Surface Pro 9 SQ3: What do YOU want in a 5G tablet?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- TEAM SGG PATREON / somegadgetguy Surface Pro 9 5G! Is it a tablet? Is it a computer? WHAT'S A COMPUTER???
Surface Pro 9 on Amazon amzn.to/3Whz4wt
Wrapping up my review time with the Surface Pro 9 SQ3 soon, I'm curious what people's thoughts are. What would YOU want in a 5G enabled slate?
We're in an interesting area, with tablets and laptops blurring the lines on mobile functionality. Here are a few more of my experiences. Some of the things I think the SQ3 does really well, and a few more things that kind of failed. Let's chat!
Juan's Phone Photography Book amzn.to/2HqvUCk
SomeGadgetGuy's Gear List
Panasonic G85 amzn.to/2oKNwAm
Panasonic G9 amzn.to/2XU3mLQ
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 amzn.to/39uXahF
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 amzn.to/2StRDxF
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 amzn.to/2LAASjA
RODE Wireless GO II amzn.to/3m2x5Mj
Audio-Technica Lavalier amzn.to/2WywofM
Focusrite 6i6 Audio Interface amzn.to/2p5l7py
Shure SM57 Microphone amzn.to/2oypnLm
Cloudlifter CL1 amzn.to/2oKN9G5
LED Light Panels amzn.to/2oy60ls
AJA U-TAP HDMI amzn.to/2wfprBF
Elgato HD60 S amzn.to/2p95Unu
--------------------------------------
SGGQA Podcast RSS: feeds.feedburne...
SGGQA Podcast on Spotify: open.spotify.c...
SGGQA Podcast Google Play: play.google.co...
SGGQA Podcast iTunes: itunes.apple.c...
SGGQA Podcast on Stitcher: www.stitcher.c...
SGGQA Podcast on PlayerFM: player.fm/seri...
SGGQA Podcast on Archive.org: archive.org/se...
Official site: somegadgetguy.c...
Juan on Mastodon - techhub.social...
Juan on Twitter - / somegadgetguy
Juan on Instagram - / somegadgetguy
Juan on Patreon - / somegadgetguy
Links on this page may be affiliate links which help support production on this website.
#surfacepro9 #Microsoft #WindowsOnARM
I appreciate your even-handed review while comparing it to both the iPad Pro and cheaper laptops. I've had a SP3 and now an SP8 and will never go back to a traditional laptop. I looked long and hard at the SPX before going with the SP8 last year, but now am considering the SP9 SQ3 as an additional option when I'm traveling. Your review is one of the best, most complete one's I've seen on this PC. Keep up the great work!
Great conversation about this type of device! As a former Surface Pro 4 user, this is my favorite form factor for a mobile computing solution. I've been dreaming for a macOS-powered iPad Pro and complaining about the lack of it for years. These improvements on the Windows side from Qualcomm and Microsoft is making me seriously considering Surface again.
I mean, MS doesn't get enough credit for what theyve been able to accomplish. The fact that Apple still refuses to even TRY a touchscreen on a Mac should say a lot...
I have the pro x SQ2 and I absolutely love it. It is alot more capable than people give it credit for, doesn't run hot and battery life is quite good and the screen looks great. Really would like to see how the sq2 holds up against the new sq3. I doubt it would be worth to upgrade but it is still nice to see how ms has improved
I'm so glad to hear that. I was anxious PRECISELY because of all the techies complaining about the SQ2. But then I remembered how much I enjoyed Windows RT 😅
Had you used the SQ1 previously?
Your approach is so important
You try to find a right person for every tech product
What you said about the iPads vs sq3 is what anyone should try to answer based on personal needs do you want more power while being constrained by the os for 1900 or less power while you have a full blow desktop os like windows for 1650?
Super like 👍
Of course there are people who always say that Windows on ARM is bad compared to the current ARM-only macOS. They have to remember that Microsoft doesn't go Apple's way by forcing every app or software developers to go ARM only because there are still bucketloads of people around, especially in the SME circle, who still use older version of Windows. A privately-owned hospital nearby my home still use Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 11 for patient database for God sake!
Underrated thumbnail! Great video, as always!
Had a little fun. 🙂
I really wish developer are more on board with Windows on ARM and catch up with MacOS sooner than later. Two main thing I do on my PC (software development with VM running and drawing with CSP) still can't be fulfilled with Windows on ARM I think. The SP9 5G is really close for my dream 2-in-1, but software support and a just okay SOC hold it back.
On the other hand, Apple refused to make a 2-in-1 MacOS, while iPad Pro is pretty amazing these days, I still need desktop OS for my software development work, even though the drawing experience there is really-really tempting.
