Microsoft has finally adopted Thunderbolt connectivity too, kitting out the Pro 8 with two USB/Thunderbolt 4 ports, which is a big, modern upgrade for connecting to displays, high-speed drives and docks, as well as charging. The Pro 8 ships with new 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 chips (as tested), which are 10%-15% faster than previous models in benchmarks and matched the performance of the Surface Laptop 4.Ī cooling system upgrade keeps the machine silent for most of the time, requiring the fans a lot less frequently than previous versions, which was a very welcome change. It can charge from the Thunderbolt ports too. The tablet fully charges in just over an hour and half, reaching 50% in 35 minutes using the included Surface Connect power adaptor. Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7 (11th generation)Ĭamera: 10MP rear, 5MP front with Windows HelloĬonnectivity: Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB-4, headphones, Surface Connect For now it is set to 60Hz by default to save battery life. The Pro 8 is waiting on a firmware update due next year to enable variable refresh rates, which allows the screen to automatically adjust its speed depending on the content on display, saving battery for static images while being super smooth for fast moving animations. The display supports a faster refresh rate of up to 120Hz too, which is common on smartphones, high-end tablets and found on Apple’s latest MacBook Pro.ĭisappointingly the 120Hz screen is a feature yet to be fully realised. It is still compact compared with a laptop, but the larger screen makes working with multiple windows a bit easier. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The GuardianĪt 13in on the diagonal, the screen is bigger than the 12.3in of its predecessors. The kickstand at the back is just as good as previous Surface devices, able to hold the tablet steady at a large range of angles.

Surface 8 specs