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Our VerdictThe Nexus 9 is the cheaper option here and will suit those who a tablet for enjoyment but also need to do the occasional bit of light work. However, the Surface 3 is the better package for working with a more suitable design comprised of the kickstand and Type Cover. A larger screen, more storage and useful ports are all big benefits.
Microsoft’s Surface 3 has arrived as a cheaper alternative to the Surface Pro 3, but how does it compare to the Google Nexus 9 which also has a keyboard dock? Find out in our Surface 3 vs Nexus 9 comparison review. Also see: Best new tablets coming in 2023.
The Nexus 9 and Surface 3 are quite different tablets but both offer a very similar set-up for getting work done when you include their respective keyboard docks. See what we make of each one including price, design, hardware and software.
Surface 3 vs Nexus 9: PriceAs usual price is an important element when buying a new gadget. It’s of little surprise that the Google Nexus 9 is the cheaper option starting at £319. The Surface 3 will set you back at least £100 more depending on what model you choose. We’ve outlined the various choices in the table below.
Chances are, you’re reading this article as the Surface 3 and Nexus 9 are two tablets on the market which are potentially good for doing work on, although they are very different. The reason is that they both have keyboard dock accessories which make them more like a laptop in use. However, it’s worth pointing out that neither price includes the extra.
The Surface 3 Type Cover (available in various colours) will set you back £109 while the Nexus 9 Keyboard Folio case is effectively the same at £110 so bear this in mind when making your decision. See also: best budget laptops you can buy in 2023
Nexus 9
Surface 3
16GB
£319
–
32GB
£399
–
64GB
–
£419
64GB + 4G LTE
–
TBC
128GB
–
£499
128GB + 4G LTE
–
TBC
Surface 3 vs Nexus 9: Design – using like a laptopThe Nexus 9 and Surface 3 look quite different – Google’s tablet is thinner and ligher at 7.95mm and 425g compared to 8.7mm and 622g – but we’re mainly interested in the aspect of using them for work. At lot of this comes down to the keyboard, although there’s also the optional pen for sketching and writing on the Surface. It costs £45 but could come in extremely handy depending on the task you’re doing. It’s far more accurate than using your finger and the physical button can be used to launch OneNote and take screenshots.
Microsoft’s Surface 3 Type Cover is by far the simpler solution and snaps on and off quickly with magnets – it just works. You use it completely flat or use the magnets to give it a nice angle like a regular keyboard. It’s worth noting that the kickstand built into the tablet itself offers three different viewing angles whether the Type Cover is attached or not.
A couple of features which it has over the Nexus 9 are the backlit keys and a built-in trackpad. When the cover is closed it protects the screen of the Surface 3.
As the name suggests, the Nexus 9 Keyboard Folio is a full case for the tablet – although it also attaches magnetically. As you don’t need an additional case as you might do for the Surface 3, the Nexus 9 could be be a cheaper option.
The keyboard must sit flat, and there are only two viewing angles for the screen and no backlit keys or a trackpad. Since there’s no physical connection between the case and the tablet, you must pair the two using Bluetooth. This isn’t the end of the world but the Surface method simpler and easier. It also means you need to keep the Keyboard Folio charged up in order for it to work (Google claims it can last up to five months on a single charge).
Surface 3 vs Nexus 9: Hardware and softwareStarting with the screen, which is pretty important when you’re trying to get work done. The Nexus 9 is smaller at 8.9in but has a higher resolution at 2048×1536. The Surface 3 is 10.8in and Full HD Plus 1920×1280. Resolution aside, the size is more important when it comes to getting things done so the extra space on the Surface could make a big difference depending on your task. That said, we still prefer the Surface Pro 3 with its 12.1in display over the noticeably smaller 10.8in display.
Storage is also going to be a potentially big deal and it makes sense that the cheaper Nexus 9 has less available with just 16- or 32GB. Opt for the pricier Surface 3 and you’ll get at least 64GB or 128GB if you don’t mind paying more but there’s also a microSD card slot which Google doesn’t offer.
In the engine room, each tablet has 2GB of RAM (4GB on the 128GB Surface 3) and the Nexus 9 is powered by a 64-bit nVidia Tegra K1 Dual Denver processor clocked at 2.3GHz. The Surface 3 has the new Intel Atom x7 which is 1.6GHz but can jump to 2.4Gz with Intel Burst technology. Microsoft’s tablet is the more competent here although it has its limits and we wouldn’t recommend it for video editing.
Like most Android tablets, the Nexus 9 doesn’t provide any physical ports beyond microUSB, but it does have NFC should that come in useful. Microsoft has also switched to microUSB for charging but it offers full-size USB 3.0 and Mini DisplayPort on top, making the Surface 3 much more like a proper laptop.
Battery life is similar here with up to 10 hour video playback on the Surface 3 and 9.5 hour on the Nexus 9 so software is a bigger deal.
While the Nexus 9 comes with stock Android 5.0 Lollipop, the Surface comes pre-installed with Windows 8.1 (the full version, not RT which is now defunct) and will be upgraded to Windows 10 later this year for free. This is a huge difference and although many apps, including Office, are available for Android, the Surface 3 give you more scope for running software.
Reasons to buy the Nexus 9: Cheaper, better for fun alongside work, lighter and more compact.
Reasons to buy the Surface 3: Designed for work, better keyboard dock, larger screen, more ports, expandable storage.
Specs Microsoft Surface 3: Specs
Windows 8.1 Intel Atom x7-Z8700 processor, quad-core 1.6GHz (turbo to 2.4GHz) Up to 4GB DDR3 RAM Up to 128GB internal storage 10.8in ClearType full-HD-plus (1920×1280, 214ppi, 3:2) multitouch display USB 3.0 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 Mini DisplayPort 8Mp rear camera 3.5Mp front camera Stereo speakers with Dolby sound battery life up to 10 hours (video playback) 267x187x8.7mm 622g (without keyboard) 1 year warranty
You're reading Microsoft Surface 3 Vs Google Nexus 9
Google Nexus 6P Vs Iphone 6S Plus Comparison
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
It’s too early to come to a definitive verdict, but it’s fairly safe to assume that existing iPhone owners aren’t likely to be lured to Android because of the 6P, and that Android users will be put off by the 6S Plus’ high prices. They’re tempting upgrades from older Nexus phones and iPhones, but it’s worth remembering that their large dimensions aren’t very pocket friendly.