Oh well, I suppose I'll stuck with x86 for a couple more years and hope that Microsoft won't abandon Windows on ARM until then... :D
It's frustrating because any developers that embrace the platform early would have that niche on lock once the next gen of hardware comes out. Better to be a little early than struggling to catch up...
@@SomeGadgetGuy I would definitely be an early adopter if the price for entry is a bit more affordable, but picking between x86 SP9 vs ARM SP9 is a no-brainer, except for the 5G. The Windows on ARM is a secondary device at best right now, unless we only need browser and office (and anything else Microsoft provide natively). In that sense, it isn't that much different from iPad or Android tablet, although closer to desktop OS experience.
I'm personally a Surface believer, starting from Surface Pro 1 and now rocking the Laptop Studio. I'd love to see Windows on ARM succeeded, but it's frustating to see how far behind the Qualcomm SoC is right now...
I'm a software engineer and run my entire life out of a Thinkpad x13s, which is effectively the exact same SOC (though admittedly I have twice the RAM). People talk about the performance of these devices like they're slower than computers from 2010 but in reality, they're more than enough even for many power users. Sure, there are limitations, and video editing is one of those limitations, but that's such a small subset of users that are going to run into that.
I'm in it deep with another commenter on this video who emotionally won't let it go that windows on ARM is getting pretty good.
@@SomeGadgetGuy It's an incredibly unfortunate mentality these days. WoA was admittedly pretty trash on release, and even the SPX was. . . rough. . . but ever since W11 it's really been a great experience. Looking forward to seeing what the Oryon processors can do
Oh man. Me too. That Qualcomm / ARM legal fight could hurt a LOT of progress on this tech 😬
Thanks reviewer like you are here to showcase what these device can really do and cannot do. Other reviews like Engadget one only focused on the negative. Amazing job!
Yeah Juan must be the same reason why I can't use msm tool for op devices???, Cuz of the Qualcomm drivers needed
I don’t know how interested you would be on reviewing linux distros but I would subscribe in seconds
I watched this earlier and only now noticed the thumbnail. Thanks, Juan.
😊
There's also many remote access tool or ssh, in case you need to connect to a faster desktop x86-64 computer. And in more situations because you don't have 5g with an Intel/AMD laptop
I bought my Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro for about $1200 5 years ago. I only use it for work because the MX150 graphics card is not really that powerful. And I bought a Lenovo Android tablet for $400 because my work requires me to read a lot of documents, and it's easier and more comfortable reading using a tablet. And I bought a $50 stylus because I have to scribble notes and sketches during field work. The Surface Pro 9 would be perfect, if only the battery was user-replaceable. I live in a place where if it's not a Samsung phone with a locally available service center, you throw away your electronics when the battery dies. We don't even have electronics recycling centers here at the moment. Already replaced the laptop's battery, and it's easier to give up a $400 item every 3-5 years than a $1600 one.
For a modern tablet, there's a bit of prying to get inside, but the pro 9 battery is not glued in. www.ifixit.com/News/68671/does-the-surface-pro-9-mark-a-turning-point-for-repairability-at-microsoft
So many amazing tech stuff, besides tablet. This would be very cool, if you make a video (or videos) about all of it.
Even though it's less powerful, how would this do for video editing? I imagine the render times wouldn't be amazing but I'm still interested in how it would perform.
I don't know. Ive only gotten clipchamp to run so far. I need a good way to install or sideload LumaFusion. 😁
@@SomeGadgetGuy that's exactly what I was thinking...how would sideloading Lumafusion go 💯
@@SomeGadgetGuy Winodws 11 incorporates linux within the OS.
I bought for kids, back then, windows tablet it was running Atom provessor. And it was more productive than any android tablet, and it will be.
If it could make phonecalls from the sim card it would be fantastic. Lets hope that version 10 of the tablet will support that.
YUP! I'd love to see more tablets just take on the role of being a phone.
Windows on Arm has always have been enough that most people can use them for work. In terms of productivity, a productivity focused OS with some touch screen friendliness will always be better than a locked down general consumer OS that has some productivity features. But I always imagine how much further it would’ve gotten if MS had stuck to it instead of restarting whenever the “relevancy” surfaces, in which case, the competition has already way surpassed them and the only thing that will stop them from total domination is their refusal to put a touch screen on their laptop
Oh the stop / start definitely kills consumer momentum. That's always been a frustration. I just feel THIS iteration is good enough that folks won't feel totally left out if there's another "pause" from MS.
ARM laptops are inevitable. I think this is the beginning where consumers can start taking them more seriously in a broader sense.
