However, the Surface Pro 4 doesn't come with the keyboard Type Cover, which adds another $130~ to the overall cost.
The Surface Pro 4 on the other hand comes with full Windows 10 Pro out of the box, so there's no need to consider the upgrade cost if you're planning to buy after December 2017. Until December, 2017, Microsoft will allow you to "unlock" Windows 10 S and upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free, after which, there will be a $50 charge. For general browsing and every day laptop use, the Windows 10 Store is more than adequate to serve most people's needs, with a steadily improving array of editing apps, games, and office-type applications. The Surface Laptop comes with Windows 10 S, which is a battery-life focused version of Windows 10 that only runs approved apps from the Windows Store. There are a couple of "hidden" costs associated with both devices that you should be aware of. The Surface Pro 4 is cheaper than the Surface Laptop at every price tier, but not by a huge amount. Before purchasing a Surface Laptop, you might want to wait until the Pro 5 gets announced - it might edge the Surface Laptop into second place for bang for your buck. USB-C Thunderbolt 3 would take a Surface Pro 5 to the next level, but considering Microsoft doesn't think the market is "ready" for USB-C just yet and opted to include it in the Surface Studio or Laptop, it doesn't seem likely.
While we're not expecting a huge rethink of the Surface Pro tablet, at the very least an update with new Kaby Lake processors and upgraded Intel graphics could be coming. To throw a wrench in the works, a "Surface Pro 5" may be on the cards, set to be announced very shortly, perhaps even in the next few weeks. The Surface Laptop might have the Surface Pro 4 beaten on raw power, but when it comes to versatility and getting the full use out of the hardware features you're paying a premium for, the Surface Pro 4 will be a safer bet for anyone wanting to ink more frequently. The Surface Pro 4 on the other hand, combined with its kickstand and detachable keyboard, will support artists and intensive note taking sessions, either in OneNote or other compatible apps. Neither device is going to put you over the weight limit at an airport, but the Pro 4 has an extra trick up its sleeve. The Surface Laptop packs a lot of power into a small package, but the Surface Pro 4 remains almost an entire pound lighter. This is as much a battle of form factors as it is power.
Whether you're browsing the web or using Microsoft Office, both devices will perform extremely well, and it's only when you head towards Adobe Photoshop and PC gaming that you will notice serious performance deltas between the two devices.
We haven't been able to test the Surface Laptop's heat dissipation in a graphics context yet, but I think it's fair to speculate that the Surface Laptop will trounce it for light gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks.Īs powerful as these devices are, both are best suited to light professional work, lighter gaming, and general desktop leisure activities.
If you go all the way up to the Surface Laptop and Pro 4's most expensive tier, both sport Intel Iris graphics, but the Pro 4 will always suffer from heat throttling. One full-size USB 3.0, Surface Connect, 3.5mm headset jack, Mini DisplayPortįull-size USB 3.0, microSD card reader, 3.5mm headset jack, Mini DisplayPort, Type Cover port, Surface ConnectĪmbient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, MagnetometerĨ02.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio Premiumįront-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Audio
M3 Intel HD graphics 510, i5 Intel HD graphics 520, i7 Intel Iris graphics 6th Generation Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 (Skylake)ġ28GB, 256GB, 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD)ġ28GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD)