Ben Madilynn
If you like the 2-in-1 tablet form factor, get the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021), one of the best laptops for business and personal use we’ve tested. You can detach the keyboard to save space when consuming media or make the device easier to hold, and the built-in kickstand lets you tilt the screen to an almost flat position to take notes or draw with a stylus. It works with Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2, though any Microsoft Pen Protocol stylus will work. The Slim Pen 2 supports 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt, making it suitable for digital artists and creators, and it even has a haptic engine that simulates the feel of writing or drawing on paper. You have to buy the keyboard and stylus separately, increasing the overall cost of the device.
The keyboard feels very comfortable, especially for a type cover keyboard, and there’s a slot at the top to store and charge the Microsoft Slim Pen 2. Its 1080p webcam is excellent and among the best on the market, and there’s even a back-facing camera to take photos for your project or to share. For ports, you get two USB-Cs, a proprietary Surface Connect charging port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The USB-Cs support Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to transfer files quickly and connect two 4k @ 60Hz displays with a single cable. Battery life sits around seven hours of light use, which is on the shorter side but not bad for a tablet PC.
One thing to note is that Microsoft has released a new Surface Pro 11th Edition, which features an ARM-based Qualcomm SoC. We’ve purchased it and will review it soon, so stay tuned!
