Ever since Microsoft released the Surface Pro line, I've always wanted to have one & this looks like the best one so far. I just wish they included the keyboard with the price.😪
Lenovo's X12 Tablet (windows) is like the Surface Pro but you can pick it up starting at $1050 when on sale which includes keyboard, pen and warranty out of the box. X12 is also 11th Gen Intel so I'd strongly recommend it. Surface is priced high because they market to businesses primarily.
I've had the surface pro 5 since fall 2017 for college (degree and master). In my opinion surface pro line saves you from owning a tablet and a laptop, because it can do both. It's great for taking notes in class and for working in MS office while getting all the functionalities of a windows PC. Surface pro 8 fixes the old design and better specs, I'm sure it is a great device! Nice video :)
I can see this as a great product for students! At my uni, I see tons of people with the Macbook + iPad + Apple Pencil setup for general tasks on the Macbook and note-taking with the iPad + Apple Pencil. The SP8 seems to combine all that into one package, with compromises of course
Question is, how are students going to able to afford a brand new PC that _starts_ at $1650? Surface is aimed at large Businesses who bulk buy these devices as a tax write-off which is why they are so expensive.
@@mini9503 The same way they can afford a $1000+ MacBook, $500+ iPad, and $200 apple pencil, which is what they're literally using at his school now if you read his whole comment.
@@mini9503 Where do you keep getting this notion that most college students are paying for things solely out of their pocket lol? The vast majority of college students have their parents either helping them or just buying everything for them their freshman year.
I'm definitely buying one once the prices go down a little. Been using the surface pro 4 for nearly 5 years now and haven't regretted the purchase in the slightest.
This was an absolutely brilliant review. Your points were clear and I agree with everything you said. It really is the best 2-in-1 device you can get. I can’t wait for the comparison video and I hope there’s a Surface Laptop Studio review coming soon ;)
The expandable storage is really surprising! These types of devices usually don't provide that option and will charge you an extra $200 to upgrade you to a higher storage capacity. So good on them for including that.
The haptic feedback (at least after an update that I noticed) depends on the pressure you put on the tablet using the Pen. The harder you push down the more you can feel the vibrations, also can feel it a lot more using the eraser.
I am a software developer and use a high end desktop for work. I hate laptops as they are not really portable devices, but do like tablets for casual web browsing etc. I recently bought the same model as you and have paired it with a thunderbolt 4 hub connected to dual monitors, a real keyboard and mouse and a few peripherals for a desk top replacement and it is more than capable. The fact I can unplug the dock, pick the device up and have it truly portable with all my stuff on it is miraculous frankly. It is close to the perfect every day device for work and down time watching movies, web browsing and light sofa based gaming.
Sweet to hear! I ordered the i7 16GB/256GB model yesterday also for programming (and image editing, graphics design and maybe occasional video editing, nothing big or fancy), it's going to replace my older Macbook Pro and Windows desktop. I hope it's powerful enough to run the software I need. Graphics are not quite at the level of my desktop even though I'm running older GTX 970, so not expecting to game with it (not unless I get eGPU down the road). BUT if it can run all the productivity software I need to, I'm selling both the desktop and Macbook. Can't wait to test it out!
Really looking forward to getting the new surface pro 8. Currently running a surface pro 5 for last 4 years. It has never missed a beat. Agree with the other comments keyboard and now pen should be standard at this price point.
I own the Surface Pro 7+ and I will recommend anyone who is in the market for the latest hybrid laptop to get the Surface Pro 8. It's the best hybrid laptop you will find on the market right now.
Best review I have seen of the MS Surface Pro 8 so far, nice in depth video talking about pros and cons and what you're going to get for your money. Definitely looking into picking it up for university as I need to both draw stuff as well as take a lot of notes, I have been waiting for this thing forever as the Pro 7 was kind of disappointing!
Great review! Bit late to the party here. .almost bought the SP9 but after watching reviews ended up getting the SP8.. got it on Amazon renewed for $645 for the i5/8gb/256gb, added a renewed keyboard/pen2 for $150 so under $800 total. After watching your review.. definitely feels like a great deal.
Can you get 32 or 64 gm ram in it? Is it swappable? I am into machine learning and hacking studies now… I love to have just a screen with a computer inside that I can connect my mechanic keyboard to and program on all day!
SP8 is more like 3-in1 when you count in the ability to use eGPU. You can turn this device into a desktop gaming powerhouse too. The versatility is just insane!
I've just ordered a Surface Pro 8 (i5 --> because of battery life and almost same performance --> after watching quite a few reviews, 256GB and 16 GB RAM) with keyboard and pen for 1488 USD (I live in Switzerland, I paid 1376.40 CHF), so I'd say for that price with everything included I got a very good deal compared to the prices I've heard in many reviews. Looking forward to receive it and check it out 🙂 Typed this from my Surface Pro 7 (i3, 4GB RAM), which is still a very nice device, but only for basic productivity work. Cheers and thanks for the nice review!
I've just bought a Surface Pro 7 with an I5 CPU, 8 GB RAM and 128 GB "HD". And yes I would very much like the Pro 8 but I'll have to wait till it gets cheaper. Luckily I could reuse the keyboard and the pen from my older Surface Pro with an M3 CPU.
I bought an M1 iPad Pro 11" with keyboard and stylus. It's very compact and mobile. Looks great. Functions well. But as a productivity tool it's very frustrating to use. Multi-tasking is annoying with the forced swipe function. Widgets are limited. Stylus 2 is not that intuitive although good, and 11" real estate is limited for taking notes. Thinking of trading for Surface Pro 8.
