Fine-tuning the Microsoft Surface Pro

Tested: Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ Fine-tuning the Microsoft Surface Pro

Only a plus sign is different, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ from the predecessor. Under the hood, has done quite a lot. We have taken advantage of the new Surface in the Hands-on Test extensively under the microscope to see if it was worth the Upgrade.

Originally Surface on the part of Microsoft, was meant to be new forms in the case of Hardware to try and give the industry pulses. In part, this is still so, such as the Surface Duo. The Surface Per the manufacturer, by contrast, became more conservative, which has to do with the 2-in-1 Tablet to be a very popular device for business customer and you do not want to expect this clientele to drastic Changes. Visually, the Surface Pro 7 is different+, the manufacturer also sells exclusively B2B-device, not from the still-selling Surface Pro 7 Plus Suffix. In the inner life, however, has done quite a bit.

More Power with Tiger Lake

The technical Basis for the 12.3-inch Windows Tablet is now Ice Lake, so the Intel Core processors 10. Generation, but its successor Tiger Lake. In our test device is a Intel Core i5-1135G7 with four cores, eight Threads, and up to 4.2 GHz Turbo clock works. The most important progress of the Tiger-Lake-G7-models is, however, the much faster the Iris-Xe graphics unit with 64 execution units. The processor in the Surface Pro works completely fanless. The non-expandable memory is dimensioned with 16 GB of LPDDR4x for the device class is generous. The PCIe-SSD sums up to 256 GB. She is the Surface Pro 7 is now similar to the Surface Pro X is easily accessible. If you unfold the stand, a magnetically attached cover that with a small Torx screw secured in M. 2 2230 SSD hides.

The performance of the system without the Keyboard, only 775 grams Tablets with 4.037 points in PC Mark 10 even for the most demanding Business applications. In the graphics performance of the 7+ has been properly given: In the Night Raid of the current 3DMark it made 14.907 points with the best performance in the power settings. For comparison: A Notebook with a Core i5-10210U and Intel-UHD-graphics-comes to about 4,500 points, and also a device with a AMD Ryzen 5 4500U to just over 10,000 meters. In the case of the battery life, the Surface reaches 5.5 hours under constant load. The promised 10.5 hours of typical use, therefore, are quite realistic.

LTE but no Thunderbolt 4

The excellent Display with 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2.736 x 1.824 Pixel has taken over the Tablet from its predecessor. It supports not only Touch, but also the optional Surface Pen. This not only provides a good typing experience, but also an “eraser” at the end, with you can call, also, by printing via Bluetooth with an App such as Whiteboard or OneNote. The Display is very bright, however, not reflective.

The Pen adheres magnetically to the left side of the magnesium housing, in which only the audio Jack. On the right side is a USB-C Port, a USB-a interface, as well as the combined magnetic Charging-and Docking are arranged in a connection. Unfortunately, the USB-C Port does not support Thunderbolt 4, although the Controller is already part of the processor. After all, the Tablet can be charged at least over USB-C, and DisplayPort. As a communication interface of the test device, in addition to WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. In charge of the Intel Chip AX201 is here, including LTE Advanced. In the process, eSIM and Nano-SIM cards are supported. However, the SIM assigned to slot the place in pure Wi-Fi variant of the Pro 7+ the MicroSDXC card reader occupied. On the Display, a 5-MP camera for video conferencing, and the Windows Hello sign-in, sits in the back of the tablet has a 8-MP is embedded camera. Both provide a decent quality. This also applies to the two microphones, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos. For a reasonable Work required Type Cover keyboard with magnetic attachment is optional. In spite of their thin design, you can tap on the 310 grams, lightweight Keyboard very well.

In the tested Version of the Tablet will cost 1.849 Euro. At least 146 euros for the Type Cover keyboard and 110 euros for the pen is yet to come.

Sensible Fine-Tuning

More and more often, Microsoft is accused of the Surface Pro was overtaken by its design now. As an example, the thick borders around the Display are called, or the Lack of modern interfaces. While the waiver of Thunderbolt 4 is really annoying, can you hold the device by the thick edge of the screen in Tablet mode, without falling into the Panel.

In addition, there is the Surface Pro 7+ very welcome new features. The most important of the exchange on the Tiger Lake platform from Intel, which brings a slightly higher processor performance, especially for a Tablet is a very good 3D performance. The battery life is for everyday use perfectly adequate, and the device operates through the passive cooling silent. Further plus points are the now easily accessible and replaceable SSD, as well as the optional LTE support. A 5G Option, there is not. Here, Microsoft is lagging behind actually.

Overall, the already very good Surface Pro, in the 7+Version has become even better. For Business customers, it is a 2-in-1 Tablet.

Complementary to the theme

Successful in the B2B Channel

With a Surface has been established Microsoft it is now well established as a major computer manufacturer, is also in the B2B Channel successfully. The strategy for a gradual expansion of the product portfolio, up and down, like Robin Wittland, Director of the Business Group of Surface at Microsoft, emphasized part. The company has won with a relatively cheap devices like the Surface Go 2 and Surface Laptop Go a good Position in the Education market, and at the same time makes good sales in the Premium segment with devices like the Surface Pro or the Surface Hub. With the Surface Duo, a Dual-Display device with Android. The strength of Microsoft is according to the Wittland in the integrated business model for the Modern Workplace and Modern Education, which provides Hardware, Software and Services from a single source.

Thereby, the manufacturer builds in support for the partners. An external service provider and Partner Technology special-ists in the Microsoft self-help in case of technical questions. On the platform surface-club.de webinars will be offered.

An important tool for the B2B Channel providing solution Autopilot, which facilitates especially in the case of customers with employees in the home office, the commissioning and servicing of the equipment. Smaller partners will be supported by the distributors at the time of registration.

Jörg Kreykamp, Director Surface of Commercial at Microsoft, added that the turnover of Surface for Microsoft and the Partner is grown in the past year, two digits, and they’ve also increased the number of active partners. There are now about 2,500, of which about 200 with a strong Education focus. With ratio data, there is also the authorized Service Provider for Surface. The next time a network of authorized Service providers will emerge.

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