Microsoft Surface Pro 13" 8 Graphite 2021

The Surface Pro 8's 120Hz display is a knockout, ranking in the 91st percentile, and the Thunderbolt 4 ports are best-in-class. But the Core i5 CPU is a bottleneck, landing in the bottom half of our database at the 37th percentile. Grab it for the screen and Windows flexibility if you find a cheap refurb, but skip it for heavy lifting.

Let's be real about the Core i5-1135G7. It's a capable 4-core chip for everyday tasks, but it's not going to set any speed records. In our database, it lands in the 37th percentile for CPU power, which means it's outpaced by the majority of modern tablets and laptops. You can comfortably run Office apps, stream video, and juggle a dozen browser tabs, but don't expect to edit 4K video or compile large code projects without some serious patience. The integrated Iris Xe graphics are even more of a weak spot, sitting in the 38th percentile. Light photo editing is fine, but gaming is basically limited to cloud streaming or very old titles at low settings.

The 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM is about average for this class, but it's the bare minimum we'd recommend for Windows 11. You'll feel the pinch if you're a habitual tab hoarder or like to keep Slack, Spotify, and a few Office docs open at once. The 128GB SSD is also middle-of-the-road, and after Windows 11 takes its share, you're left with precious little room for apps and files. The real performance star here is the screen. That 120Hz panel makes every animation and pen stroke feel instant, which masks some of the underlying hardware limitations in day-to-day feel.

Stacked against the Apple iPad Air M3, the Surface Pro 8 wins on screen refresh rate and connectivity, but gets absolutely demolished on raw CPU and GPU power. Apple's M3 chip is in a different league, making the iPad a far better choice for creative work. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a closer fight, with Samsung often including the S Pen in the box, which gives it a value edge. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is another strong competitor that typically offers more RAM and storage for the same price. Where the Surface Pro 8 carves its niche is Windows 11. If you need full desktop apps like proper Photoshop or Visual Studio, none of those Android or iPadOS tablets can compete, even if their benchmark scores are higher. You're trading raw performance for OS flexibility.

Value here is a moving target because you're looking at a refurbished model. The price spread is massive, from $220 to $1100 across different vendors. At the low end, if you can snag one closer to $220, it's a steal for that screen and build quality alone. At the high end near $1100, you're getting into dangerous territory where a new iPad Air M3 or a more powerful laptop makes a lot more sense. Amazon currently has the best-looking deal for a renewed unit. Just remember the hidden cost: the Surface Slim Pen 2 and Signature Keyboard are practically mandatory to get the full experience, and they'll set you back another $200+ if they aren't included.

The Surface Pro 8's screen is a genuine standout, landing in the 91st percentile for this category. That 13-inch PixelSense Flow display with a 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and inking feel incredibly smooth, and the 2880x1920 resolution is sharp enough that you won't see individual pixels. Connectivity is another high point, hitting the 94th percentile thanks to Thunderbolt 4 ports, which is a first for the Surface Pro line and a big deal for anyone who wants to dock to a proper desktop setup. But the core specs tell a different story. The 11th Gen Core i5 and 8GB of RAM sit in the bottom half of the pack, at the 37th and 68th percentiles respectively. This is a device that looks and feels premium, but its internals are decidedly mid-range by today's standards.

You're getting a beautifully built 891g tablet that doubles as a laptop with the keyboard, and the 4.5-star rating from 96 reviews shows people genuinely love using it. The 128GB SSD is tight, and you'll be leaning on cloud storage or an external drive sooner rather than later. It's a refurbished unit, which explains the wide $220 to $1100 price spread we're seeing across vendors. For reading, student work, and entertainment, it scores well, but business users should look elsewhere given that 57.4 score. This is a premium media and note-taking machine first, and a productivity workhorse a distant second.

Power users and anyone on a tight budget should steer clear. The CPU and GPU scores are in the bottom half of the pack, so video editors, 3D modelers, and programmers will find this machine frustratingly slow. The 57.4 business score reflects its limitations with demanding productivity suites. Also, if you're not willing to hunt for a good refurbished deal and pay extra for the keyboard and pen, the total cost quickly climbs into territory where a much faster laptop or an iPad Air M3 makes more sense.

The Surface Pro 8 is a tale of two devices. It has a top-tier screen and connectivity wrapped in a gorgeous, lightweight body that's a joy to use for reading, note-taking, and media consumption. But it's held back by a last-gen processor and a stingy 8GB of RAM that make it a poor fit for demanding work. If your workflow lives in a web browser and Microsoft Office, and you find a good refurbished deal under $500, it's a fantastic buy. If you need to push the machine harder, the middling CPU and GPU scores mean you should probably save up for something with more muscle.