Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella today opened the Surface hardware event in New York City. He said Microsoft's goal with its hardware is to unify computing and “empower every persona and every organization on the planet.” Surface Pro X is the device that will push that goal with its ARM processing capabilities.
This is Microsoft true hardware push into the Windows on ARM concept.
“Whether it was ink, touch, speech, touch, gestures, gaze, we wanted to have that natural UI across all experiences,” Nadella said.
Surface chief Panos Panay took to the stage and continued the idea, saying people are at the center of the Surface experience. Indeed, the start of the event certainly felt like Microsoft was aiming directly for users.
This felt like an intimate tech launch, right down to Panay walking amongst attendees and discussing his daughters. He said people need the right device “so all the pieces line up” without having to think about it.
Stand out and stay connected. Meet the new Surface Pro X. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/OBz53sqn8f
— Microsoft Surface (@surface) October 2, 2019
It was clearly heading to the announcement of a device that unifies user experiences and form factors. Hence the announcement of a new category of device, Microsoft much expected folding screen Surface Centaurus.
As Microsoft has been promising for years, this is a game-changing device is the Surface Pro X. Yes, this is not a folding screen Surface Centaurus, but it is a new category that provides plenty of interesting features.
Details
Firstly, this is the best looking Surface Pro device ever made. Its sleek and small, despite packing a 13-inch edge-to-edge PixelSense screen. That display has 2880×1920 pixels and 267PPI, but is still tiny at only 5.3mm and 774 grams.
As we expected, this is a full ARM Surface device thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx running under the box. Furthermore, the Surface Pro X is the first ever Windows device to a full AI engine. Surface Pro X leverages the 8cx to have Instant On and LTE Advanced Pro.
Like the Surface Pro 7, the Pro X also has much-awaited support for Type-C.
Microsoft has also introduced the Surface Slim Pen, which is a new pen experience for the Surface Pro X. This peripheral will be sold separately but once purchased it encloses within the Pro X when not in use. When it is put to use, the Surface Slim Pen has 4,096 pressure points and the wireless charging we have discussed recently.
Meet the new Surface ProX. #MicrosoftEvent @panos_panay pic.twitter.com/p4hpg0TZ0L
— Microsoft Surface (@surface) October 2, 2019
Adding to the new accessories is the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard. While it looks a lot like the Type Cover, it has the aforementioned storage area for the Surface Slim Pen and also acts as a charging port for the pen. Interestingly, the Pro X will still close when the pen is nestled within that pouch.
In terms of other specs, the Pro X boasts up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage. Microsoft says users can expect 13 hours of battery, complete with new fast charging that charges to 80% in one hour.
Last Updated on April 9, 2020 11:54 am CEST by Luke Jones