Loved your transparency on Shanon Morse channel
Snubs is a real one. I LOVE getting to hang out with her.
Windows subsystem for Linux? Might be a Surface general video. Also, repairability for batteries ?
Oh good call. I was playing with android. Gotta slap a Linux distro on here...
@@SomeGadgetGuy not sure if any distro supports the mobile processor yet.
Worth testing then 😁
Can you test how the SQ3 does with heavy Excel models? Interested in the battery life depletion compared to x86
I only use excel for basic data tracking. Link me something you'd want to see. 👍
While I'd personally take the Intel version, you make a solid point. The average person lives in the browser and Microsoft Office tools. This tablet is perfectly capable of doing that well. The fact that Chrome doesn't run well on the SQ3 version of the Surface 9, has more to do with Google than it does with Microsoft. Apple is the kind of company where they make a drastic change and developers jump on board. Microsoft has had challenges convincing developers to support their ambitious new projects. Furthermore, Google and Microsoft have a strained relationship. Google won't do Microsoft any favours here.
And if Google doesn't want to play ball, it'll just mean more support for Amazon and sideloading Open Source Android apps.
Speaking of RT and music stuff: how well is SQ3 playing with audio interfaces? How's it do on latencymon tests?
People have been sleeping on Arm/Qualcomm since Samsung Foundry has been ruining their SoCs the past few years. The 8+g1 was the first TSMC fabbed SoC since the 865 and it allowed Qualcomm to close the gap with Apple in GPU. And now the 8g2 is the most powerful smartphone GPU by a decent margin, even surpassing the M1 tablet/laptop SoC. I can't wait for Qualcomm's Nuvia SoCs which should address their CPU weakness. Although the main reason for their CPU weakness is the tiny caches, as we've seen with Arm servers, their ST improves heaps with decent cache
TSMC caught Qualcomm up in a BIG way last year. The performance per watt is RAD.
My question is why buy this vs the intel model? I've used all three of Microsoft's SQ variant surfaces, and battery life is the exact same as with the intel versions. (Light office work, web browsing, TH-cam). With an i7 for example, you are buying yourself a lot more runway for future proofing, and you don't have any compromise in case you get into something that requires you to install software that otherwise wouldn't work on the SQ3.
Also, connecting your phone's hotspot to your Surface just once, saves it permanently Anytime you need connectivity "on the go", it's a simple toggle switch on your phone. So, the 5G connectivity is also covered by something already in your pocket...
I really want to like the Windows on ARM movement. But the device isn't cheaper, its slower, it has the same battery life, and it has quite a bit of software limitations, even the software that does work emulated, performs poorly an destroys the battery life.
So again, the question is; why buy this vs the intel model?
ARM in general always have better power consumption than x86. If you only do light work, you won't notice the difference. If you play games or do video editing, then the difference become real.
@Faris Hanafiah what? You have that backwards...
I'm really tempted to pick one of these, or a used pro x up just to mess around with an arm chipset on a more open platform. I love how fast and efficient my ipad is, but it is so frustrating how much apple limits what you can do in their OS, and it kind of ruins it for the tinkerer in me.
It's completely different pros and cons right? More power would be nice, but it drives me nuts that Apple refuses to even TRY adding touch to Mac OS.
@@SomeGadgetGuy yeah, I have a whole different set of issues with Mac os... Of course it would be nice to have touch, but also they're implementation of text scaling can make it annoying to use external displays. Also, it felt like a lot of the utilities you can get for free on windows and Linux you get nickle and dimed for in the Mac os ecosystem. Just small annoyances that wore me down over a while I guess lol.
Merry Christmas 🎅🎁
Merry Christmas 🙂
I hate how tech media still ignores Galaxy Tabs.
With android 13 on Samsung one UI 5.1, and DeX, the Tab S8 line is the BEST middle ground between Apple and Windows tablets.
You really should check it out.
The only although big flaw is the crappy vanilla samsung built Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 running under the hood.
But the S9 line should really become a near perfect all in one for majority of people.
Really looking forward to that. I don't like Samsung, but Galaxy trans are the real deal. It's funny tho, that with the Android subsystem for Windows 11, the Surface can also run Android 13, and performance for Android apps is pretty good.
I don't see anything wrong with it for most business and regular folks. It could also be useful in some low-level IT work as well.
I keep thinking about things like insurance. A perfect "fleet" tablet for location claims.
6:47 My favorite part of these videos.
We have fun.
I quite of hate that qualcomm windows drivers are a mess with the x64bit emulator/translator software...
