Microsoft Surface Pro up for pre-orders in Singapore

July 21st, 2017 | by Alfred Siew

The basic unit for the Surface Pro seems affordable but add-ons like the keyboard cover, stylus and mouse can bump up the cost. PHOTO: Handout

The latest version of the Microsoft Surface Pro is open for pre-orders in Singapore today, with the tablet-cum-laptop shipping to customers here on August 15.

Unveiled in May, the new model comes with subtle design updates such as rounded edges and cameras built to fade into the bezel.

Perhaps more importantly, the latest Surface Pro sports Intel’s current seventh generation Core processors that are expected to provide more performance.

There are five models for Singapore. A Core m3 and two Core i5 versions will go without a fan, providing silent operation. Two models featuring the higher-end, hotter-running Core i7 processor will still need a fan to keep out the heat.

The new Surface Pro sports the latest Intel Coer processors. PHOTO: Handout

Despite being 8.5mm thin and starting at 767 grams, the new Surface Pro promises up to 13.5 hours of battery life. We’d have to test that out when we get our hands on a unit, of course.

As before, the prices for the basic unit are attractive. The Core m3 unit with a 128GB solid state drive (SSD) and 4GB RAM goes for S$1,188.

Of course, you have to add a cover and keyboard to be able to type on it properly. That will set you back at least S$199 for the Surface Pro Type Cover. A stylus cost another S$249 so the price can bump up a little.

The best middle-of-the-road all-rounder might be the Core i5 version with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which should let you easily handle the usual day-to-day tasks, including photo editing and e-mails. This costs S$1,788, before the add-ons.

And if you’ve got some money to spare, there’s a fully-loaded model as well with a Core i7, a 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. It goes for $3,188.