The Microsoft Surface line of tablets has been fairly divisive; for every evangelist there are plenty of skeptics who doubt the device can truly replace a laptop. Microsoft is forging on with the fourth iteration regardless, building the Surface Pro 4 ($1,299 as tested) on the strongest points of...

Sharp, vibrant touch display; Full-friction, adjustable kickstand; Improved Surface Pen and Type Cover from the previous iteration; Strong battery life in testing

Pricey; Type Cover sold separately; Still only one USB port

Microsoft makes it actually pretty easy for the customer: The prices for all versions of the Surface Pro 4 are quite high, the m3 version (here in review) is almost as expensive as the comparable Core i5 model with a 128 GB SSD.

brightness and contrast; restrained fan control; improved Type Cover; reworked Surface Pen (inlcuded; sophisticated build quality and appealing design; high system performance; surprisingly powerful integrated GPU; no throttling in practice; much improved rear camera

comparatively short battery runtimes, only 1x USB 3.0; no USB-C, no maintainability (clean the fan?, very warm surfaces under load, high price

Every previous time I've reviewed the Surface Pro, I've concluded with a kind of frustration. Microsoft keeps aiming the Surface Pro at laptops, and for the way I use laptops, it keeps falling short. Why, I have always asked, will they not simply build a real laptop?

Bigger; better screen; Fine keyboard and a touchpad you'll actually enjoy using; Wide range of configuration options

It's very short on USB ports; With all the options it gets very expensive; and you can't freely mix and match the options; We still don't know when the biometric authentication will work; Type Covers are no longer available in purple

Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 was a rousing success, with a majority of users even recommending it to people who are on the fence about springing the money for one. The next iteration of the Surface Pro then is expected to have more bells and whistles. Does it? Read on to find out more.

Performance; Features

Price

Those interested in making the move to the new Surface Pro 4 should be ready to pay more compared to its predecessor. While the Surface Pro 3 launched at $799, the latest Surface Pro 4 starts at $899.

Convincing performance; Silent at low load; High system performance; Surface Pen provides real added value; Overall good keyboard

CPU is throttled; Hardware not maxed out; Limited connectivity; Touchpad too small

With the market for smartphones slowing down, manufacturers are on the lookout for newer ways to get customers back into stores handing over their cards. With media consumption on mobile devices at its peak, and the path being shown by iPads, it didn't take long for hybrid tablets, powerful enough...

Unadulterated Windows 10; Bundled Surface Pen; Beautiful display; kickstand negates need for separate type pad

Fan kicks in very frequently; Windows app store fairly limited; Battery discharges in sleep mode; expensive

Microsoft is probably smiling gleefully: it's got the upper hand on Apple, with the Surface Pro 4 really shaking its tail-feather at the iPad Pro. For the Surface Pro 4 is the most refined and comprehensive model in the Surface series yet - if you're in the market for a laptop-scale tablet, anyway.

Great screen in resolution, brightness and viewing-angle terms; Windows 10 a comprehensive OS; stylus' new magnetic connection/position, latest Type Cover keyboard a great typing experience (sold separately though

Limited battery - casual use, around 6-hours; no discrete graphics; Type Cover keyboard not included (its new trackpad too centrally aligned too), "fizz" sound when charging

Microsoft's revolutionary Surface line reaches its fourth incarnation, but just how much has it changed over the already excellent Surface Pro 3?

New Skylake CPU's; Truly incredible screen; Pixelsense is a big deal

Gets a little toasty under load; Minor parallax issues; Still only one USB port

From Gadget of the Year to a gadget you shouldn't go near, for now. The new Surface is great as a laptop and sorely lacking as a tablet.

Fantastic screen; Even better keyboard and stylus; Impeccably fast processor

Continuum was supremely buggy; The Windows Store is still short on apps; Cortana often falls on its face

The best Surface Pro yet, but it's still not for everyone

Bright; high quality screen; Generally comfortable keyboard; Adjustable built-in kickstand; Sturdy build quality; Useful ports; Good stylus

Heavy for a tablet; So-so battery life; Keyboard stability issues remain