Microsoft debuts Surface Pro 7 with Intel and ARM versions, USB-C, up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, the same 12.3" display, and updated Surface Pen, from $749

There's a new Surface Pro in town. And it looks exactly like the Surface Pro 6 from the outside.

Thurrott 2019-10-02 Mehedi Hassan

Context & Ripple Effects

The Surface Pro 7 is an incremental refresh on a chassis Microsoft has kept since the 12.3-inch Surface Pro 4 in 2015 — the news is what changed inside: USB-C finally arrives, RAM doubles to 16GB with 1TB storage available, and the entry price drops to $749 versus the Pro 4's $899 launch price.

The more consequential move is the split lineup: alongside this Intel-based Pro 7, Microsoft is launching the ARM-based Surface Pro X with its custom SQ1 chip, LTE, and a Slim Pen that stows in the keyboard at $999. The Pro 7 keeps the old pen-charging port and familiar design; the Pro X is where Microsoft is testing the post-Intel future.

First-order effects

Buyers get USB-C and doubled memory configurations on the same 12.3-inch body, with the $749 floor undercutting every prior Surface Pro launch price in the coverage.
Microsoft now fields two parallel Surface Pro tracks — Intel Pro 7 and SQ1-powered Pro X — forcing customers to choose between app compatibility and LTE-plus-battery design bets.

Second-order effects

Intel's grip on the Surface line loosens: by shipping its own SQ1 silicon, Microsoft gains leverage over Intel pricing and a fallback if Intel's roadmap slips.
Accessory economics diverge — the Pro 7's updated Surface Pen charges off the tablet while the Pro X embeds the Slim Pen in the Signature Keyboard, splitting the keyboard-and-pen attach-rate revenue between two incompatible ecosystems.

Third-order effects

The two-track experiment resolves toward ARM: the later Surface Pro 9 merges the Pro X and Pro into one SKU with an SQ3 or Intel choice, and the eventual fan-less ARM-only Surface Pro 12 shows the ARM branch winning — the Pro 7's dual-sourcing was the transition mechanism.
If the pattern holds, flagship Windows tablets converge on custom ARM silicon with Intel as the compatibility option, inverting the 2015-era assumption that Surface Pro generations were defined by Intel CPU names like Skylake.

The trend: Microsoft's Surface Pro line is migrating from Intel-defined annual refreshes to a custom-ARM-first architecture, using dual-SKU transitional generations to move the installed base.

