might work…
She’s my new tech mom 🥰
Luckily you're just one person and you mean nothing to them
First time watcher here. Something about the way you talk makes me trust you and happy. You're so down to earth. I love the way you deliver!
I really think it's worth mentioning that these products, especially previous surface devices, take a massive price cut later in the year (Black Friday). The prices are much more reasonable if people wait for sales season.
Seriously waiting to snag one up for Christmas
That’s true. I picked mine up for quite “cheap”. This is in Australia though. Picked up a 16gb i5 model with 256gb ssd, a keyboard and pen. Slightly under $2000 Australian. So that’s about $1300 US.
It’s replacing my mobile studio pro, and it’s doing a good job. The pen is surprisingly good.
@@smplfy it’s just a tool. I make my money back by doing work on it.
If you want a bad idea for investment is buying tech products for the appreciation in value. Is holding onto an iPhone for 10 years so you can make a couple of hundred bucks profit, really worth your time and effort that much? 😅
And even "July Black Friday" lol just snagged one with a keyboard bundle for $899
Lisa: the excitement and large smile I have seen in the first 30 seconds has not been shown for any product before LOL :)
I had my sp pro 8 ( i5 256 gb)for a week now and I am loving it. I upgraded from an old sp 5 i5 with 4 gb ram and boy do I feel the difference.I already had an older gen pen and so didn't see the need for the new slim pen and don't regret it. I also went a different direction with the keyboard and instead bought the cheaper Brydge SP+ which is sturdy and makes my sp8 feel like a real laptop. So there are wyas to get optimum performance and save costs.
Does the old pen still attaches to the tablet magnetically?
@@andreypoltev unfortunately no
the problem with this keyboard, in my opinion, is the whey. You go for 1,5+kg for this combo...
How’s the battery life?
Wow, it's so refreshing to find a channel that has good, honest factual reviews. Great work! :)
Where are her early release products? She tells it how it is and is just a genuine good person. Great review as always
Watching this on my surface pro 1. They've come a long way lol
Surface RT here 😅
@@e.h.5680 You still us it? I have mine as well. Still lovely to look at but it's so underpowered that even after a hard reset I just couldn't deal with it.
@@Ronnet I wish it had a modern browser. That would have made it usable again.
@@e.h.5680 Scam RUclips isn't supported
Whereas you have not!!! 🤣🤣
People keep comparing the Pro to the Studio and other convertibles, and it's always weird to me. I suspect the reason the Pro isn't "niche" is that, like me, people want a free-standing tablet where typing isn't a nightmare and can be done quickly. My surface is often resting on weird places while I'm doing something else without the keyboard and I slap it on just to type something like this. The built-in kickstand and magnetic keyboard are still a killer app. The iPad doesn't do it, convertibles with attached keyboards don't do it. The only equivalent is the Galaxy Tab S7+ with the book cover, and then you're stuck on an Android tablet which, let's be honest, is way less convenient than being on full-on Windows. That's why I've had all three of those devices and I keep coming back to the Surface Pro.
It is very expensive, though. If they sorted out Windows on ARM I think something like the Surface Go would be a better deal. As it is, for my use case, the Pro is just the single best computing device on the market.
@@Brian-jv8iy Having used an iPad (and other Windows convertibles) before... yeah, it's not the same at all. The stand on the surface holds any angle or position you want, it can stand up on next to zero footprint, it will stand up on your lap with or without the keyboard and it obviously doesn't make the thing any thicker than it is, being built-in. It actually makes for a pretty decent handle grip if you're free-handing the thing. And the easy on/off non-wireless backlit keybouard with a touchpad is also a whole different ballpark, aided by the fact that it's running a full desktop OS.
You can sort of get there on an iPad and there are things the iPad does better, but my original point is that everybody keeps assuming that slapping a stand on a case or having a foldable permanent keyboard does the same things the Surface Pro does, and that's not true at all in practice. The details matter here.
I thought the surface go uses Intel x86 processors though not ARM?. I considered buying the i3 one for quite a while but ended up deciding not to after sorting out some software issues on my pro 5
@@NiSE_Rafter Sorry, I mistyped that. I meant the Pro X, not the Go. The Go is a (very underpowered) Intel, even in this latest generation. For that form factor the iPad is a better choice, even with the worse form factor.
Your reviews are the best. Informative and enjoyable.
I remember the days when you first reviewed the early Surface Pro. I took notes and presented it to the company for purchase. Almmost a decade later, I am now in a different company and still taking notes from you and they still bought the Surface Pro 8 from the recommendations. Great review as always!
