Surface Pro 4

Surface Pro 4
Developer Microsoft
Product family Surface
Type 2-in-1 detachable
Generation 4th
Release date October 26, 2015[1]
Introductory price $899 (£749)
Operating system Windows 10 Pro
CPU Intel Skylake low-voltage dual-core:[2]
m3-6Y30
900 MHz up to 2.2 GHz, 4 MB cache, 4.5 W[3]
i5-6300U
2.4 up to 3.0 GHz, 3 MB cache, 15 W[4]
i7-6650U
2.2 up to 3.4 GHz, 4 MB cache, 15 W[5]
Memory 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB[6]
Storage PCI-Express SSD: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB[6]
Display 12.3 inches (31 cm) 2736x1824 (267ppi) Pixel Sense display with 3:2 aspect ratio[6]
Graphics

m3: Intel HD graphics 515[6]
i5: Intel HD graphics 520[6]

i7: Intel Iris 540 graphics[6]
Dimensions 292.1 millimetres (11.50 in) (width)
201.42 millimetres (7.930 in) (height)
8.45 millimetres (0.333 in) (depth)[6]
Weight

m3: 766 grams (1.689 lb)[6]
i5: 786 grams (1.733 lb)[6]

i7: 786 grams (1.733 lb)[6]
Predecessor Surface Pro 3

The Surface Pro 4 is the fourth-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. The Surface Pro 4 was announced on October 6, 2015[7] alongside the Surface Book. In the U.S. and Canada, Surface Pro 4 was released on October 26, 2015.

Surface Pro 4 is an evolutionary update over its predecessor, featuring more power-efficient and powerful CPUs, more capacious RAM and SSD options, a slightly bigger display with a greater resolution, and a better cooled chassis. At the same time, the device is compatible with all of its predecessor's accessories.

History

The Surface Pro 4 was announced on October 6, 2015 alongside the Surface Book. Both devices were available for a pre-order the following day and available for customers beginning on October 26, 2015.

Features

Hardware

The Surface Pro 4 is the same size of the Surface Pro 3, but has a thinner screen bezel which allows for a display of a slightly greater size of 12.3 inches (31 cm). The screen resolution is also larger at 2736x1824 at 267 PPI, with the same aspect ratio of 3:2 and 10-point multi-touch. The chassis is 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) thinner and 0.03 pounds (14 g) lighter than the Surface Pro 3.

The cooling system of the 2-in-1 has been redesigned and dubbed hybrid liquid cooling system. It includes heat pipes with a flowing liquid, which help avoid the use of the internal fan when the device is used for non-demanding tasks such as a web browsing.

All Surface Pro 4 models feature 6th generation Skylake Intel Core processors: m3, i5 or i7 which are more powerful and run cooler over its Intel Core Haswell predecessors found in the Surface Pro 3 and 2. The maximum clock rate of the most powerful CPU option (i7-6650U) is also greater at 2.2 GHz, with up to 3.4 GHz in the Turbo Boost mode. The m3-powered model is completely fanless.

System memory and SSD options available are 4, 8, 16 GB and 128, 256, 512, 1024 GB respectively; the top options are two times as capacious compared to top options of the Surface Pro 4's two recent predecessors.

The common traits, inherited from the previous generation device, are a continuous kickstand, magnesium casing with a silver-colored back side, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader, headset jack, Mini DisplayPort, Cover Port, and a renamed SurfaceConnect, a port on the side, to connect a wall charger, Docking Station or Surface Dock accessories.

Surface Pro 4 Configuration Options[8]
Price Tier (USD) CPU Integrated GPU RAM Internal Storage
899 Intel Core m3-6Y30 (0.9 to 2.2 GHz) HD 515 4 GB 128 GB
999 Intel Core i5-6300U (2.4 to 3.0 GHz) HD 520
1299 8 GB 256 GB
1499 16 GB
1699 8 GB 512 GB
1899 16 GB
1599 Intel Core i7-6650U (2.2 to 3.4 GHz) Iris 540 8 GB 256 GB
1799 16 GB
2199 512 GB
2699 1024 GB

Software

All Surface Pro 4 models will come with a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro and a Microsoft Office 30-day trial. Windows 10 comes pre-installed with Mail, Calendar, People, Xbox (app), Photos, Movies and TV, Groove, and Microsoft Edge. With Windows 10 the Tablet mode is available when the Type Cover is detached from the device. In this mode, all windows are being opened full screen and the interface becomes more touch-centric.

The device also has a Windows Hello-compatible camera. It combines the use of a regular and infrared cameras to authenticate the user.

Accessories

The Surface Pro 4 is backward compatible with all accessories of its predecessor. At the Windows 10 Devices Event on 6 October, 2015, alongside new Surface 2-in-1s, new accessories were announced.

The Surface Dock is a redesigned docking accessory in a brick form factor. It is compatible with all past and future Surface models with a SurfaceConnect side port, previously used to connect a wall charger or Docking Station accessory: Surface Pro 3, 4 and Surface Book. The Surface Dock will have 2 Mini DisplayPorts, 1 Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB 3.0 and 1 audio out ports.

Although Surface Pro 4 is backward compatible with Type Cover accessory of Surface Pro 3, an attachable keyboard, which doubles as a screen protector, the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover has been announced with and without a fingerprint ID sensor. The new Type Cover is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, has improved magnetic stability for a lap use, a mechanical keyboard with improved key spacing as well as a larger touchpad.

An updated version of Surface Pen is included with the Surface Pro 4, which has 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, is heavier with a rubberized tip.[9] There is a new rubber-like eraser, that doubles as a button, which may perform different tasks, like opening the OneNote app or activating Cortana.[10] The Surface app allows users to change what action is performed when the button is pressed.[11]

Reception

Critical reception

The Surface Pro 4 received generally positive reviews from technology critics. Most praise a sharper and larger display compared to the one found in the predecessor, redesigned cooling system, improved technical specifications, and an improved Type Cover. The common downsides found by reviewers was the fact that a Type Cover is still a separate purchase, the relatively modest performance of the Intel Core m3 chip, and the battery life that does not allow the Surface Pro 4 to truly function as a laptop replacement despite improving on its predecessor.[12][13][14]

Issues

The device fails to sleep properly, draining the battery very quickly. Microsoft is working on a fix.[15] Two months after the issue was known Microsoft is still trying to fix the issue.[16]

Timeline

Surface Hub Surface Book Surface Pro 4 Surface Pro 3 Surface Pro 2 Surface Pro Surface 3 Surface 2 Surface (first generation)

Source: Surface Blog

References


Preceded by
Surface Pro 3
Surface Pro 4
4th generation
Succeeded by
Latest Model
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