Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 launched today. As is the case with many major product launches, reviews for the device came out the same day the Surface Pro 8 became available for purchase. It's been almost 10 years since Microsoft's Surface Pro came out, so the company has had time to refine its design. That's reflected in its reviews, which are largely positive.
Our executive editor Daniel Rubino gave the device a 4.5 out of 5 in our Surface Pro 8 review:
Bottom line: Surface Pro 8 finally hits its full potential with the all-new redesign for 2021. With Thunderbolt 4, optional LTE, 120Hz display, new haptic Slim Pen, 11th Gen Intel, and a new graphite colorway this is a worthwhile upgrade.
The Verge's review discussed how the Surface Pro 8 marries the design of the Surface Pro X with the power of the Surface Pro lineup. As a result, people don't need to compromise looks for power or vice versa:
In the past few years, I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who weren't sure whether to buy the Pro 7 or the Pro X. They needed the Pro 7's processor for their workload, but they much preferred the way the Pro X looked.And it was hard for me to recommend either device to those people, or to the general public. They both came with serious compromises. But the Pro 8 doesn't. It combines a modern design with modern specs. It's the computer those people have been waiting for. It's the first Surface Pro I can really see myself buying as a primary driver.
XDA's review of the Surface Pro 8 also likened the design of the device to the Surface Pro X:
The Surface Pro 8 is a fresh take on an aging product lineup. It strips away legacy ports, big bezels, and old silicon for powerful features like Thunderbolt 4 and a beautiful, 120Hz display. It keeps the stellar webcam, a must when working from home, and adds the best of the Surface Pro X to the Intel model.
In its review of the Surface Pro 8, Tom's Guide highlighted how good Windows 11 feels on Microsoft's latest flagship 2-in-1:
As the latest in Microsoft's 2-in-1 lineup, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 feels like a next-gen device. Its exceptional display quality makes watching videos a delight. The powerful CPU ensures you won't experience significant slowdown when browsing the web, video chatting, or performing other everyday tasks. Windows 11 also feels like it was tailor-made for the device.
PCMag called the device the "most meaningful update to the product in years" in its review:
While the Surface Pro 8 doesn't revolutionize the Pro line to its core, it does deliver the most meaningful update to the product in years. The new design is more aesthetically pleasing, along with the more concrete, practical advantage of a larger display. All-around performance is solid, at least in our Core i7 configuration, especially when you consider thermal challenges in a build this size.
Experts appear to be impressed by the Surface Pro 8. Many brought up its high price, but the device still earned high marks from those in the industry.
Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 has thinner bezels and a larger display than its predecessor. It's the result of almost 10 years of Microsoft creating Surface Pro devices.
