Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs Pro 8: Which Detachable 2-in-1 is Best for You?

For professionals and students needing a highly portable Windows machine able to quickly switch between laptop typing and spacious tablet interfaces, Microsoft‘s Surface Pro series stands tall as a top contender among premium 2-in-1 detachables.

The Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro 8 represent the two latest generations of Microsoft‘s iconic mobile PC lineup pioneering the category all the way back in 2013. While both devices excel as compact ultraportables for getting "real work" done around the office or on-the-go, the newer Surface Pro 8 demonstrates genuine refinement.

Let‘s compare these two Surfaces across the metrics you care about most as an discerning shopper to identify whether those changes add up to a worthy upgrade over the preceding model.

Surface Pro Overview: Microsoft‘s Flagship Detachable 2-in-1

The Surface Pro established an entirely new PC form factor melding full Windows software capabilities with lightweight mobility and touch capabilities rivaling consumer tablets. The "pro" designation signals business-class performance for work, not just media consumption.

This innovative formula spawned a fresh "detachable" segment now counting numerous alternatives from Dell, HP, Lenovo and others. But even in the face of heightened competition, Surface Pro remains the bar-setting leader in this space.

While not inexpensive, Surface Pro balances premium metal construction, ultra-slim dimensions and convertibility into four functional modes (Laptop, Studio, Tablet, View) at somewhat more palatable prices than the flagship Surface Laptop or Book notebooks.

Let‘s explore exactly where Microsoft allocated Surface Pro 8 improvements to best evaluate the newer generation‘s advantages.

Display and Design: More Screen at Your Fingertips

The Surface Pro series first shifted from a 12-inch display up to a noticeably larger 13-inch panel with 2014‘s Surface Pro 3 update. Microsoft kept that immersive 3:2 "Golden Ratio" touchscreen through 2020‘s Surface Pro X.

The Surface Pro 7 maintained its predecessor‘s popular 12.3-inch PixelSense display measuring 2736 x 1824 resolution, then the Surface Pro 8 bumped back up to a 13-inch screen right in line with today‘s higher average laptop sizes.

The slightly greater screen real estate makes working with documents and spreadsheets feel less cramped, while retaining dense 267 PPI sharpness. But even bigger impact comes from doubling the 60Hz refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and ink input.

Reviewers praise the Pro 8 display‘s vibrancy and responsiveness as a major highlight. While less critical for documents or spreadsheets, the faster refresh really enhances browsing, note taking and content creation efforts.

On the exterior, Microsoft sticks to a recognizable, minimalist aesthetic across both generations. The Surface Pro 8 stands just slightly thicker at 0.37 vs 0.33-inches to accommodate its larger display, though width and depth stay identical to neatly continue supporting existing Type Covers, Pens and other accessories.

Performance: Snappy Productivity With 11th Gen Power

The Surface Pro 7 first introduced 10th Gen Intel Core processors to Microsoft‘s detachable 2-in-1 family while significantly overhauling cooling to enable proper sustained performance from its mobile chips.

Stepping up to 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs gives the Surface Pro 8 another healthy injection of speed for tackling everyday tasks plus demanding creative workloads.

Let‘s compare what Processor, Memory and Storage combinations Microsoft offers across both lineups:

Benchmarking tests demonstrate the Pro 8 boasting a clear performance advantage over Pro 7 models configured with equivalent processing hardware. The newer quad-core chips reach higher sustained clock speeds for snappier response times under load.

For example Geekbench testing recorded a 1005 single-core / 3436 multi-core score for a Surface Pro 7 configured much like the base $999 retail model with Core i5 / 8GB RAM / 128GB storage. Stepping up to that same $999 configuration on the Surface Pro 8 instead measured 1509 / 6457 thanks to newer 11th gen silicon.

The extra efficiency also contributes to the extended battery life covered next. But in terms of daily operation, reviewer testing proves both detachables handle basic productivity workloads like Office apps, web browsing, streaming media and so forth without issue. Creative professionals dealing with massive datasets see far more advantage from the Pro 8‘s muscle. Casual users may never tap into those extra speeds.

Ultimately the Surface Pro 8 brings headroom to smoothly sustain near-peak performance thanks to appropriately balanced thermal design rather than throttling under pressure. Microsoft also doubles available RAM capacities up to 32GB for juggling intensive workloads.

Battery Life: All Day Computing Away from the Desk

Balancing performance demands against mobility requires delivering reliable battery life that keeps you running far from AC outlets. Both Surfaces leverage integrated power management capabilities to preserve longevity when not plugged in.

Microsoft rates the Surface Pro 7 for up to 10.5 hours of typical usage per charge while promising up to 16 hours from the newer Surface Pro 8. However those numbers represent a best case scenario.