Why Lisa at this point doesn't have 10M+ subscribers is beyond me. Consistent quality from A to Z
Finally a review that compares it to a laptop rather than a damn iPad. Thanks Lisa, great work as always, was waiting on your review before pulling the trigger on the order, shame no 16gb on the i5 🤔
i have 16 gb on the i5 so the option is available i got straight from MS
It's compared to ipads because of the lack of power for the price. The value comes from being tablet-like. Now that HP x2 Folio, Latitude 2 in 1, and other competitors exist it can be compared to similar hardware
Tl:dr it was closer to a tablet with windows than a laptop with tablet form factor- even with the top config due to no fans
I... didn't even knew there was a 8 gig option still, I thought 16 was the new base for some reason! 😅 So I went to check my options.
And damn me. Damn fucking me!
An i7 with 16GB of RAM plus pen/cover combo is 1800 bucks. Jesus! Love the idea of the device, with those specs it's basically a high end drawing tablet for much more comfortable Windows eco-systems, but it ain't "high end" enough to be worth that price point imho. Gonna have to find some good deal when it launches here in Europe!
@@theinktician It is compared to iPads because most RUclipsrs are Apple fanbois who don't know the difference between a big iPhone and a real computer. As for lack of power, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. There is no tablet sized computer as powerful, portable, small, light, and versitile as the SP8.
1. The Latitude is not a computer-tablet, it is a 2-in-1 laptop.
2. The x2 Folio does not have an Intel 11th Gen i5/i7 processor, it has an Intel Core M5-6Y54 processor (which is a joke).
Hi. I've been watching your reviews probably for a decade now. I go to you for nitty gritty and real attention to detail. Thank you for what you do.
Really appreciated the sound effects for the pen hahaha :D
I love the formfactor of the Surface, I just don't have a use case that justifies the cost. Plus I like the ability to play some decent games.
I am thinking steam deck and a tablet paired together. You get a nice Samsung tablet with equally good pen support and a faster pc that you could use to play games.
Quit wasting time on meaningless games and you might have a life with some meaning.
@@machtschnell7452 how about meaningful games?
Looking for videos now on the best eGPU to hook this up in :)
@@machtschnell7452 The purpose of my life is playing games.
Vocational trade teacher here, I find the surface pro is an absolute fantastic device for teaching. I used my i5 SP7 through Covid lockdowns where I had to work and connect with my students online. Having a stylus, MS whiteboard, OneNote and PowerPoint inking greatly helps communicate concepts both online and in person. The only issue I have with the SP8: no micro SD card, but that's honestly something I can work with. I'll definitely investigate getting the top spec i7 SP8, but I'm in Australia and it's ridiculously expensive for us. Even more so that the keyboard and new pen are additional costs to factor into the price.
I was thinking of getting surface pro 8, is it worth it? I am going to use it for programs and drawing
Great review. I am buying a house and I noticed that the developer had issued Surface Pros to all of their staff like contractors and seller agents. It really makes sense for people in those positions who mostly use them as a desktop with a monitor and then carry them to write notes using the pen. I like tablets but since I mostly use a machine like this as a laptop, I prefer a more traditional 2-in-1 or convertible. I currently have a first gen Surface Book which is getting a little long in the tooth but is good enough for what I need.
The battery of the base portion of my Surface Book was bulging at the base last year. Got rid of it because of how unsafe that is, and just used the tablet portion with a bluetooth keyboard. Now that battery is bulging. It's a known issue but yeah, it's on its last legs so I'm kind of deciding what I want between a Surface Laptop Studio and the Surface Pro 8.
@@pharaohosam Look at the Lenovo X1 Yoga gen 7. It doesn't have bulging body parts and if you get the Intel i7 pro gen 12 it lights it up!
Surface Book is too heavy w the kb base but it was good for when it came out (if you got one w/o issues like mine)
I would also like to add Windows 11's new touch support really helps when using this as a tablet. The new gestures (they're essentially what you would find on the trackpad, but usable with your fingers on the touchscreen now) especially make a big difference. Improvements to window management help as well.
How do they work? :)
The review I have been waiting for.
The surface pro 4,5,6,7 and tried the X model were ok for me I moved to a HP Elite x2 g4 LTE and was blown away. I like it so much I got a new Elite x2 g8 16gb i7 3.0mhz and 2 TBssd. I do not see myself going back to Surface Pro's. My new G8 is awesome and a workhorse for a road warrior. I got an open box for 1998.00. Love my Gem cut Spectre.
