Microsoft Surface Pro 4 12.3 Inch Tablet With Pen

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 12.3 Inch Tablet With Pen Review. Despite some very evident design flaws, the most notable one being the lackluster display, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 was a runaway success. So much so, that it spurred Microsoft into going the OEM route. After very little time on the drawing board, we have the fourth iteration of the Surface Pro, ready to blaze new trails. But does it? Reviews on the Pro 3 are a mixed bag, but the much improved Surface Pro 4 fares considerably better in many key areas.

Take a look at the full range of Surface models on the official Microsoft website

When you have a Surface Pro launching once every eight months, you are kind of forced to believe that there aren’t going to be any groundbreaking new developments. Eight months are too little time to ramp up anything from the ground up. Isn’t it? But Microsoft has clearly upped the ante here. For the new one gives you ample reasons to consider an upgrade from a Pro 3 or ditch the brand loyalty to other brands.

At the forefront are a sleeker form factor, a slightly bigger display, better responsiveness and a brilliant screen that gives the MacBook Air a sucker punch. If this is the first time you are witnessing Microsoft’s 2-in-one tablet/laptop hybrid, then get ready to drool.

Sleek, fast and bright

Out of the box, you might feel that the Surface Pro 4 looks very similar to its predecessor. But upon a closer glance, you can spot the differences. Microsoft’s new logo gets a nod ahead of the Surface Pro logo. The casing is still the same all-magnesium one though.

The new display is 12.3 inches and it is incredibly sleek at just 8.4 mm. The core M model weighs a paltry 766g while the I model weighs an extra 20g for the fan. This is as portable and lightweight as it can get for a 2-in-one. If you opt for the keyboard cover and the stylus pens, it weighs 1.13 kg which again, is pretty light when compared to other rivals.

It may still seem a tad bulky for use as a stand-alone tablet especially if comparisons are drawn to the Samsung TabPro S or Huawei’s newish offering, the Matebook. But hey, there’s only so much that you can cram into a feature rich device like this. Does the reduced thickness come at a tradeoff? Thankfully, it does not. The USB port is retained in the Surface Pro 4.

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According to Microsoft, the reduced dimension is courtesy of the missing capacitive Windows button which was rendered obsolete with the arrival of Windows 10 and thanks to Microsoft’s PixelSense technology, which also has an important part to play in the enhanced responsiveness of the tablet.

The screen resolution is increased to 2,736 x 1,824 which delivers a stunning 267 PPI, making this one of the most pixel-dense tablets in the market currently. (The iPad Pro is only 264 PPI). While we don’t really get swayed by increased pixels on paper, one look at the screen of the Surface Pro 4 and you will notice the enhanced colour accuracy and luminosity.

This will be one of the biggest draws for artists who use it primarily as a graphics tablet, motivating them to look beyond their Wacom devices. Also, the Pro 4’s kickstand makes it extremely easy to adjust the device to almost any angle from 22 to 150 degrees. The tablet stays rock steady and there isn’t the slightest wobble at any of these angles.

Extremely responsive & an improvised Surface Pen

We briefly spoke about the enhanced responsiveness before. Here’s what it translates into. Even a single stroke with the surface pen brings 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity. For a graphics artist, this delivers a fluid experience while creating design-intensive artwork.

What makes this even better is a revamped surface pen (not included in the package) that has been designed more like a pencil. It is more comfortable to hold and features tiny magnetic strips that adhere to the screen. A new and improved eraser button doubles up as the eraser and a shortcut to summon Cortana or open Onenote or just grab a screenshot. Slick! The best part is that the pen does not strain your wrists or your fingers despite being feature rich. This is truly, a standout of the graphic experience with the Surface Pro 4.

Well, this just keeps getting better. The awkward keyboard experience that was one of the biggest niggles of the Surface Pro range just got a much-needed boost. The Surface Pro 4 comes with a swanky new type cover (backward compatible with the Pro 3 and an optional purchase) that provides a more responsive typing experience. The chiclet styled layout is spacious and your fingers don’t grope trying to find the keys which brings it a notch closer to the true laptop experience.

Intel's 6th-Generation Core chips (With 4GB or 8GB RAM) and a 1GB Iris Graphics card complete what is truly an ingenious package.

What I liked the most about it

I was hard pressed to pick a list of favourite features from a device that is packed to the brim with them. But here is a shortlist of some that stood out the most.

Sleek form factor and light weight
Larger display at 12.3 inches
Better screen resolution at 2,736 x 1,824 with 267 PPI
Bright, luminous and true colour accuracy
Incredibly responsive with 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity
Redesigned surface pen
Revamped keyboard and type cover
Extremely fluid user experience for both tablet as well as graphical use
Excellent battery life

What could have been better

Microsoft’s attempts look clearly directed to push closer to the laptop replacement category for its Surface line. And despite the super-impressive performance, the Surface Pro 4 is not really the ideal choice for gaming. It lags behind, especially when you throw resource intensive games at it. Another feature that we were not too impressed with is the magnetic storage for the surface pen on the flanks. This is like a disaster waiting to happen and there is a real possibility of the pen being knocked off as you move around.

Verdict

Despite a few very minor flaws, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is hands down the best 2 in one tablet that money can buy right now. The customer ratings are top-notch on most online retail portals and only back up what I have discovered in this review. Irrespective of whether you intend to use it as a tablet or for graphical use, get ready to be awed with the performance. For further reading, check out what Techradar has to say about the Pro 4 in their extensive review. Or take a quick look at the Microsoft Surface Go (128GB SSD 8GB RAM).