In practical testing, reviewers recorded between 6-8 hours of active work time for the Surface Pro 7 or around 8-10 hours on the Surface Pro 8. So you gain nearly 2 extra hours freedom before recharging the newer model.

Considering entrance-level configurations, the SSD capacity proves critical. Lower 128GB options utilize more power efficient solid state drives than higher capacity 512GB or 1TB models. So balance storage needs against the desire for longest possible endurance when ordering – although realistically either device lasts reasonably long for on-the-go productivity.

Connectivity: Enter Thunderbolt 4

The Surface Pro 7 marked first ever USB-C incorporation alongside the expected USB-A port and proprietary Surface Connect charger. USB-C enabled charging, external displays and accessory connectivity most OTHER modern laptops already offered.

Surface Pro 8 goes much further by introducing two Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting 40Gbps transfers, multiple 4K display output and fast charging. The generational leap puts Microsoft旗s detachable on par with top laptops like Dell XPS, MacBook Pro and Razer Book harnessing Intel稚 latest interface controller technology.

You STILL get a handy USB-A port for connecting existing flash drives and peripherals alongside the 3.5mm headphone jack. Just note the dedicated Surface Connect port vanishes, so syncing mobile data or leveraging Microsoft稚 Dock accessories requires one Thunderbolt port. Given the sheer bandwidth available, that compromise seems worthwhile for the tremendous I/O advantages.

Both Surface Pro generations also include front (5MP) and rear (8MP Pro 7 or 10MP Pro 8) cameras suitable for video calls along with far-field studio microphones for crisp conferencing. YouFLAGll enjoy reliably quick syncing and streaming anywhere thanks to Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5 wireless support too.

Accessories: Surface Type Cover & Pen Sold Separately

Unlike conventional laptops, Microsoft markets the Surface Pro 7 and Pro 8 as standalone tablets lacking any bundled keyboard. The highly recommended Surface Type Covers magnetically connect when needed for comfortable typing (and detach when not required to slim back down to spacious tablet form).

These fabric-wrapped keypads with built-in touchpads always add $100-$150+ to the total investment depending on style preferences. Multiple color options exist including certain variants introducing Alcantara cloth or metal finishes. Enterprise configurations sometimes bundle Type Covers, otherwise expect this necessary add-on purchase.

Microsoft‘s optional Surface Pens also enhance either device for digital inking, drawing, annotating Office documents or advanced graphic design work leveraging tilt and pressure sensitivity. Just like Apple Pencils for iPad Pro, Surface Pen supports start from $99 while Microsoft‘s creative apps unlock unique capabilities.

Bottom line: budget another $250 or so beyond the upfront tablet expense to complement your workflow with critically useful Surface Type Cover and Surface Pen accessories.

Cost Breakdown: Modest Price Premium on Surface Pro 8

Given notably improved technical capabilities across display, performance and connectivity metrics – greater investment seems reasonable required to step up from the Surface Pro 7 to Surface Pro 8 detachable 2-in-1. Yet Microsoft has priced the generational shift quite competitively.

Let‘s compare MSRP pricing for two popular mid-range configurations:

Just $100 extra nets a far superior processor and refresh rates for the entry-level Pro 8 configuration most buyers will gravitate towards. Even maxed out high-capacity models run just $200 higher than equivalent Pro 7 models despite doubling available memory. Generally shoppers see only 10-15% increases generation-over-generation.

During periodic holiday sales, expect the Surface Pro 7 available at steeper discounts given its older status the longer the 8 sells at market. But resale value favors the newer tech too. Ultimately the Pro 8 likely retains relevance and satisfies needs longer to justify modest top-line pricing separation.

Conclusion: Surface Pro 8 Wins on Future-Proof Features

Microsoft consciously designed their Surface Pro 8 as a no-compromise refinement steadily evolving the 2-in-1 computing vision their pioneering hybrid tablet introduced. This latest 13” detachable packs smoother 120Hz touch interactivity into a familiar exceptionally crafted chassis while adopting next-generation Thunderbolt connectivity and more powerful 11th generation Intel Core performance.

Make no mistake – the preceding Surface Pro 7 remains a highly capable road warrior itself thanks to the flexible productivity it empowers through clever convertible design allowing seamless transitions between laptop typing, handwriting and touch. Yet across the board, Microsoft’s careful engineering mid-cycle update now outpaces their still great 2019 hybrid on all aspects except affordability for budget-focused shoppers.

For mobile professionals seeking to push limits of on-the-go productivity, content creation and multitasking flexibility though, the Surface Pro 8 stands clearly superior to even other competitive premium alternatives in ways that neatly justify paying modest premiums over previous models carrying shorter lifespans. Unless you specifically require LTEconnectivity or find heavily discounted last-gen deals, this editor recommends any individual shopping this segment skip directly to the latest iteration boasting future-proofing enhancements.