Always appreciate Lisa's reviews. Been a long time Surface fan, and it's nice to have someone who gets what they're about while still giving a fair, honest, and in-depth review. It's about time to upgrade my SP4 so thanks for the review!
2 steps forward and 1 step backwards.
why remove the USB and micro SD card, I assumed the target audience would use those a lot. It's nice that they upgraded to 120hz and fixed the jittery diagonals.
It has Thunderbolt and a replaceable SSD. Both are much faster and reliable options compared to microSD.
@@fallinginthed33p why can't we have both? It's moronic removing the SD card reader.. there's literally no reason to do it.
USB A isn't a thing on tablet PCs any more and is being removed from many high end laptops too. The target audience uses SD cards, MicroSD was a lot less popular. Agreed it should've remained but doubt it was used much. I use MicroSD with an SD adapter in my camera for this reason but I doubt most do who want the higher speeds.
@@studioviper3016 The only reason being the tech industry has been standardising around USB C for some time now. Agreed still.
Buying an SD-card hub is way better than a single slot on your tablet.
The SD-card will get cooler while using outside of tablet. Beside that, connecting your device with micro SD-card like camera or smartphone is way safer and healthier, because those devices can protect your SD card while transfering files. Unless you want your SD-card dying faster with their limited lifespan.
To conclusion, SD card slot isn't that useful as you might think for professional standards.
you are the only person i trust when it comes to reviewing surface pros :) or any tablet\all-in-ones haha.
thanks for the great review
I really like the Magnesium alloy casing of the previous Surface models and disliked the "cold" feel of the aluminium unibody iPads. I always associate the particular smooth and warm feel of the Magnesium alloy casing with Surface devices. Also, the fact that they got rid of the micro-SD slot is really a killer for me. I'll keep my Surface Pro 7 until they bring a worthy successor. Such a missed opportunity!
The aluminium probably is better at conducting heat to the surroundings, so it should be less hot to the touch. And the replaceable SSD makes up for the micro sd card reader for me at least.
I love your reviews. I remember watching your review of a Sony touchscreen 2-in-1 back in like 2012 or 2013 that convinced me to buy it. Thanks for your review! I'm highly considering a 16 GB RAM i5 model of the Surface Pro 8.
For creatives, yes, but also an extremely portable yet powerful business laptop, awesome for travelling and doing a lot of meetings with. I also love being able to handwrite notes in a meeting instead of talking to a client overtop of a screen and a clicking keyboard.
I got through my entire college career with the surface pro 4 and it still feels good I think 5 or 6 years down the road now.
Been waiting for this review Lisa!
Same.
Same same
Great review Lisa!! You rock and love the unbiased opinion. I just bought SP8 with i7, 16 gb and 256. I love it but agree the price is too high. I like it a lot more than 13inch HP Spectre I had. Build quality on Spectre was a joke for the price.
So you would not recommend the HP x360 Spectre 15"?
Im commwnting from a sp5 that needs a new battery... But, that involves literally taking everything apart to access the battery. That can the cost meant i upgraded to a dell xps 13 this past year
Switched from SP3 to latitude lineup when I realized how difficult it was to open a surface device
i guess these devices are built to be replaced every 3 years or so. which sucks for us and benefits them.
I would like a Surface device but the XPS is better long term investment.
I noticed a difference immediately with the wireless adapter. The Marvell on the 4 and 6 was terrible.
Watching your review from the Surface Pro 2 made me buy it. Which I still have and running strong. Good Job!
Great review! Just bought one on Amazon(renewed) i5/8gb/256gb for $645 and a keyboard/pen2 combo for $150 so under $800 total.
Great review!
I am always baffled why Microsoft never takes advantage of building a dedicated Windows OS for the Surface Pro line, similar to how Apple takes advantage of being both the OS and Hardware manufacturer. Writing from November 2022, the surface pro 8 prices have been great and are now more affordable given that the surface pro 9 is already out.
Just picked up my Pro 8 for $909 ... my first Surface, very excited!
Glad you did this review. Really value your opinion on these tech devices.
Hi, I just bought the sp8 with the same configuration.. We’re you able to find a screen protector and a case?
Are you planning on reviewing the Framework modular laptop any time soon? Hope so.... love your reviews Lisa!
I work in a large company. We haven't had a surface tablet last more than 2 years. There not very repairable.
I suppose it depends on how you handle it and take care of it - most non-tech-people are pretty bad at that!
