I also relied on the wired connectivity to link the slate to a 4K monitor at my work desk, seamlessly transforming it into a full-blown desktop computer with a wireless keyboard and mouse. At this time, Surface Pro 9 (SQ3/5G) with Windows 11 Home on ARM will not install some games and CAD software, and some third-party drivers or anti-virus software.

But it really feels like Microsoft cut the headphone jack from the Surface Pro 9 just because it could. In the new Sapphire and Forest Surface Pro Signature Keyboards, we are introducing partially bio based Alcantara® material containing at least 12% renewable content that is derived from sugarcane waste. But unless you’re in the niche group of users who care about camera features or 5G above all else (and I recognize that such a group does exist), the difference between these two devices of greatest consequence to you is bound to be performance.Having said that, power-ups were always fast and easy with the bundled Surface Connect charger or a third-party adapter and cable via the device's USB-C ports. View image in fullscreen The Surface Pro 9 with Intel chip in blue (top) and the Surface Pro 9 5G in silver (bottom) with bands on its top edge for the mobile data antennas.

The optional accessory delivers haptic feedback, making all interactions feel precise and satisfying.

We’ve seen what the 8cx Gen 3 is capable of in the ThinkPad X13s, and while it was certainly the most capable Snapdragon PC chip to come out yet, it’s behind the current generation of Intel processors in single-core performance by as much as 37%. But this “ emulation layer” makes Intel apps – Evernote, Affinity Photo 2, Chrome or even just the WhatsApp desktop app – extremely sluggish. Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 tablet gets faster and easier to fix in the Surface Pro 9, while offering more options than ever before. As a generalization, this means faster performance in applications like the Adobe Creative Suite or Handbrake.

Windows 11 supports voice typing (accessed by Windows + H) and speech recognition (toggled with Windows + Ctrl + S). While the detachable form factor is becoming more common across the laptop space, there are still few convertible models as tried and true as the Surface — and fewer still with an accessory ecosystem as excellent as the one Microsoft provides. as real users, posing a threat to a site’s security, so the site sometimes runs random security checks. That said, the Surface Pro 9 is certainly the best the Surface has ever been, especially if you need a tablet that can replace a laptop without a hiccup.

Like many new iterations of devices, there’s no telling the all-metal Surface 9 Pro apart from its predecessor at first glance — and that’s totally fine. I still think the iPad Pro takes better advantage of its form factor, providing a far more focused touch experience. Slim, light and ready to travel, Surface Arc Mouse conforms to your hand and snaps flat to fit easily in your bag.

Personalise Surface Pro 9 with keycap labels, port indicators and 3-dimensional bump labels with Surface Adaptive Kit. Unless you exclusively use Microsoft’s own apps and not the wide range of third-party apps and tools Windows is known for, I would not recommend it. The duo of Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C ports of the Pro 9 allowed it to deliver fast data transfer speeds to and from external storage drives.

You get the same detachable keyboard (quite sturdy to type on, touchpad is a bit small) and the same 2880 x 1920 120Hz display (quite smooth, no complaints).