I mean, I have seen windows 10 arm on a SD845 and its super cool, Qualcomm drivers are generic they can potentially do like nvidia and create a app for android and windows to keep it update and compatible with more software.
Windows ARM is held mostly by software support since the hardware is enough for the majority of task, I remember seeing a qualcomm cpu with a dedicated nvidia gpu working with games... it was a beta hardware and software but it show the potential is there...
Imagine an SQ4 with an optimus nvidia 4070ti or something, that would be amazing!, if the drivers is right but seeing how microsoft is handling things it might ended being a mess...
Once again, ARM can do but the software is not there, after the recent stuff with apple and china I love how cool their M1 and M2 chips are but I will prefer to support something else... I hope software support improve in a near future.
Oh for sure. Like the resolve issue I had. We're not THAT far from software like that running well, but we certainly need better support from Qualcomm. Even without it tho, I can't play Tetris effect or Shredder's Revenge on an ipad...
@@SomeGadgetGuy Yeah, I think this whole driver issue is how OEMs and qualcomm handle the drivers... they should do a "Qualcomm control panel" or "Qualcomm experience" kind of thing so we could use that for updating drivers, they could do it so it support both windows and android, because the playstore idea was kind of a mess honestly.
Also... will it killed them to give us recovery drivers for all androids, even if it void my warranty I will sacrifice my old S9+ but I could definitely love to play with a dual both android+windows 10 ARM and test some apps... also, since that device have display port out via usb type C dongle you can turn it into a portable setup for some people.
Oh boy, I can even imagine the amount of emulators I could test!
Still want close to 100% compatibility and closer to 3:4 aspect ratio for note taking.
Also, would've preferred the Surface Pro X thinness.
Software compatiblity is down to the developers in the first place. If they have no interest for it, there's nothing we can do.
The Lenovo duet Chromebooks seems like the most obvious competition in between windows and ipad is
The Duet is a NICE concept for sure. You definitely save some cash on the storage and SOC.
For Linux geeks, I can agree with that. You buy Chromebook because you want GNU Linux support, something that Android doesn't have. But I still vote for Windows as the best option for desktop-grade tablet.
can we make cellular phone call ? not VoIP, but real cellular phone call
I am going to hold off for a little while. 😂
But Barry?!?!? ALL THE TOYS!!! 😅
@@SomeGadgetGuy 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hey it's your fault, I went down a rabbit hole on DAPs. Do you have one and what's your setup?
Qualcomm Oryon CPU coming in 2023 for Windows Laptop. Oryon is arm based desktop level power processor and Qualcomm Claims Oryon beat M1/M2 Processors.
How well will this run high demanding steam games? Can this be used as a gaming computer?
Considering it's roughly as powerful as an older core i3, not bad th-cam.com/video/hTm2zNonAoo/w-d-xo.html
Have you searched for any Linux distros that support this SoC? Or open source video app. Maybe blender alpha versions?
It's running Ubuntu pretty well with the Linux sub system. Kdenlive turns into a slide show trying to preview 4k60, but it works.
i wanna see the performance of android apps on WOA
👍
Love how you give Microsoft the credit they deserve for this segment. I truly believe the iPad Pro and iPad OS as they are now would not exist were it not for the Surface lineup.
Oh for sure. The iPad Pro is great hardware, but there's still software limitations JUST because apple drew a line between them. I really want to see a MacOS slate with a touchscreen, but apple can't seem to figure that out.
@@SomeGadgetGuy It's like you said in your podcast, Apple would rather sell you multiple devices for specific tasks rather than a couple of devices that can do almost everything.
I think "average" folks are already ahead of the curve in a lot of ways on home compute use. Especially compared against how techies TALK about "avuraj" people.
A little more education and a little more developer support, and I think more folks will be empowered to reduce the number of devices they feel they NEED to buy.
I never game so my reviews never have gaming performance in them. Is there a gaming benchmark app?
See this in 2024 when Copilot + PC are coming ❤
Now I want a uPerfect
Been trying to tell people. Portable displays are amazing ways to get more use out of MULTIPLE gadgets you already own.
@@SomeGadgetGuy THIS! They only think it's only for smartphones.
8:35 That's why I'm not buying the iPad Pro until Apple put macOS in it. iPadOS is absolutely nothing compared to Windows.
Drives me crazy how apple limited the hardware.
Microsoft somehow did what Apple won't do: a tablet with desktop OS and desktop class apps, with tablet like long battery life. I'm sad that there isn't a cheap 16GB RAM+256GB ROM option, so hopefully there is a manufacturer that will step up to the plate (but I think they'll be pressured by both Microsoft and Google to not to, for various reasons). I still think that Microsoft can do better in terms of UI. On the low end, maybe the basic iPad will win, but for the price of a higher end ipad (like iPad Pro 512GB or 1TB edition), the Surface Pro has merits price per performance per feature that cannot be ignored.
