Developer | Microsoft |
---|---|
Product family | Surface |
Type | 2-in-1 detachable |
Generation | 4th |
Release date | October 26, 2015 |
Introductory price | $899 (£749) |
Operating system | Windows 10 Pro |
CPU | Intel Core m3-6Y30 Intel Core i5-6300U Intel Core i7-6650U |
Memory | 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB |
Storage | PCI-Express SSD: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB |
Display | 12.3 inches 2736x1824 (267 ppi) PixelSense display with 3:2 aspect ratio |
Graphics | m3: Intel HD graphics 515 i5: Intel HD graphics 520 i7: Intel Iris 540 graphics |
Dimensions | 292.1 mm × 201.42 mm × 8.45 mm (11.500 in × 7.930 in × 0.333 in) |
Mass | m3: 766 g (1.689 lb) i5: 786 g (1.733 lb) i7: 786 g (1.733 lb) |
Predecessor | Surface Pro 3 |
Successor | Surface Pro (5th generation) |
Website | www.surface.com |
This article is part of a series on |
Microsoft Surface |
---|
The Surface Pro 4 is the fourth-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, and marketed by Microsoft. The Surface Pro 4 was announced on October 6, 2015, [1] alongside the Surface Book. In the U.S. and Canada, the Surface Pro 4 was released on October 26, 2015.
The Surface Pro 4 is an update over its predecessor, featuring Skylake CPUs, more RAM and SSD options, and a 12.3-inch display with a greater resolution. At the same time, the device is compatible with most of its predecessor's accessories.
The device's successor, the 2017 Surface Pro, was announced in May 2017, ahead of a release the following month.
The Surface Laptop 4 is a separate line of Surface devices from Microsoft, released in April 2021.
The Surface Pro 4 was announced on October 6, 2015 alongside the Surface Book. Both devices were available for pre-order the following day and available for customers beginning on October 26, 2015.
The device initially exhibited failure to sleep properly, which drained the battery very quickly. [2] Microsoft subsequently developed a fix that was made available on February 17, 2016. [3]
The Surface Pro 4 is the same size as 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 greater than the Surface Pro 3's, at 2736×1824 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 is meant to avoid the use of the internal fan when the device is used for less demanding tasks such as 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.
RAM options available are 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB, while SSD options are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB; the top options are twice as capacious compared to top options of the Surface Pro 4's two recent predecessors.
The common traits, inherited from the previous-generation Surface Pro 3, 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 [4] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ||
$1,299 | 8 GB | 256 GB | ||
$1,499 | 16 GB | |||
$1,699 | 8 GB | 512 GB | ||
$1,899 | 16 GB | |||
$1,599 | Intel Core i7-6650U (2.2 to 3.4 GHz) | Iris 540 | 8 GB | 256 GB |
$1,799 | 16 GB | |||
$2,199 | 512 GB | |||
$2,699 | 1 TB | |||
All Surface Pro 4 models 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, a "Tablet mode" is available when the Type Cover is detached from the device. In this mode, all windows are opened full-screen and the interface becomes more touch-centric.
The device also has a camera compatible with Windows Hello. It combines the use of a regular and infrared cameras to authenticate the user.
Upgrades to Windows 11 require at least an 8th-generation Intel CPU among other requirements. [5] The Surface Pro 4's CPU falls short of Microsoft's minimum requirements, and thus cannot be officially upgraded to Windows 11.
The Surface Pro 4 is backward-compatible with all of its predecessor's accessories. At the Windows 10 Devices Event on October 6, 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 the Surface Pro 4 is backward compatible with the predecessor's Type Cover accessory, 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 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 and is heavier with a rubberized tip. [6] However, the new pen has only one button on the side rather than the previous pen's two. There is an eraser on the end that doubles as a button, which may perform different tasks, like opening the OneNote app or activating Cortana, [7] and can be customized using the Surface App. [8]
The Surface Pro 4 is known to have wide spread flicker issues with the display [9] named as Flickergate [10] after the independent website flickergate.com which was set up by the affected users after getting no fix from Microsoft. [11]
Microsoft's spokesperson acknowledged the issue stating: "We are aware that some customers have experienced a screen flicker on Surface Pro 4 and are monitoring the situation closely. Customers impacted by this should contact Microsoft support." [12]
Microsoft has stated that defective batteries, pens, and Type Covers may be repaired under warranty. [13]
The Type Cover also has connectivity issues that afflict many, often due to a Windows update. This seems to be a common issue across the Surface series, with a sudden death to the Type Cover. [14] [15] [16] [17]
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 disadvantages found by reviewers were that the Type Cover is still a separate purchase, the relatively modest performance of the Intel Core m3 chip, and modest battery life. [18] [19] [20]
Timeline of Surface devices |
---|
Sources: Microsoft Devices Blog Microsoft Store |
A 2-in-1 laptop, also known as 2-in-1 PC, 2-in-1 tablet, laplet, tabtop, laptop tablet, or simply 2-in-1, is a portable computer that has features of both tablets and laptops.
Lenovo Yoga is a line of consumer-oriented laptop computers, tablets, and all-in-one computers designed, developed and marketed by Lenovo, named for their ability to assume multiple form factors due to a hinged screen. The line currently competes against other 2-in-1 PCs such as the HP Spectre.
