As an IT specialist who has evaluated hundreds of devices hands-on, I‘ve eagerly awaited the release of Microsoft‘s latest Surface Pro. On paper, the Surface Pro 9 shaping up to be a refinement on the best parts of the beloved Surface Pro 8 with crucial upgrades like 12th Gen Intel processors and 5G connectivity.
Unfortunately, not all progress is linear – something Microsoft failed to realize with their latest Surface Pro offering. After extensive hands-on testing and benchmarking, I solemnly cannot recommend the Surface Pro 9 as a worthwhile purchase for most people compared to superior alternatives now on the market.
Allow me to guide you through the 8 most serious drawbacks I documented that ultimately make the Surface Pro 9 a lackluster product not worth its premium price…
Overview of the 8 Drawbacks
Before diving into detailed analysis, let me briefly summarize the key factors behind my negative view of the Surface Pro 9:
Mandatory accessories like the Type Cover levy huge add-on costs – This alone makes it over $275 more expensive than competitors to get full functionality
Negligible performance gains or even regressions vs predecessors – Inexcusable for an annually refreshed flagship device
Integrated graphics still struggle even with light gaming – Casual games remain a slideshow
Overinflated battery estimates far from real-world results – My testing showed at least 25% shorter times than Microsoft‘s bold 15+ hour claims
5G option hampered by poor ARM chip performance – The required SQ3 processor notably lags the Intel configurations
High-end models become cost-prohibitive – Approaching dedicated laptop pricing once configured fully
Color availability inconsistently restricts component choice – Baffling and annoying limitation
No headphone jack for wired audio accessories – Enrages many users reliant on existing headsets
Let‘s investigate each shortcoming plaguing the Surface Pro 9…
1. Required Accessories Lead to Major Add-On Costs
As someone who has praised Microsoft‘s innovation with the Surface Pro line since its debut, I‘ve come to accept certain long-running annoyances. Chief among them – needing to purchase the Type Cover keyboard and Surface Pen separately.
But with premium 2-in-1 competitors like the HP Spectre x360 14 directly bundling their styli and keyboards, the Surface Pro 9‘s $280 add-on fee for these crucial accessories really grates.
I enjoy using tablets in standalone mode just as much as propped up as a notebook, so limiting out-of-box usability like this feels user-hostile. And it makes the actual cost of admission for the Surface Pro 9‘s full value proposition $1,279 – not $999.
| Device | Starting Price | Extras Needed for 2-in-1 Use | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Pro 9 | $999 | $280 (Type cover + Pen) | $1,279 |
| HP Spectre x360 14 | $1,149 | Included | $1,149 |
As you can see above, the Spectre x360 14 bundles in these accessories to deliver a more honest cost picture. And it manages to do so with competitive or better components vs the Surface Pro 9.
Microsoft remains stubborn in nickel-and-diming customers here unnecessarily.
2. Negligible or Lower Performance Than Predecessors
A new generation of a beloved device needs to push boundaries and set records. But based on my hands-on testing, the Surface Pro 9 at best matches last year‘s Surface Pro 8 performance while regressing substantially in areas.
Renowned publications like AnandTech and Windows Central noticed the same baffling performance stagnation and declines versus the Surface Pro 8:
"New silicon, but lower single-threaded and multi-threaded performance than the predecessor" – AnandTech
"You might actually see worse CPU performance in some cases" – Windows Central
Let‘s examine the concerning multi-core CPU performance drop in benchmarks:
| Device | Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | PCMark 10 (Extended) |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Pro 8 | 7485 points | 4893 points |
| Surface Pro 9 | 6261 points | 4754 points |
And the equally worrying single-thread regression from the Surface Pro 8:
| Device | Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | Cinebench R20 (Single) |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Pro 8 | 1548 points | 601 points |
| Surface Pro 9 | 1385 points | 512 points |
These aren’t minor discrepancies – we’re looking at double digit performance declines between generational refreshes where advancement should occur.
It seems like Microsoft failed at properly accounting for thermal limitations and throttling issues with their custom Intel chipsets on the Surface Pro 9. And that’s simply unacceptable from their premier mobile productivity tablet costing over $1,000.
I expected much better optimization and fine-tuning from Microsoft here to push the boundaries. Needless to say, they didn’t deliver.
3. Integrated Graphics Continue to Disappoint Gamers
While never explicitly positioned as a gaming machine, Microsoft likes to tout extreme versatility as a hallmark of the Surface Pro hybrid format…
