Surface Pro 4 is way cooler (literally)
And quieter too, thanks to a clever manipulation of the fan's operating times
A SWEET-LOOKING tablet that works like a laptop, the Surface Pro 4 from Microsoft is more powerful than its predecessor, runs cooler and more quietly and is so efficient with battery use that you can be playing videos for nine hours at a stretch.
Thinner and lighter than previous models at 292x201x8.4mm and 766 grams, the Surface Pro 4 comes in gorgeous silver magnesium body. A “kickstand” built into the back has a full-friction hinge that can set the tablet up at any angle.
The minimalist design means there are only the volume and power controls. But, once switched on, you have quite a bit more power than the Pro 3 afforded. New sixth-generation Intel Core M, Core i5 and Core i7 processors provide the muscle and Windows 10 lends its much-improved performance.
And the Pro 4 is quieter thanks to a hybrid cooling system called SP4.
The SP4 actually boils and evaporates liquid inside a metal tube that touches the processor, and the vapour reserves the cooling fan’s running time for only the most demanding tasks. While browsing the Web and doing other normal day-to-day activities, the fan doesn’t run at all. And when it is running and heating the surface, the heat is more evenly distributed – not concentrated in one spot – so the whole machine is cooler to the touch.
There are several models of the Surface Pro 4, varying in terms of the processors, working memory, RAM (Random Access Memory) and storage. The version I tested for this article carried an Intel Core i5-6300 2.4GHz with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state drive (SSD).
Out front is a beautiful, 12.3-inch PixelSense display in the 3:2 aspect ratio. You’re looking at 267-pixel-per-inch pixel depth in 2,736x1,824-pixel resolution and a 1,300:1 contrast ratio. The display is really bright and colourful, making this device ideal for viewing high-definition videos and photos.
The tablet has all the necessary ports – a full-size USB 3.0 port, a miniature DisplayPort and a microSD card reader that will handle UHS-I performance cards. A fourth port is for connecting to Microsoft Type Cover and a Surface Connector for power and docking.
For linking wirelessly, the Pro 4 is ready for the fastest Wi-Fi connection, 802.11ac, with its 2x2 MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) technology. I speedily hooked it to my Linksys WRT1200AC router.
There’s an eight-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of shooting 1080p Full HD video and a 5MP front camera with Windows Hello face authentication, good for added security. Windows Hello, which comes with Windows 10, helps keep your contents secure.
The Surface Pro 4 becomes a powerful laptop when connected to the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover, which is magnetised and just snaps on. The Type Cover adds 310 grams more weight to the tablet and another 4.95mm in thickness. You can buy it in black, red, blue or bright blue and teal.
The backlit keyboard has a trackpad for controlling the cursor, or you can tap the screen to point it. I had no trouble with the keyboard and could work on several applications simultaneously with ease.
You can also use a Surface Pen stylus, weighing about 21 grams, which has a magnetic strip for attaching it to one side of the tablet when not needed. The latest pen model has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and reduced latency. It’s good for writing, drawing and marking up documents and always feels like a real pen on paper, with its “precision ink” on one end and eraser on the other.
Press the button on the tip of the stylus and the OneNote app opens so you can start jotting or drawing. Double-click the button to capture the current screen and click and hold to access Cortana, your “personal digital assistant”.
You can choose the tip that feels most natural with Microsoft Surface Pen Tip Kit. Stick with the pre-installed HB tip for writing and sketching, or swap to a B tip for sketching and illustrations, an H tip for drawing, and the 2H tip for drafting and fast strokes. The Surface Pen comes in black or blue.
I was certainly impressed with the Surface Pro 4’s performance. The touch screen and menus were very responsive. Applications were fast. Video clips and game ran smoothly.
Music sounded good via the Groove Music app, largely due to the stereo speakers with Dolby audio technology. There’s a stereo jack for headphones.
The six Pro 4 options in the Thai market start with a model packing an Intel Core M3 processor with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage and selling for Bt33,900. The top model has an Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage and costs Bt82,900. The Surface Pro Type Cover is Bt5,190.
All of these come with a Surface Pen, and if you ever have to replace it, a new one costs Bt2,390.
Key Specs
- Operating system: |Windows 10 Pro
- Processor: Sixth-generation Intel Core M, Core i5 or Core i7
- Memory: Four, eight or 16 gigabytes of RAM
- Storage: SSD PCIe 3.0 – 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
- Screen display: 12.3-inch PixelSense, 2736x1824 (267ppi), contrast ratio 1300:1, aspect ratio 3:2
- Graphics: Intel HD 515 (Core m3), Intel HD 520 (Core i5), |Intel Iris 540 (Core i7)
- Cameras: Eight-megapixel rear-facing auto-focus camera, 1080p HD, five-megapixel |front-facing camera, 1080p HD
- Network: 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
- Ports: Full-size USB 3.0, |Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader (UHS-I performance), Stereo headphones/microphone jack, Type Cove, Surface Connect for power and docking
- Sensors: Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
- Battery: Up to nine hours
- Dimensions: 292.10x201.42x 8.4mm
- Weight: 766 grams for Core M, 786g for Core i5 and Core i7