The Nexus 6P is Google’s second stab at a phablet, and you could say the same about the iPhone 6S Plus even if one is more revolutionary than evolutionary. If you’re trying to decide between these two, our Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus comparison will help you choose the best to buy.
We’ve used our hands-on time with the 6P and iPhone 6S Plus to make these comparisons, but we’ve yet to benchmark the 6P or test either phone for battery life. With that in mind, let’s look at price, build and design, screens, connectivity and cameras. Also see: Best MiFi 2023.
Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: PriceThe 16GB version of the iPhone costs £619, 64GB is £699 and the 128GB model is £789 – the same prices as for the iPhone 6 Plus last year.
Google offers the Nexus 6P in three more sensible capacities: 32GB for £499, 64GB for £499 and 128GB for £579. Quite a saving in anyone’s book.
Neither phone has expandable storage, so make sure you can live with the capacity you’re intending to buy, and don’t forget the usable capacity is always a bit less than the quoted figure.
Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: Design and buildThe Huawei-built 6P is a brand new design and the phone is Google’s flagship for 2023/2023, the first to get Android Marshmallow. It’s also the first all-metal Nexus and benefits from lessons learned by last year’s Nexus 6: the too-big phablet. In fact, the 6P is virtually identical to the 6S Plus in size, despite the bigger, higher-resolution screen. It’s lighter by 14g but few people will be able to notice this.
Here’s the Nexus 6 against the 6P:
Apple’s 6S Plus may have lots of underlying changes, but is more an evolution of the 6 Plus. So from a design perspective, no-one will know whether you’ve got a 6 Plus or a 6S Plus unless you opt for the new Rose Gold finish. And if you’re the type that needs to be seen with the latest and greatest phone, it’s a bit of a problem.
Both phones have top-notch build quality, but the iPhone is the more attractive with its softer rounded edges and screen whose edges also curve slightly to meet the edges. There’s also no ugly black strip which – for us at least – takes away from the 6P’s beauty. Make no mistake, the Nexus looks and feels like a flagship phone in a way none of its predecessors have, and it’s no more expensive than the Nexus 6.
There’s a choice of colours: Space Grey, Silver and Rose Gold for the iPhone; silver, black and white for the Nexus.
The Nexus has a fingerprint scanner on the back, in common with other Huawei phones. Some will like this as it’s easy to train yourself to pick up the phone with your index finger in the right place to fall directly onto it – this wakes and unlocks the phone.
With the iPhone 6S Plus you have to press the home button, but the improved Touch ID is so fast at recognising your fingerprint it’s no different from pushing the home button to wake an older iPhone without Touch ID. With the 6S though, that quick press also unlocks the phone.
Here’s the iPhone 6 Plus next to the Nexus 6P (we didn’t have a 6S Plus to hand at the 6P launch event, but it’s useful as a size comparison since the 6S Plus is essentially the same):
We prefer the button positions on the 6P, with the volume rocker and power next to each other. On the iPhone, the power button is directly opposite the volume up button which means you sometimes turn it off when attempting to increase volume or use that button to take a photo.
On the bottom of each phone is a charge / sync port, Lightning on the iPhone and USB Type C on the 6P. Both are reversible, so you don’t need to think when you attach a cable: there’s no upside down.
While we hate proprietary connectors, Lightning is so common that even if you forget your cable, chances are someone can lend you one. It will take a while before USB Type C is ubiquitous, but it’s a welcome improvement over microUSB.
Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: ScreenWith 3D Touch, the iPhone offers a new way to interact with iOS beyond tapping and swiping. The ability to achieve different things depending on how hard you push makes it surprisingly fast to send a message to a favourite contact, or jump straight to selfie mode in the camera app. It’s still early days, but app developers will undoubtedly add support for 3D Touch over the next weeks and months.
It’s a great screen, too, just as the iPhone 6 Plus’ was. The 100 percent sRGB coverage, high brightness, high contrast and wide viewing angles make it a joy to look at photos, watch videos and play games. Its 401ppi is lower than the 6P’s 515ppi, but we’d question whether the increased resolution is necessary or even noticeable at normal viewing distances.
That’s not to say the 6P is worse, of course. There’s quite a wow factor associated with combining the 2560×1440 resolution with Super AMOLED technology. Colours really pop and – with the right image on screen – the extra detail is clear to see when you look close up.
Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: Connectivity and specsWi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS and a stack of sensors: both phones have them and there’s not much to differentiate them (details are in the table below). In the iPhone NFC is only for Apple Pay, though.
As you’d expect, both also support 4G on multiple bands. Both have a single nano SIM slot.
Google Nexus 6P
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
Screen
5.7in 2560×1440-pixel Quad HD AMOLED screen, 515ppi
5.5in 1920×1080-pixel IPS LCD 3D Touch screen, 401ppi
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 octa-core processor at 2.0GHz
Apple A9
Storage
32/64/128GB storage
16/64/128GB storage
RAM
3GB RAM
2GB RAM
Operating System
Android Marshmallow 6.0
iOS 9
Main camera
12.3MP main camera, dual-LED flash, support for 4K video at 30fps
12MP main camera, dual-LED flash, support for 4K video at 30fps
Front camera
8MP secondary camera
5MP secondary camera
Wi-Fi
802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi with 2×2 MIMO
802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth 4.2
GPS
GPS
GPS
NFC
Yes
Yes, for Apple Pay
Wireless charging
No
No
Dimensions
77.8×159.3×7.3mm
77.9×158.2×7.3mm
Weight
178g
192g
Battery
3450mAh
2750mAh
Google Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: Cameras
Both Apple and Huawei/Google understand that more isn’t better when it comes to megapixels. They both have 12Mp cameras, the 6S Plus using 1.22µ pixels and the 6P having slightly larger 1.55µ pixels.
We have yet to properly test the 6P, and certainly not yet under identical conditions to the iPhone. Both should deliver decent quality in different light conditions, and improve upon their predecessors in low light especially.
The 6P has an IR laser autofocus system, can shoot slo-mo video at 240fps. There’s also a burst mode which takes photos at 30fps.
That brings it in line with the iPhone 6S’s shooting modes, albeit with the exception of Time-lapse, but there are plenty of apps if you want speeded-up video from your Nexus 6P.
Meanwhile, the iPhone adds support for 4K video at 30fps, catching up with the Nexus line – the Nexus 6 could shoot 4K but the iPhone 6 Plus could not.
The 6P has an 8Mp front camera which will – in theory – be better than the 5Mp unit in the iPhone 6S Plus, but we’ll have to wait until we can test them side by side to know for sure.
