Microsoft Surface Pro X review (hands on)

The Microsoft Surface Pro X could be the first ARM-powered 2-in-1 laptop that's worth buying. This $999 detachable is also a direct competitor to the iPad Pro that steals a trick from Apple: a custom-made chip.

The Surface Pro X is unlike any device we've seen from Microsoft before. It's sleek, study, and sports seriously thin bezels. It features the expected built-in stand and a custom SQ1 CPU designed in partnership with Qualcomm. Just be prepared to spend a lot once you add the keyboard and pen.

Check out our hands-on Microsoft Surface Pro X review so far to see if it has the potential to make our best laptops list. 

Microsoft Surface Pro X: price and availability

The Surface Pro X costs $999 and became available in November. You can order it now. The starting configuration of the Surface Pro X comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the $1,299 model ups that to 256GB of storage. All of the Surface Pro X models come with Microsoft's SQ1 processor.

There's a more premium config of the Surface Pro X that includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. 

The Surface Pro X keyboard costs $140 while the Surface Slim costs a very steep $145. That's $285! But you can save $15 if you opt for the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen for $270, which includes the magnetic garage for holding and charging the pen. The standard Surface Pro X keyboard does not have a pen holster.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: Design and ports

The Microsoft Surface Pro X looks more modern than previous Microsoft ultraportables. 

The first thing you notice on the Surface Pro X is the slimmer bezels on the 13-inch edge-to-edge display. Microsoft says the bezels are 33% thinner than other Surface Pro devices. The idea is to give you a 13-inch screen experience inside a chassis normally reserved for 12-inch chassis. Check out our Dell XPS 13 review to see a similar design win in a more traditional laptop.

This 2-in-1 weighs just 1.68 pounds, which is lighter than the Surface Pro 7. By comparison, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro weighs 1.4 pounds.

As you might expect, the Surface Pro X is skimpy on ports. There are just two USB-C ports on the left side, but that's more than the single USB-port on the iPad Pro. 

• Want an Intel CPU See our Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Review

Microsoft Surface Pro X: Keyboard and slim pen

The Microsoft Surface Pro X has an optional Slim Pen. It's redesigned for fitting into a notch on the detachable Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard. As noted above, this bundle costs a pricey $270.

The good news is that this groove secures your pen while charging it. The pen has a flatter feel than the pen that comes with the Surface Pro 7, but I'd rather have the peace of mind that the pen is less likely to get lost.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: Specs and performance

The Surface Pro's travel-friendly design is enabled by a custom, ARM-based CPU. This is the first time Microsoft is experimenting with a Microsoft custom SQ1, 7-watt chipset.

According to Microsoft, this SQ1 chip offers three times the performance per watt than the Surface Pro 6. It boasts "all-day" battery life, faster performance, and efficient computing. 

Microsoft also redesigned the GPU with Qualcomm that pushes over 2 teraflops. So this is not your typical Snapdragon-powered PC.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: Battery life and charging

The Microsoft Surface Pro X is fast charge capable, which means you can get up to 80 percent capacity in less than an hour. 

Microsoft also promises all-day battery life, with a rated runtime of 13 hours, but we'll have to see how that shakes out in our testing.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: LTE

What makes the Microsoft Surface Pro X a noteworthy portable detachable is its built in LTE Advanced for connecting on-the-go. A 5G modem would make the Surface Pro X more future proof, but not having to use a phone as a hotspot is a win.

Microsoft Surface Pro X: Early verdict

The Microsoft Surface Pro X has the potential to deliver the best of all worlds. Powerful performance and long battery life in a design that's lighter and sleeker than any Surface before it. Stay tuned for our full rated review and final verdict.