Review on Microsoft Surface Pro 5 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) by Daniel Morris

First of all I have to say that I didn't buy my Surface Pro through Revain. However, Revain is the most popular place to read reviews before buying. So I am posting my review here in the hope that it will help others in their decision. First the obvious. The device looks and feels like a premium item. The ventilation slots on the upper edge are even less visible than on the previous model (Surface Pro 4). Although the edges are a bit more rounded in the new version, I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been pointed out. My Core i5 model is fanless so it is COMPLETELY silent. You will not hear any sound from this device. Definitely an improvement over the previous generation. I'm pleasantly surprised at how cool the device stays even after hours of continuous use. Definitely on par or even better than my iPad Slim. I bought mine on lunch break from work. I went back to the office, plugged it in and did the initial setup. The device was about 40% charged when I took it out of the box. I then charged it to 100% and measured the start and end times of each usage session. This allowed me to accurately measure actual battery life under normal use. I used it for a total of 5 sessions in the first 24 hours and got an actual usage time of 6 1/2 hours. During that time I read and replied to emails, downloaded and set up all Office 365 apps, played with Onenote, then sketched with a pen for about an hour, watched YouTube videos for a couple of hours, imported some spreadsheets into Excel and adapted, used the pen to solve many math problems, and used it to make several purchases from Revain. When the device was then shut down to about 3%, I charged it a second time. This time I turned off the keyboard backlight because I type blindly and rarely look at my keyboard, even in near total darkness. I then clicked on the battery icon and changed the device settings to "Recommended". To my surprise, the device reduced the screen brightness only slightly, but as a result, I worked about 8.5 hours on the second charge. I could even lower the settings to "Best Battery Life" and that would probably get it around 10 hours of use. I just prefer NOT to do this as my display is then too dark to have fun. The device retains its charge even when switched off and in a pocket for several hours a day. After the 3rd full charge I get a constant 6.5 to 8.5 hours, depending on which software I use. I suspect those manipulating large 3D creations in zbrush or modo will definitely see fewer hours of battery life than I did. The stand is a little less rigid than the Surface Pro 4, but I don't see any hesitation or reason to be unsure. The only reason I took 1 star in this review is that after a week of use I noticed a small dot (half the size of a water droplet) on the screen where I see a faint backlight on a completely black screen. Again, I can ONLY see this during the entire black loading screen or if I REALLY look for it when watching dark background movies while in a room with the lights off. I cannot see this spot under any other circumstances. It's so faint that I can't see it even when looking for it during normal use. I'm a tough choice and would probably consider changing my block if I noticed it on day one. But now that all my accounts are synced, I downloaded all my apps and installed all my personal files here. it's not worth the effort. So PLEASE test your screen as soon as you boot it up for the first time and you should be golden. At the end of the day, I have to say that I've been seriously considering getting a new iPad Pro instead for a few days. Surface Pro. If you are a digital artist who ONLY needs a portable digital sketchbook and you do NOT need a device for serious work. Then the iPad Pro is probably the best option for you. Simply because the iPad stylus has less initial force to activate the stylus. This makes the drawing process more natural. However, writing on each device is very similar. After days of comparisons, I had to upgrade to a Macbook Pro as an alternative as the iPad Pro just didn't fit my personal and professional needs. But then I realized that the new Macbooks don't have the outdated USB 3.0 ports, Micro SD card slot and only 2 USB Type-C ports. I want my device to be as portable as possible. Carrying around multiple adapter cables and adapters would really strain my already stuffed bag. Not to mention that I could only afford the 128GB model, which I know for sure isn't enough for my needs. The 256GB on my Surface Pro, combined with the ability to permanently plug in a 128GB SD card for extra storage, was too good to pass up. Then I realized that if I opted for a Macbook Pro, I would lose the touchscreen and digital pen capabilities. Additionally, software compatibility issues between MAC OS and some of the tutorials I used meant I still had to install Windows on my Macbook Pro partition. Then I would have to start messing with itunes for my video and audio files. No, just no. Too much negativity crept in, to the point where I felt the Surface Pro was really made specifically for people like me. In my case, I wanted a portable device that I could use for more than just entertainment. But I could use that to take notes and draw graphs and pictures during lectures; Use at work meetings as a digital whiteboard by connecting a projector; Solve problems in mathematics/physics without waste; for managing CAD or Photoshop images on the go; Create and publish PDF files or documents in other formats related to work/study while being able to tag, highlight and easily share them; Use for coding/programming; and as an added bonus, it can be used as a fun machine for watching movies and drawing/painting on the go. In short, if you want an ultraportable device optimized for content creation, get the Surface Pro. If you're looking for a portable device that's optimized for content consumption, get the iPad Pro. I had multiple phones, laptops, gaming consoles, and portable gaming devices. , both work and gaming computers, etc. I am so pleased with this device that for the first time I felt the need to write a review about an electronic device. Good luck with your search.