One neat trick up the iPhone’s sleeve is a front ‘flash’: the screen. It can briefly flash up to three times brighter than normal to illuminate selfies, or add a little fill-in light when needed.
Specs iPhone 6s Plus: Specs
A9 chipset
2GB RAM
5.5in 1080p display
3D Touch
12Mp rear facing camera
4K video recording
Live Photos
Front facing 5Mp camera with display flash
Bluetooth 4.2
dual band Wi-Fi
NFC
iOS 9
158.2×77.9×7.3mm
192g
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) Review: An Arm Tablet Actually Worth Buying
Pros
Performance is surprisingly competitive
Vivid, bright screen
Cellular connectivity for on-the-go work
Fantastic battery life
New Windows Studio Effects generally work well
Cons
eSIM connectivity had issues
Audio isn’t as rich as earlier tablets
Inking isn’t quite as good
Expensive
No headphone jack
Arm processor has some compatibility issues with games
Our VerdictIf you’re in the market for an always-connected Windows tablet for office work, we’d recommend you take a look at the Surface Pro 9 (5G).
Best Prices Today: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G)We recommend that you consider buying the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) Windows tablet, with an Arm chip—not an Intel or AMD chip—inside. That’s a first for us, and we hope it’s not the last.
Read reviews of the Surface Pro 9 with a large grain of salt, because there are two significantly different products hiding under the same brand name. The Surface Pro 9 is built on an Intel 12th-gen Core chip (Alder Lake), while the Surface Pro 9 (5G) uses a separate SQ3 chip co-developed by Qualcomm to Microsoft’s specifications. We’re reviewing the Surface Pro 9 (5G) here.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G) is essentially the Surface Pro X, now renamed and brought under the Surface Pro 9 brand umbrella. Inside it is the SQ3, an Arm chip that’s technically incompatible with the X86 architecture of Intel’s Core and AMD’s Ryzen processors, but can run most Windows apps both via a special Arm-optimized version of Windows 11 plus a special code interpreter.
What it boils down to is this: The Surface Pro 9 (5G) should offer somewhat more battery life and somewhat less performance than the Core version of the tablet, based on our tests. But it’s not that much less, and that’s the surprise. Nevertheless, there are still application compatibility issues if you wander too far from its mission: handling day-to-day Office tasks and browsing via Microsoft Edge.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G) is also the only SP9 to include a 5G radio inside, meaning that you’ll enjoy always-on connectivity once you leave the range of the nearest Wi-Fi router. We’re also told that Microsoft does not plan to sell a 5G version of the Surface Pro 9 with a Core chip inside, either — if you want an always-connected Surface Pro 9, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is it.
A special Liberty Floral keyboard is available in limited quantities to celebrate the Surface line’s 10th anniversary.
Michael Crider/IDG
Unlike the Surface Pro 9, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) does not include a pair of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, which usually requires an Intel processor. Instead, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) includes standard USB-C ports rated at the vanilla 10Gbps spec instead. This matters in two ways: first, you won’t be able to use a Thunderbolt dock to expand this tablet’s I/O capabilities. You also won’t be able to use a powered Thunderbolt dock to charge the tablet either, and will have to depend on the 39W charger to charge the tablet through the Surface Connect port.
This is not an enormous issue; you can use Microsoft’s Surface Dock 2, the upcoming Microsoft Audio Dock, or an inexpensive USB-C dongle to provide some I/O expansion capabilities, and the in-box charger works just fine. But it’s another difference between the two.
Otherwise, aside from shaving a sliver off of the chassis weight, the Surface Pro 9 is essentially the same as the Surface Pro 8: the same design, with a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard (sold separately) which can tuck the optional Surface Slim Pen 2 (usually bundled with the Signature Keyboard) into its recharging cubby. Two new color options are available: Sapphire and Forest, with a special Liberty floral blue Surface Pro 9 color option in limited quantities to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Surface tablet.
Microsoft has continued to offer two sub-versions of the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro 9 (5G), which vary by operating system. Our review unit of the Surface Pro 9 (5G), supplied by Microsoft, uses Windows 11 Home. An optional Surface Pro 9 (5G) for Business ships with both Windows 11 Pro. Business customers also enjoy better support options.
Surface Pro 9 (5G) features and specs
Display: 13-inch PixelSense Flow (2880×1920, 267 PPI) up to 120Hz with dynamic refresh rate
Processor: Surface Pro 9 (consumer): 12th-gen Core i5-1235U, Core i7-1255U; Surface Pro 9 for Business: Core i5-1245U, Core i7-1265U; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: Microsoft 3.00GHz SQ3
Graphics: Surface Pro 9: Iris Xe (Core i5, i7); Surface Pro 9 with 5G: SQ3 Adreno 8cx Gen 3
Memory: Surface Pro 9: 8/16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: 8/16GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB removable SSD; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: 128GB/256GB/512GB removable SSD
Ports: Surface Pro 9 (5G): 2 USB-C 10Gbps; Surface Pro 9: 2 USB-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4). Both SP9 models include 1 Surface Connect port, 1 Surface Keyboard Port
Security: Camera (Windows Hello)
Camera: Surface Pro 9: 5Mpixel/1080p (user-facing), 10MP/1080p and 4K video (rear-facing); Surface Pro 9 with 5G: same, but with Windows Studio Effects
Battery: Design capacity: 46.5Wh; Full capacity, 49.2Wh
Wireless: Both: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: see below
Operating system: Consumer, both Surface Pro 9 versions: Windows 11 Home; Business, Surface Pro 9: Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: Windows 11 Pro
Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches
Weight: Surface Pro 9: 1.94 pounds; Surface Pro 9 with 5G: 1.95 pounds (mmWave); 1.94 pounds (Sub6)
Color: Platinum, Graphite, Sapphire, Forest, Liberty (limited supplies)
Price: Surface Pro 9 (consumer): $999 to $2,599.99, depending on configuration; Surface Pro 9 with 5G (consumer): $1,299.99 to $1,899.99; Surface Pro 9 for Business: $1,099.99 to $2,699.99; Surface Pro 9 with 5G for Business: $1,399.99 to $1,899.99 ($1,599.99 as tested)
Optional accessories: Surface Slim Pen 2: $97 on sale at Amazon; Surface Pro Signature Keyboard: on sale at Amazon for $149.99
Yes, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is all about the hardware. But it’s also a showcase for the latest features of Windows 11, and you’ll see the updated Microsoft Edge browser (complete with a luxurious look at its features, including the new icon sidebar on the right side) when you first open it.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G): Out of the boxMicrosoft sent us a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard in what appears to be the Sapphire color, along with the Surface Slim Pen 2.
