Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2 (2020) Top Model Unveiled – To Sell Alongside SQ1 (2019) Version

Microsoft did a brief presentation of the new Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2 2-in-1 Windows tablet today, which will be sold alongside the SQ1 version from 2019, with the SQ moniker indicating the processor. Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2 (2020) is taking orders from today and will be released in the US on October 13th, with the price starting at $1499:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-pro-x

The Surface Pro X 2019 model with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM will continue to cost from $999 for the time being, though you can get it on sale for $899 from time to time. The new Surface Pro X 2020 model has an SQ2 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $1499, and costs $1799 with 512GB of storage.

The predecessor was launched in black, but Microsoft has added a silver Platinum colored alternative for the new model.

So the only changes to the Surface Pro X SQ2 are a new Qualcomm-Microsoft SQ2 ARM processor with Adreno 690 GPU, a new color option, and four color options for the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard for the Slim Pen with wireless charging.

Microsoft knows that there’s no point in upgrading this tablet any further right now until the app compatibility for Windows on ARM computers has been improved upon. This should improve over the next year starting with the x86 emulation rollout in November, but until then, most people will stick to Windows tablets that doesn’t need app emulation.

So for the 2020-2021 model year, we are dealing with the same 13-inch tablet with a PixelSense Display featuring a resolution of 2880 x 1920 and 3:2 screen ratio., shipping with Windows 10 Home on ARM.

The performance change with the new SQ2 processor needs to be put through the hoops first, though possible benchmarks before the unveiling demonstrated no huge power increase, only some new feature support.

Surface Pro X SQ2 hasn’t even been upgraded to Wi-Fi 6. So the rest of the specs are the same as before, with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, built-in 4G LTE, sensors like A-GPS, GLONASS, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and ambient light sensor, and ports such as 2x USB C ports, and a Surface Connect port.

It also retains a 15 hour battery life, a 5MP front and 10MP rear camera, 2W stereo speakers, and dual far-field studio mics.

It’s still light for a 13-inch tablet, at 774 grams, and thin at 7.3mm. The optional Slim Pen can charge wirelessly from the compartment in the keyboard, and at least the Surface Pro X keyboards now come in both poppy red, ice blue, and platinum, in addition to the black keyboard option from before.

The Surface Pro X SQ2 will be launched in additional markets two weeks after the US launch.

Surface Pro X SQ2
Surface Pro X SQ2

– Tom Bowen