Surface Pro X Review - Complicated Yet Brilliant

Finally, our video review is here! The Microsoft Surface Pro X is a unique device with a particular target audience. Think of it more like a specialized tool rather than a do-it-all PC. I'll tell you all my thoughts and conclusions in the video, but feel free to leave your questions and comments below for us to extend the conversation.

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[ItsPTson]

Wayyyy to many Youtubers were reviewing this machine’s ability to video and photo edit. Not everybody does that. It’s like judging a fish’s ability to climb a tree. Thank you for a well rounded review.

[BringOnTheCold]

Blows me away that the defining characteristics of a "good" and "bad" laptop is photo and video editing software? What percentage of people actually use Adobe software or equivalents? What about multi tasking with 5-10 windows in 3-4 browser sessions and using visual code to build apps, assemblies, and solutions? There are other jobs out there that aren't content creators. Maybe one day other content creators will figure out that the world doesn't revolve around them.

[mathewkortum]

This has to be the best review I have seen. It's one of the first that I have seen which doesn't automatically assume that 'Pros' only use computers for Photo and Video editing.
This review takes a fair and balanced look at what the device is, what it offers and does point out it's weaknesses.

Thanks for the fair, balanced review Daniel.

[geoffshire]

I bought one the back end of last year, I’m just a normal guy & it does EVERYTHING I need on a daily basis if this sounds like you then get it!
There are far too many so called professional reviewers who are just looking for problems, ADOBE professional stuff costing hundreds of bucks won’t run “this automatically means the Surface Pro X is shit”! My car stalls when I try to run it up a 80 degree slope therefore it’s shit as well, same logic! & just as flawed.

[bvorka]

Thank you for this review. I'm a little biased as I'm currently typing this on my Surface Pro X, but when I was deciding to purchase it, I noticed that every "bad" review brought up the subject of photo or video editing, which I simply do not do on ANY laptop. It struck me as such a niche complaint.


On the other hand, the Pro X is, as you say, a niche product for the niche I'm working in (MS Office + Scrivener). Love the keyboard (vague bounce notwithstanding), the screen size, the pen storage, etc. Battery life is all right for me and my uses.


The LTE is great and I used it on the road for a video conference just the other day. I could lounge in the backseat while we were cruising down the interstate. The cameras were excellent, as were the microphones. Like you, I may just opt to use this all the time for my video conferences.

[FourPeaksFilms]

Loving the Surface Pro X. Sold my IPad Pro and don't regret it.

[Trader-CL]

This is the best and the most accurate review for SPX so far.

[g.isaiahchappelle]

At last an intelligent look at this device. I bought the Surface Go LTE for portability to do adult work, a complete package with the keyboard, pen and mouse. Then I saw the unveiling of this device, and Microsoft in New York was gracious and exchanged that device for this new one, I don't regret it. The biggest plus, a bigger screen and the device still fits into the same compartment in my work bag. I listen to music while commuting via metro, and I use this device because I hate notification interruptions while using a phone, and the reproduction is superb with a Sony WH-H900N headphones. I even started watching movies on this device! Thanks for a fair, impartial and sound review.

[makarabadur]

Yes! Thank you! This review explains what actualy is Surface Pro X. I tried explaining to people but they don't get the idea of portability and what ARM chips will bring, no heat, no fan noise. When I am not working I just want to relax, scroll the internet or stream a movie and with my laptop, as thin and light as it is (MacBook Pro 15 inch retina, with bootcamp windows) sometimes it heats up in my lap, it gets heavy to hold while watching or scrolling. I tavel alot and carring a 4.5 lbs laptop does get heavy. This Surface Pro X is a goto device for me.

[steven]

It's amazing that we have options of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm right now. It's just too bad Microsoft didnt work on ARM w desktop OS earlier or at least continue Windows phone OS. Then maybe native ARM support would be much further (as it is with iOS and Android), and Intel wouldn't have been able to sit on its butt all these years.

[brianwolters]

This convinced me to get one. I have a Surface Book 2 as my primary device but there are times when I need something lighter and this is perfect.

[efficaciousuave]

Surface pro 7 design + platinum + LTE + 10hr battery with LTE on + surface Pro X keyboard with pen + Intel processor + usb A(because I still have many pen drives and Seagate hard disks) + usb c + headphone jack = my dream surface pro device.

[wendelynmusic]

When are you going to do an updated review on the Pro x? Also I hear that MS will have a 64 bit emulator sometime this year? Is it true? I spent a week in conferences writing with pen in one note and slack and emails. 12 hrs a day, 2 TV shows when I got home and I was at 20% battery life when I plugged in the charger and went to bed ... Now I'm working at home with a VPN and remote desktop and it's working great

[whocaresjustdoit]

Finally, someone who understands how 99% of consumers use this product and don't instantly discredit it because it doesn't run Adobe apps....Why can't reviewers comprehend the fact that not everyone is a content creator/video editor?

[nanoaktx]

Ive had this for about 3 weeks as my main work laptop. i love it. I'm not installing photoshop, or premiere pro etc... Edge ARM64 works really well and give my 95% apps that i use (gmail, slack, hubspot, o365, google drive). I use a couple apps in emulated x86 mode such as Zoom and VLC and I cant tell if they lag or not. Overall, i love the form factor, the mobility, the battery, and that i can charge it via PD charger USB-C. one charger to rule them. I plugged it into my voltage reader and got 19.5V @ 1.5A for 30W which is about half as fast as the included stupid proprietary brick and connector. BUT, it still charges in a couple of hours, so i'm good to ditch the brick.


I dont use the pen, or the lte (takes me 30 seconds to tether in the occasional instance that i'm not in wifi).

I do have a powerful desktop that i use for heavy x86 apps and games, but i use this device to replace my laptop that comes with me to work everyday and on trips. I'm not sure if this would work if it was your ONLY computer.

Happy to answer more questions if anyone has any.

[HoboTurtle]

just like any tech stuff, it’s interesting and desirable, until they actually come out... then all of a sudden I become a rational consumer... more like a consumer that rations income after bills are hopefully paid

[goncaloduarte]

The fact that we are comparing ARM SoCs to 10th gen intel U series CPUs shows how amazing ARM is now, those U series CPUs are 15W+ CPUs, a more accurate CPU would be the Y series CPUs and those are still 9W+ compared to the 7W of the SQ1

[wendelynmusic]

I am so glad to finally see you do a review of this. some of the positive reviews I have seen have been from some pretty questionable people and I could see that the bad reviews tended to always focus on what it couldn't do rather than what it could do. you're reviews are always balanced and you really know what you are talking about. I ordered one and then I got scared I did the wrong thing. but I am exactly the kind of user this is aimed at so I am grateful to hear the real pros and cons about this. where did you get the sticker on the back? I really want something to add a dash of color and it looks really good. is it dbrand?

[youptralala]

Awesome device and review. Thanks for not shoting it down for what it cannot do

[tomslayton]

Great review, would you buy it again when they update it?