Microsoft refreshes Surface Pro X tablet with a faster SQ2 chip and new color options - howardhise1964

Microsoft is taking the unusual step of refreshing its existing Surface Pro X tablet lineup aside adding premium options shapely upon a second-generation Microsoft SQ2 Arm processor. Additionally, Microsoft has reworked some of its cardinal applications, delivering more execution and longer battery biography on Windows on Arm.

Microsoft's SQ2 will be faced in the new, high-end Come up Pro X options, announced Thursday, which will be priced at up to $1,799 and comprise available starting October 13. Besides the new CPU, there are no significant changes to the Coat Pro X design, relieve for new esthetic options: a new Pt cease, and three new Surface Pro X Signature Keyboards in Platinum, Methamphetamine hydrochloride Blue, and Poppy Red.

Microsoft's nifty, reversible Surface Slight Pen, which resides within the Signature Keyboard's snuggery, will still glucinium sold-out separately. The Slim Indite and the Surface Pro X Signature KeyboardRemove non-product link are presently bundled together for $193 at the Microsoft Hive away, a $77 discount.

Microsoft debuted the Surface Pro X less than a year ago, importantly revamping the Surface tab computer hardware with additional USB-C ports and the reversible pen cubby. But As our Surface Pro X review showed, it failed to deliver even a working Clarence Shepard Day Jr.'s worth of battery life, in plus to the usual compatibility challenges Microsoft's SQ1 Arm chip brought with it.

Microsoft Surface Pro X lineup — The new coloring material options happening the Surface Pro X include Crank Blue, Poppy Bloody, and Platinum.

Surface Pro X: Better performance, battery life and compatibility

Fortuitously, Microsoft continues to make build up happening both fronts. We know that the Microsoft SQ2 is based along Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G, a 7W break off that Qualcomm believes will trounce a 15W 10th-gen Intel Core i5 past 39 percent. Microsoft likely upclocked the SQ2 in the equivalent way that its SQ1 was essentially an upclocked Snapdragon 8cx, with SQ1 speeds reportedly reaching 3GHz. (Officially, Microsoft International Relations and Security Network't expression how fast the SQ2 runs.)

qualcomm snapdragon 8cx gen 2 5g performance — Here's how Qualcomm sees its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G crisp shaking out in price of performance. It's the foundation for Microsoft's own SQ2 design.

Historically, however, processors comparable the SQ1 have pale-faced another vault: compatibility. By now, it's a acquainted story for anyone WHO's followed Windows on Weapon system: Arm processors and devices like the Airfoil Pro X can run 32-act and 64-routine Sleeve encode natively. Code written for traditional PCs that runs in 32-fleck X86 style can be taken by Subdivision processors, but with a performance punishment.

The vast legal age of traditional PCs can also run 64-bit code written for X86 chips. Currently, however, this code doesn't run on Subdivision chips in the least. This incompatibility remains a significant weakness for Windows-on-Arm PCs.

Microsoft said Wednesday that it's solving that particular problem, announcing plans to turn codification to allow 64-bit X86 apps to be emulated by Windows on Arm beginning in November. That code will be distributed to members of Microsoft's Windows Insider beta program best. Running 64-bit X86 apps along top of Weapon system would still usher in a performance hit, nonetheless, and Microsoft's answer tothat has been to work to modernize more optimized versions of popular apps specifically written for the Arm architecture.

Microsoft Surface Pro X — The Surface Pro X includes a pair of USB-C ports, instead of the single Type A and Type C port of other Turn up devices.

Those applications apparently include a long-awaited version of Google Chromium-plate written on top of Arm64, too As the present, optimized versions of the Firefox browser and WhatsApp. Microsoft also said that it's continued to work with its Inch web browser to optimize it for Arm processors, and announced plans for a version of Microsoft Teams specifically coded for Arm. Visual Studio apartment has been optimized for Windows on Arm. All told, "thousands" of existing Windows apps now run along Surface Pro X, either natively surgery via emulation.

Via these changes in software, Microsoft is now expression that the Superficial In favor X volition deliver up to a theoretical 15 hours of battery life "across totally configurations." The Come up Pro X, by comparison, lasted anywhere from six hours to a trifle finished 8 hours in our original tests.

Totally orthogonal to Microsoft's 64-bit evolution work, but still noteworthy, is Eye Contact lens, a technology Microsoft developed that taps Qualcomm's AI capabilities. Eye Contact uses machine intelligence service to falsify your mental image during a video bid, fashioning it count comparable you're always looking the camera—and your consultation—even when you'atomic number 75 really looking at their face upon the screen.

A smaller but relieve-epoch-making change Microsoft has successful has to do with connectivity. Recall our recent Lenovo Flex 5G review: This Qualcomm-settled laptop enclosed the older Snapdragon 8cx 5G cow dung, likely ultrafast 5G connectivity. The problem, of course, was simplyfinding 5G: Verizon's zones are more hotspots than wide coverage. Though the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G promises 5G connectivity, Microsoft is marketing the Surface In favor X with just LTE connectivity instead.

Microsoft Surface Pro X pen cubby — The rechargeable Superficial Slim Pen and its cubby is still probably the coolest feature of the Surface Pro X.

Will the Surface Pro X make a splash this time around? The challenges that presently face all mobile device makers is that we'rhenium still largely stuck indoors, where mobility means walking from elbow room to room. The revamped Surface Pro X nevertheless signals Microsoft's continued consignment to Windows on Weapon, and the society's development firepower remains awe-inspiring.

Below, we've traded the elemental features for the revamped Aboveground Pro X. Underneath, we've added the available configurations.

Microsoft Come on Pro X alkalic specs

Expose: 13-inch (2880×1920, 267 PPI) PixelSense presentation, multi-touch
Processor: 3GHz Microsoft SQ1, SQ2 option
Graphics: Microsoft SQ1: Adreno 685; Microsoft SQ2: Adreno 690 GPU
Memory: 8GB/16GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB SSD
Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 Surface Tie in, 1 nanoSIM, Rise up keyboard connexion
Camera: 5MP/1080p (user facing); 10MP/1080p rear end-lining, autofocus with 1080p/4K video recording options
Battery: 38.9Wh on our original SQ1 test unit; now "upfield to 15 hours of true device usage"
Radio: Wi-Fi5/802.11ac; Bluetooth 5.0; Snapdragon X24 LTE modem with nanoSIM or eSIM
Operating system: Windows 10 Interior on Branch
Dimensions (inches): 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches
Weight: 1.72 pounds; 2.37 with keyboard and pen); 2.99 with battery charger (as originally proven)
Semblance: Lustrelessness Black, Platinum
Optional accessories: Surface Pro X Theme song Keyboard with Slim Pen ParcelRemove non-product link ($193), available in Ice Blue, Poppy Red, and Platinum

Microsoft Opencast Pro X: available configurations

As it does across its Surface card, Microsoft offers a Open Pro X for consumers too as a Surface Favoring X for business. The latter adds Windows 10 Pro and the more accommodating warranty option, Microsoft Advanced Exchange. Microsoft sells the Business option for a $100 premium.