Microsoft’s setup process doesn’t seem to differ too much from what Windows 11 now asks of you. You’ll still need a Microsoft account to proceed, though that opens the door for automatic installation of Microsoft 365 (Office 365) as well as migrating apps and settings from any other previous installations. Expect to see the Surface app pop up randomly early on, asking you to set up your Surface Slim Pen 2, including questions about what hand you ink with as well as a general overview of how the pen works. Inking is far more fundamental to the Surface Pro experience than, say, the Surface Laptop 5.
The power button and volume rocker have wandered about the top and sides of the Surface Pro over the last few generations. The Surface Pro 9 (5G) returns to the design of the Surface Pro 7+, with the power and volume rocker on top, next to one another.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G), like its 5G-less cousin, is a Windows tablet, with the SP9’s traditional kickstand that allows it to recline just 15 degrees or so off of the horizontal. The Surface Pro 9 experience is part consumption, as the lightweight tablet and kickstand allows it to be propped up in all sorts of non-traditional locations; part creation, via inking on the tablet; and part productivity, with the magnetically attached Signature keyboard allowing it to emulate a traditional clamshell notebook. It does all of these pretty well.
Mark Hachman / IDG
In general, the Surface Pro tablets do best on a flat surface, versus a typical clamshell laptop which can perch on your lap. Otherwise, you’ll have to hold the 13-inch SP9 tablet up, grasping it by the rather large bezels on the sides. The display matches the Surface Pro 8, which increased the display size slightly, with better resolution than rival tablets from Dell and others. You might think by now that Microsoft would use some sort of AI intelligence to sense which fingers are merely holding the tablet, and which are interacting with it. That’s not the case, and everything looks a bit antiquated as a result.
A pair of USB-C (not Thunderbolt) ports are on the left side of the Surface Pro 9 (5G). But where’s the headphone jack?
Mark Hachman / IDG
When comparing it to other tablets like the Apple iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Tab series, the Surface Pro 9 is hard-pressed to hold its own. But in the Windows space, versus traditional laptops, the SP9 stands out, with a display resolution that pushes past 1440p and with excellent pixel density. The PixelSense Flow screen continues to be simply beautiful, with a dynamic 120Hz option for improved smoothness and inking.
According to our colorimeter, the Surface Pro 9 (5g) puts out an extremely bright 443 nits of screen luminance and covers much of the sRGB color gamut as well. That’s about ten more nits than the Surface Pro 8 pushed out, and should allow you to work in the shade, if not daylight. That’s ideal for an on-the-go, connected tablet.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G) emphasizes creativity, with a wide color gamut.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft’s 5G tablet foregoes Dolby Vision IQ, a visual display improvement that the new Surface Laptop 5 includes but this device does not.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G) puts out enough light that you can work in moderate daylight. This was taken about 3PM, on a sunny day.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Unlike the Surface Laptop 5 (or virtually any other product that uses an Intel or AMD X86 processor) the Windows’ performance settings have no effect. With an X86 chip, you can get significantly increased performance for free; with the Surface Pro 9 (5G) the settings are there, but are just for show.
We understand that while Microsoft would have liked to add in Thunderbolt, that just didn’t happen. We have a 4K test display that includes a USB-C input, and it powered that display without any problems at all. (Naturally, it can only run its internal display at 120Hz, however.) Microsoft phased out the microSD card slot in earlier Surface Pro models, but you can “replace” that with a separate USB-C dongle.
How is the Surface Pro 9 (5G) to type on?Microsoft’s Surface Pro Signature Keyboards haven’t changed that much in the last few years, save for the addition of the charging cubby for the Slim Pen 2. Yes, the magnetic connector holding the keyboard to the tablet does secure the tablet well enough to use it on your lap, but you’ll probably prefer to use it on a desk or tabletop in most cases. While you’ll probably prefer the stability of typing on a clamshell laptop, the inclined Signature Keyboard is absolutely usable for everyday use.
The Surface Pro Signature Keyboard hides the Slim Pen 2, tucked underneath the fold.
Mark Hachman / IDG
What happened to the Surface Pro 9’s headphone jack?The Surface Pro 9 (5G)’s speakers provide a soft but balanced soundscape with noticeably less volume than prior generations. Put against the Surface Pro 8, there’s simply little point of comparison: previous Surface tablets have punched above their weight in terms of audio quality, and the Surface Pro 9 (5G) seems to be trading on that legacy with less to back it up. Yes, the specs say that there’s still the same 2W speakers inside it, but I find that hard to believe.
In fact, the Surface Pro 8 has a toggle switch within the Windows 11 Settings menu to toggle on audio enhancements. The Surface Pro 9 (5G) lacks that feature, and frankly sounds almost identical to the SP8 with that switch toggled off. Using headphones, though, thankfully rectifies those flaws, and my Google Pixel earbuds sounded terrific.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G) still ships with a rear camera, if that’s your thing.
Mark Hachman / IDG
It’s worth noting, though that those are Pixel USB-C wired earbuds. Why? Because the Surface Pro 9 (5G) has joined the ranks of those devices that have killed off the headphone jack alongside the Surface Pro X — still a black mark in my book. I don’t want to have to charge Bluetooth earbuds to use my tablet. If you feel differently, that’s fine.
The Surface Pro 9 (5G)’s webcam, however, is one of the device’s highlights. First, the Surface Pro family has always used a 1080p webcam, and they’re usually among the best of any laptop or tablet, anywhere. Though the webcam image shot with the camera is a bit soft, the image quality, color, and lighting is quite good. I typically capture these webcam images in the morning, but this was captured in the afternoon, with side light. It’s still very well done.
Specifically, Windows Studio Effects offer three features: background effects (specifically blurring), Eye Contact, and automatic framing. While other applications offer background blurring, the key is that Windows offers this as a general control, so it isn’t dependent on the app itself. (It’s a little unclear whether an app’s effects will be able to override this or not.) Microsoft offers two blurs: a “portrait” blur that vaguely blurs the background, and a deeper “standard” blur” that makes the background largely unrecognizable. These are all previewable within Settings, by the way.
Interestingly, both models of the Surface Pro 9 ship with a webcam with a 4-degree tilt, which we have to assume contributes to its capability for automatic framing.