For me as a student, the pro 8 is probably the better device as I see myself taking writing on the tablet with the pen during the lecture und the studio doesn’t seem to be made for this scenario. However, the Studio just looks so much more elegant with its keyboard to me. Furthermore the screen is bigger which could be important for reading e books while taking notes on an tab simultaneously and is just 200€ more expensive. What should I do?
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate your kind words. I am happy to hear my video style resonates with you. If you ever have any video requests, let me know on twitter or instagram
Like a tablet, I think that you need to have a specific work flow to really need this kind of device. Usually this kind of device will be use with a specific app that you already need and is a part of you work flow
I really think for the working professionals like Architects, or Civil Engineers, who often visit client sites, and have to refer to drawings on the go, this is an easy pop out and pop in option. It's powerful enough to support Revit or SketchUp, or Lumion on the cloud front. Sweet spot between UX and power.
This thing is so good and something that I've been waiting for Microsoft to update its design ever since the launch of Pro X last 2 years ago but that price tho, and the cost to add the type keyboard cover 🥲 I know this is directly rival to iPad Pro but really hope you could compare this against MacBook Air as well because I'm currently shortlisted that and this Pro 8 as my next computer, not to mention this also compete against many slim laptops too, so the comparison is still relevant imo ...
No one interested in a Surface Pro 8 would ever consider a MBA. No touchscreen, no pen support, no 2-in-1 design, no detechable keyboard, no kickstand, no face recognition, no upgradability, etc. And let's not forget all the class-action lawsuit field against MBs: 2021 crackec screen, 2020 green screen, 2019 connectivity, 2018 keyboard, 2017 thermal throttling. And that is just in the last 5 years!
This thing really blows away anything Apple makes at this point... You'd have to buy a MPA 13 and an iPad Pro to get all the functionality. It's got touch, pen input and detachable slate that the MPA doesn't have any it's got a full OS that iPad doesn't have
I agree that the price is high but there is nothing like this in the market, I mean Microsoft nailed it with this iteration, you are getting a full blown OS which is Windows 11 that you can use with attached keyboard when you want to get work done in laptop mode and when you are on the couch it can be used in a tablet mode using the the stylus. Arrival of Android apps in Windows 11 is icing on top of the cake.
Will the surface pro 8 base model be sufficient enough for an incredible one note digital note taking experience.. I only want the device for digital note taking and nothing else..
Great video. Thanks. I do love the SP8. I do want one, but the price puts me off unfortunately. If the keyboard/pen was included in the price then I would definitely go for it.
Great review, waiting for mine to be delivered today. On Jan 11 2022, the released it with LTE and that's the model I ordered. Hope it's not a lemon... lol 😆
A big market for Surface products these days is schools - especially teachers. The camera has always annoyed me. That's why the 4k camera is really a huge win - for photos of the whiteboard, student results, etc.
Great review, Mike! I think you touched on the problem with laptop-tablet hybrids: The standalone products work better at what they're for, and the added expense of combining them together just isn't justified. If what you want is a decent laptop and a decent tablet, you could probably get those separately and pay less than you would for this. At best, this is for a very specific use case where you need to do tablet things and laptop things at virtually the same time. But in my eyes, this isn't even really a hybrid. It's a tablet. It's Windows 11 running on a tablet. The only way I could see justifying calling this an actual laptop/tablet hybrid is if the keyboard came *with it*.
i dont even see this as a tablet honestly. i see it as a low spec laptop. you can get the same use from the asus 13" gaming laptop that is cheaper and you get better specs. has a touchscreen and comes with the keyboard as its a laptop and the keyboard folds behind if you want to hold it like a tablet. what i like is that the screen is seperate. so you get a bit better cooling. and if it gets hot like this sp8 does, its just with the keyboard and components but not the screen were as this sp8 if it gets hot is everything.
@@BrianHartman i dont justity it as a tablet either. yeah, it does not come with a keyboard. but it also does not have its own tablet style OS. with adding a keyboard, (which you can buy and plug one in with a usb c adaptor). it acts more like a low end laptop. if it had a lot more tablet futures like games that would work on it like a tablet then sure. without a keyboard, its still feels like a laptop using the touchscreen. like i mentioned, i have a asus gaming laptop that cost less, has a touchscreen and built in keyboard. this feels the same as my asus if i am using it without the keyboard. but my asus can do a lot more as it has better specs. which is sad as it cost less.
Hi Mike, thanks for the review. I'm current using the older Surface Pro 5, and am thinking of upgrading to either the Pro 7 or waiting for th Pro 8 to be release in my country. Would like to see a comparison between Pro 7 and this Pro 8, if possible. One reason that holding me back is the support for the SD card, as mentioned in your video. Thanks.
Keep in mind that unfortunately the keyboard is not compatible between surface pro prior to 8 and surface pro 8 (it has surface pro x connector). For that and the pen I'm actually considering getting surface pro 7+ to upgrade from my surface pro 4 as the only thing that I'd like to improve is the performance and also my display is slowly dying.
The pen was made from aluminum or magnesium, with the old battery technology it was heavy and didn't work properly. Just be grateful that this turned out that good.
Hi Mike, thank you very much for your review. It helped me a lot to get closer to a decision … But, I am still not sure what matches my needs better, the Surface Pro 8 or the Surface book 3 … I am often travelling long distance, and I use a device for all purpose, what means for online banking, Microsoft office and a focus on video editing … what do you think might be the better choice?
