CNET
Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8 works well with Windows 11
The revamped tablet gets a bigger screen, slimmer stylus and a brand new OS. Full written review – Subscribe to CNET: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us on Instagram: Follow us on TikTok:
John Ekow
October 5, 2021 at 3:32 pm
The price is my setback.
If not, this’ll be my next laptop
I
October 5, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Try student Discount or EMI offers
Sergeant Sausage
October 5, 2021 at 3:39 pm
Why does everyone single tech reviewer on cnet and the verge look like an out of shape boomer hipster combo?
JEYMS
October 5, 2021 at 4:04 pm
No keyboard in the box mean I will only buy this thing when it will get discounted, like after Christmas, which it will be based on what microsoft has done with the pro 7. Otherwjse I will keep my macbook air m1 until they discount it.
Діма Франчук
October 5, 2021 at 4:25 pm
i want the same thing, but from apple
Mattanium
October 5, 2021 at 9:02 pm
Apple fanboy has been stopped, bout hold the fire!
Tafara
October 5, 2021 at 4:40 pm
00:19 Theres a surface laptop studio, a big 14 inch macbook.
shadowflar3
October 5, 2021 at 4:53 pm
Dude, this tells us nothing in addition to Microsoft’s marketing material.
Blue Whale
October 5, 2021 at 10:33 pm
Tech YouTubers are just sales people. They are supposed to make you feel inclined to buy garbage products. They are just as bad as Instagram “Influencers”. Stop watching them.
SeattleDude
October 5, 2021 at 4:56 pm
As long as you don’t use your lap as a desk too often, you can use any bluetooth keyboard with it. $30 Logitech is great. So I would say, without Microsoft keyboard cover, it is still totally usable.
Jane Lawson
October 5, 2021 at 5:04 pm
Wish these had proper support for running linux. I guess it’s understandable that microsoft wants people to run windows, but there are few comparable modern products, so it’s frustrating to be restricted.
Potato
October 5, 2021 at 5:21 pm
i hate the recomended option on windows 11 start screen
so annoying
Aleksei Kharchenko
October 5, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Looks nice, great improvement for keyboard with a place for a surface pen and screen over the Surface Pro 7. Definitely agree, that it doesn’t make too much sense without the keyboard though because it weights too much to be used comfortable as a tablet (I don’t feel that detaching keyboard change anything WRT to weight, so it easier to use for me with a keyboard connected).
William Smith
October 5, 2021 at 5:50 pm
For me this is what it boils down to: the macbooks don’t have touchscreens and windows computers do. macOS is great, windows 10 is good too, the software isn’t an issue, it’s all down to that touchscreen. If the macbooks had a touchscreen, i would get the macbook
onlysublime
October 5, 2021 at 7:28 pm
I like a separate keyboard because it let’s me pick the color I like (though it seems like Microsoft has reduced the number of choices)
David Podjasek
October 5, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Also, they’re VERY good at maintaining keyboard compatibility SP3-SP7+ all could use the same keyboard. So when you upgrade your Surface Pro you could just carry over your already owned keyboard. Or if they come out with a new color keyboard or yours breaks, you can just replace that. The SP8 is a different keyboard connector (because of the pen charging), but even here if you have one from Surface Pro X you can use that keyboard with SP8. Plus, as you said, this allows them to make 4 different keyboard colors without forcing retailers to stock 4 different SKUs for the same main unit specs. They would virtually never have the exact model you want with the color keyboard you want if it was bundled. So there’s lots of reasons they sell them separate… this complaint is very tired, and only “surface” level thinking.
Really it all comes down to one complaint… cost. Yes, it’s pricey. But that’s not because the keyboard is separate. It’s because MS is making a premium computer at a premium price. This is also by design, so as not to alienate their other PC vendors with super low prices. So reviewers should stop harping on whether the keyboard is included, and instead focus on whether someone will find the cost to be worth it.
RL inWA
October 5, 2021 at 7:57 pm
Ackerman made his regular complaint about the keyboard not being included, so I’ll make my regular response to him that Microsoft sells the product like this so its resellers can create bundles and create unique “systems.” Costco regularly does this at least in the US and I have seen temporary bundles at Best Buy and other retailers too. With the Pro 8 not being backward compatible with older keyboards, there will probably be more such bundles in the months ahead.
Williamg209
October 5, 2021 at 8:19 pm
0:51 that scarf is such hipster nonsense
Maximus
October 5, 2021 at 9:19 pm
5:08 you gave me anxiety
Crusader7077
October 5, 2021 at 9:36 pm
From a support standpoint and being someone that provides hardware support of laptops to users within another business, there’s a concern that consumers should be aware of when considering the purchase of the Surface Pro 8. Two years ago, Computer World’s web site posted an article titled, “Surface support shrivels as battery, driver, update problems persist.” It details a history of poor hardware support from Microsoft regarding various confirmed hardware-related issues that came up with earlier Surface devices (even as recent as the Surface Pro 6 at the time of the article). Some of those issues came up as a result of irreversible firmware updates. There was a common thread regarding Microsoft’s response to these issues. Either they would ignore the issues completely, or they would publicly acknowledge them, inform customers that they’re looking into them, but not come up with a viable solution. It’s not beyond possibility that the same thing can happen with the Surface Pro 8. So in light of how much these units cost, if you’re considering the purchase of a Surface Pro 8, I would strongly recommend that you first look up the referenced article online and take into account what it says beforehand.