This Windows blur is a necessity for a crowded home office, full of various test equipment and so on.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Eye Contact is a feature that, like FaceTime for Apple’s iOS, attempts to use AI to fix your gaze on the camera, no matter if you’re actually looking at something else. Again, this is a Windows control, so it should be active in Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and other apps. But it’s not previewable, so you’ll have to trust (ha!) that you’ll look as if you’re actually paying attention. (It didn’t work with a phone movie I recorded of my face, with my eyes darting this way and that.) That’s a bit risky during those group meetings or staff calls, so play it safe until you can test it out with a friend.
Automatic framing does work, however. In a perfect world, automatic framing would work as a sort of face tracking, tracking your face as you move around. And it does! — within some limits. The webcam does a nice job of identifying your face and zooming in to it. If you’re seated at your desk during a call, it’s unlikely that this will make a difference. But if you stand up or slide your chair back, automatic framing should step in. We captured automatic framing in action to create this GIF, below.
Note that you’ll need Windows 11’s 2023 Update, and the October experiences update, and a device with a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 or equivalent (SQ3) to make this work.
Mark Hachman / IDG
How is the Surface Pro 9 (5G) for inking?The Surface Pro 9 (5G) continues to support the tablet well, even maximally reclined, for inking. Microsoft has also finally nailed the pen’s design, too: though you’ll need to buy a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, the way that the flat Surface Slim Pen 2 conceals itself within it and charges when not in use is just about perfect. (Make sure not to buy the Slim Pen 2 separately without the keyboard, as the standalone Pen 2 doesn’t come with a charger.)
One of the few things we haven’t tested was how long the Slim Pen 2 lasts; Microsoft says that the pen’s internal rechargeable battery can last up to 15 hours, which should be just fine before it has to be returned to its cubby to recharge. We haven’t had any complaints, nor do the users we interact with online.
The Slim Pen 2, inside the charging cubby.
Michael Crider/IDG
The Slim Pen 2’s flat shape is a bit awkward to use, though the redesigned Pen 2 has a sharper nib, allowing for more precision. It also applies 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. I really can’t tell how accurate this all is, though we tested the inking capabilities by inking a series of straight lines. below, with a straight edge. The pen-tablet interaction on most tablets introduces jitter (wobble) under certain situations, especially when inking slowly on a diagonal. The Surface Pro 8 offered an exceptional inking experience, though I don’t think the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is as good, as there seems to be more jitter when inking slowly and diagonally, which is where it creeps in. There’s no noticeable ink offset, though, as the ink “flows” directly underneath the nib.
Again, Microsoft seems to have oversold the haptic feedback. When inking on the tablet your fingers should receive a bit of resistance, like inking on paper, I really couldn’t feel it.
It appears that the ink jitter in the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is more pronounced than what we found in our Surface Pro 8 review.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Cellular performanceOne of the selling points of the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is its ability to connect on the go. Microsoft provides two options: either you can insert a physical SIM card into the back of the tablet, via a pop-out door that also houses the replaceable SSD, or you can sign up with one of two built-in eSIM providers and use that instead. If you choose the latter (as I did), you don’t need a physical SIM card at all. That’s certainly the more convenient option.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s the most effective. I signed up for a 1Gbyte, 7-day eSIM plan with GigSky, one of the built-in providers, for $9.99. Neither GigSky nor Ubigi, the other provider, offer 5G connectivity—unfortunate considering this SP9 includes “5G” in its name. There’s also no obvious provision to save your GigSky password via the browser, and I hadn’t installed a password manager.
Across my test sites, I received decent connectivity, but not quite up to snuff to a Samsung Galaxy S22 5G phone. In two locations with middling to poor signal quality, the eSIM not only failed to connect but asked me to activate the eSIM again, after I’d paid for and actually used the eSIM at another location in town.
We’re told that these “stripes” are antenna bands that are used to improve reception, though it wasn’t that great on our tests.
Mark Hachman / IDG
I received a maximum of 268Mbits down and 1.69Mbits up within sight of the cellular tower, and progressively worse results elsewhere — 132 Mbits and 76Mbits. That’s not that shabby, and more than enough to work or stream a movie, as I did. Otherwise, without a 5G offering, and with middling bandwidth, I’d be tempted to look into what my provider would offer to wirelessly tether my phone, or what it would cost for a secondary physical SIM.
Pop this SIM cubby open with a SiM tool and you can insert a physical SIM card inside.
Mark Hachman / IDG
How good is the Surface Pro 9 (5G) performance?The short answer? Not that bad, surprisingly.
Normally, we’d use a standard suite of benchmarks to evaluate the Surface Pro 9 (5G). But the fact that there’s an Arm chip inside complicates matters. While the SQ3 Arm chip runs most applications, it doesn’t run all of them, and it’s this unexpected “What? Really?” response that can still turn off potential buyers.
For most common applications, though the Surface Pro 9 (5G) should run most everything you’d throw at it: Office apps, Microsoft Edge and competing browsers, even the nitty-gritty apps like the Windows Command Line app. (Earlier versions didn’t always do this.) Just don’t expect to play games; the tablet “will not install some games and CAD software, and some third-party drivers or antivirus software,” according to Microsoft—games with OpenGL 1.2 or above or with anti-cheat software, essentially.
Streaming our test 4K60 test YouTube stream looked gorgeous on the tablet’s screen, thanks to the great color fidelity. But YouTube only delivered a 1440×810 stream, though it didn’t drop a single frame. The Netflix and Hulu apps worked as expected. You can download and run Google Chrome, if you’d like.
We’d normally provide links to comparative tablets, but there really aren’t any right now. We can recommend reading our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Gen 1, which uses the 8cx Gen 3 and should be roughly comparable to the Surface Pro 9 (5G) and its SQ3 chip. We don’t have the Surface Pro 9 with a Core chip inside of it to compare to.
the new surface laptop 5 sports a traditional intel CPU and laptop design
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (15-inch)
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Normally, we’d test our suite of benchmarks that measures general day-to-day app performance, with CPU tests, and so on. But some of those applications still won’t work on Arm.
One of our test applications that has run previously, PCMark 8’s Creative workload, simply refused to run after numerous attempts. It’s one of the frustrations of this platform.
But there has been a surprising amount of improvement in the Snapdragon infrastructure. Again, it’s unclear whether or not that our limited test suite is just topping out in terms of theoretical performance, but we were surprised at how well Snapdragon caught up and even exceeded a Core chip.