Discussion

@stshank Stephen Shankland on x
Re Surface Pro X, powered by Microsoft SQ1 chip: “This product has 3x more performance per watt than the Surface Pro 6,” Panay says. Shots fired: Surface Pro 6 uses Intel Core processor. https://www.cnet.com/...
@stshank Stephen Shankland on x
The Surface Pro X uses Microsoft's new SQ1-branded Arm chip. It's based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon but adds graphics Microsoft helped design and an AI engine, too. https://www.cnet.com/... #MicrosoftEvent
@patrickmoorhead Patrick Moorhead on x
New @surface Pro 7: @rmseiler provides updates to Intel 10th Gen Core “Ice Lake”, USBC, Studio Mics. Showing some new & cool pen tricks for editing, commenting and reviewing. Even in Excel. Thinking first line workers. Also showing new Your Phone call integration #MicrosoftEvent …
@markhachman Mark Hachman on x
Voice to text captured by new studio mics in the new Surface devices. Your Phone app, too. (Mics often pick up my typing sounds. Hope they fix that ) Your Phone app apparently finally getting phone integration. Excel allows pen editing? Nice. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/w97oJ…
@davegershgorn Dave Gershgorn on x
MSFT working with AMD to customize the CPU, maximize battery life and processing speeds
@mehedih_ Mehedi Hassan on x
Fast Charging is coming to the entire Surface 2019 line. 80% charge in under an hour. #MicrosoftEvent.
@markhachman Mark Hachman on x
Surface Laptop 3 15-inch. “You can't see a pixel on it,” Panos says. Working with AMD on AMD Ryzen Surface Edition. Co-engineered with AMD. Sounds like an SOC! Unique cores on the GPU. Fastest graphics of any laptop in class. All day battery, fast charging #MicrosoftEvent pic.twi…
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
SL3 all day battery life - now with Fast Charging - vis Surface Connect - 80 percent charge in an hour.
@benthompson Ben Thompson on x
What on earth is wrong with the perspective of the photo on the screen? https://twitter.com/...
@stshank Stephen Shankland on x
Panay on the Intel Ice Lake-powered Surface Laptop 3: “If you're using a MacBook Air right now, this product is 3 times more powerful.” #MicrosoftEvent https://twitter.com/...
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
SL3 15-inch is .5 pounds less heavy than MacBook Pro.
@bdsams Brad Sams on x
You can replace the SSD!
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
Touchpad is 20 percent larger on new Surface Laptop.
@samsheffer Sam Sheffer on x
thunderous applause for surface laptop 3 15-inch version now AMD Ryzen chip inside larger trackpad pic.twitter.com/iCWBlZIIin
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
The Surface Laptop 3's top keyboard case comes off for easy repairs. That's a giant eff you from Microsoft to Apple.
@mehedih_ Mehedi Hassan on x
Surface Laptop 3! - 15 inch and 13 inch - Metal or Alcantara - AMD Ryzen 7 + AMD Radeon graphics - Type-C - New Sandstone color https://www.thurrott.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@laurengoode Lauren Goode on x
This custom chip has a dedicated AI engine that will, among other things, simulate a steady eye gaze during video conference calls, even if you're looking away from the screen 😬
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
Watching the Surface Pro X drawing demo, I'm genuinely sad we never had a Bob Ross painting demo on stage using a tablet. That would have been EPIC.
@markhachman Mark Hachman on x
Surface Pro X: Panos is pitching the AI processor. Microsoft Teams demo, which realigns your gaze to meet other person's eyes. Chip doesn't touch the GPU to do this. #MicrosoftEvent
@themrmobile Michael Fisher on x
Now we're cooking. The Always Connected PC finally comes to Surface! Surface Pro X: 🗼Integrated 4G LTE 💽Microsoft SQ1 SoC ("co-engineered w/Qualcomm") 🧠First Windows PC w/ AI engine 📺13" screen w/ very thin bezels (267ppi) Pen (built into Type Cover) pic.twitter.com/Ip9M6IikBN
@markhachman Mark Hachman on x
Surface Pro X: when you pull the oen out from the holder, it launches the Whiteboard app. When you replace it, the pen recharges. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/AINAg26mpq
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
This is how they're going to get over Photoshop not working on ARM, apparently. By releasing a lesser app “optimized” for the platform.
@markhachman Mark Hachman on x
Surface Pro X: Pen has 4096 points of pressure. Demo of Adobe Creative Cloud for Surface Pro X by Scott Belsky of Adobe. Belsky: worked with Microsoft to make ink and touch a natural part of Creative Cloud. Adobe Fresco repros feel of oil and watercolors. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twit…
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
Pro X runs “full power of Windows.” Just not Photoshop or other 64-bit apps.
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
SQ1 processor is 7 watts. GPU was redesigned with Qualcomm.
@mehedih_ Mehedi Hassan on x
Surface Pro X! - new 13-inch, edge-to-edge design - only 5.3mm thin, weighs 774 grams - over 2 teraflops of graphics performance - Instant On - new Slim Pen, rechargeable - new Pro X Signature keyboard - removable hard drive - 13 hours of battery life https://www.thurrott.com/...…
@laurengoode Lauren Goode on x
The Surface Pro X appears to be Microsoft's answer to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Super thin, minimal bezels, LTE connectivity, and a custom chipset called the Microsoft “SQ1” (Surface Qualcomm 1).

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