I had the Surface 2 when it came out for three years, I bought the Surface 3 (non Pro) in 2016, it is still working albeit slow, and I bought the Surface Go when it came out (preorder) and its also still working (to be fair, it has a minor touch defect in the bottom of the screen). Overall, considering I - or my wife- used these devices on a daily basis, I would say they are okay.
How many surface device did you company purchase? I've had mine last 5+ years. In fact, they still work but I stopped using them after buying new ones. I can imagine a case of bad luck if you only had 3 or 4. But if you had much more then I'd be almost statistically impossible to break them all within 2 years.
They are horrible to service. This laptop is not meant to be opened or repaired; you can’t get inside without inflicting a lot of damage. The CPU, RAM, are soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades a no-go. Big techno waste.
@@maxpink Same is true for most devices nowadays, especially in Apple devices. If you really want repairability and upgradability, you need (e.g.) either a Thinkpad or a Framework laptop.
@@PaSeBlu So true, it's very wasteful. I don't know of a pc with pen input that isn't a glued/soldered mess. But if you need a regular laptop, those are great options
3:21 What was that in the background audio? :)
Probably just some slight mishap of editing software, but it really caught my ear.
Best reviews, succinct, perceptive, and comprehensive
U are the surface lady! I bought the surface pro 4 after watching ur channel back in like 2017 and I’m looking back to see where the line is at
Hi Lisa. thank you for the informative review as always. I used surface pro few years a go and now I need a windows PC with 4K display and most importantly, the best available PEN. The display should be at least 15 inches. my primary use is chrome with about 35 tabs open at a time. No video editing. some light programming. I do research and I take notes on my iPad pro, but I need a bigger screen and equally fluid pen for note taking as well as windows operating system. what do you think would be a good candidate? Thank you.
Great review of what looks like an excellent update for the Surface Pro line. Yay that!
Best tech RUclipsr
Surface pro 4 display still impresses me with its default color Calibration. Beautiful and true to life colors. I feel they must have just got better and it’s as good as Oled etc. Love watching films and enjoy front facing speakers. Soon due for upgrade even if it works fine without heavy duty load. Love Surface line.
Lol that screen is definitely nowhere near as good as OLED.
Amazing review. I can't believe I've never heard of this channel.
Hey Lisa, I just want to say that you give the best review ever!
I think we can get a base M1 MacBook Air and either a cheaper windows laptop or iPad for the price of the pro 8 with accessories.
But then you'd be stuck with an Apple...
@@MEanPenguin908 read the comment again.
I was looking forward to this from you! Thanks Lisa!
No SD card slot is a deal breaker for a productivity ultrabook/tablet with small SSD.
There is an LTE if you buy the business option.
@@Alex-mu3gf What dies that give you tho? Still no SD card slot since you cant just shove that into the Sim Tray and call it a day...
At least the SSD can be replaced with a larger option.
Not sure. I think surface pros are for people who already use them for years. Who doesn't miss one has no use for one (can continue to use laptops-heavy or light laptops).
Surfaces have advantage that keyboard is not in the way (good laptop and good enough tablet). Also disadvantage that it's top heavy (if used on the lap), so tablet can fall over from your knees. So some experience with them is necessary.
Also Thinkpad X12, Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 can be options for the right price: have potentially only 1080p display, 16:10 aspect ratio, less brightness.
I had a surface pro 4 many moons ago but it haemorrhaged battery life even when I’d shut it down, it used to lose around 30-40% overnight Microsoft tech support tried everything and It was replaced twice but same problem. Was very weird. Surface pro 7 & 8 look nice, especially the 8 with the 11gen intel but as usual they are so expensive but that goes with the form factor. Great review as usual Lisa 👌
I am an IT Manager and we have a split of Surface (Pro 4-6), Surface Books (1- 3), Surface Laptops and Dells. All of the Surface devices drain their battery while they are off. I have to plug in all of the unused devices every few weeks to bring up their charge to 100%. I have also lost 2 devices after they dropped to 0% charge. They just wouldn’t boot up (even after performing CPR on the device (look up CPR on Surface Pro to see what it is.)). This power drain has been one of my biggest complaints with the Surface line.
@@hafacah what is the main reason behind this?
@@eyhtwozed2606 Not quite sure. Could be "connected standby". This would require editing the Registry to change the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower - CsEnabled DWORD to "0" but then you won't be able to put your device to sleep.
How's the initial activation pressure for the pen? Pretty terrible on earlier generation surfaces - could it be a reasonable alternative to the wacom mobile studio?