Though we have a limited set of comparative laptops, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) is keeping up with Microsoft’s latest.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Here’s a more compelling benchmark. If you think of the Surface Pro 9 (5G) as primarily an office machine, running Microsoft 365 (Office) apps and browsing the web — well, that’s what the PCMark 10 Apps test measures. And the Surface Pro 9 (5G) holds its own.
In PCMark 10 Apps, there’s only a 14 percent gap in performance between the Surface Pro 8 and its Core chip to the Surface Pro 9 (5G) and its Arm processor.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Finally, we used 3DMark’s Night Raid, a cross-platform 3D GPU test, to evaluate how the Adreno 3D core inside the SQ3 fares. Here, it doesn’t quite hold up to the Iris Xe cores used within the Intel Core chips. There’s a significant gap, but it’s not extraordinarily huge, either.
Because of some benchmark database snafus, we weren’t able to directly compare the Lenovo ThinkPad x13s Gen 1 (a clamshell that uses the comparable Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processor from Qualcomm) except for this test. The scores are almost exactly equal.
The Adreno graphics core from Microsoft and Qualcomm can’t really keep up with the Iris Xe integrated GPUs of Core chips, but that’s not really the point of the Surface Pro 9 (5G)
Mark Hachman / IDG
Battery life is certainly a key metric, too, and we use a video rundown test to measure how long the tablet will last when you use it in class, in meetings, and on the couch. We believe that our tests more directly correspond to real-world usage, as our test conditions use a much brighter screen than Microsoft itself does. This is where Arm processors typically shine, as the Surface Pro 9 (5G) does here with about 15.75 hours of real-world battery life.
We turn the Wi-Fi and cellular radios off for this test, which will affect your battery life, as will the work you perform on it. But this is still a great result.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Should you buy the Surface Pro 9 (5G)?We didn’t extensively test the Microsoft’s tablet for compatibility with modern applications due to time constraints, and that’s traditionally been the weakest point of the Arm argument. You can see that we struggled to get some of our benchmark applications to work, and we’re not going to award an Editor’s Choice award based upon that.
But the thrust of Windows on Arm has always been the core applications, namely Microsoft 365/Office and web browsing, and how they run. All of those load and run as expected. Battery life, the other selling point, has been somewhat superseded by Intel’s Evo platform — by convincing laptop makers to build their clamshells a little thicker and with more battery, they easily extended their run time.
As a tablet, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) sits within a niche, without the ravenous competition of the clamshell notebook space. That gives it breathing room. But, excuses aside, it’s now within striking distance of mainstream Core products. We don’t have the Surface Pro 9 and its Intel Core processor to test, but the Surface Laptop 5 stands in. The tablet’s battery-life argument holds up, and yes, you can argue that you can trade off a bit of lower performance for improved connectivity.
So yes, the Surface Pro 9 (5G) did unexpectedly well. We’re impressed. Is it the best tablet in its class? We don’t know. But yes, we’d recommend that you consider the Surface Pro 9 (5G), and hope for continued competition from Microsoft and Qualcomm in the future.
Surface Studio Vs 2023 Imac
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The iMac is a tough all-in-one to beat and with Microsoft going in at even higher price doesn’t help. Whether it’s worth paying extra for the Surface Studio largely comes down to whether you’ll benefit from it’s flexible design, touchscreen, the Surface Pen and Dial.
In October Microsoft announced its first desktop PC in the form of the Surface Studio, an all-in-one PC aimed at creative professionals. Fast-forward to June and Apple has responded, finally updating its iMac line-up for 2023.
Surface Studio vs iMac: PriceThe Surface Studio comes in only one size, so we’re mainly going to be comparing it to the larger iMac, but it’s worth noting that the smaller iMac at 21.5in is a significantly cheaper option. To be fair, all iMacs are significantly cheaper than the Surface Studio.
We’ve outlined pricing for the various options below. (Note that the iMac Pro won’t be available until later in the year.
Microsoft’s all-in-one is not at all priced for the masses, whereas Apple’s iMac – at least in its basic incarnation – arguably is. It’s certainly more affordable for the average Joe, if still priced somewhat out of reach.
It’s almost difficult to believe we’re writing this, but Apple is the clear winner on value. Is it worth the extra cost for the Studio, though?
Surface Studio vs iMac: Design and buildThese devices are quite similar in many senses and yet very different in others.
While the iMac sits on a very small and thin stand with all the components behind the display, the Surface Studio is essentially the reverse. It has the core components in the base while the screen is ultra thin because it sits on its own.
The benefit to the Surface Studio’s design is that it’s far more adjustable. The hinge on the back of the screen and the one on the base provides a lot more viewing angles compared to the iMac which just has one hinge behind the display.
Two points of movement will be a big bonus for some, especially if you want to use the display with Microsoft’s Surface Pen stylus or Dial (or both at the same time). The screen can come down into ‘Studio Mode’ like having a digital drawing board.
These are both large computers and weigh a fairly hefty 9.5kg each but you can move them around still. Both come with a wireless mouse and keyboard but the Surface Studio also comes with the Surface Pen stylus.
Surface Studio vs iMac: Specs and hardware ScreenStarting with the screen, Microsoft has gone even bigger than the already large iMac at 28in and the PixelSense display has an aspect ratio of 3:2 and a resolution of 4500×3000 resulting in a pixel density of 192ppi.
It’s also 10-point multi-touch enabled and supports the Surface Pen and Dial – the iMac is not touch sensitive. One interesting thing is that you can change the colour profie of the Surface Studio’s screen on-the-fly between Adobe sRGB, DCI-P3 and Vivid Color profiles.
For its 2023 iMac Apple has updated the entire range with new displays that it says are the best ever. They include 500 nits of brightness, 10-bit dithering and one billion colours.
As previously, though, the 27in iMac has a 5K Retina display with an IPS panel and a resolution of 5120×2880. That’s an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a pixel density of 217ppi. There are smaller iMacs at 21.5in that have either Full HD- or 4K resolutions.
Processor and memoryWhile the Surface Studio is running sixth-generation Intel Skylake Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the iMac has now been upgraded to seventh-generation Kaby Lake. These chips have higher base and turbo frequencies for improved performance.
As standard the iMac comes with a Core i5 chip, though you can customise the spec for a Core i7 at extra cost.