Microsoft Surface is a family of touchscreen-based personal computer, tablet, and interactive whiteboard hardware products designed and developed by Microsoft. The majority of them run the Windows operating system and use Intel processors.
The Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 detachable designed and manufactured by Microsoft, and the first generation of the Surface Pro line as part of the Microsoft Surface series. It was released in February 2013 and came with a 64-bit version of Windows 8 Pro operating system with a free upgrade possibility to Windows 8.1 Pro, and eventually also Windows 10. The device was superseded later in 2013 by the second generation model, Surface Pro 2.
VivoTab is a series of Microsoft Windows hybrid tablet computers designed by Asus. It is a sub-series of the Vivo series by Asus. The name is derived from the Latin word "to live" and, along with Asus's Transformer series of convertible devices running Windows, is a primary competitor to the Microsoft Surface.
The Surface Pro 2 is a Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable produced by Microsoft. Unveiled at an event in New York City on September 23, 2013 and released on October 22, 2013, it succeeds the Surface Pro released in February 2013. While maintaining a design similar to the original design of its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2 has improved hardware specifications compared to it, such as a Haswell Intel Core processor and an increased number of storage options, improved versions of the kickstand and cover accessories.
Lenovo ThinkPad 10 refers to two generations of 10-inch business-oriented tablet computers manufactured by Lenovo.
The Surface Pro 3 is the third-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. It originally ran the Windows 8.1 Pro operating system (OS), but the optional upgrade to Windows 10 Pro (OS) operating system was later added.
Surface 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable from the Microsoft Surface series, introduced by Microsoft in 2015. Unlike its predecessor, the Surface 2, Surface 3 utilizes an x86 Intel Atom system-on-chip architecture, or SoC, rather than a processor with ARM architecture such as the Nvidia Tegra that powered the Surface 2, and runs standard versions of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.
The Surface Book is a 2-in-1 PC designed and produced by Microsoft, part of the company's Surface line of personal computing devices, and released on October 26, 2015. Surface Book is distinguished from other Surface devices primarily by its full-sized, detachable keyboard, which uses a dynamic fulcrum hinge that expands when it is opened. The keyboard contains a second battery, a number of ports and an optional discrete graphics card used when the screen part, also dubbed as the clipboard by Microsoft, is docked to it. Unlike Surface Pro devices, which are marketed as tablets, the Surface Book is marketed as a laptop, Microsoft's first device marketed as such. Unlike the Surface Laptop devices, the two parts are detachable. It was succeeded by Surface Book 2.
The Surface Pen is an active stylus and digital pen developed by Microsoft for its series of Surface computing devices. It is designed to showcase the pen computing capabilities of Microsoft's Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems.
The fifth-generation Surface Pro is a Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable hybrid notebook computer, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. The Surface Pro was announced in May 2017 at a public event held in Shanghai, China. The device launched in 26 different markets on June 15.
The Surface Book 2 is the second generation of the Surface Book, part of the Microsoft Surface line of personal computers. It is a 2-in-1 PC which can be used like a conventional laptop, or the screen can be detached and used separately as a tablet, with touch and stylus input. In addition to the 13.5-inch screen available in the original Surface Book introduced two years before, it is also available in a 15-inch screen model. It was released in November 2017, and replaced in Microsoft's product line by the Surface Book 3 in May 2020.
The Surface Go is a 10-inch (250 mm) 2-in-1 detachable in the Microsoft Surface series that was released on August 2, 2018. It was unveiled by Microsoft on July 10, 2018. It was the first generation of the Surface Go. In May 2020, the Surface Go was superseded by the Surface Go 2.
The Surface Studio 2 is an all-in-one PC, designed and produced by Microsoft as part of its Surface series of Windows-based personal computing devices. It was announced at the Windows 10 Devices Event on October 2, 2018, two years after the release of the previous version Surface Studio, with pre-orders beginning that day.
The Surface Pro 6 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft. It is the sixth generation of Surface Pro and was announced alongside the Surface Laptop 2 on October 2, 2018 at an event in New York. It was released on 16th of that same month.
The Surface Book 3 is the third generation of Microsoft's Surface Book series, and a successor to the Surface Book 2. Like its previous generation, the Surface Book 3 is part of the Microsoft Surface lineup of personal computers. It is a 2-in-1 PC that can be used like a conventional laptop, or detached from its base for use as a separate tablet, with touch and stylus input support in both scenarios. It was announced by Microsoft online alongside the Surface Go 2 on May 6, 2020, and later released for purchase on May 12, 2020.
The Surface Go 2 is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet computer developed by Microsoft. It is the second generation of Surface Go and was announced alongside the Surface Book 3 on May 6, 2020 online. It was available for purchase starting May 12, 2020. In October 2021, this has been superseded by the Surface Go 3.
The Surface Go 3 is the third generation model of the Surface Go series of devices, introduced as the successor to the Surface Go 2 by Microsoft at their Surface Event on September 22, 2021. It was announced by the company alongside the Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2 and many Surface accessories. The tablet has the same body, the same set of cameras and speakers, the same ports, and the same dimensions as its predecessor; the main enhancement is a range of more powerful processors. The tablet is powered by the Windows 11 operating system.