Getting to know the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is like seeing an old friend because it is an up-gradation of the Surface Pro 6 with new processors and a USB-C port. That means Microsoft has stuck to the same design since the 2017 Surface Pro 5. The unique design, well-made computers with sharp-looking lines, company’s kickstand on the back, and lightly textured magnesium bodies with rounded corners, continues to stand out. Microsoft should have dealt with this model as an opportunity to correct its predecessor’s wrongs, Microsoft Surface Pro 6’s, but, once again, the Surface Pro line has failed to come up the expectations many of us were hoping for. For example, the gains and updates have come at the cost of battery life.
A more robust USB-C implementation and slimmer screen bezels would have been a great addition. Instead, the configuration it comes with seems more like the calm before the storm of innovation. It may rightly be hoped that Microsoft is saving the software and hardware innovations for more exciting models.
Design:
If we talk about design, Microsoft has included a USB-C port, but overall its design resembles the previous model. For instance, the tablet still weighs 1.7 pounds and measures 292*201*8.5mm (11.5*7.9*0.3). Moreover, the device also accompanies the same matte black and silver aluminum finishes. A detailed description of its design is given in the later section.
• Display:
The tablet’s display of 12.3 inches looks beautiful and crisp. Further specs include a 2736*1834 resolution and 3:2 aspects ratio. Moreover, its touchscreen is as responsive, vibrant, and sharp as the previous generations, which was already quite remarkable. For years, this specification has remained unchanged, still having space for up-gradation such as enhanced color gamut coverage and HDR. Also, the large bezels surrounding the sides give a little outmoded look compared to mobile tablets and traditional laptops. The same design is a testament to either Microsoft has reached its limits as far as design is concerned, or its upcoming dual-screen models inspire the company. The latter seems more understandable.
• Keyboard:
Coming to its keyboard, which is one of the bests on any laptop. Although the keyboard is the same as the last year, the excellent key feel, stability, and travel give a smooth and responsive experience. In addition to this, the Alcantara fabric, which appears to be more tightly woven and more stain-resistant, is appreciable. Precise, tilt, low-latency, and plenty of pressure levels are some features of the Surface Pen. Even with the features mentioned above, its keyboard is not as smart as the Surface Pro X.
• Ports:
In the sameness ocean, an island of change is the USB-C port, but the overall connections are rare on this device. The same port, which is modern, industry-standard, is a jack of all trades. This port allows you to connect any number of accessories, including drives, displays, Ethernet adapter, and charge the surface. It can also be connected to displays, a USB-C dock for power, and accessories all from one cable.
However, this port is not on the Thunderbolt 3 standard. With this, you cannot get the raw throughput of Thunderbolt technology. That is why you will not get the fast transfer rates of the latter. Apple and countless other competitors at similar price tags come with Thunderbolt 3, which makes its absence in our model prominent. Older accessories are taken care of by a standard USB-A port. Except for USB-C and USB-A ports, a MicroSD card slot, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack are welcome.
Specifications:
Some of the specifications, including design, display, ports, and keyboard, have been discussed above. However, a summary of detailed specifications and other technical details is the following:
Performance:
Since armed with an Intel Core i7-1065G7 (10th gen), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, this powerful model can perform multitasks without a sweat. Even jumping between multiple Chrome tabs, streaming videos across YouTube and Twitch, and hammering away in Google Docs and Slack does not slow down this machine during day-to-day use.
Even, it performed well on the Geekbench 4 general performance test. The performance is displayed much better than that of 8th gen Core i5-powered Pro 6 and almost equivalent to the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Although this model is less likely to come up with some best gaming laptops, the integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics can easily handle non-intensive games. However, this laptop cannot be bought for gaming purposes only. Simply putting its performance, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 can operate ordinary computing tasks. That is why it is the right choice for college students in general and engineers in particular.
• Battery life:
Battery life is a significant shortcoming you have to bear while purchasing this laptop. In the local battery rundown test, its performance is much disappointing than the 2018 Pro 6. Likewise, its battery life exhibition was not better than the Pro 6 in the PCMark 8 battery test. A more efficient processor architecture would usually mean increased battery life, but Intel’s new CPUs, though, give boosts to graphical performance but come at the expense of battery life. Oddly enough, you are more likely to pick the Surface Pro 6 if you are after good battery life. Unfortunately, the battery life of our model is worse than that of predecessors.