All the iMac models come with 8GB of RAM (2x4GB) but you can configure up to 16- or 32GB if you’re happy to pay extra. The 27in model will go up to 64GB and this time the modules are not soldered on so you can upgrade it yourself – it will void any warranty, though.
On the Microsoft side of the fence you’ll get either 8-, 16- or 32GB of RAM depending on which model you buy.
StorageIt’s a similar story when it comes to storage, as you’ll get 1TB for the first two models and 2TB for the top-end with Microsoft and Apple. The 27in iMacs get Fusion Drives as standard, but all 2023 iMacs benefit from 50 percent faster SSDs.
Graphics cardsThe 27in iMac 5K comes with a choice of AMD Radeon Pro 570, 575 or 580 graphics cards with up to 8GB of VRAM. Meanwhile the cheapest 21.5in iMac has Intel Iris Graphics 640, and the 4K 21.5in iMac gets a choice of AMD Radeon 555 or Radeon 560 with up to 4GB of VRAM.
Inside the Surface Studio is a Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M graphics card with 2GB of memory but the top-end model has a 4GB GTX 980M.
We’re looking forward to benchmarking the new iMacs to see just how much performance differs.
Other specsBeyond core specs, there will be hardware elements which affect your choice between devices so here’s what Apple and Microsoft offer in the way of ports, wireless and cameras.
The iMac comes with a FaceTime HD webcam, stereo speakers, dual mics, a headphone jack, SDXC card slot, 4x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB-C (that support Thunderbolt 3) and an Ethernet port. It’s got 11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.
The Surface Studio has a 5Mp webcam which supports Windows Hello face sign-in, 2.1 stereo speakers with Dolby Audio, dual mics, a headphone jack, SDXC card slot, 4x USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. It also has Xbox Wireless for use with the console controllers.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Surface Studio comes with the Surface Pen and you’ll get a free Surface Dial if you pre-order. The device is a multi-functional tool which works on the Studio’s screen exclusively.
Of course, software is very different here with each firm providing its own operating system in macOS Sierra and Windows 10 Pro. We won’t go into a comparison of those here.
What Is The Microsoft Surface Neo?
There’s been a lot of hubbub about the Microsoft Surface Neo, and for good reason. Recently, Microsoft revealed plans for a new kind of portable device that redefines portable computing.
So, what is the Microsoft Surface Neo, and why are people talking about it?
What Is the Surface Neo?In short, the Surface Neo is a “dual-screen laptop.” It achieves duality by turning what is traditionally the keyboard part of the laptop into a second screen. The end result looks like two tablets attached to one another.
The hinge on the Surface Neo allows for a lot of different positions. You can open and close it like a regular laptop, hold it open like a book, and even put the screens back to back.
This is all well and good, but the keyboard part of a traditional laptop is important for typing! Thankfully, the Surface Neo doesn’t force the user to use a software keyboard. It comes with a Bluetooth keyboard that magnetically sticks onto the unit.
The Bluetooth keyboard can be used on its own, but you can also stick it on one of the screens on the Surface Neo. The device will detect this and turn that screen into a keyboard-dedicated display. This means displaying the “WonderBar,” which includes some emojis you can select from.
The Surface Neo runs a special version of Windows 10,called Windows 10X. Compared to the desktop version of Windows 10, it’s not a great deal different; after all, 10X’s primary function is to understand and adapt to the unique layout of the Surface Neo.
What’s the Release Plan?Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Microsoft hasn’t revealed how much the Surface Neo will be, let alone the date it will be released. The release video hints that the Surface Neo will release during “holiday 2023,” but like all things in the tech world, it’s prone to delays and slips.
Is this Technology New?While the idea of having two screens attached to a hinge is relatively new to the computer world, its design is based on existing technology. For instance, you can currently buy a 2-in-1 laptop or “transformer laptop,” which is somewhat similar to a Surface Neo.
While 2-in-1s don’t use two screens, they do have the main tablet screen and a detachable keyboard. The idea behind these devices is that you can combine the two and use it as a laptop, then split them apart and use the screen as a standalone tablet.
It’s not quite as impressive as a two-screen device with a magnetic Bluetooth keyboard, but it is a nice alternative for someone who wants a good balance between leisure and productivity.
Skimming the SurfaceMicrosoft is looking to revolutionize portable computing with the Surface Neo. While we don’t know the fine details just yet, we do know that it’s a dual-screen laptop with an attachable Bluetooth keyboard. Its flexibility and adaptability show good potential for being a handy mobile note-taker and media center.
Do you think the Surface Neo will be revolutionary? Let us know below!
Simon Batt
Simon Batt is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for cybersecurity.
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Pixel Slate Vs Surface Pro 6
Our Verdict
If you definitely want a lightweight, versatile 2-in-1 device for writing reports, creating presentations, consuming media, and general computer duties, then the Pixel Slate is perfectly capable of this. But once you start to factor in the additional cost of moving up from the base-unit, then adding the keyboard and stylus, the picture becomes murky. At around £900 or more, it doesn’t seem a sensible way to spend that much money. The Surface Pro 6 has a similar conundrum, in that once you factor in the keyboard and Pen, you’re up in the territory where price tags come with commas. At least with the Surface Pro 6 you’re getting a device that can run almost any software at all and be used as a half-decent gaming PC. In all honesty, we’d encourage potential buyers to take a look at the Pixelbook and Surface Laptop 2 before making a decision. Or, if a tablet is really what you want, then the much cheaper 9.7in iPad just can’t be beat right now.
Google held a hardware launch recently where it announced the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL,
Price and availabilityThe Pixel Slate has no confirmed release date at the time of writing, but Google has said that it will appear before the end of the year.
There’s a range of models, starting at £549/US$599 for the base tablet with an Intel Celeron processor 4GB RAM and 32GB of storage, and going up to £1,549/$1,599 for an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Adding the (necessary) keyboard will cost £189/US$199, and the stylus – the Pixelbook Pen – comes in at £79/US$99.
Microsoft’s latest iteration of the Surface Pro is available from 16 October and offers a number of configurations. These start at £879/US$899 for the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 with 128GB of storage and 8GB Ram, and goes up to £2,149/US$2,299 if you want an Intel Core i7, 1TB of storage, and 16GB of RAM.
To get the most from the Surface Pro 6 you’ll also need a keyboard cover (starts at £129.99/US$129.99) and the Surface Pen (£99/US$99).
You can pre-order the Surface Pro 6 from Microsoft.