Thank you so much for this. I'm a graphic artist and I realize I only like tablet pc's. I have a Galaxy Book pro tablet that I love, but had to retire b/c Adobe InD currently won't work w/ARM processors. Any word if Samsung is coming out w/new 2n1's?
👍Good review. Thank you. 💝 😫I have loved the Surface Pros until now….No SDCard slot and no USB slot 😫 Why do these companies discontinue options that work?😖😫
No SDCard slot is a bummer. Not only do creative professionals actually use (full sized) SD cards, but the slot would be nice to have for expandable storage too. :/ Oh well, at least the SSD can be swapped out. I went with the i7 16GB/256GB model and planning on swapping the SSD for 1TB one. Saves me 400 bucks of MS tax doing it myself.
Hey man - I’m a masters student about to start writing my thesis and I’m looking for a device I can research on, take notes, write the paper itself etc - would you recommend this or the new Surface Laptop Studio? I’m currently using a 2017 MBP & 2018 iPad Pro but I want to just use one device :) Thanks for the vid!
A little insight from a 10 year iPad user. It may not seem like a big deal, especially for those who don't really use tablets/iPads often, but the aspect ratio plays a big part as to why the iPad is so successful, for me at least, as it is closest to A4, magazines, notebooks and easier to hold one handed. Windows and Android manufacturers have been focusing too much on a widescreen aspect ratio that is geared towards landscape use that portrait is sacrificed becoming very much unusable. It results in a tablet that is too "tall" or "narrow" hence often shown and held in landscape. There is no balance. It's quite odd that many tech youtubers when picking up these tablets have never held a magazine, book or A4 piece of paper in their life before and instinctively hold these tablets in horizontal/landscape....because of the manufacturers. The aspect ratio balance has gotten a little better over the years with Android/Windows tablets and portrait growing a little bit more wider. Again this may not seem like a big deal or maybe some people don't like it, but Microsoft are making the Surface and Windows 11 to be more tablet touch friendly targeting Apple iPad Pro users such as myself. I plan on getting off the iPad bandwagon soon, simply because iPadOS is restrictive and limited, but the Surface and Windows 11 still need a lot of improvements + LTE connectivity options right out the gate + aspect ratio for portrait needs to be a teensy bit more wider + Windows 11 touch gestures need to improve large multiple file selection and dropping - iPadOS still can't do this well and file management system is infamously horrendous + Go towards powerful ARM processors as they simply are far better for tablets than Intel. Maybe end up being fanless as a result + App use and support still not ready, but just a matter of time + Surface Pen 2, feels too springy, slightly laggy compared to Apple Pencil when I tested a demo unit in store - perhaps 120hz refresh was turned off.
I'm very disappointed that it doesn't have a micro SD slot. Why on earth not when the Surface Go does? Sure, you can replace the SSD storage but that's going to be way more expensive than a SD card and not as convenient to do. Puzzled that MS don't go all out with a killer value premium Pro device and wrap up the market for Windows devices. Do they not want to upset the other suppliers? Or do they not want to damage their super premium - which means really super expensive - cachet? I'm happy with my old Surface Go 1 and going to continue to look out for a cheaper but more capable and bigger Windows 2 in 1 - maybe a HP Spectre, a Dell, Lenovo or Asus? Anyone have any suggestions of a competitive alternative to this beautiful Surface Pro 8? Thanks again Mike for another really professional and useful video review. You are certainly raising the standards for tech reviews on TH-cam!
I'm considering to get SP8 i5 8GB RAM & 256GB SSD for my moderate usage (sometime I use lightroom and photoshop) . I already have notebook i7 with 16 GB RAM for my daily office works and will use the SP8 as the companion of this notebook . Is i5 with 8RAM good decision for the long run? thanks
Which is better Pro 8 or the Asus Flip S? Also, can I replace the Pro 8 ssd with my 2 TB Samsung SSD in the removable slot... Will android apps be added later to the Pro 8? Can the pen be padded up with a sheath or cover to give a round shape? Also, will they be bringing in a Pro 9 with a 12 Gen I7? Thanks folks, for your valued feedback. Thank you Mike, very very helpful as always...
It is connected through the connector at the bottom of the device. This means that you don't need to charge it and that it will disconnect once you detach it.
Can you do a video on what display can work on a surface, also is windows 11 home is the only version you can have on the surface I kinda want windows 11 Pro on the surface
I had a Surface Pro 7. Think of it as a laptop 1st that can do some tablet things. An iPad or Android tablet imo feels like a tablet 1st that can do some laptop things. I personally didn't use the pen that much on my Surface and eventually sold it and bought a 2 in 1 laptop. Works better for what I do. If I was an artist or heavy pen user the Surface would have been great. Pricey but watch for deals that include the keyboard.
DO NOT make a video comparison a real computer with tablets that run smartphone apps. There is a reason tablet sales have plummeted from 240 million in 2013 to 160 million in 2019. They ain't computers and have extremely limited functionality (e.g., can't run full version of Adobe, MS Office, etc.). iPads - 1.9 million smartphone apps, Samsung - 2.8 million smartphone apps, SP8 - 35 million Windows applications (plus over 1 million Windows Store apps once Amazon and Google integrated).
Yeah... The reason they've gotten lower is because of phones with larger screens and less options in the tablet field. And you can absolutely make a comparison with something like this and an iPad pro. If someone wants to use this as a tablet then yeah you should compare it to the iPad pro and tab S7. Especially when the tab S7 is $659, the iPad pro is $800 And the surface pro 8 is over $1,000.
