The Microsoft Surface Pro is a tablet-style laptop almost always used with an optional keyboard cover.
Surface Pro versions 8 and above
With the optional Surface Slim Pen 2, the Surface Pro 8 and above can serve well for note taking. And if needed can work somewhat as a drawing tablet. Though I do not recommend purchasing one for use as a drawing tablet.
Surface Pro versions 7 and below
Compared to versions 8 and above, the pen experience is worse. Again it can serve OK for notetaking but not for drawing.
The device uses an ARM processor. More here:
2025/0528
The device uses an ARM processor. More here:
2024/09/22
2024/06/28
- 2024/06/26
Product page:
Product page:
2019/10/28
2019/10/30
artists hands on first look 2019/10/02
NOTE: I do NOT recommend the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 for use as a drawing tablet.
2019/02/13
2018/10/17
2018/10/18
2018/10/16
If you are looking for running Windows desktop apps on a standalone tablet for notetaking rather than art, then the Surface Pro 8 (and above) is a good choice when combined with Surface Pro Signature Keyboard and Slim Pen 2.
Release date: 2021/09/22
Processor: 3 options
Intel Core i7-1185G7
Size: 13"
Native resolution: 2880 x 1920
Pixel density: 267 ppi
Aspect ratio: 3:2
The tablet does NOT come with a pen.
You have to buy that separately
Surface Slim Pen 2 -
Context: Surface Pro 7 ands below do not have good pens for drawing. They exhibit too much line wobble.
If you use the Surface Slim Pen 2 with the Surface Pro 8, the drawing experience has definitely improved. The wobble is much less, but still present.
Overall it is OK, but not in the same league as an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab S series device.
While I think one could create art with this device, I think it is better suited for note taking, marking up documents, whiteboarding etc.
80% of the time it is quiet and ony slightly warm.
The remaining 20% of the time the fans are running aggressively and it can get quite warm.
2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports
I connect it the Microsoft Surface Dock 2 for power and network connectivity.
I use two Thunderbolt 3 cables from the Surface Pro 8 to connect two 4K 60Hz displays (one of those will be the a 4K pen display)
The Surface Pro can be used for drawing with its own pen. However I don't like drawing with the Surface pen. Instead, I prefer to use attached drawing tablets.
Since about June of 2024, I've been using it with the CalDigit TS4 dock since that dock provides more ports than the Surface Dock.
Including the built in laptop display, I've only every been able to use 3 displays connected to the Surface Pro 8. Even if I connect 4 (using a dock) only a maximum of 3 displays will be used by the Surface Pro 8.
Because the Surface Pro uses its own pen technology (N-TRIG) and its own pen (Surface Slim Pen 1) some people ask if there is any problem when using a traditional drawing tablet with the Surface Pro.
My experience is that The Surface Pro has worked seamlessly with drawing tablets once you install the tablet driver. The fact that the surface pro has its own pen features does not interfere with the drawing tablet. Nor does the drawing tablet interfere with the Surface pen.
I've used every brand of tablet successfully: Huion, XP-Pen, Xencelabs, etc.
I have extensively used these drawing tablets with my Surface Pro 8:
Wacom Cintiq 24 (2025)
Wacom Intuos Pro (PTH-860)
Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 (DTH-271)
Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 (DTH-167)
Intel Core i5-1135G7
Intel Core i3-1115G4
Memory: available with:
8GB
16GB
32GB
Storage: available with
512GB
1TB
I don't normally recommend the Surface Pro 7 because it's drawing experience is not great. For some people it might work well enough though.
For example, it might serve well enough as a general laptop with occasional pen use, for note taking, marking up documents, whiteboarding. But for creative tasks it's not what I would recommend.
The pen experience with Surface Pro 7 is not great. The it can exhibit some noticable diagonal wobble. It experience got a lot better with the Surface Pro 8 with the newer Surface Slim Pen 2 (but is still not as good as a normal drawing tablet).
The SP7 might be enough for your needs if it has enough RAM and storage and it MIGHT work well enough for creative tasks like drawing.
If you are interested in an SP7 try to use one for a little bit before you purchase.