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If you need something closer to a tablet experience, the Pro X is a beautiful option, but it lacks the broad functionality of the usual Windows laptop. The Pro X's components need less physical space and cooling leeway to operate, allowing the thin design. The Pro X is an ARM-based device while the Pro 7 uses an Intel chip, and the latter is a more fully featured, traditional Windows PC. Of course, it's not a matter of simply applying that design to the Surface Pro 7, or Microsoft would have done so. If you're looking for a less expensive 2-in-1 to use when working in what passes for mobile fashion these days, shuttling from room to room instead of airport to airport, the Pro 7 is the go-to in its category for a reason.
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(A model with updated components, the Surface Pro 7+, is also now available more about that in a bit.) The physical design is showing its age somewhat-we anticipate a new-look version next time around-but it still has strong tablet chops. But the Surface Pro design is still our favorite among pure detachables.
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A handful of competitors have come for the crown (full support for its Surface stablemate, the Surface Pro X, never quite materialized), and bending, non-detaching 2-in-1 convertible laptops are worthy alternatives. Almost a year and a half later, here in 2021, it remains the alpha dog among 2-in-1 detachables. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (starts at $749 $1,358.99 as tested) did not reinvent its Windows-tablet predecessors when it launched in 2019, but instead iterated on a time-tested design by delivering better performance and adding a USB Type-C port.
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