Microsoft Surface Pro 4 12.3″ Tablet with 6th Gen Intel Core, up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB SSD

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Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 4 tablet brings several feature improvements over the previous Surface Pro 3, while being thinner and lighter at the same time. The new version has a slightly bigger screen, new 6th Generation Intel Core “Skylake” processors, increased maximal RAM and data storage capacity, improved keyboard cover and stylus, support for facial recognition-based system logins, and of course Windows 10 (Pro) OS instead of old 8.1.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 measures 0.33” in profile, down from previous 0.36”. Weight is a tad lower. It’s 1.69 pounds on models with the basic Intel Core m3 processor and 1.73 pounds on the Intel Core i5 and i7-based models, as opposed to Pro 3’s 1.76 lbs. The new Surface Pro retains the same form factor with an adjustable kickstand on the back and magnetic system for attaching the keyboard.

The 10-point multi-touch display now has a diagonal of 12.3 inches, up from 12”. Microsoft has squeezed in the bigger screen without increasing the footprint of the device by making the LCD bezel thinner. Screen size increase is followed by improved resolution. The PixelSense-branded panel has 2736 x 1824 pixels, up from 2160 × 1440, and retains the same productivity-centric 3:2 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the tablet has either the basic Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor with Intel HD 515 integrated graphics, mid-range Core i5-6300U with Intel HD 520, or higher-end Core i7-6650U with Iris GPU. Besides 4GB and 8GB RAM options, Microsoft has made available a 16GB one for extreme multitasking. Storage choices are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and new 1TB.

The rest of the specifications sheet includes stereo speakers, 802.11AC WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connections, an 8MP rear camera with auto-focus, 5MP front-facing cam, a full-size USB 3.0 port, mini DisplayPort video output, microSD card slot, a combo mic/headphones audio port, stereo microphones, and TPM chip for enterprise-class security.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 starts at $899. Here’s a breakdown of configurations which are currently available for purchase:

Intel Core m3 / 128GB SSD / 4GB RAM – $899
Intel Core i5 / 128GB SSD / 4GB RAM – $999
Intel Core i5 / 256GB SSD / 8GB RAM – $1,299
Intel Core i7 / 256GB SSD / 8GB RAM – $1,599
Intel Core i7 / 256GB SSD / 16GB RAM – $1,799

Configurations with 512GB and 1TB storage aren’t offered yet.

The new keyboard cover, Surface Pro 4 Type Cover, has bigger gaps between the keys than the previous version, allowing more precise typing. Its touchpad is larger, too. The Type Cover is available in six different colors: black, dark blue, light blue, red, teal, and onyx-black. The onyx-black keyboard cover additionally has a built-in fingerprint reader. The Cover is still sold separately and costs $130, except the one with the fingerprint reader which is $160.

The new Surface Pen comes bundled with the tablet. It supports 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, has an eraser on the end, and can be magnetically attached to the side of Surface Pro 4.

Specifications of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Here are the specs of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with descriptions of its features. For comparison against other laptops, you can use the "Compare Specs" button.

Brand Microsoft
Screen Size 12.3-inch

This is a very small display size, given the most frequently used laptop screen size is 15.6".
Screen Resolution 2736x1824 pixels

This screen resolution provides a good picture sharpness and a lot of space on the display for the user interface and apps. It's better than the popular Full HD but not as good as the premium-class 4K and similar.
Touchscreen Finger multi-touch input

The screen supports finger touch input, including multi-touch gestures.

Active digitizer pen input

The screen supports active digitizer pen input, besides the common finger multi-touch input. In comparison to simple capacitive pens you can use on any touchscreen, active digitizer pen input provides advanced features like pressure sensitivity. Check with the laptop seller whether the active pen is included in the package.
Other Display Specs IPS type

Displays based on IPS technology provide much wider viewing angles than the budget-class TN screens.
Processor (CPU) Intel Core i5-6300U 6th Gen (older-gen mid-range CPU)

Intel Core i7-6650U 6th Gen (older higher-end home and office CPU)

Intel Core M3-6Y30 (older power-efficient low-mid-range CPU)
Graphics (GPU) Intel Iris 540 integrated graphics (User Benchmark GPU score: 10)

Intel HD 515 integrated graphics (good only for the lightest gaming)

Intel HD 520 integrated graphics (for the lightest gaming)
System Memory (RAM) Size 4GB RAM

4GB is a small RAM size for computing in 2023. For smooth operation of a laptop during everyday tasks, at least 8GB is recommended.

8GB RAM

The 8GB RAM size is the standard one in 2023. It provides comfortable multi-tasking for the most home and office users.

16GB RAM

16GB and greater RAM sizes are recommended for heavy multitasking, gaming, and specialized programs that require a lot of RAM.
Data Storage 128GB SSD

128GB is a relatively small storage space. However, it is usable if you don't store a lot of large files like movies and don't install a lot of programs.

256GB SSD

256GB is a decent capacity. If you tend to download and store a lot of large files like movies and install many programs, 512GB or more is a better choice.

512GB SSD

512GB storage capacity is recommended if you store a lot of large files and install many programs.

1000GB (1TB) SSD

1TB is an excellent storage capacity. The sizes above 512GB, including 1TB, are recommended for those who store a lot of large files.
DVD Optical Drive None
Keyboard & Input Touchscreen

Active digitizer pen
Speakers & Audio Stereo speakers

As usual, the device features a pair of built-in stereo speakers.
Camera Front + rear

Laptops usually feature a frontal webcam located on the display bezel. This device additionally has a rear camera.
Wi-Fi Wireless 802.11AC

The 802.11AC is the previous-generation wireless networking standard. It's also known as Wi-Fi 5. 802.11AC is succeeded by 802.11AX Wi-Fi 6 with data transfer speed and multi-device connectivity improvements.
Ethernet Network Port No

This laptop has no Ethernet LAN port for wired internet and networking connectivity.
Mobile broadband (4G LTE) No
Bluetooth Yes

This laptop has a built-in Bluetooth module. It enables you to connect the computer to Bluetooth mice and other Bluetooth peripherals, smartphones, and other Bluetooth-equipped devices.
USB Ports 1 x USB 3.0

A standard full-size USB port.
Video Output Ports 1 x mini DisplayPort

DisplayPort is a digital video output port. It is not as widely used as HDMI. The laptop has a compact "mini" version of DisplayPort on its side.
Media Card Reader MicroSD card reader

The laptop has a slot for MicroSD memory cards. These are small SD cards commonly used in smartphones.
Other Features Stylus pen
Battery "Up to 9 hours of video playback"
Weight 1.7 pounds
Height 0.3"
Width 11.5"
Depth 7.9"
Windows Version Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro version adds some business-specific features in comparison to the standard Windows Home. Windows 10 Pro upgradeable to the latest Windows 11 Pro for free.
Warranty 1-year

A typical laptop warranty.

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