@@blueciffer1653 You are comparing apples and oranges. No pun intended. The Surface Pro is a full fledged computer which can handle enterprise level computing with ease whereas the iPad is a fancy kid toy for browsing social media and watching youtube. If you want a real comparison, compare it with the MacBook but then the MacBook can't do touch and is not a portable. See what I mean? The surface pro is in a class of it's own. It's a serious all rounder with form factors to satisfy everyone if you know what you are looking for and move beyond jaundiced predispositions. And Apple fanboys please don't call Surface products expensive. It's so funny when you say that.
@@blueciffer1653 Wrong! Smartphone unit sales have been in a slow and steady decline since 2016. Glad you brought up price because it shows you know nothing about tech if you want to ignore 1.9 and 2.8 million smartphone apps vs 35 million computer programs. What do you mean one isn't a computer? Didn't you see the commercials? iPads and Galaxy S tablets are laptop replacements! So if the price similar then we can compare it. Additionally, who buys tech (or anything) at full retail price anyway? My 2020 SPX (16 ram, 512ssd) costs $599US, my SP7 (i7, 16ram, 256ssd) costs $890US, and my keyboards/ pens were all at least 35% off. People buy tech during a sale (which happen about once a month), on Amazon at a discount, at Best Buy at discount, on EBay at discount, or on Black Friday.
@@mini9503 How long did it take you to research your reply? You must have spent a least a day and a half to come up with such an amazing rebuttal full of detailed facts and clear logic. Do you have other comments like this that you can share with us? I want to learn more from you, so please don't deny the world of your brilliant tech insights.
Surprised there is no SD card slot, because there is one on the Surface Pro 7. Then again, maybe it is less needed because the memory is expandable, which has not been the case on previous models.
Great video as usual. Off topic question how can I activate EKG on My Galaxy Watch 3 with my IPhone. I don’t want to carry 2 phones anymore I just connect Apple Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 3 to my iPhone. ??? Thanks sincerely Espionage
Why not get an HP 2 in 1 for less than half the cost? It also has a touch screen and can bend into a tablet. It's heavier but is that worth paying $800 more?
I think it does but there is no way to store it on the device except for than magnet that you use to attach the keyboard. This is far from optimal tho.
@@onion2787 Thank you so much :) Personally, I do not enjoy flat writing utensils and I don't care too much about the haptic feedback stuffs. Also, it's kind of a shame that there seems to be no way to carry the pen with the tablet without the keyboard.
I have been using Pro 4 since it was launched, apart from its advantages discussed, I hope MS has taken care of screen flickering issues after prolonged usage which makes system to generate heat and cause flickering on screen. This is too disturbing for a equipment that is very costly. Any views please?
Hi friends. Thanks for watching! What are your thoughts on this one?
120hz all the things
more hype for windows 11
Sleek 2 in 1 device
Mike how about the Samsung Tablet S7+ vs. IPad ProM1... OLED vs LCD.. 😎
you blew past the pen review for artists..... that's what i think ;)
Ever since Microsoft released the Surface Pro line, I've always wanted to have one & this looks like the best one so far. I just wish they included the keyboard with the price.😪
$1600 is still too much. I say the Galaxy S7 FE us better for 90% of this device's use cases. Plus it has better battery.
@@gurubhaktmohit SP8 can use desktop apps, while Samsung is an android tablet… so why not just get an iPad in that case?
@@s.z.x.01 My guess is an iPad Air and Pro costs more, and maybe Android preference
But you do get to choose what color keyboard you want instead of being stuck with a generic pick.
Lenovo's X12 Tablet (windows) is like the Surface Pro but you can pick it up starting at $1050 when on sale which includes keyboard, pen and warranty out of the box.
X12 is also 11th Gen Intel so I'd strongly recommend it. Surface is priced high because they market to businesses primarily.
I've had the surface pro 5 since fall 2017 for college (degree and master). In my opinion surface pro line saves you from owning a tablet and a laptop, because it can do both. It's great for taking notes in class and for working in MS office while getting all the functionalities of a windows PC. Surface pro 8 fixes the old design and better specs, I'm sure it is a great device! Nice video :)
Enjoying this content on my 2018 Surface. Reinstalled Windows 10 PRO. Good To Go . Just like NEW!
I can see this as a great product for students! At my uni, I see tons of people with the Macbook + iPad + Apple Pencil setup for general tasks on the Macbook and note-taking with the iPad + Apple Pencil. The SP8 seems to combine all that into one package, with compromises of course
Yes its a great combo for student, for greater extensibility, you can have those portable external monitor connect to it and have sp8 for note taking.
Question is, how are students going to able to afford a brand new PC that _starts_ at $1650? Surface is aimed at large Businesses who bulk buy these devices as a tax write-off which is why they are so expensive.
@@mini9503 The same way they can afford a $1000+ MacBook, $500+ iPad, and $200 apple pencil, which is what they're literally using at his school now if you read his whole comment.
@@mini9503 most students I know don't buy them at once. I got my ipad in high school then my parents bought me my laptop as a college gift.
@@mini9503 Where do you keep getting this notion that most college students are paying for things solely out of their pocket lol? The vast majority of college students have their parents either helping them or just buying everything for them their freshman year.
I'm definitely buying one once the prices go down a little. Been using the surface pro 4 for nearly 5 years now and haven't regretted the purchase in the slightest.
The attention yo detail with the background (and setting otherwise) is much appreciated.
This was an absolutely brilliant review. Your points were clear and I agree with everything you said. It really is the best 2-in-1 device you can get.
