Dressed up in a stylish, matte black, the new 2-in-1 Surface Pro 7 serves up best-in-class performance and power, with impressive display and a responsive touchscreen.
We take the device for a road trip to find well it fulfills the needs of today’s travelers – whether you’re a busy professional looking to power through presentations and emails while abroad, or a holidaying executive seeking to keep up with important office issues while on a much-needed vacation.
Unbeatable Slim Form Factor
The Surface Pro 7’s best feature – by far – is its unbeatable slim form factor. This is one laptop you’ll actually want to use while on the move, simply because of how easily it handles. You can effortlessly slide it out of your carryon’s laptop compartment or pocket, and just as quickly stash it away when done.
Picture this: You’re checked in and ready to go, sipping your celebratory Starbucks while waiting to board. Pull out your Surface Pro 7, flip open the kickstand and send last minute instructions to your team, or catch up on yesterday’s meeting minutes. Gate open for boarding? Snap everything shut and hand-carry your Surface Pro 7 until you drop it off at the security tray for screening. Past the scanner, pick it up and slip it back into your carryon. Easy breezy.
Then, once comfortably settled on board, open up your Surface Pro 7 and binge all the Netflix you’ve been meaning to catch up on. It’ll sit perfectly and quietly on your tray table, serving up entertainment until it’s time to disembark.
Giving Most Laptops a Run for their Money
In it’s most bare-bones configuration, the Surface Pro 7 is undeniably a tablet, with a masculinity that hints at the power under the surface. But combine it with the acclaimed Type Cover, and you get a device that’ll give most laptops a run for their money.
A lot of the functionality of the Surface Pro 7 (and indeed, every member of the lineup) is unlocked with the addition of the Type Cover, which is essentially a fully-featured keyboard-cum-trackpad, and anti-scratch cover in one. Despite its thinness, it nevertheless offers impressive key travel and a satisfying typing experience, helping to bring the user experience closer to the laptop end of the spectrum.
But all that would be mere vanity styling if the core computing experience didn’t measure up. Thankfully, with the Surface Pro 7, all you’ll experience is smooth, seamless execution of most common computing tasks. Even hardcore power users will forget they are actually banging away at a tablet!
Lightweight Candidate, Heavyweight Performer
The Surface Pro 7 offers improved power over its predecessor thanks to the inclusion of a 10th gen Intel Quad-core CPU (for the i5 and i7 options, and duo-core for the i3). Paired with a speedy SSD of up to 1TB, and up to 16 GB RAM, the Pro 7 makes for a reliable upgrade for Windows users grappling with outdated machines.
However, all that power comes at a cost – reduced battery life. Although not terrible (we managed to get about 8 hours on normal workday usage), the Pro 7 has a noticeably shorter run than its peers on a full charge. If you’re facing down a long day, you’ll want to pack your charging cable.
In terms of ports, the Surface Pro 7 offers increased functionality, thanks to the much-awaited inclusion of USB-C, which sits alongside a USB-A port, a MicroSDXC card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack. The latter is a welcome addition – the speakers on the device aren’t exactly impressive, so you’ll be better off using your own headphones for your Netflix binges.
And binge you will, given the Surface Pro 7’s sharp, brilliant display. Even when set to a lower brightness, details and text on screen are clear and easy to make out. Indeed, the rich and colorful display is one of the device’s best features.
Surface Pro 7 – Best Performance and Portability
For sale starting from around $1,388 (does not include accessories such as Type Cover, Surface Pen and Mouse), the Surface Pro 7 certainly isn’t priced for impulse buys.
But in the era of telecommuting and flexible work arrangements, the Surface Pro 7 (especially the stylish matte black option) serves up top-line performance as both your office laptop and your travel companion.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Specs: 10th Gen Intel Core – i3 duo-core, i5 quad-core, i7 quad-core, 4GB/8GB/16GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB storage
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
- Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x nano SIM, 1x Surface Connect, 1x Surface Type Cover connector
- Dimensions: 292 mm x 201 mm x 8.5 mm
- Weight: 775 gm to 790 gm
- Available in: Platinum, Matte Black
Top photo by Microsoftstore via Instagram.
