Microsoft Surface Pro 8

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a phenomenal 2-in-1 laptop with surprisingly capable hardware that pushes past its constrained proportions in general use, though gaming will be limited. It comes with some trade-offs in this form factor, notably to battery life and cost, but it’s a winner for portability, elegance, and versatility.

The Surface Pro 8 offers an excellent upgrade to Microsoft’s tablet lineup, with superior performance, inking, and audio, with good value for the money.

The Surface Pro 8 is powerful, has a wonderful screen, and it's versatile. Unlike a MacBook, you can separate it from the keyboard and watch movies in bed instead of splurging on a separate tablet. And while iPads have come a long way in replacing your laptop, the desktop experience Windows offers makes it a more efficient tool for most office tasks.

The Surface Pro 8 is the best new Surface in years, with an all-new design and faster internals than ever. However, the higher price is going to get in the way for some.

Windows 11, a 120 Hz display, new cameras and a redesigned Type Cover help make the Surface Pro feel modern again.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 features a powerful 11th gen Intel CPU and a vivid 13-inch display. It also offers Windows 11 out of the gate. Though not suitable for gaming, it’s a good 2-in-1 for everyday use and is a worthy update to the Microsoft Surface line.

The Surface Pro is incrementally better in its eighth generation, with a fast-refreshing screen, much-requested Thunderbolt 4 support and a return to long battery life. But it’s also more expensive than ever, with a $350 higher starting price that effectively wipes out any price advantage it once had over premium ultraportable laptops. The pricier the Surface Pro gets, the more caveats I have to append to my recommendation.

It’s really targeting enthusiasts for the Surface Pro form factor — people who need the most performance in the thinnest and lightest chassis possible. In the past, those people haven’t quite had a device that met all of their needs. For the past two years, you’ve had to compromise on performance to get a Windows tablet that looked this cool. This year, you no longer have to sacrifice that performance. You just have to sacrifice some extra cash.