Microsoft Surface Pro 8 13" 2021, Core i5-1135G7, 8GB, 256GB, Platinum

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a Windows 11 2-in-1 tablet with a stunning 120Hz display and excellent build quality. Performance from the Core i5 and 8GB RAM is fine for everyday tasks but struggles under heavy load. At USD 400 to USD 700, it's a good value if you need Windows in a tablet, especially at the lower end of that range.

The Core i5-1135G7 in here is a 4-core chip that lands in the 36th percentile for CPUs in our database. That's not great, but it's also not surprising for a thin tablet. In practice, it handles single-threaded tasks well, so launching apps and browsing feels snappy. The 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM sits at the 67th percentile, which is solid for a tablet but tight for a Windows laptop. Open 20 Chrome tabs plus Slack plus Spotify and you'll feel it start to swap.

The 13-inch PixelSense Flow display is the star here. At 2880x1920 with a 120Hz refresh rate, it ranks in the 90th percentile for screens. Text is crisp, colors are accurate, and scrolling feels buttery. The GPU is the weak link at the 37th percentile, so don't expect much beyond casual games and video playback. Storage comes in at the 84th percentile, which is fine for a 256GB SSD, though you'll want cloud storage or an external drive if you keep a lot of media local.

Against the Apple iPad Pro M5, the Surface Pro 8 loses on raw speed and app polish. The M5 chip absolutely demolishes the i5-1135G7 in benchmarks, and iPadOS is smoother for tablet-first tasks. But the Surface fights back with full Windows 11, which means real file management, desktop browsers, and legacy apps. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is a closer competitor on price and includes the S Pen in the box, which Microsoft doesn't do. Samsung's AMOLED screen also beats the Surface's LCD on contrast and black levels.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is another interesting alternative, often cheaper and with a bigger battery. But Lenovo's software experience is messier, and the Surface's kickstand design is simply better for lap use. The Xiaomi Pad and VekfulPC T60 Pro are budget options that can't match the Surface's build quality or display, though they cost significantly less. If you want a premium Windows tablet without paying new Surface prices, the Pro 8 still makes sense. If you just want a tablet for media and browsing, the iPad or Galaxy Tab are better picks.

At USD 400 to USD 700 depending on the listing, the Surface Pro 8 is a much better deal than it was at its original price. The lower end of that range makes it a compelling budget 2-in-1, especially if you find one with the keyboard included. But once you creep toward USD 700, you're getting close to newer hardware territory. The iPad Pro M5 and Galaxy Tab S11 both outclass it on raw performance, though neither runs full Windows. If you need Windows specifically, this is one of the cheaper ways to get a premium tablet experience with desktop apps. Just budget for the keyboard, because without it you're buying half a laptop.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 sits in that weird middle ground between tablet and laptop, and honestly, it's still one of the better attempts at pulling that off. You're looking at a 13-inch Windows 11 machine with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It's not new hardware anymore, but the design holds up and the 120Hz display is a genuine treat. Prices bounce around between USD 400 and USD 700 depending on where you look, which makes it a much more interesting buy than it was at launch.

People searching for a 2-in-1 that can handle real desktop apps will find a lot to like here. The kickstand is still the best in the business, and the Surface Slim Pen 2 support means artists and note-takers get a proper stylus experience. But the base model's 8GB of RAM is a real constraint in 2025, and the Intel Iris Xe graphics won't impress anyone trying to game.

If you're asking whether the Surface Pro 8 is good for everyday productivity, the answer is mostly yes. Web browsing, Office work, streaming, and light photo editing all feel fine. Just don't expect it to replace a proper laptop for heavy multitasking or creative workloads.

Skip the Surface Pro 8 if you're a creative professional who needs serious GPU power for video editing or 3D work, the integrated graphics won't cut it. Gamers should also look elsewhere, as should anyone who regularly runs memory-hungry apps like virtual machines or large spreadsheets. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Pro M5 is a better tablet experience. And if you don't need Windows at all, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 gives you a better screen and included stylus for similar money.

Should you buy the Surface Pro 8 in 2025? If you find it at the USD 400 end of the price range and you need Windows in a tablet form factor, yes. It's a well-built machine with a fantastic screen and enough performance for everyday work. The kickstand and keyboard combo is still the best laptop-like tablet experience you can get outside of newer Surface models.

But if you're paying closer to USD 700, think twice. The 8GB RAM ceiling and aging CPU will frustrate you if you push the machine hard. And remember the keyboard and pen are separate purchases, which adds real cost. For students and office workers who live in browsers and Office apps, this is a solid buy. For creatives, gamers, or heavy multitaskers, look elsewhere.