Surface Pro vs. Surface Book

Surface Pro vs. Surface Book: Specifications

Before we get into every pixel and every detail, let’s take a look at those all-important specs side by side to help you make your decision! Today we will compare the recently released Surface Pro 7 and Surface Book 3.

Features

Unlike other tablets on the market, Microsoft envisaged a different world when they created their Surface Book and Pros. The tablets transform into laptops; simply slot them into the keyboard and prop the stand for a different experience! It’s this flexibility that makes them fantastic choices for work; whether you are a furious typer or need the use of a touch screen, the Surface range has you covered!

There is a slight difference between our two tablets here; the Surface Pro 7 comes without the keyboard, you will need to purchase it separately. If you seek a tablet purely, it’s not so much of an issue, but for the full laptop-style package, hit up Book 3!

You might be wondering, what is different from the previous models? Well, not a great deal. Both Pro 7 and Book 3 look similar to their predecessors, with the addition of a USB-C port. You get a range of ports on both tablets allowing for a range of connectivity!

Both tablets feature biometric security through their IR cameras, with the same megapixels on both the front and rear-facing cameras. They also use Windows Hello and Windows 10 as their operating system; when it comes down to it, the choice is between a powerful laptop (Book 3) or a portable tablet (Pro 7).

Size

If it’s the choice of the size you want, then the Surface Book 3 takes the edge. You can choose from a 13.5 or larger 15-inch screen that will be fantastic for working on for extended times. However, the larger size is not the most portable, especially when considering you will have a keyboard in tow too.

Here, in the land of portability, the Pro 7 wins. The 12.3-inch screen is convenient for traveling with and is less bulky than the Book 3 with its added keyboard. It’s a lot lighter, too, weighing as little as 1.7lbs depending on the storage options; compare that to the Book 3 that ranges from 3.38lbs to 4.2lbs; your bag is sure to feel lighter with the Pro 7; in it!

Storage

Like the size, there’s a great deal of flexibility when choosing the storage capacity of your new tablet. The Surface Book 3 allows you to choose from 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and a huge 2TB of storage! The massive storage capacity is fantastic for those using the tablet for work or wanting to install large programs, but be mindful that the extra space pushes the cost up.

The Pro 7 starts with a smaller 128GB of storage but works up to offer 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. While there are fewer options, that is still a massive amount of storage for a portable tablet to offer! It’s plenty of space for saving work and installing programs.

Display

The screen and its display are a vital part of any tablet, and Microsoft does not let you down here! The Surface Book 3 comes with 3000×2000 and 3240×2160 resolution options depending on the size purchased, offering 267 and 260 pixels per inch, respectively. These are fantastic resolutions for gaming, photoshop, or streaming movies in outstanding quality!

The Pro 7 offers slightly less, with a resolution of 2736×1824, but matches the pixels with 267 per inch! While the resolution is somewhat lower, movies will still look clear, as will documents or any editing software. If you are using such software for work, it might be worth opting for Book 3 to access a higher resolution and crisp images.

Performance

What we all came here for, to find out how these bad boys perform! If power is the goal, then Book 3 wins the performance category! The size you opt for will determine the GPU that you can use.

The smaller 13.5-inch can not support the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (Max-Q) or Quadro RTX 3000 GPUs. If you plan to use the tablet for gaming or any photo and video editing software, the larger size and dedicated GPUs will allow you to work and play games with ease.

There is also an impressive battery life of up to 17.5hours, so you won’t need to worry about being caught short while you work! By comparison, the Pro 7 has a battery life of 10.5 hours, which is still impressive!

While the Surface Book 3 is powerful, the Pro 7is also packed with power! Both tablets feature an intel 10th generation processor, with a choice of the processor in question. In the Surface Pro 7, you can choose from an i3, i5, or i7 processor and between 4-16GB of LPDDR4x RAM.; the higher processor and RAM will offer fast speeds and the capability to run heavy-duty programs.

The Surface Book 3 has the choice between an i5 or i7 processor with RAM ranging from 8-32GB. The higher RAM and processors will deliver faster speeds than the Pro 7, but at the expense of less portability.

While the Surface Book 3 performs better, the RAM and processor options on the Pro 7 allow you to get pretty close without the added keyboard.

Price

For many of us, the cost can be the deciding factor. While both options are fantastic, the price divides them considerably. The Pro 7 is the cheapest option and is a reasonable price for a tablet of its storage and power. It’s worth remembering that you will need to purchase a keyboard separately, which will push the cost up.

The Surface Book 3 is a lot more expensive and increases in price if you opt for the larger screen, storage, and GPU. While the 3 is a fantastic option for work or power cravers, the cost can be off-putting, as it is priced more like a laptop than a tablet (because it is, really).

When deciding between the two, consider your budget and your intended use. If you want a tablet with a laptop-style performance and capacity, you will be looking at the higher end of the budget and Book 3.

Final verdict

And just like that, we have come to the end of today’s comparison. I know; we didn’t want it to end either! As you can see, both the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Book 3 would make fine choices to include in your lives. But which one has the edge? We will have to go with the Surface Book 3 if it’s power you crave.

The Pro 3’s dedicated GPU and DDR4 RAM mean it can run multiple programs with these, putting it as a favorite for those seeking gaming power! Sounds like the one for you? Slam it into your basket today!

But for those seeking portability above all else, Book 3 might not be the best option. Instead, the Surface Pro 7 will provide you with fantastic portability and versatile use! While there isn’t as much power, it’s still powerful enough for most users to complete their work, all while on the go! Does it sound like the Surface Pro 7 is for you? What are you waiting for? Grab it now!

When choosing which tablet is the one for you, remember to consider what you intend to use it for and your budget, letting these factors influence your decision. Whichever you opt for, you are sure to experience extraordinary power with these nifty devices!