I can’t wait for the comparison video and I hope there’s a Surface Laptop Studio review coming soon ;)
The expandable storage is really surprising! These types of devices usually don't provide that option and will charge you an extra $200 to upgrade you to a higher storage capacity. So good on them for including that.
They charge much more than $200!
Next problem: find a fast and cheap 2230 SSD
The haptic feedback (at least after an update that I noticed) depends on the pressure you put on the tablet using the Pen. The harder you push down the more you can feel the vibrations, also can feel it a lot more using the eraser.
I am a software developer and use a high end desktop for work. I hate laptops as they are not really portable devices, but do like tablets for casual web browsing etc. I recently bought the same model as you and have paired it with a thunderbolt 4 hub connected to dual monitors, a real keyboard and mouse and a few peripherals for a desk top replacement and it is more than capable. The fact I can unplug the dock, pick the device up and have it truly portable with all my stuff on it is miraculous frankly. It is close to the perfect every day device for work and down time watching movies, web browsing and light sofa based gaming.
Sweet to hear! I ordered the i7 16GB/256GB model yesterday also for programming (and image editing, graphics design and maybe occasional video editing, nothing big or fancy), it's going to replace my older Macbook Pro and Windows desktop. I hope it's powerful enough to run the software I need. Graphics are not quite at the level of my desktop even though I'm running older GTX 970, so not expecting to game with it (not unless I get eGPU down the road).
BUT if it can run all the productivity software I need to, I'm selling both the desktop and Macbook. Can't wait to test it out!
Really looking forward to getting the new surface pro 8. Currently running a surface pro 5 for last 4 years. It has never missed a beat. Agree with the other comments keyboard and now pen should be standard at this price point.
I own the Surface Pro 7+ and I will recommend anyone who is in the market for the latest hybrid laptop to get the Surface Pro 8. It's the best hybrid laptop you will find on the market right now.
Does it get hot when doing heavy graphics or Zoom meetings? i7 fan goes crazy on the pro 7 and heats up
Best review I have seen of the MS Surface Pro 8 so far, nice in depth video talking about pros and cons and what you're going to get for your money. Definitely looking into picking it up for university as I need to both draw stuff as well as take a lot of notes, I have been waiting for this thing forever as the Pro 7 was kind of disappointing!
So glad you liked the video!
I bought it, love it! I was considering the HP Specter which I really liked as well for a light weight laptop, I'm satisfied with my decision.
Great review! Bit late to the party here. .almost bought the SP9 but after watching reviews ended up getting the SP8.. got it on Amazon renewed for $645 for the i5/8gb/256gb, added a renewed keyboard/pen2 for $150 so under $800 total. After watching your review.. definitely feels like a great deal.
Can you get 32 or 64 gm ram in it? Is it swappable? I am into machine learning and hacking studies now… I love to have just a screen with a computer inside that I can connect my mechanic keyboard to and program on all day!
SP8 is more like 3-in1 when you count in the ability to use eGPU. You can turn this device into a desktop gaming powerhouse too. The versatility is just insane!
I've just ordered a Surface Pro 8 (i5 --> because of battery life and almost same performance --> after watching quite a few reviews, 256GB and 16 GB RAM) with keyboard and pen for 1488 USD (I live in Switzerland, I paid 1376.40 CHF), so I'd say for that price with everything included I got a very good deal compared to the prices I've heard in many reviews. Looking forward to receive it and check it out 🙂
Typed this from my Surface Pro 7 (i3, 4GB RAM), which is still a very nice device, but only for basic productivity work.
Cheers and thanks for the nice review!
And how is battery?my surface pro 8 i5,16gb,256gb only 5,5 hours battery on light using on 60 hz,44% brightness
I've just bought a Surface Pro 7 with an I5 CPU, 8 GB RAM and 128 GB "HD". And yes I would very much like the Pro 8 but I'll have to wait till it gets cheaper. Luckily I could reuse the keyboard and the pen from my older Surface Pro with an M3 CPU.
I bought an M1 iPad Pro 11" with keyboard and stylus. It's very compact and mobile. Looks great. Functions well. But as a productivity tool it's very frustrating to use. Multi-tasking is annoying with the forced swipe function. Widgets are limited. Stylus 2 is not that intuitive although good, and 11" real estate is limited for taking notes. Thinking of trading for Surface Pro 8.
can you upgrade to the 12.9' (trade in or something) or take back.
You are one of my fav tech youtuber. I really hope you are planning to get surface duo 2 and will do a proper review on it :) .
Many thanks for the video. The fact that it can run all my Windows apps is the only reason why I'm planning to buy this "tablet".
I have just recently bought the Pro 8, I find it very useful and heaps of power, but I did find the touch screen at little unresponsive at times.
For me as a student, the pro 8 is probably the better device as I see myself taking writing on the tablet with the pen during the lecture und the studio doesn’t seem to be made for this scenario. However, the Studio just looks so much more elegant with its keyboard to me. Furthermore the screen is bigger which could be important for reading e books while taking notes on an tab simultaneously and is just 200€ more expensive. What should I do?
WITHOUT a doubt
YOU are the BEST reviewer of technology in TH-cam
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate your kind words. I am happy to hear my video style resonates with you. If you ever have any video requests, let me know on twitter or instagram
Listed my ipad pro on ebay, and as soon as that sells, I’m buying the pro 8. Can’t wait.