If you don’t mind a smaller device, then the recently announced Surface Go is another option. This mini-tablet has a 10in display and costs £379/US$399 for the base model or £509/US$549 for the more powerful version.
Again, you’ll need to factor in the price of a Keyboard cover which amounts to £99/US$129, and if you want the Surface Pen that’ll be another £99/US$99.
You can order the Surface Go from Microsoft today, but first you might want to read our full Surface Go review.
Design and buildThe Pixel Slate features a 12.3in ‘Molecular’ display, which is comprised of 6 million pixels (3000×2000) and delivers 293ppi for crisp, detailed images.
The metal body is larger than a standard tablet (290mm x 202mm x 7mm), due to the screen size. But, by clever placement of the internals, the balance is well measured and makes the device feel lighter than its 721g.
Twin front-facing speakers adorn the side bezels, while the power button on the top edge also works as a fingerprint sensor. The only other feature on the front panel is an 8Mp f/1.9 camera that features a wide field of view so that video calls with multiple people doesn’t require everyone’s cheeks to be touching.
A Midnight Blue livery covers the back, where you’ll also find another 8Mp camera, this time with an f/1.8 aperture.
Two USB-C ports (one on either flank) are the connections of offer, both with capabilities for Charging, 4K Display output, and fast data transfer. One glaring omission is a headphone jack. Google no doubt has some complicated reason for this, but in all honesty it’s just plain stupid. This is a tablet and as such has room for the simple and useful addition of a 3.5mm port.
The Surface Pro 6 is very similar in design to its predecessor the Surface Pro. Thankfully Microsoft has restored some logic to its naming conventions, hence the reappearance of a number to denote which Surface you’re holding.
The main difference is a switch from the solitary magnesium colouring of the older model, to the option of a cool looking matte black on the Pro 6. Otherwise, it’s the same 292 mm x 201 mm x 8.5 mm dimensions, 12.3in PixelSense display, and strange lack of any USB-C port at all.
Why this remains the case in 2023 is anybody’s guess, but you’ll once more have to do with a single USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect, microSDXC card reader, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
We’re still big fans of the built-in kickstand, which remains a ridiculously elegant way to position the Surface Pro 6 at the right angle for typing, watching videos, or resting on your lap.
Camera-wise, there’s a 5Mp front-facing 1080p unit, which also supports Windows Hello facial recognition, and an 8Mp,1080p shooter on the back. These are accompanied by 1.6W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium.
Features and specsTo get anything like the full potential out of either of these devices requires buying both the external keyboard and dedicated stylus. While the Surface Pro 6 can act happily as a tablet (insofar as Windows 10 is a tablet OS), it’s too heavy to hold for gaming or idly browsing the web, and the amount of optimised apps pales in comparison to the riches of something like an iPad.
It’s a similar story with the Pixel Slate. Yes, you can use it as a tablet, but given the choice between that and the iPad, even the most ardent Google fan would have to admit that the Apple route would be the one to take.
Adding the keyboards does change this equation quite significantly. If you’re a fan of Chromebooks, but want a premium device that can also double as a tablet, then the Pixel Slate is a compelling option. Chrome OS has developed quite substantially in recent years, and the lightweight hardware of the Pixel Slate is a perfect way to experience the productivity and leisure capabilities.
Depending on which configuration you go for, there’s plenty of power on offer, and even the Celeron models should zip along at a decent clip thanks to the lightweight nature of the operating system. However, we didn’t see this in practice when we got our hands on a Slate at the launch.
Again, you can configure the Surface Pro 6 to be a light-use device or production powerhouse depending on which CPU and RAM option you take. But, whereas Chrome OS doesn’t need much in the way of storage and RAM, we’d certainly recommend opting for somewhere a little up the chain if you want the Pro 6 to be future-proofed for a few years.
Here’s a breakdown of the technical specs for both devices;
Pixel SlateSurface Pro 6Operating SystemChromeOSWindows 10 HomeDisplay12.3in Molecular display 3000 x 2000 (293 ppi)12.3in PixelSense 2736 x 1824 (267ppi)Memory4GB/8GB/16GB8GB or 16GBProcessor8th Gen Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 processor, or Intel CeleronIntel Core i5 / i7 8th GenStorage32GB up to 256GB128GB up to 1TBPorts2 x USB-C, connector for Pixel Slate keyboard1 x USB 3, headphone, mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect, microSD card reader, connector for Type Cover keyboardDimensions291mm x 202mm x 7mm292mm x 201mm x 8.5mmWeight721g770g (784g for Core i7)ColoursMidnight blueBlack, PlatinumBattery lifeUp to 10 hoursUp to 13.5 hoursPriceFrom £549/$599From £879/$899
SoftwareThis is where the rubber will really hit the road for most people. While either device is passable as a tablet, their main use will almost certainly be for getting things done. In that respect you have a clear choice between the full Windows 10 experience that comes with the Surface Pro 6, replete with the wide range of apps that run on the device itself, or the cloud-focussed ChromeOS on the Pixel Slate.
Now, it should be noted that many production apps, such as Google Docs, Sheets, and others, will run offline on Chromebooks, and thus the Pixel Slate. You can also download games, movies, TV shows, and music to enjoy when you’re not connected, but this is where the smaller storage options could cause problems.
Google has also given newer ChomeOS machines, the Pixel Slate included, the ability to run Android apps. This does add a fair amount of content, but these do tend to run in boxes on the screen rather than as optimised full-screen apps. In time we hope this will change, but at the moment it’s not quite there.
Google Assistant is a useful tool though, with its best-in-class voice recognition interface allowing users to launch apps, start emails and messages, or generally control the device without touching it.
The Surface Pro 6 is a fully-fledged PC, and as such will run anything you’d normally expect on a desktop Windows 10 machine. The Pixel Slate is a fancy Chromebook, albeit with an OS that’s been optimised for touch.
Specs Google Pixel Slate: Specs
Google Chrome OS
291x202x7mm
721g
aluminium casing
Midnight Blue colour
Power button with fingerprint sensor
Storage: 32GB / 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
12.3in Molecular Display
3000×2000 pixels, 293ppi
10-point multi-touch
Pixelbook Pen Input
8th generation Intel Core i5 / Core m3 / Celeron Processor
4GB / 8GB / 16GB RAM
Wi-Fi (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 4.2
Two 8MP Full HD cameras, front- and rear-facing
Microphone, Stereo speakers
2x USB-C ports
Pixel Slate Keyboard port
Titan security chip
48Whr battery, up to 10 hours
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