Microsoft Updates Surface Pro 7+ for Business Users: New Internals, 4G Option, Same Everything Else (On Purpose)

Context (What Happened)

Microsoft is updating the Surface Pro 7 with new processors and a cellular option, while keeping the form factor nearly identical.

[Click here for Microsoft blog post]

Analysis

The timing and scope of Microsoft’s Surface line updates can be somewhat idiosyncratic, but Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 7+ is so specifically aimed at enterprise users that it is actually named, “Surface Pro 7+ for Business.” The biggest changes are the addition of 11th generation Intel processors and a $150 LTE option on some configurations. There are almost no changes to the hardware ID. This will surely earn the ire of technology journalists who would rather see Microsoft’s more modern Surface Pro X design brought over to the x86 community, but it will warm the hearts of many IT managers. When you are deploying thousands of devices over time, consistency is a benefit, not a drawback. IT managers can replace keyboard covers, docks, and even custom enclosures while improving cellular connectivity, better battery life, and faster performance. There are both USB-A and USB-C connectors, which ensures compatibility with accessories old and new. Intel is not getting the gushing press that Arm garners these days, but Windows runs smoothly on Intel, and absolutely no changes to apps or drivers or user training are required. What’s not to like?

The Surface Pro was originally trying to create a market for premium Windows convertibles, and along the way it has become a mainstay of large corporate accounts. The pandemic has accelerated enterprise purchases of more mobile computers for employees now working from home, and Microsoft has been paying close attention to IT manager wish lists. The last time Microsoft offered integrated cellular capabilities was in 2017, and those models are still selling. Not everyone has fast or uniform home WiFi, and security can be an issue when IT has no control over what connectivity options their employees are using. A Surface Pro with a modern processor and LTE will be appealing, despite the high $150 delta. (Yes, it’s high when Apple does it on the iPad Pro, too. Discounts will almost certainly be available through carrier enterprise channels). There are no core i7 SKUs with LTE – though Microsoft could certainly easily add them if there is demand. Microsoft is not supporting 5G, which would require a lot more investment. 5G is not a core requirement yet for consumers or enterprises, but it is on the radar of IT managers with longer horizons or plans for private 5G networks.

Microsoft is adopting one element of the Surface Pro X with the Surface Pro 7+ for Business: a user-accessible SSD drive. This is less about adding capacity and more to allow quick swaps for tech support and the ability to physically access the storage for data destruction policies.

The rest of the physical design is as before, with some improvements from the new silicon. The tablet/keyboard cover combination remains extremely light, weighing just 2.38 lbs, and highly portable. That keyboard cover has not changed at all, but this is no loss since it remains best in class. Battery life is up from a claimed 10.5 hours to 15 hours thanks to a bigger battery inside, the newer processor, and a revamped display. The 65w charger can fast charge from 0 - 80% in just over an hour. Even before the pandemic made webcam quality a critical factor, Microsoft’s 1080P webcam with good light and color balance and a fixed, but forgiving angle made Surfaces ideal for Teams (or Zoom, Webex, etc.).

No matter what silicon is inside, the Surface Pro form factor does have some downsides. The Surface Pro form factor has always required a surface to rest on; the kickstand is not especially stable on a lap, couch, or bed when working from home. It also tends to fall off the back of airline coach tray tables should travel become a thing again. These complaints are generic to tablet/kickstand designs, and Microsoft does offer traditional laptop form factors that solve these problems – but not with 11th gen processors and LTE.

The Surface Pro line has never been aimed at bargain hunters, and pricing starts at $899 for a core i3 with 8GB RAM and 128 GB SSD – which may be fine for some enterprise tablet uses, but will be underpowered as a laptop replacement. The line tops out at $2799 for an i7, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. A reasonable configuration with a core i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD is $1500, or $1650 with integrated LTE. Microsoft has shown that it understands exactly what business buyers are looking for in a convertible, and how much they are willing to pay for it.

Update February 2, 2021: Techsponential has a review unit and will update this report as we get hands-on experience.

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