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Design

All Surface products are designed up to chip level in Redmond, USA. The Surface design department works closely together with both the software department and market leaders in the field of chip production and assembly. The super-rigid bezel for this Surface Pro 7 is manufactured from a single piece of magnesium and its parts, as well as the recesses in the housing, are constructed with laser precision. You see and notice this when – for example – you look at the almost seamlessly integrated foot in the tablet and then effortlessly unfold it. Despite production and assembly taking place outside the US borders, the look and feel is, in a word, perfect.

  •     The Surface Pro
  • can be used in
  • different stances

Everywhere we find small, eye-catching and less eye-catching cleverness in the product design. In the back of the housing there are almost invisible recesses for heat dissipation. For example, the speakers are placed left and right behind the panel and only the ultra-narrow vertical recesses at the transition from the screen to the bezel reveal that small powerful speakers are located here. By the way, the sound quality of these Dolby Audio Premium certified loudspeakers is magnificent. On the top of the bezel, the power switch and a volume control are logically located in a plastic strip behind which the WiFi and Bluetooth antennas are placed.

  •     Magnetic power connector
  •     Power brick with USB charging port
  •     Power connection and MicroSD slot

The connector of the AC adapter is, as with the previous generations of laptops of ‘the competitor from Cupertino’, magnetic. Perfect. At the top left, Microsoft has placed a 3.5mm headphone jack for those who prefer a conventional headphone over a Bluetooth one. On the right, Microsoft has placed a USB type-A and type-C port (with charging function) for optimal compatibility. At the bottom, the bezel has a Surface Type Cover port, and we find another MicroSDXC card reader more or less hidden behind the ‘kickstand’.

  •     Power button and volume
  •     USB ports and power
  •     Kickstand and cooling

Ease of use

The optional keyboard, or Signature Type Cover (for both the Surface Pro 5, 6 and 7) works perfectly and we can’t help but praise the finish. The Signature Type Cover can be ergonomically raised at the back and, like the previous Surface Pro models, sticks magnetically to the tablet. Although the keyboard, in the highest position, springs along with the keystroke for a fraction of the time, the Surface Pro 7 works wonderfully relaxed with this optional extra. The quality of the keyboard mechanics is also of an excellent level. The travel is relatively spacious, and the keys have a clearly perceptible pressure point.

Surface Pro 7 with the Signature Type Cover

The keyboard also serves as a protective cover, is available in different colours and is covered with a soft alcantara-like layer. This layer feels great on the palms of the hand. The touchpad is spacious and nicely placed centrally. The operation is very precise, although by default the touchpad is a bit sensitive and ‘clickable’. The touchpad supports all possible touch, pinch, click and swipe actions. If desired, an optional Surface Arc Mouse and Surface Pen are available in matching colour schemes that allow even more accurate work, writing or sketching.

  • Optional keyboard and cover
  • Magnetic keyboard attachment
  • Quickly moving the cover: no problem

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