It’s a great time to be a Microsoft fan these days. In addition to a couple of announcements for new smartphones, fitness tracker and other devices, Microsoft has unveiled the new Surface Pro 4 tablet. And for the first time, the Surface line now has a full laptop version to offer, the Surface Book.
The Surface Pro 4 (pictured above) improves on the strengths of its predecessor Surface Pro 3. Faster and lighter, it markets itself as a laptop replacement. Its keyboard cover is better than ever, offering redesigned keys and a new fingerprint reader. The Surface Book, meanwhile, is a laptop that boasts more performance—something gamers and the productive minds truly can truly appreciate. Its 13.5-inch display can still be detached completely to turn the whole thing into a tablet.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Microsoft Surface Book
As seen in the specs table below, the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book vary in terms of display, processor and available RAM. Both devices, however, offer the same storage options (128/256/512/1024GB), cameras (8-megapixel rear-facing, 5-megapixel front-facing with Windows Hello face-authentication) and connectivity options. In addition, they both run Windows 10 Pro and come with a bundled Surface Pen.
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 | Microsoft Surface Book | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 12.3-inch PixelSense (2736x1824), ~267ppi | 13.5-inch PixelSense (3000x2000), ~267ppi |
| CPU | 6th-gen Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 | 6th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 |
| GPU | Intel HD or Intel Iris | Intel HD with optional Nvidia GeForce |
| RAM | 4/8/16GB | 8/16GB |
| Dimensions | 292.10 x 201.42 x 8.4mm | 220.2 x 312.3 x 7.7mm (tablet) 232.1 x 312.3 x 13.0-22.8mm (laptop) |
| Weight | 766-786g | 726g (tablet) 1515-1579g (laptop) |
| Battery Life on Video Playback | Up to 9 hours | Up to 12 hours |
The basic model of the Surface Pro 4 costs $899. The Surface Book starts at $1,499.
[Source: Microsoft]