M Rankin
October 6, 2021 at 8:42 pm
2 years ago a lot can change in 2 years.
Crusader7077
October 6, 2021 at 9:04 pm
@M Rankin Maybe, and maybe not. If Microsoft showed a track record of a turnaround of improvement in their product reliability and support after multiple years of poor support with their Surface product line, that would be encouraging. But that’s where questions remain. Furthermore, if someone were to follow through with the purchase of a Surface Pro 8, I would highly encourage that person to see if a 3 year warranty can be purchased for the device. Many complaints of issues that came up with the earlier Surface devices occurred around the time that the standard warranty expired for the device (that happened with me as well). So if a 3 year warranty can be obtained and purchased for the device, that would be strongly encouraged.
M Rankin
October 6, 2021 at 9:27 pm
@Crusader7077 A four-year plan can be purchased.
Dwight Nishimura
October 5, 2021 at 9:57 pm
I do Agree with CNet that the Type Cover Keyboard & the Slim Pen 2 Should be Included in the Purchase of this Device.
Dylan Yeong
October 5, 2021 at 10:18 pm
Ok seriously why would you need 5g right now? Maybe in 3 to 5 years…
Era S
October 5, 2021 at 11:05 pm
They have the worst material on the keyboards, Alcantara fabric. They get so dirty and worn out
Jory Rez Tangalin
October 5, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Looking like the guy that is always judging me with their eyes. Sorry just the paranoid in me.
wbck blki
October 6, 2021 at 12:08 am
You really did not say much of anything that we don’t already know from Microsoft’s commercials, sheesh. How about trying to do somewhat of a mini review, you basically covered absolutely NOTHING AT ALL, terrible.
besttech10
October 6, 2021 at 12:13 am
Thunderbolt 4 and high refresh rate screen? did that even get mentioned in this review? those are huge additions..
D C
October 6, 2021 at 12:22 am
i really think that the apparently obligatory complaint about the keyboard not being included is silly. First, including the keyboard would increase the price. Second, bemoaning the fact that without the keyboard, it’s “just a windows tablet” is complaining about versatility, not lack of functionality. You can add a keyboard to the surface pro. You cannot subtract a keyboard from the a standard laptop. Third, some people prefer to use a keyboard in portrait orientation, which the clip on keyboard is not capable of doing. I use a bluetooth keyboard, and a tablet stand, with the SP in portrait mode. My complaint — and i wish others would join me — is that the kickstand does not allow for portrait orientation. That would be SO easy to engineer. Maybe for the SP 9.
Serge Leonard
October 6, 2021 at 12:50 am
Still the advantage of not having the type cover included with the Surface Pro is that (YOU) get to choose the color, the language, and the model (with or without the Slim Pen 2) that (YOU) want or that (YOU) don’t want ; so thanks Microsoft for allowing us to choose all this!!
physics77guy
October 6, 2021 at 1:17 am
with this scarf around your neck… you are more of an iPad guy rather than a surface….
エヴァンゲリスタレイアン
October 6, 2021 at 1:38 am
$1100. Ahahaha… no.
J
October 6, 2021 at 2:27 am
After all these years reviewers still don’t understand why it’s better to separate purchase of keyword and pen. I cut them slack for version 1 but by now anyone should understand that when you upgrade to a new surface pro or buy other surface product it’s nice to not have to buy yet another pen and keyboard saving you money. And it’s not like adding keyword and pen to your shopping cart is that big of a deal so there is no convience issue when ordering. When reviewers don’t understand that it means they haven’t really spent much time with surface products. I use my pen on my surface book and surface go. I’m sure if I wanted I could probably use the old pen when I buy this pro 8 or if I opt for the surface go 3 instead where I don’t need a new keyboard either.
Miccasx
October 6, 2021 at 3:36 am
ㅤㅤㅤ
Jack Lee
October 6, 2021 at 5:07 am
C’mon CNET, at least try.
Robby Cahyadi
October 6, 2021 at 5:24 am
Where is the Windows 11 part?
Boopathy
October 6, 2021 at 8:45 am
If windows adapts with M1 chip it would be really cool
Александр Бредков
October 6, 2021 at 8:59 am
Can it be charged via Type-c with power dilvery adapters?
EVANS ENUDINISU
October 6, 2021 at 10:18 am
Yes
Bada Bing888
October 6, 2021 at 11:21 am
Does it support an external monitor? Need proper dual screen support.
M Rankin
October 6, 2021 at 8:48 pm
It does.
Marcus John
October 6, 2021 at 12:25 pm
It would be great to see Fedora 34 running on this beautiful machine.
Gurmeet Singh
October 6, 2021 at 1:21 pm
HP Spectre x360 13-aw2054na 4K OLED Convertible Laptop has a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) display compared to Surface Pro 8 (2880 x 1920) display.
M Rankin
October 6, 2021 at 8:44 pm
The great thing about Windows is that there’s plenty of options out there. Something’s matter more than others.
samliyan
October 6, 2021 at 2:02 pm
My dream 2 in 1 that i can’t afford. I would really love to use one.
Rivanda Bakhtiar
October 6, 2021 at 3:08 pm
Idk why but only bridget is the one that could bring joy when hosting something, and CNET should stop doing review, you guys suck at it
Bleach187Mex BBS
October 7, 2021 at 1:17 am
They should’ve waited for intel 12th gen coming out in like 2 months