The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Review: More than a color



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Microsoft occupies a somewhat unique place in the PC space compared to other manufacturers. In addition to Apple, Microsoft is the only company that controls both hardware and software. When the Surface range was launched in 2012, its goal was to present the benefits of its platform with a range of high-end hardware. On October 2, 2018, the company unveiled its sixth iteration of what is now a staple in the PC space, the Surface Pro 6.

Outside, it would be easy to write this update as a technical breakthrough, but there are tangible improvements in Surface Pro that make it a valid successor to Surface Pro 2017. The company has not completely reinvented the Surface Pro since the launch of the Surface Pro 3 in 2014, with the shift to the new slim and lightweight form factor, highlighting the display of the 3: 2 format. Surface Pro 4 extended the display from 12 inches to 12, 3 inches in a similar size camera and went from Haswell to Skylake. Surface Pro 2017 made some minor changes. The transfer to Kaby Lake finally solved the problems of food management. which affected the Skylake generation of Surface devices.

We can say that the biggest change that people will see with the Surface Pro 6 is that it is available in a new color: black. Since the launch of Surface Pro 2, Surface is no longer available in black. This new color will align with the existing platinum color that we have been familiar with since the beginning of the Microsoft PC family. But, inside the device, there are new components that move the Surface Pro to a new level. Most notable is that Microsoft has opted for the Kaby Lake Refresh four-core chips and, as we have seen in the rest of the computer industry, Kaby Lake Refresh is dramatically improving its performance.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Model tested: Core i5-8250U 8GB, 256GB, $ 1199
Processor Intel Core i5-8250U
4C / 8T, 1.6-3.4GHz, 6MB L3, 14nm, 15w

Intel Core i7-8650U
4C / 8T, 1.9-4.2 GHz, 8MB L3, 14nm, 15w

Memory LPDDR3 dual channel 8 or 16 GB
Graphic Intel Core i5-8250U
Intel UHD Graphics 620 (24 EU, 300-1100 MHz)
Intel Core i7-8650U
Intel UHD Graphics 620 (24 EU, 300-1150 MHz)
Display 12.3 "2736×1824 3: 2 PixelSense
Supports LG Display, Touch and Pen
100% sRGB color + enhanced color, individually calibrated panels
Storage room 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB PCIe 3.0 x2
Networking 802.11ac, 2×2: 2, 866 Mbps maximum, 2.4 and 5 GHz
Bluetooth 4.1
Marvell AVASTAR
l & # 39; Audio 1.6 W stereo speakers (front panel)
Dolby Audio Premium
Drums 45Wh, 44W AC adapter with USB charging port
Right side USB 3.0 Type-A
Mini DisplayPort 1.2
MicroSDXC Card Reader
Surface Connect Port (Loading and Mooring)
Left side Headphone jack
Walk button
Rocker Volume
Keyboard connector
Dimensions 292 x 201 x 8.5 mm (11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches)
Weight Core i5: 770 grams (1.70 lbs)
Core i5 / i7: 784 grams (1.73 lbs)
Cameras Rear: 8.0 MP autofocus
Before: 5.0 MP auto-focus and Windows support Hello
Two microphones
Extras Surface Pen and Dial (sold separately)
Surface Dock – 2 x MPD 1.2, 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x Gigabit (sold separately)
TPM 2.0
Price 128 GB of RAM Core i5 8 GB: $ 899
Intel Core i5 256 GB with 8 GB of RAM: $ 1199
Intel Core i7 256GB with 8GB of RAM: $ 1499
Intel Core i7 512GB with 16GB of RAM: $ 1899
Intel Core i7 1TB with 16GB of RAM: $ 2299

A decision that has been made since launch has been questioned by the lack of an Iris GPU option in Surface Pro with this generation. The 2017 model we reviewed was equipped with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, which doubles the number of runtime units compared to the standard UHD Graphics 620 and adds 64 MB of eDRAM. The Iris option is no longer a solution, but even if Microsoft wanted to continue to offer it, Intel no longer sells 15-watt processors in their current range with the Iris option. You have to switch to a 28 watt model at the moment.

The rest of the Surface Pro, on a technical sheet, is almost identical to the outgoing model. The 12.3-inch screen has the same resolution of 2736 x 1824, you can get SSD capacities up to 1TB, and the RAM is offered with up to 16GB due to limitations of LPDDR3 capabilities. The same Marvell AVASTAR wireless device has also been used for too long in all Surface devices.

The missing feature that everyone would probably expect to see with this launch was a USB-C port, because Microsoft eventually includes it instead of the mini DisplayPort in Surface Book 2, as well as on the Surface Go confused motion, the Surface team kept the Mini DisplayPort connector on Surface Pro rather than switching to USB-C, which could also be used as DisplayPort when needed.

Microsoft has also significantly reduced prices, but the lowest model with the Core m3 and the lowest price is no longer. The good news is that the basic configuration drops 4GB of RAM, which means that a 128GB Core i5 with 8GB of RAM now forms the basis at $ 899. Last year, the 128 GB Core i5 MSRP was $ 999 and had only 4 GB of RAM. At the top, the savings are even greater, with the Core i7 1 TB with 16 GB of RAM, or $ 400 less than the Surface Pro launch price of last year.

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