Thanks for this review, I’m going to hold on to my SP7 i7 maxed out. Wanted this SP8 for light gaming with my EGPU but not for those prices. Yikes what was Microsoft thinking?
With chip shortage and all these new features, how do you expect SP8 to be cheap.
@@IamG3X Eh I don’t expect anything. I’m just not buying one.
Hey Lisa, there r lot of complaints regarding massive overheating to a point, in some cases, the screen detaches. What's ur experience, with using SP8 for longer time?
Great review, Lisa! Any thoughts on this vs. the MobileStudio Pro (or really, any Wacom product)?
The dock where the pen lives is great design for sure !
Hi, I'm late to the party, but would the pro 8 cope with bulk editing in lightroom? hows the colour? My day job it could handle but not sure about my photography business?? thoughts welcomed - thanks and a great review!
Lisa, would you say this is a solid upgrade from a Surface Pro 6? Kind of sounds like it
Yes it is. I speak as a Surface Pro 6 owner. I use a Surface mainly for the pen feature, and the new digitizer and Slim Pen 2 combo are a big step up. The other reason is Thunderbolt 4. If those are important to you, then it's worth the upgrade. For horsepower, less so-- the new one is faster, but a Pro 6 is still very responsive.
@@viazel2796 No, it's not worthwhile to upgrade from the Pro 4 but it is worthwhile to upgrade to the much newer and more powerful Pro 6 to the Pro 8.
Because... that's how anything works.
Subscribed. You are REALLY putting the work in reviewing devices, with the added artist's take from a technically proficient, well-balanced gal. Professional-grade review. Bear in mind, nobody should buy this device without the kbd/pen combo and minimally 16Gb / 515Gb. The Dock 2 is also a must for anybody wanting to use this a standalone device. So what? You either want one machine or many...
Please review Flow x13 as well. Been waiting for it.
Thanks for comprehensive review. Especially observations on fan sound or absence thereof.
as the starting price is lower on the laptop studio also, this, with type cover+ pen or base Laptop Studio with pen?
It depends on what you do.
You want a laptop first environment, get the studio.
You want a tablet first environment, get the pro 8.
I would personally go with the studio as I need a mostly laptop setting. Plus the 2200 dollar variant with the RTX 3050 is the one you should get if you want the studio.
Plus don't buy them at launch, as there are a few discounts available. Wait for festival discounts or offers.
I enjoy using the Surface Pro lineup products, especially when conducting online lessons alongside in-person participants. The Windows OS allows proper multi-tasking (casting screen to the TV or projector in the classroom while sharing the same page on Google Meet, plus a document for self reference, all in the meantime fully switchable) with a gorgeous touch screen & a stylus. I tried an iPad, but the experience had never been complete. The Surface Pro 7 also has a great battery life. Thinking about getting a Pro 8, but wanna know if the pen can charge without the type cover slot? Besides, a colleague of mine dislikes the flatness of the new Surface Pen. Does it feel uncomfortable to hold?
Whenever I'm interested in getting a new computer I go straight for this channel ♥️
Great review as usual. I had a Surface as a work machine a couple of years back, and did think about one when I left that job. I like the softer feel of the materials, but I'm not paying extra for a keyboard.
As always Lisa, brilliant. I enjoy watching and always learn lots from, all of your reviews! Best wishes and take care.
Lisa from an artist perspective, do you recommend the Surface Pro 8 or the Galaxy Book Pro 360? I am unsure which I should go with. Having to pay that extra cash for the pen with the Surface Pro is a pain but if it's better for art then maybe it's worth it.
I died with your take on office keyboard chatter @ 9:45 😂
I do not need a device for travel. Do you think this is a good option for a home computer? Do you think the screen is big enough?
I'd love to hear how many monitors this can fire (and in other reviews). In order to be able to use it *all* the time I'd want my 3 screen set up with a docking station and my 2 screen terrace set-up just on USB 3 Thunderbolt.
I know MacBookAir is limited, and reason why the Surface Pro 8 couldn't fire 3 lo-res monitors?
Currently using 49" 3840 x 1080 flanked by 2 x 27" 1920x1080
No need for USB, as mouse and keyboard are logi MX via bluetooth.
Thanks, great review.
surface lady is back!!
Great video, as always! But no USB-A and no micro or SD card slot?... :(
Hello Lisa, I've been trying to find out something about this tablet, but not a single reviewer seems to have covered that point. Does the pen stick to the right edge of the tablet like on the Pro X, or can you only store it in the compartment on the keyboard?
