The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) is a Windows tablet PC with a built-in kickstand and detachable keyboard. It replaces the Surface Pro 7 released in 2019. This new model has a new design, sporting a larger 13-inch display (up from 12.3-inch) as well as thinner bezels and more rounded edges, bringing its design closer to that of the Surface Pro X, Microsoft's ARM-based Surface Pro. It also has a new 120Hz display with Dynamic Refresh Rate support, meaning it can adjust the refresh rate dynamically to improve responsiveness or extend battery life. It's available with Intel 11th Gen CPUs, integrated graphics, up to 32GB of memory, and 1TB of storage. It has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 1080p webcam, and an IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition. Lastly, it has a new type of cover keyboard with a slot at the top to store and charge the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2, but you still need to buy the keyboard and pen separately.
See our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.
Our Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a good laptop for school use. It feels very well-built and is easy to carry around since it's thin and lightweight. It has a nice sharp display, a comfortable keyboard, and a small but responsive touchpad. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing, so it isn't ideal for students in fields like 3D animation. Unfortunately, you'll likely need to carry a charger when you're out and about, as its battery lasts around seven hours of light use.
- Easy to carry around.
- Sturdy build.
- Keyboard feels great to type on.
- Excellent 1080p webcam.
- Battery lasts only a little over seven hours of light productivity.
- Touchpad is on the small side.
- Low-power CPU and Integrated GPU can't handle demanding tasks.
- Limited port selection.
The Microsoft Surface Pro is okay for gaming. It has a 120Hz display with a fast response time to deliver a clear image in fast-moving scenes, and it supports VRR to reduce screen tearing. However, its low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding games. You can get a decent gaming experience if you connect an external GPU via its Thunderbolt 4 port, though that's a separate purchase and an expensive one at that. Otherwise, you can only play lighter puzzle-like games or older titles, and even then, you'll likely need to lower the graphical settings to get smooth gameplay.
- 120Hz screen displays clear image in fast-moving scenes.
- Fast, user-upgradeable storage drive.
- Low-power CPU and Integrated GPU can't handle demanding tasks.
- RAM isn't upgradeable.
- Limited port selection.
The Microsoft Surface Pro laptop is good for media consumption. It's lightweight and easy to carry around, so you can easily watch videos while roaming around your home. Its high-resolution screen is vibrant and bright, though it isn't the best for dark room viewing, as its low contrast makes blacks look gray. The speakers sound good overall; they just don't get very loud. Unfortunately, its battery can't quite last six hours of video playback, so you likely can't binge-watch your favorite shows without plugging it in.
- Easy to carry around.
- Bright and sharp display.
- Can detach keyboard to save space when consuming media.
- Speakers sound clear.
- Battery lasts less than six hours of video playback.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings.
- Speakers don't get very loud.
The Microsoft Surface Pro is decent as a workstation. It's only available with low-power CPUs and integrated graphics, which aren't powerful enough to handle demanding workloads like 3D renders, video editing, or complex computations. Also, the CPU throttles under load, further reducing performance. Its port selection is limited, but thankfully, its USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to transfer files quickly and connect up to two 4k @ 60Hz displays with a single cable.
- Fast, user-upgradeable storage drive.
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
- Low-power CPU and Integrated GPU can't handle demanding tasks.
- RAM isn't upgradeable.
- CPU noticeably throttles.
- Limited port selection.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is decent for business use. It has a compact, lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around. You can configure it with an Intel 11th Gen Core i5 or i7 CPU, which are fast enough to handle productivity tasks like text processing and spreadsheets. It also provides a great user experience with its sharp display, comfortable keyboard, and outstanding 1080p webcam. Unfortunately, it only has two USB-C ports, so you may need an adapter or dock if you want to connect multiple peripherals. Also, its battery doesn't last a full eight-hour workday.
- Easy to carry around.
- Sturdy build.
- Keyboard feels great to type on.
- Excellent 1080p webcam.
- Battery lasts only a little over seven hours of light productivity.
- Touchpad is on the small side.
- Limited port selection.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 14, 2024: Added mention of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) as an alternative with longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Feb 19, 2024: We've updated the review for clarity and readability.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
- Updated Nov 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) in the Platinum color scheme with an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below.
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See our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is one of the best laptops of its kind. The Surface Pro lineup popularized the 2-in-1 tablet form factor, providing a premium user experience that similar devices from other manufacturers still can't match. Its versatility and compact design make it a great choice for school, work, and media consumption.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best laptops, the best business laptops, and the best laptops for college.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) is a newer version of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021). Though similar in design, the 11th Edition has quite a few changes, as it's now available with an OLED display and runs on an ARM-based SoC. The new model's Snapdragon SoCs are faster than the Surface Pro 8's Intel 11th Gen CPUs. However, because the Snapdragon chips are ARM-based processors, many apps might not run properly, so you need to ensure that the apps you use are compatible. Microsoft's new Surface Pro Flex keyboard (released at the same time as the 11th Edition Surface Pro) also brings new features, like a haptic touchpad and Bluetooth connectivity; the latter lets you use the keyboard when detached from the device, giving you more flexibility in how you use and position the device. Unfortunately, the 11th Edition's display exhibits a screen door effect caused by its digitizer, which might bother some people.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) and the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) are both Windows tablets with detachable keyboards. The Surface Pro is better overall; it has a sharper, brighter, more color-accurate display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a better-spaced keyboard and larger touchpad, and two USB-C ports that both support Thunderbolt 4. Also, the Surface Pro is available with more powerful Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, and it has a user-replaceable SSD. The Surface Go is lighter and more compact, so it's easy to bring around, but its screen flickers below 100% brightness, which can cause eye strain and headaches in people who are sensitive to strobing.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 (2019) are both Microsoft-made devices that run Windows. The Surface Pro is a tablet with a detachable keyboard, while the Surface Laptop is a traditional clamshell. The Surface Pro is better with a sharper, brighter display that has a wider color gamut and goes up to a 120Hz refresh rate, better-sounding speakers, and two USB-C ports that both support Thunderbolt 4. Also, it's more compact, has slightly longer battery life for light productivity tasks, and is available with newer and much more powerful Intel CPUs. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop's build quality is significantly better and sturdier, its display is significantly more color-accurate, and its touchpad is larger and tracks gestures better.
The Microsoft Surface Go 2 (2020) and the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) are both Windows tablets with detachable keyboards. The Surface Pro is better overall, with a sharper, brighter display that goes up to a 120Hz refresh rate, a better-spaced keyboard and larger touchpad, and two USB-C ports that both support Thunderbolt 4. Also, the Surface Pro is available with newer, much more powerful Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, lasts longer when playing back video, and its SSD is replaceable. On the other hand, the Surface Go is much more lightweight and compact, making it easy to bring around, it lasts longer when browsing the web, and its display is much more color-accurate.
Test Results
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