1<\/span> \/ 14<\/p>\n Surface Pro Copilot+ with Surface Flex Keyboard<\/p>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Recall is a clear example of Microsoft’s reach exceeding its grasp. It was meant to help you find anything you were doing on your computer through a natural conversation with the Copilot AI assistant. But to do so, Recall continuously takes screenshots of your system, which are then stored on your hard drive. It didn\u2019t take researchers long to find some obvious security gaps: it wasn\u2019t tough for other accounts to get to your Recall data, and it was also easy pickings for remote hackers. Microsoft responded to the criticism by saying it would make Recall an opt-in feature, making it only accessible with biometric Windows Hello authentication and encrypting your database by default.<\/p>\n The lesson for Microsoft (and every other AI-hungry company) is that you have to build trust, ideally by prioritizing privacy and security, before forcing overbearing AI features onto your customers. The backlash against Recall comes from the company being blissfully unaware of how little people trusted it.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve had many issues with the Surface lineup over the last few years, but the hardware has always been a step above typical PC laptops and tablets. That holds true for the new Surface Pro: It\u2019s surprisingly thin and light, measuring 9.3 millimeters thick and weighing 1.97 pounds. Its recycled aluminum case makes it feel like a truly premium device, and the Surface Pro remains one of the most unique-looking devices on the market. I noticed plenty of furtive glances and curious faces as I tested it out in public \u2014 people were clearly intrigued by the way it looked. (Or perhaps they were just surprised to see one for the first time.)<\/p>\n As much as I like the Surface aesthetic, though, it\u2019s hard to deny that Apple is bringing more significant stylistic breakthroughs with the iPad Pro. The new 13-inch model weighs just 1.28 pounds and is a mere 5.1mm thin \u2014 almost half as thick as the Surface Pro. From the start, Apple has had the advantage of designing the iPad Pro around efficient mobile chips, whereas the Surface Pro previously had to squeeze in laptop-grade Intel CPUs. Microsoft may be able to slim down the Surface Pro in the future, thanks to the advent of Qualcomm\u2019s new Snapdragon chips, but for now buyers will have to live with new chips in familiar cases.<\/p>\n And when I say familiar, I\u2019m mainly referring to the Surface Pro\u2019s built-in kickstand. It lets you prop up the tablet however you\u2019d like, from a laptop-like angle to a nearly easel-like position when it\u2019s completely opened. While it still gets the job done (and is something the iPad Pro and most other tablets don\u2019t have), it also limits how you can use the Surface Pro. While you could always use it on a table, I\u2019ve grown weary of balancing the metallic kickstand on my legs when working on the couch, hanging out in my backyard, or watching videos in bed.<\/p>\n Microsoft hasn\u2019t updated the Surface Pro\u2019s ports either: You\u2019ve still got the magnetic Surface Connector for power, as well as two USB-C USB 4 connections on the opposite side. Sure, that\u2019s more than you\u2019d get on an iPad Pro, but that device isn\u2019t being marketed as a full-fledged computer. There\u2019s also no wired headphone jack on the Surface Pro, either, even though its case clearly has room for one. I\u2019ve come to understand why some PC makers would rather have thin devices instead of a 3.5mm connection, but that reasoning doesn\u2019t apply at all in this case.<\/p>\n Under the hood, the Surface Pro comes equipped with either the 10-core Snapdragon X Plus chip or the 12-core Snapdragon X Elite. The base $1,000 model comes with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but you can upgrade that to a 1TB SSD and up to 32GB of RAM. Microsoft also made the Surface Pro\u2019s SSD easily accessible under the kickstand, so it\u2019s a cinch to upgrade storage on your own down the line. (I\u2019d still like to see an SD or microSD card slot, though.)<\/p>\n Since the Surface is just<\/em> a tablet, Microsoft doesn\u2019t offer any of its keyboards in the box. So if you\u2019re considering the Surface Pro, be sure to set aside at least $140 for the Pro Keyboard. If you\u2019re interested in the Surface Slim Pen ($130 on its own), you can also get it bundled with the Surface Pro keyboard for $280. The new Surface Flex keyboard \u2013 which can still work when it\u2019s detached from the tablet \u2013 is a whopping $350, or $450 together with the Slim Pen. That\u2019s a hard price to stomach, admittedly, but I\u2019ll explain later why the Flex may be worth it.<\/p>\n The PixelSense screens on all of Microsoft\u2019s Surface PCs have always impressed us \u2013 but in the end, they were just finely polished LCDs. The Surface Pro marks the first time Microsoft has offered OLED, which delivers better contrast, bolder colors and inky dark blacks. You\u2019ll have to pay at least $1,500 to get the OLED screen, but in my testing it\u2019s well worth the premium, since it makes everything on the Surface Pro look incredible.<\/p>\n The benefits of OLED were particularly noticeable when I watched The Acolyte<\/em>, a Star Wars show that features plenty of bright colors alongside dark backgrounds. I\u2019ll never stop being impressed by seeing truly pitch black scenes on OLED \u2013 on an LCD, they typically look more dark gray due to their backlights. The new display tech also impressed me while I was streaming Forza Horizon 5<\/em> or simply browsing websites, since it made text a bit easier to read and also made colors pop off the screen. The downside of living with OLED? It will quickly make every LCD in your life seem woefully outdated.<\/p>\nSurface Pro Copilot+<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s up with Recall?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Hardware: The Surface Pro is still impressive<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Keyboard sold separately, as usual<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Display: Finally, a glorious OLED<\/strong><\/h2>\n