Kyle Wiggers/Digital TrendsIt’s been nearly two years, but today Microsoft finally unveiled a successor to the wildly popular Surface Pro 4 — though it’s not called the Surface Pro 5, but simply “Surface Pro.” While technically the fifth Surface Pro, Microsoft’s latest pro-grade tablet has a pared-down naming scheme similar to Apple’s iPad, or Microsoft’s own Surface Book.

　　Contents

　　Specifications ComparedNot quite identicalRefined and refreshedSo, which one should you buy?

　　So, is the new Surface Pro worth the wait, or is it just another incremental update without any major changes? Let’s dig into the specs just to see what the new Surface Pro is capable of.

　　Recommended Videos

　　

Specifications Compared

	Surface Pro 4	New Surface Pro
Dimensions	11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 (in)	11.50 x 7.9 x 0.33 (in)
Weight	1.6 – 1.73 pounds	1.69 – 1.73 pounds
Processor	Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel Core i5-6300U, Intel Core i7-6650U	Intel Core m3-7Y30, Intel Core i5-7300U, Intel Core i7-7660U
RAM	4GB, 8GB, or 16GB	4GB, 8GB, or 16GB
Display	12.3-in PixelSense Display	12.3-in PixelSense Display
Resolution	2,736 x 1,824	2,736 x 1,824
Storage	128GB, 256Gb, 512Gb, 1TB SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD
Networking	802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2	802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports	1x USB Type-A, Surface Connect, 3.5mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader	1x USB Type-A, Surface Connect, 3.5mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, microSDXC card reader
Webcam	Windows Hello face sign-in camera, 5.0MP 1080p front-facing camera, 8.0MP 1080p rear-facing autofocus camera	Windows Hello face sign-in camera, 5.0MP 1080p front-facing camera, 8.0MP 1080p rear-facing autofocus camera
Operating System	Windows 10	Windows 10
Battery	Up to 9 hours	Up to 13.5 hours
Price	$700+	$800+
Availability	Available now	Available June 15, 2017
Review	8 out of 10	Hands-on

　　Related

　　Best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals: From $450 Should you buy the Surface Laptop Studio or wait for the Surface Laptop Studio 2? Should you buy the Surface Pro 9, or wait for the Surface Pro 10?

　　

Not quite identical

Just looking at the specs, it’s clear that this is an incremental update rather than a radical redesign. Microsoft updated the Surface Pro’s CPU lineup to include Intel’s latest 7th-generation “Kaby Lake” processors, but there’s more to the new Surface Pro than meets the eye.

　　Inside, Microsoft has revamped the cooling system to make the internal fans quieter, and for one Surface Pro model, eliminate them entirely. That’s right: The Intel Core m3 and Intel Core i5 models are actually fan-less, relying only on clever thermal management to keep cool. With the Surface Pro 4, that was true only for the m3 version.

　　Microsoft claims even the Intel Core i7 Surface Pro model leverages advancements in thermal management to run faster and quieter, despite internal cooling fans. Battery life has also improved, up to 13.5 hours from the Pro 4’s 9 hours.

　　Otherwise, the new Surface Pro features the same storage and RAM options as the Surface Pro 4, and even the display is the same.

　　

Refined and refreshed

Microsoft claims the new Surface Pro has received a complete, top-to-bottom “mechanical re-engineering.” Internally, the new Surface Pro features a few updated internal components, but the exterior remains relatively unchanged. The dimensions are the same, the weight is a little different, and visually both the Surface Pro 4 and new Surface Pro appear nearly identical.

　　There are a few small changes, though, such as the keyboard. While the original Surface Pro 4’s detachable keyboard cover was solid, it felt a little stiff. The new keyboard cover, while it looks almost identical to the previous model, features improved key travel, which makes the overall typing experience much less tiresome. The new keys have nice travel — sinking a little deeper than before — and provide less resistance.

　　Additionally, the new Surface Pro offers full support for the Surface Dial — that fancy peripheral designed for use with the Surface Studio. Anything the Studio can do with the dial, now the Surface Pro can do. It’s a welcome addition, particularly if you already own a Studio, but the Dial itself doesn’t shine quite as brightly as it does on the Surface Studio’s generous display. Placing the Dial on a 12.3-inch display ends up occluding your view significantly, so it does its best work on a desk right beside the Surface Pro.

　　These aren’t major changes on their own, but they contribute to an overall improvement to the Surface Pro’s user experience, as Microsoft continues to refine the Surface Pro formula.

　　

So, which one should you buy?

That might seem like a tough question given their similarities, but the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro are also remarkably similar in one very important respect: Price. The Surface Pro 4 starts at $700, while the new Surface Pro starts at $800. That’s not a big margin, and while the two products are remarkably similar, the new Surface Pro has enough of a leg up on the old Surface Pro 4 that it’s definitely the one you should go with if you’re on the fence.