The fact that you can finally use a surface with a external GPU is good I may get one next year
Like a tablet, I think that you need to have a specific work flow to really need this kind of device. Usually this kind of device will be use with a specific app that you already need and is a part of you work flow
I really think for the working professionals like Architects, or Civil Engineers, who often visit client sites, and have to refer to drawings on the go, this is an easy pop out and pop in option. It's powerful enough to support Revit or SketchUp, or Lumion on the cloud front. Sweet spot between UX and power.
This thing is so good and something that I've been waiting for Microsoft to update its design ever since the launch of Pro X last 2 years ago but that price tho, and the cost to add the type keyboard cover 🥲
I know this is directly rival to iPad Pro but really hope you could compare this against MacBook Air as well because I'm currently shortlisted that and this Pro 8 as my next computer, not to mention this also compete against many slim laptops too, so the comparison is still relevant imo ...
No one interested in a Surface Pro 8 would ever consider a MBA. No touchscreen, no pen support, no 2-in-1 design, no detechable keyboard, no kickstand, no face recognition, no upgradability, etc. And let's not forget all the class-action lawsuit field against MBs: 2021 crackec screen, 2020 green screen, 2019 connectivity, 2018 keyboard, 2017 thermal throttling. And that is just in the last 5 years!
This thing really blows away anything Apple makes at this point... You'd have to buy a MPA 13 and an iPad Pro to get all the functionality. It's got touch, pen input and detachable slate that the MPA doesn't have any it's got a full OS that iPad doesn't have
This was, in my opinion, the best review you have done. And I am excited for the comparison video of samsung, apple and surface tabs!
Hi Mike, it would be great if you could do a full comparison between Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
That’s an interesting idea!
Great review!!
The nicest review on surface pro 8 I've ever seen 👍
I agree that the price is high but there is nothing like this in the market, I mean Microsoft nailed it with this iteration, you are getting a full blown OS which is Windows 11 that you can use with attached keyboard when you want to get work done in laptop mode and when you are on the couch it can be used in a tablet mode using the the stylus. Arrival of Android apps in Windows 11 is icing on top of the cake.
I have the 5th gen Surface Pro and love it, but I think this one will be my next upgrade. :)
Yes, we definitely need a comparison video, with this vs iPad vs Samsung tab !
Will the surface pro 8 base model be sufficient enough for an incredible one note digital note taking experience.. I only want the device for digital note taking and nothing else..
yes, it will be more than enough for just OneNote... OneNote runs on pretty much every toaster.
You know there are digital notetaking devices such as e-readers, correct?
Tablets are optimum for note taking though, this is a multi functional / purpose device
Did you test the computer's battery with the refresh rate turned down to 60hz? I wonder if that makes and significant difference.
It definitely makes a difference. At least until Microsoft comes out with some kind of adaptive 120Hz
@@MikeOBrienMedia awesome thanks.
Great video. Thanks. I do love the SP8. I do want one, but the price puts me off unfortunately. If the keyboard/pen was included in the price then I would definitely go for it.
+1 - price for sure is stupid expensive compared to apple.
Great review, waiting for mine to be delivered today. On Jan 11 2022, the released it with LTE and that's the model I ordered. Hope it's not a lemon... lol 😆
A big market for Surface products these days is schools - especially teachers.
The camera has always annoyed me.
That's why the 4k camera is really a huge win - for photos of the whiteboard, student results, etc.
Mike...great video review!
How about a more in-depth game testing? Emulation, perhaps?
Great review, Mike!
I think you touched on the problem with laptop-tablet hybrids: The standalone products work better at what they're for, and the added expense of combining them together just isn't justified. If what you want is a decent laptop and a decent tablet, you could probably get those separately and pay less than you would for this. At best, this is for a very specific use case where you need to do tablet things and laptop things at virtually the same time.
But in my eyes, this isn't even really a hybrid. It's a tablet. It's Windows 11 running on a tablet. The only way I could see justifying calling this an actual laptop/tablet hybrid is if the keyboard came *with it*.
i dont even see this as a tablet honestly. i see it as a low spec laptop. you can get the same use from the asus 13" gaming laptop that is cheaper and you get better specs. has a touchscreen and comes with the keyboard as its a laptop and the keyboard folds behind if you want to hold it like a tablet. what i like is that the screen is seperate. so you get a bit better cooling. and if it gets hot like this sp8 does, its just with the keyboard and components but not the screen were as this sp8 if it gets hot is everything.
@@dannamanna99 I can't really justify calling it a laptop when it doesn't come with a keyboard.
@@BrianHartman i dont justity it as a tablet either. yeah, it does not come with a keyboard. but it also does not have its own tablet style OS. with adding a keyboard, (which you can buy and plug one in with a usb c adaptor). it acts more like a low end laptop. if it had a lot more tablet futures like games that would work on it like a tablet then sure. without a keyboard, its still feels like a laptop using the touchscreen. like i mentioned, i have a asus gaming laptop that cost less, has a touchscreen and built in keyboard. this feels the same as my asus if i am using it without the keyboard. but my asus can do a lot more as it has better specs. which is sad as it cost less.
Great device, I have had the surface pro 6. Happy with line. Where did you get your blue tee shirt?
Hi Mike, thanks for the review. I'm current using the older Surface Pro 5, and am thinking of upgrading to either the Pro 7 or waiting for th Pro 8 to be release in my country. Would like to see a comparison between Pro 7 and this Pro 8, if possible. One reason that holding me back is the support for the SD card, as mentioned in your video. Thanks.
Keep in mind that unfortunately the keyboard is not compatible between surface pro prior to 8 and surface pro 8 (it has surface pro x connector). For that and the pen I'm actually considering getting surface pro 7+ to upgrade from my surface pro 4 as the only thing that I'd like to improve is the performance and also my display is slowly dying.
