I bought this version of the Surface Pro 4 (128 i5) at the recommendation of a MIcrosoft store employee. I explained my daily workload (editing photos, while keeping multiple tabs open in chrome and streaming music) and he said that the $ model could handle it with ease.

Might be a bit pricey, but this tablet/laptop is going to last you an easy 4 years. Performance wise, you're going to be golden unless you're doing really heavy graphic intensive editing or something. A really solid compact choice.

The Surface Pro 4 is a powerful, secure and flexible device with a fantastic display. It doesn't last as long as we'd like in terms of battery life, but the blend of high-end hardware and enterprise-grade software should have Apple and others very worried indeed.

Exceptional display; mostly great performance; USB 3.0; slimmer but still tough build; quality peripherals; sharp cameras; Windows 10 Pro

Mid-range model can struggle with demanding editing tasks; battery life shorter than hoped; separate ￡110 Type Cover

Even if you don't plan on using the Surface Pro 4 as a tablet, its slim, bag-friendly dimensions, sturdy build quality and bright, pixel-packed screen make it an impressive laptop replacement in its own right.

Size and weight; Display; Type Cover

Type cover sold seperately; Intel Core m3 at entry level; Scuffs easily

It's a tough decision to make. Both the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 4 are great tablets, with very little between them. Sure, on paper the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 looks better with larger storage options and up to 16GB of RAM, but the iPad Pro offers the complete ‘Pro' experience no matter how much you...

The Surface Pro 4 is Microsoft's latest high-end tablet/laptop hybrid. Its incredible desirable design and powerful hardware still, more than a year on, make it one of the most desirable devices on the market today.

Great screen for consumers; Robust performance; Solid battery life; Untouched version of Windows 10

Type Cover costs ￡110 extra; Missing key features for designers

This is TechRadar's review summary that gives you all the key information you need if you're looking for quick buying advice in 30 seconds – our usual full, in-depth review follows.

There is a great deal to like and rave about the Surface Pro 4. The design is thinner and lighter for starters. The screen is awesome, there's plenty of power available, the new Surface Pen is better and the Type Cover is a vast improvement on the last one.

Not quite notebooks and not quite tablets, Microsoft's family of Surface devices has typically featured well engineered hardware that made compromises in the pursuit of versatility.

Brilliant screen; Much improved TypeCover; Surface Pen is still a joy

Lacklustre battery; Trackpad still a little small; A little awkward to use on your lap

The Surface looks little like a notebook. It doesn't sell with a keyboard and trackpad. What you get is a slate with a kickstand and the digital equivalent of a pen. This hardly sounds like a device that could replace a computer, but it unequivocally is the notebook of tomorrow.

Keyboard cover is fantastic; Notebook-grade hardware; with processors up to Intel core i7; Optimised for Windows 10; Rich 12.3-inch display

Only one USB port; Keyboard cover is an optional extra