This allows for constant connectivity whether or not you're within Wi-Fi range, though expect the battery to take a slight hit when using a data connection. Whether you're looking to access it for security or for an easy upgrade, it's a welcome addition to a laptop that has traditionally been difficult (read: impossible) to upgrade after purchase.įor anyone who is always on the move, the addition of a Snapdragon X20 LTE modem is no doubt exciting. Like the Surface Pro X, the Pro 7 Plus now has a small door on the back of its chassis for easy access to the solid-state drive (SSD). The Surface Pro 7 Plus received a giant firmware update with a focus on improving Intel Xe graphics performance, audio performance, Bluetooth stability, battery, and more. That number will differ, but it's still a large boost from the previous generation. Whereas Microsoft claims about 10.5 hours of life from the Pro 7 (realistically about 8 hours as tested in our Surface Pro 7 review), the Pro 7 Plus is pegged at about 15 hours for Wi-Fi models. On top of a nice performance bump, the efficiency of the newer CPUs should extend battery life. Up to 32GB of LPDDR4x is now configurable, up from 16GB in the Pro 7. Do note that the Core i3 models are still using Intel UHD graphics if you'd like the extra graphics performance, you'll have to stick with 11th Gen Core i5 or Core i7 models. Intel itself claims up to a 30% increase in processing power and an 80% increase in graphics power thanks to integrated Intel Iris Xe.

It seems Microsoft wanted to get the new Intel processors (CPU) into the Pro lineup, as well as add LTE for those who need it without going with a more in-depth redesign.Ĭompared to the Pro 7 with its 10th Gen Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 CPUs, the Pro 7 Plus with 11th Gen chips should be considerably faster.

Surface pro 7 plus i5