The pen was made from aluminum or magnesium, with the old battery technology it was heavy and didn't work properly.
Just be grateful that this turned out that good.
Awesome review - thx
Hi Mike, thank you very much for your review. It helped me a lot to get closer to a decision … But, I am still not sure what matches my needs better, the Surface Pro 8 or the Surface book 3 … I am often travelling long distance, and I use a device for all purpose, what means for online banking, Microsoft office and a focus on video editing … what do you think might be the better choice?
Great revue .. thanks 🙃
Thank you so much for this. I'm a graphic artist and I realize I only like tablet pc's. I have a Galaxy Book pro tablet that I love, but had to retire b/c Adobe InD currently won't work w/ARM processors. Any word if Samsung is coming out w/new 2n1's?
Have any changes been made to the magic keyboard with slim pen2 to protect alacantra fabric from peeling at the edges of the keyboard?
Brilliant...thanks Mike
👍Good review. Thank you. 💝
😫I have loved the Surface Pros until now….No SDCard slot and no USB slot 😫 Why do these companies discontinue options that work?😖😫
No SDCard slot is a bummer. Not only do creative professionals actually use (full sized) SD cards, but the slot would be nice to have for expandable storage too. :/ Oh well, at least the SSD can be swapped out. I went with the i7 16GB/256GB model and planning on swapping the SSD for 1TB one. Saves me 400 bucks of MS tax doing it myself.
@@PhazonBlaxoryour new i7, that’s a good idea to save money by switching the SSD yourself 💖
Is it better than ipad for note taking and handwriting?
Hello Mike, could you recommend where I can buy the replacement 128GB storage please? What brand shall I go for?
Hey man - I’m a masters student about to start writing my thesis and I’m looking for a device I can research on, take notes, write the paper itself etc - would you recommend this or the new Surface Laptop Studio? I’m currently using a 2017 MBP & 2018 iPad Pro but I want to just use one device :) Thanks for the vid!
Go for surface laptop studio
0:41 I came to ask this question. Will it run Photoshop desktop version ,Video editing 🤔.
i just wanna know if this can fully replace a windows laptop and if i can play some pc games with the surface pro line.
How's the heat?
I am falling in love with this one ;)!!!!!
A little insight from a 10 year iPad user.
It may not seem like a big deal, especially for those who don't really use tablets/iPads often, but the aspect ratio plays a big part as to why the iPad is so successful, for me at least, as it is closest to A4, magazines, notebooks and easier to hold one handed. Windows and Android manufacturers have been focusing too much on a widescreen aspect ratio that is geared towards landscape use that portrait is sacrificed becoming very much unusable. It results in a tablet that is too "tall" or "narrow" hence often shown and held in landscape. There is no balance.
It's quite odd that many tech youtubers when picking up these tablets have never held a magazine, book or A4 piece of paper in their life before and instinctively hold these tablets in horizontal/landscape....because of the manufacturers.
The aspect ratio balance has gotten a little better over the years with Android/Windows tablets and portrait growing a little bit more wider.
Again this may not seem like a big deal or maybe some people don't like it, but Microsoft are making the Surface and Windows 11 to be more tablet touch friendly targeting Apple iPad Pro users such as myself.
I plan on getting off the iPad bandwagon soon, simply because iPadOS is restrictive and limited, but the Surface and Windows 11 still need a lot of improvements
+ LTE connectivity options right out the gate
+ aspect ratio for portrait needs to be a teensy bit more wider
+ Windows 11 touch gestures need to improve large multiple file selection and dropping - iPadOS still can't do this well and file management system is infamously horrendous
+ Go towards powerful ARM processors as they simply are far better for tablets than Intel. Maybe end up being fanless as a result
+ App use and support still not ready, but just a matter of time
+ Surface Pen 2, feels too springy, slightly laggy compared to Apple Pencil when I tested a demo unit in store - perhaps 120hz refresh was turned off.
so they removed the sd card from the back? under the kickstand?
My dream laptop tablet....black one ofcourse
How has it improved from their first product years ago? It looks pretty much the same except for the pen holder (which does get lost all the time).
Good review 👍👍
I'm very disappointed that it doesn't have a micro SD slot. Why on earth not when the Surface Go does? Sure, you can replace the SSD storage but that's going to be way more expensive than a SD card and not as convenient to do. Puzzled that MS don't go all out with a killer value premium Pro device and wrap up the market for Windows devices. Do they not want to upset the other suppliers? Or do they not want to damage their super premium - which means really super expensive - cachet?
I'm happy with my old Surface Go 1 and going to continue to look out for a cheaper but more capable and bigger Windows 2 in 1 - maybe a HP Spectre, a Dell, Lenovo or Asus? Anyone have any suggestions of a competitive alternative to this beautiful Surface Pro 8?
Thanks again Mike for another really professional and useful video review. You are certainly raising the standards for tech reviews on TH-cam!
what's the deal with the watches in the reflection @ 3:31?
I'm considering to get SP8 i5 8GB RAM & 256GB SSD for my moderate usage (sometime I use lightroom and photoshop) . I already have notebook i7 with 16 GB RAM for my daily office works and will use the SP8 as the companion of this notebook . Is i5 with 8RAM good decision for the long run? thanks
Can u even play games on the computer or tablet???
Would you go for the i5 or i7..??
go for i5. you don't really get that much more performance.
