Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3" 7+ 2021, Core i5, 8GB, 128GB, Platinum

The Surface Pro 7+ has a beautiful 12.3-inch display and full Windows 11 in a slim 2-in-1 body. But battery life is weak, the GPU is underwhelming, and the refurb rating is just 3.6 stars. Worth considering only if you need Windows on a tablet and find it cheap.

The Core i5 here sits at the 35th percentile for CPUs in our database, which is about average for a tablet but nothing to write home about. The 8GB of RAM lands at the 66th percentile, so multitasking with a handful of browser tabs and Office apps should be okay. Storage is a 128GB SSD at the 65th percentile, which is solid but fills up fast if you're saving big files. The screen is the real standout at the 84th percentile, and the GPU is a weak spot at the 36th percentile, so don't expect much from games or heavy graphics work. Battery life is rough at the 29th percentile, so keep the charger nearby.

Against the Apple iPad Pro M5, the Surface Pro 7+ gets smoked on raw performance and battery life, but it fights back with full Windows 11 and a real file system. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ and Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro both offer better displays and longer battery for media consumption, though neither runs full desktop apps like this does. The Lenovo Idea Tab Plus is a budget alternative that might actually beat this on battery, while the UMIDIGI Active T1 is a rugged option that's not really in the same conversation. If you need Windows specifically, the Surface makes sense. If you just want a tablet for streaming and browsing, the iPad or Galaxy Tab are safer bets.

There's no price listed here, which makes value hard to judge. But as a refurbished unit with a 3.6-star rating and only 16 reviews, you're rolling the dice a bit. The Surface Pro 7+ is still a capable machine for light productivity and note-taking, but it's not a screaming deal unless the price is well below a new Surface Pro or a recent iPad. If you can find it cheap and don't need all-day battery, it might be worth a look.

The Surface Pro 7+ is a 2-in-1 that still knows how to make a case for itself. You get a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a 2736x1824 resolution and that signature 3:2 aspect ratio, which gives you 18% more vertical room than a typical laptop. It runs Windows 11, has USB-C and USB-A, and comes with a keyboard cover in this listing. The Core i5 and 8GB of RAM are fine for everyday work, but this is a refurbished unit with a 3.6-star rating from 16 reviews, so expectations should be set accordingly.

Skip this if you need all-day battery, since it ranks near the bottom for battery life among tablets. Also skip it if you do any gaming or video editing, because the GPU is a weak spot. And if you're not tied to Windows, an iPad or Galaxy Tab will likely serve you better for media and casual use.

Buy this if you need a portable Windows machine for light work, note-taking, or art, and you find it at a good refurb price. The screen is lovely and the keyboard cover makes it feel like a real laptop. But if you're after all-day battery, gaming, or heavy creative work, this isn't the one.