

The cable works fine, it’s just a faff having to remember to pack it every time you take the device out and about. It can also be used for charging, though Microsoft has opted to load the Surface Pro 8 with a proprietary cable for this. Thunderbolt 4 brings a number of key benefits including faster data transfer speeds and the ability to connect to multiple 4K displays via the USB C port. The lack of a Thunderbolt connector has been an ongoing gripe of mine with Surface devices, so it’s great to see Microsoft finally embrace the technology. One of the Surface Pro 8’s side-facing USB-C connections is a Thunderbolt 4 port. The matte finish looks nice, despite being prone to picking up fingerprint marks and scratches a little too easily, and the tablet is light enough to carry and use on the go without breaking your back. The tablet’s metal frame feels well built and offers next to no flex when pressed. The smaller bezel is welcome, and like past Surfaces, there is plenty to like about the design. The only big visible difference is that the new Surface Pro 8 has a smaller, but still noticeable, bezel around its screen. It also comes with a built-in kickstand, which can be used to prop the tablet up at varying angles, including an artist’s easel. The black tablet section is all but identical to its predecessor at first glance, being a simple slate with slightly round edges and a flat back.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise that the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 looks very similar to the Surface Pro 7 I tested back in 2019. Surface devices traditionally have fairly utilitarian designs, with Microsoft tending to make minor refinements, rather than outright changes year-on-year.


Microsoft has refined its design and added upgrades like more powerful components and a 120Hz screen. This puts it in direct competition with Apple’s iPad Pro line of tablets. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft’s latest convertible tablet-come-laptop, letting buyers use it as a Windows tablet or portable laptop/sketch station when paired with the optional Signature Cover case and Slim Pen 2.