Which is better Pro 8 or the Asus Flip S? Also, can I replace the Pro 8 ssd with my 2 TB Samsung SSD in the removable slot... Will android apps be added later to the Pro 8? Can the pen be padded up with a sheath or cover to give a round shape? Also, will they be bringing in a Pro 9 with a 12 Gen I7? Thanks folks, for your valued feedback. Thank you Mike, very very helpful as always...
Hey Mike will you be doing a review on the new soundcore liberty 3 pro?
How good is this system for 4K editing
I was thinking about buying the Spectre 14 oled, but now with this sp8 i dont no what to choose. What do you think is the best choice? Thank you.
Sp8
Having the micro SD slot is much more useful and cheaper than removable SSD.
Is the keyboard bluetooth connected, or it only connects through the port?
It is connected through the connector at the bottom of the device. This means that you don't need to charge it and that it will disconnect once you detach it.
Can you do a video on what display can work on a surface, also is windows 11 home is the only version you can have on the surface I kinda want windows 11 Pro on the surface
I had a Surface Pro 7. Think of it as a laptop 1st that can do some tablet things. An iPad or Android tablet imo feels like a tablet 1st that can do some laptop things. I personally didn't use the pen that much on my Surface and eventually sold it and bought a 2 in 1 laptop. Works better for what I do. If I was an artist or heavy pen user the Surface would have been great. Pricey but watch for deals that include the keyboard.
Is the SP8 display bigger than the SP3?
DO NOT make a video comparison a real computer with tablets that run smartphone apps.
There is a reason tablet sales have plummeted from 240 million in 2013 to 160 million in 2019.
They ain't computers and have extremely limited functionality (e.g., can't run full version of Adobe, MS Office, etc.).
iPads - 1.9 million smartphone apps,
Samsung - 2.8 million smartphone apps,
SP8 - 35 million Windows applications (plus over 1 million Windows Store apps once Amazon and Google integrated).
Yeah... The reason they've gotten lower is because of phones with larger screens and less options in the tablet field. And you can absolutely make a comparison with something like this and an iPad pro. If someone wants to use this as a tablet then yeah you should compare it to the iPad pro and tab S7. Especially when the tab S7 is $659, the iPad pro is $800 And the surface pro 8 is over $1,000.
@@blueciffer1653 You are comparing apples and oranges. No pun intended. The Surface Pro is a full fledged computer which can handle enterprise level computing with ease whereas the iPad is a fancy kid toy for browsing social media and watching youtube. If you want a real comparison, compare it with the MacBook but then the MacBook can't do touch and is not a portable. See what I mean? The surface pro is in a class of it's own. It's a serious all rounder with form factors to satisfy everyone if you know what you are looking for and move beyond jaundiced predispositions. And Apple fanboys please don't call Surface products expensive. It's so funny when you say that.
@@blueciffer1653 Wrong! Smartphone unit sales have been in a slow and steady decline since 2016. Glad you brought up price because it shows you know nothing about tech if you want to ignore 1.9 and 2.8 million smartphone apps vs 35 million computer programs.
What do you mean one isn't a computer? Didn't you see the commercials? iPads and Galaxy S tablets are laptop replacements! So if the price similar then we can compare it.
Additionally, who buys tech (or anything) at full retail price anyway? My 2020 SPX (16 ram, 512ssd) costs $599US, my SP7 (i7, 16ram, 256ssd) costs $890US, and my keyboards/ pens were all at least 35% off. People buy tech during a sale (which happen about once a month), on Amazon at a discount, at Best Buy at discount, on EBay at discount, or on Black Friday.
@@mini9503 How long did it take you to research your reply? You must have spent a least a day and a half to come up with such an amazing rebuttal full of detailed facts and clear logic.
Do you have other comments like this that you can share with us? I want to learn more from you, so please don't deny the world of your brilliant tech insights.
Surprised there is no SD card slot, because there is one on the Surface Pro 7. Then again, maybe it is less needed because the memory is expandable, which has not been the case on previous models.
The battery won't be issues if it was easy to replace.
the question is, can i charge it using type c port , like in the car i charge it using my car cigarette phone charger
The best feature on Surface Pro 8 is the Thunderbolt port. So you can use an external video card 👍
Great video as usual. Off topic question how can I activate EKG on My Galaxy Watch 3 with my IPhone. I don’t want to carry 2 phones anymore I just connect Apple Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 3 to my iPhone. ??? Thanks sincerely Espionage
Is the keyboard backlit?
Yes
Can you run adobe illustrator??
I don't really get the obsession over thin bezels.
Why not get an HP 2 in 1 for less than half the cost? It also has a touch screen and can bend into a tablet. It's heavier but is that worth paying $800 more?
Are you going to do a Surface Laptop Studio review? Thanks.
Does the fan constantly rev up
Good info
is there any reason to switch from 7 Pro?
I like you. A trusting person!
Was weight mentioned?
Does the old pen work on the pro 8 and is there a way to attach the old pen?
I think it does but there is no way to store it on the device except for than magnet that you use to attach the keyboard. This is far from optimal tho.
@@onion2787 Thank you so much :)
Personally, I do not enjoy flat writing utensils and I don't care too much about the haptic feedback stuffs. Also, it's kind of a shame that there seems to be no way to carry the pen with the tablet without the keyboard.
never understood why they compared it to the tab s7 and not the standard tab s8 considering it was out by then
interesting... I haven't seen the pen included with the keyboard yet.
I have been using Pro 4 since it was launched, apart from its advantages discussed, I hope MS has taken care of screen flickering issues after prolonged usage which makes system to generate heat and cause flickering on screen. This is too disturbing for a equipment that is very costly. Any views please?