Microsoft 8U3-00001 2025, Light Gray, Platinum
Designed specifically for classroom deployment, this stylus comes in a bulk pack of 20 pens with a durable, student-friendly build. The light gray and platinum finish offers a consistent, standardized tool for digital inking across multiple devices. It is best for schools and educational institutions needing a cost-effective, uniform stylus solution for large groups of students.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
This is a 20-pack of Microsoft Classroom Pen 2 styluses, not a tablet. It's a practical bulk buy for schools using Surface devices. Prices swing wildly from USD 101 to USD 494, so shop around before committing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Bulk pack of 20 keeps a classroom stocked 77th
- Tether slot helps kids not lose them
- Clip attaches to Surface Type Covers
- Works with Surface Go and Surface Pro
Cons
- No pressure sensitivity mentioned
- No tilt support or advanced features
- Light gray color shows dirt fast
- Not a tablet despite the category listing
The proof
Performance
There's no CPU, GPU, RAM, or storage here because it's a stylus, not a computer. The percentile rankings reflect that mismatch. Feature score sits at 41st percentile, which is about average for a basic classroom pen. Connectivity lands at 9th percentile, one of the worst we've seen, but that's because a pen doesn't have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The battery score is also low because there's no battery. None of these numbers tell you anything useful about how the pen actually writes.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
| Stylus Model | Microsoft Classroom Pen 2 |
vs Competition
Stacked against actual tablets like the Apple iPad Air 5th Generation, Xiaomi Pad 7, Lenovo Idea Tab Plus, Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, or Vekfulpc T60 Pro, this thing doesn't compete at all. It's not in the same product category. The comparison section is basically a formality here. If you need a tablet, any of those competitors will serve you better. If you need pens for Surface devices in a school, this pack is your option.
| Spec | Microsoft 8U3-00001 | Apple iPad Pro M5 | Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro 62751 | BESTTAB T60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | - | Apple M5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ | 3000 MHz | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
| RAM (GB) | - | 12 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Storage (GB) | - | 512 | 256 | 512 | 512 | 256 |
| Screen | - | 11" 2752x2064 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 11" 2560x1600 | 11.2" 3200x2136 | 12" |
| OS | - | iPadOS | Android 14 | Android 16 | Android 14 | Android 16 |
| Stylus | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Cellular | false | true | false | false | false | true |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 31 | - | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Screen | Battery | Feature | Storage | Connectivity | Social Proof | Affordability | Water Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 8U3-00001 | 34.7 | 33.1 | 31 | 30.2 | 32.2 | 42.7 | 30.2 | 9 | 24.2 | 76.6 | 46.7 |
| Apple iPad Pro M5 Compare | 99.4 | 98.3 | 83.8 | 99.8 | 95.2 | 97 | 92.9 | 98 | 99.3 | 8.5 | 46.7 |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US Compare | 81 | 79.3 | 92.6 | 97.1 | 88.8 | 97 | 83.5 | 92.7 | 90.2 | 21.5 | 46.7 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Compare | 82 | 80.2 | 80.9 | 93.4 | 84 | 99.4 | 89.4 | 63 | 93.1 | 13.8 | 97.5 |
| Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro 62751 Compare | 83.7 | 82.2 | 80.9 | 98.5 | 85.3 | 65.9 | 89.4 | 77.4 | 93.1 | 15.6 | 46.7 |
| BESTTAB T60 Compare | 82.4 | 80.6 | 80.9 | 42.7 | 86.9 | 88.9 | 74.7 | 58.7 | 58.1 | 39.5 | 46.7 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the place. US listings range from USD 101 to USD 494 for the same 20-pack. That's a USD 393 spread, which is wild. The CAD listing at 865 is a different market so we won't compare it directly. If you're buying in the US, shop around. The lower end of that range is reasonable for 20 classroom pens. The high end is someone hoping you won't check prices.
Read more
Overview
The Microsoft Classroom Pen 2 is not a tablet. It's a 20-pack of styluses for classrooms, and our database is treating it like a tablet because of how it's categorized. That explains the weird scores across the board. As a pen, it's fine. As a tablet, it's a disaster.
You get 20 light gray pens with a tether slot and a clip for Surface Type Covers. They're built for Surface Go and Surface Pro devices. If you're outfitting a classroom, this is a practical bulk buy. If you're shopping for an actual tablet, keep scrolling.
Common Questions
Q: Will these pens work with any Surface device?
They're optimized for Surface Go and Surface Pro, so those are your safest bets. Other Surface models may work but aren't the intended target.
Q: How do I keep students from losing these pens?
Each pen has a built-in slot for a tether and a clip that attaches to Surface Type Covers. That's the main anti-loss feature, and it's a smart one for classroom use.
Q: Is this a good choice for digital art?
Not really. There's no mention of pressure sensitivity or tilt support in the specs. This is a basic classroom stylus, not a drawing tool.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you're a digital artist looking for a serious drawing stylus. No pressure sensitivity or tilt support means it won't keep up with your workflow. Also skip it if you don't own Surface devices, since it's optimized specifically for Surface Go and Surface Pro. And if you're shopping for a tablet, this is not that.
Verdict
Buy this if you run a classroom full of Surface Go or Surface Pro devices and need a bulk supply of basic styluses. The tether slot and clip are genuinely useful for keeping track of pens in a school setting. Don't buy this expecting a premium drawing experience. It's a utility pen, not an art tool.
Usage Scores
- Overall25.3
- Reading30.8
- Student40.1
- Business17.2
- Art Design27.3
- Productivity19.8
- Entertainment23