Looking for at least 15" - 16" screen, productivity for use of Microsoft 365 suite, not a gamer, quick response, with possibilities to use for video editing/making and to use for IT applications/programs such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Wireshark, Kali Linux, etc. Surface Pro 8? Surface Go? Surface Laptop Studo?
Lisa need ur help.. I need to buy a 2 in 1 ... I reviewed and watched lot of videos.... which one is the bets option?.. coz I understand we don't have a complete 2 in 1.. I mean and ipad pro is the best tab... and a mac pro maybe is the bets lap jaja but apple don't have a 2 in 1... so... I dont know if I should buy a thinkpad x12 or a surface pro?
Always loved your reviews.
are folks using these on jobsites for construction projects? If so - worried about performance outside in sunlight? Able to use if it's raining/sprinkling? What about handheld use on a jobsite - can you take realtime photos and add to reports with ease? battery life takes a hit vs an ipad pro 11. screen takes a huge hit in sunlight vs ipad pro 11. access to the pencil doesn't appear to be magnetic? The thing weights 2lbs? That's HEAVY vs the ipad pro 11 - if I have a desktop PC at my office - am I gaining anything with the surface pro vs an ipad pro 11?
also - is there a data plan available for these things? at first glance, it doesn't have it, yet?
Does the thunderbolt 4 USB c ports have PD function ? Like it can recharge the tablet through its USB c ports instead of the surface charger ?
Just bought this bad-boy for my research. Cannot wait will arrive tomorrow! Finally ditched my laptop.
Thank you very much Lisa, very informative. If you had to compare the Surface pro 8 and the HP Specter x360 14T, which would be better for a two-in-one (office work and drawing) needs? Thank you
Hi I have a surface pro 8 i just found out after finding getting the mini micro slot area this none to put in to tranfer or keep data files i wud like to transfer to another computer this surface doesn't have a usb to put in a flash drive. How would i store tranfer files liken a usb flashdrive?
Love your T-shirt!
Completely agree about the cost being too much for what you get.
Lisa, thank you for another great unbiased well articulated overview
Hi,
I am wondering whether this device, the version with 32gb ram, can be used for software engineering (I am not playing any games). I am actually looking for a small device and I like the pen which I can use to draw sketchups.
I have another question regarding the charger, if I buy it in the US, can I use it in Europe? does it support 110-240V?
Thank you :)
Thanks for the recent Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio reviews, still trying to figure out which one to get! They are all "similar but not the same".
for a medical school student would you recommend the sp8 or the surface studio laptop. Im stuck right between in my decision
Hello,
I am a Ph.D. student and I need something that I could simply use as a tablet to write on (just like a pen and paper so that do not carry paper with me anymore) and at the same time be able to use a laptop that has a keyboard and can also use the statistics or other software in the class. I was thinking to get an iPad pro and a MacBook but buying both could be expensive. Is SP8 able to do both jobs? How long can it last? I have heard that Apple products are going to last for a long time (maybe even10 to 15 years). What would you suggest? I would appreciate your help
Thanks for great content. Btw what do you think about surface pro 8 with 32gb ram?
Still rocking my thinkpad t430, thinking i could go with it at least one more year before upgrading to this surface or a new revision of the thinkpad x12
Your laptop still had a DVD drive in it? This Surface will be a massive upgrade!
@@InstantLuc i changed that for a hard drive bay 😅
let's gooo thinkpad bros ✊ considering getting p50 but I just upgraded x250/16gb/1tB with touch and LTE 😂
Excellent review ,and a very knowledgeable individual, I have had a Surface Pro 4 for about 5/6 years abd its been excellent and I am thinking of upgrading to the 8 as the screen has started flickering which is a shame as its been excellent until now , is there any fix or will I be using it as a second back up computer from now on , thank you for any assistance and advice and well done on the review
Great Video. I like that you get right into the details. Thanks for sharing.
Great review as always! :)
Love the simulated sound effects in this one - keyboard, eraser and vibration motors! 😂
Terrific review as always!
For me personally, I might lean toward Surface Laptop Studio since I prefer a larger canvas.
Nice review. Should i return my 2019 Surface Pro 7 256GB matte black when it only gives me like 3-4 hours of battery time while typing in words / surfing chrome at the university? so Annoying....
How would you compare performance and overall usability to the Surface pro 7? I have the SP7 i7 16GB and am really tired of the fan noise, heat, and short battery life.. Trying to find the justification...
Lisa, I need to know if one cam “ink to text” in word on Surface Pro 8?