The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Is Elegant, Efficient And Expensive – Forbes
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with the new Flex KeyboardMicrosoft’s Surface Pro 11 remains a one-of-a-kind laptop, even after 12 years of launch. It’s almost everything you’d want from an on-the-go device, thanks to the new powerful and efficient Snapdragon X Elite processor. I wish I had this instead of my Surface Pro 5 in college for blogging and note-taking. This is the Microsoft Surface Pro I’ve wanted for years.However, Microsoft’s pricing and positioning of it as a 2-in-1 while treating the keyboard as an optional accessory remain as confusing as ever. I replaced my MacBook Air to travel and work with the Surface Pro 11 as my primary machine for a month, and here are three things you need to know about Microsoft’s new 2-in-1 device.Microsoft Surface Pro 11One of the big upgrades for the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the new OLED display on the more expensive models. The IPS LCD on lower-end variants is still one of the best LCDs you can get, but the OLED brings deeper blacks and better contrast for entertainment.The Surface Pro 11’s 13-inch screen features a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and brings P3 calibration through the Vivid color profile. It’s a well-calibrated display with effective HDR in supported Dolby Vision content. It registered 495 nits peak brightness in my test, and from my experience, I haven’t had trouble with legibility when working out of a café or coworking spaces.Notably, my initial review unit had screen flickering issues, and Microsoft replaced it with a new machine, which I’ve used extensively for four weeks. I’m happy to report that I haven’t faced any flickering issues in the past month.From watching movies to working on productivity apps, browsing, and attending video calls, it has delivered impressive performance. I’ve consumed content on this screen in cabs, at airports, on flights, and at home watching movies—and the colors pop to deliver an enjoyable experience.While I don’t talk much about webcams on laptops (because most of the time, it’s the same underwhelming experience), the Surface Pro 11 features one of the best front-facing cameras on a laptop. You’ll notice the top-notch quality thanks to the updated 1440p Quad HD resolution over the Full HD webcams on other laptops.Microsoft also uses AI enhancements called Windows Studio Effects to improve your video calling experience. I’ve found some of these features more useful than I expected. For example, the automatic framing feature keeps the webcam centered on your face even when you’re moving, and the eye-contact mode keeps your eyes on the camera. The latter might sound gimmicky, but it looks surprisingly natural.Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with the new Flex KeyboardThe most crucial update for me on the new Surface Pro 11 is its battery life. I switched to the M-series MacBook Air from the Surface Pro 5, and it was a game-changer. For the longest time, I didn’t need to charge my laptop daily. While the Surface Pro 11 isn’t at the same level as the MacBook Air, it’s a significant efficiency improvement from Intel-powered machines of the past.I used the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 on Recommended settings for everyday use, which involves a lot of web use. My daily work includes writing in Google Docs, keeping at least a dozen Chrome tabs open at all times, using Lightroom Web for photo editing, and running Slack and Asana in the background. It got me through the day comfortably on each charge.To get the “can I game on it?” questions out of the way—the Surface Pro 11 isn’t made for gaming, and the Adreno GPU’s shared memory isn’t ideal for playing AAA games. This is a productivity machine through and through, and it excels at what it does. I was also able to run Photoshop and Premiere Pro for light edits without being bothered by any fan noise (it has a fan).My review unit runs on the Snapdragon X Elite platform, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but you can also get it with the X Plus processor and other storage configurations.While my workflow wasn’t interrupted, if you rely on specific independent software, I suggest checking whether the company supports ARM laptops before settling on this device. It should be fine for those who rely on web apps and light productivity software.Microsoft Surface Pro 11 from the sideThe Microsoft Surface Pro remains the only 2-in-1 productivity device with a kickstand and a detachable keyboard. At 9.3 mm (0.37 inches) thick and 895 g (1.97 lbs) without the keyboard, it’s thin and light. With the keyboard attached too, it’s comfortable to hold and carry around. The hinge is solid and stays intact at whatever angle you set—even when it’s not fully pushed to 165 degrees and you’re scribbling on it.If you’re coming from a traditional laptop, it’ll take some time to get used to where you can prop the kickstand (solid surfaces) and where it’s not possible (soft surfaces like your stomach when lying down or your lap).The Microsoft Surface Pro has a new Flex keyboard that comes with a built-in slot for the Slim Pen (2nd generation). However, it costs an additional $450 with an Alcantara finish, and the Flex keyboard without the Alcantara finish is available for INR 37,990 in India.Slim Pen (2nd Generation) for the Surface Pro 11If you can get past the price, it’s a stiffer keyboard that’s been improved in every aspect. I’ve enjoyed typing on it, and unlike other slim and light laptops, the trackpad doesn’t register accidental inputs from the bottom. It’s smooth and responsive, unless the keyboard has been sitting idle for a while—then it doesn’t respond to touch on the first try.The Flex keyboard can also detach and stay wirelessly connected with the Surface Pro 11 over Bluetooth. It’s an improvement over the predecessors.Microsoft Surface Pro 11 in handThe Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is great but expensive, with confusing positioning. I’ve held this opinion for years—if it’s being marketed as a 2-in-1 device, it should include a keyboard in the box; otherwise, it’s just a tablet. And Windows isn’t a touch-oriented operating system—it works best with a keyboard and trackpad. The “optional” keyboard isn’t optional, and you’ll have to spend at least $180 more than the stated Surface Pro 11 price to get it to true 2-in-1 functionality.At a $1,000 starting price, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage with an LCD screen. You’ll need to shell out $180 more for the keyboard case and $130 more for the Surface Slim Pen (which is truly optional). My review unit costs $1,500 / INR 1,61,990 without the keyboard and Slim Pen. Add the new Flex Keyboard (Slim Pen included), and you’re looking at $450 / INR 37,990 more on top of the Surface Pro 11’s retail price.There’s no Snapdragon X variant as of now.Microsoft Surface Pro 11 The Surface Pro 11 is for those who want the most portable productivity laptop without compromising on display and performance. It’s for business professionals who are always on the go and (if you have the means) students. As a college student in 2019, I loved having the Surface Pro 5 for note-taking and blogging—but I got it for a bundled price with the keyboard back then.The Surface Pro 11 features a powerful and efficient processor that has solved my past battery and performance issues. If you opt for the OLED variant, you get a fantastic display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the best webcams on a laptop.One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. 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