That is why I never recommend the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement as iPadOS is still a glorified iOS for tablets. Any Windows-powered tablet is the right answer.
I really don't think that's called out enough. Adding touch to a traditionally desktop OS is not easy. Apple won't even try.
@@farishanafiah8461 considering the poor optimisation Microsoft did for older snapdragon SoCs, yes there is some truth, but both hardware and OS for Windows on ARM has improved a lot, and now we are seeing more manufacturers dabbling in the windows on ARM space. That means the auto "I recommend you iPad Pro" reviewers need to really review their stance instead of doing that.
so for me the competition is samsung....$1,250.00
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ Android Tablet, 12.4” Large AMOLED Screen, 512GB Storage, Wi-Fi 6E, Ultra Wide Camera, S Pen Included, Long Lasting Battery, Graphite 16gig ram
Also a solid fight there too. Unfortunately, I can't currently buy an S8+ with 5G and 256GB which is weird.
Also, and it's just kinda funny, I THINK windows 11 was only a week behind the Tab S8 to get Android 13.
An android tablet might be better for being in the field because of course you will always be connected and could use Office Online.
Office Online is not feature packed as desktop Office though.
@@farishanafiah8461 True but I would assume most mobile workers dont need all those features right?
2:22 That is the issue buddy, I get the "a device for one but not for all" but if you want developers to support the hardware or it will end like the shitty windows ARM that die before even showing (and had a tegra, I love those but the support FROM MICROSOFT was shit, there driver issues that they never resolve).
Windows ARM is currently in a limbo of driver support that is not helping the software support... current windows ARM feels like a closed system than a open (or at least more open than MacOSX) one.
To put on a perspective, people grow, improve, learned and wants more and yiu recommend THIS device to someone that will grow faster the this won't be enough it won't be a good investment.
Apple with the M1 can promised a good support in terms on software support, at the beginning it wasn't a good investment but it grow but Apple have a close system easier for them to get newer more optimized apps...
But windows ARM is not... that said I want windows ARM to get better, since that will help the community and give us more options.
I mean you have a lot of FEELINGS, but so far nothing you've said is comparable to my use of the actual product. So far this has been a solid productivity slate who's only serious sin is that it loads Windows X86 apps a little slower and isn't great for heavier content creation like video editing.
All the things that a Core i5 tablet would struggle with too, and with WAY poorer battery life.
There's definitely PLENTY of room to grow, but to act like this isn't significant progress already is just silly.
By this same logic, we shouldn't recommend iPad Pros, because when Apple changed from A to M, it left a LOT of folks behind on new features and new apps for iPads. Those users outgrew the older ipad pros JUST like how you're describing, all because Apple changed silicon.
Let's not act like Apple was somehow magically better here, tech reviewers just gave that evolution a pass, while condemning similar teething pains for windows.
@@SomeGadgetGuy Using apple as example doesn't translate because like I said, apple force developers to support their platform, Microsoft can support their own platform at times... and qualcomm hardware is closed compared to x86 chips...
@@SomeGadgetGuy They gave a pass?, they were on their throat most of the time, you can view the videos FROM DEVS that criticize (which is good) most of the hardware and software, but apple software (rosetta 2) was waaaaaay better than what microsoft is offering and guess what, windows ARM is being around faaaaar more time than M platform...
Like dude, tegra windows arm?ARM?, remember?, I do.
Devs were mad. Tech reviewers largely shrugged after the story passed.
Again, we're talking about a consistency of criticism.
You're bringing up great technical points, but the actual daily use experience is spot on for what MS is trying to achieve.
If we're going to be mad about the gaps on Windows on ARM (and overlook the incredible Android 13 support that can close most of those gaps), then we equally need to say that no one should buy Apple because folks get left behind on features aggressively.
Arm is better suited for ChromeOS for now.
And that wont change unless we honestly talk about what's working better on Windows on ARM these days.
chromeOS.....LOL
@@SomeGadgetGuy that's fair, but for productivity purposes you could pick up a mediatek powered Chromebook for 1/3 the price that is 90 percent as capable. I just don't see any value in windows on arm for that price point until there are serious power and capability improvements. I haven't touched my windows tablet since switching to an Acer Chromebook convertible a year ago, which I use as a tattoo artist. I just get the feeling we are beta testing and with a premium on top of that. Also apple ecosystem products are a no go for me.
Even Linux on ARM is not that well polished.