Microsoft is claiming this “pro” tablet running on Qualcomm’s ARM-based processor should be three times as powerful as the Surface Pro 6 and get about 13 hours of battery life on a single charge. The new processor has a dedicated AI engine that will, among other things, simulate a steady eye gaze during video conferences, even if you're looking away from your screen. The tablet's front-facing "studio" mics are also said to be improved from other Surface tablets.The Pro X also supports a newly redesigned Surface Pen, one that feels less like a pen and more like a soft, flat-sided artist’s pencil. The Pen rests and charges in a tray on the detachable Typecover keyboard. And the Pro X supports LTE broadband, so it's an always-connected computer.
Until we have the chance to use it, it’s hard to say exactly how well Windows 10 will run on this new device. But Panos Panay, the company’s chief product officer, said in an interview with WIRED that he believes Microsoft has learned a lot from its Surface RT experience. Back in 2012, the company was aiming to offer a diversity in silicon types but didn’t seem to understand that just running on a mobile architecture wasn’t enough. The software experience matters a great deal too.
