The combination of an Intel Skylake chip, a new Type Cover keyboard and faster SSD speed help push the Surface Pro 4 into a higher echelon of...

New Intel Skylake processor dramatically increases performance; Redesigned Type Cover more closely approximates laptop keyboard; New Surface Dock is...

Battery life is slightly lower than Surface Pro 3; New Surface Pen tends to slide off tablet; The "curse of the missing cursor" still rears its head...

Compared to other Windows devices in this price range, the Surface Pro 4 performs well, with better than expected benchmarks across the board, even on graphics-heavy tests. The audio on the unit is surprisingly immersive, and the screen is incredibly bright-it's one of the most vibrant PC displays...

Dazzling screen and powerful audio make this an impressive platform for video content; Plenty of power packed into a sub-two pound chassis

Some performance and utility hiccups; Floppy keyboard remains underwhelming

For three years, Microsoft has been trying to convince us that a tablet can replace our laptops. Throughout three major design iterations, that's been the driving message behind the Surface. Last year's Surface Pro 3 represented the best execution on that idea yet.

Fast performance; Lightweight and portable design; Improved typing experience

Awkward on a lap; Pricey; Windows 10 is still buggy

While there are still a lot of traditional notebooks that Microsoft's tablet/laptop hybrid hasn't yet killed, the Surface Pro 3 changed the landscape of mobile computing. Now, the likes of HP , Lenovo , Dell and even Apple are chasing Microsoft's coattails with their own all-purpose devices.

Nobody knows what to make of the Microsoft Surface. It's neat looking, but kind of awkward. Great at certain things and oddly tantalizing, But who's it really for? Ack, fuck it. This latest hybrid iteration, the Surface Pro 4, is a refinement of sorts and sometimes subtle tweaks can go a long way...

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

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

It's probably fair to describe the Surface Pro 4 as an evolutionary update over its predecessor. That's not to say the improvements, collectively, aren't impressive: more of the same, or similar, is no bad thing when you're talking about a tablet that in its several generations has built a loyal...

Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 is an excellent hybrid device, but it's not exactly the inexpensive option. Over at finder.com.au, I've run Microsoft's very nice hybrid device through its paces. So as I usually say about now, go and read it! Source: Finder

The screen's better. So's the keyboard, and the pen. With the Pro 4, Microsoft's flagship tablet is now an unqualified win for those seeking both a powerful Win 10 slate and a serviceable laptop. (Just note: The keyboard still costs extra, and it's essential.)

Better screen; keyboard; and pen than Surface Pro 3; Bona fide 10-hour battery life; Better cooling means less-frequent fan noise

Type Cover still costs extra; Other convertibles still make for better laptops