Microsoft Surface Pro 9 vs. Surface Pro 8: What’s New for 2022

While the new Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft has refreshed CPUs and a new 5G-ready version, you still might have trouble differentiating it from the previous-gen Surface Pro 8, released just about one year ago. Unveiled Wednesday in a livestream, the new Surface Pro 9 looks and feels a lot like the past several generations of Surface Pro. 

As a two-in-one Windows tablet that can become a laptop with the addition of a clip-on keyboard, the Surface Pro is still the best example of this small-but-consistent hybrid category. I continue to like the big display, excellent stylus support, well-engineered kickstand and decent performance. I also continue to bristle at the idea of paying an extra £129 or more for that all-important keyboard.

It’s still sold separately, and the device is just immensely less useful without it. And yes, the stylus is also sold separately, at £129 for the latest Surface Slim Pen 2.

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Now that the Surface Pro line has split into two distinct versions — the traditional Intel version and the 5G version with a Qualcomm-made SQ 3 chip —  you’ll have to peruse the specs carefully to see which model works for you. The specs for both, as well as for last year’s Surface Pro 8 for comparison, are as follows. 

Surface Pro 8 vs.

Surface Pro 9/Pro 9 5G

Surface Pro 8

Surface Pro 9

Surface Pro 9 with 5G

Display resolution

Display details

CPU

GPU

RAM

Storage

Security

Connectivity

Battery life

Camera

Ports

Starting price

13-inch PixelSense display, 2,880 X 1,920 13-inch PixelSense display, 2,880 X 1,920 13-inch PixelSense display, 2,880 X 1,920
Refresh rate up to 120Hz, Dolby Vision support Refresh rate up to 120Hz, Auto Color Management and Dolby Vision IQ support Refresh rate up to 120Hz
11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Core i7-1185G7 processor 12th-gen Intel Core i5-1235U or Core i7-1255U processor Microsoft SQ 3 processor Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
Intel Iris Xe graphics Intel Iris Xe graphics Microsoft SQ 3 Adreno 8CX Gen 3
8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x RAM) 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR5 RAM) 8GB, 16GB (LPDDR4x RAM)
SSD options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
TPM 2.0 chip with BitLocker support TPM 2.0 chip with BitLocker support Enhanced security with Microsoft Pluton
Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6E: 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6E: 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.1, NanoSIM and eSIM11 support, supports 5G (mmWave or Sub-6, depending on market)
Up to 16 hours of battery life Up to 15.5 hours of battery life Up to 19 hours of battery life
1,080-resolution front camera with Windows Hello face authentication, 10MP rear camera for 4K video 1,080-resolution front camera with Windows Hello face authentication, 10MP rear camera for 4K video 1,080-resolution front camera with Windows Hello face authentication and Windows Studio Effects, 10MP rear camera for 4K video
2 x USB-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4), 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port 2 x USB-C (USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4),1 x Surface Connect port 2 x USB-C (USB 3.2); 1 x nano SIM, 1 x Surface Connect port
£1,099 (at launch); £699 (now) £999 £1,299

The main upgrades are to the CPU in both models, plus the Surface has now lost its 3.5mm headphone jack (the Surface Pro X didn’t have one, but the Intel Surfaces did).

The Surface Pro 9 starts at £999 for the Intel version, while the 5G version starts at £1,299. 

Read more: Hands-on With the New Surface Pro 9

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