The Verge’s Dieter Bohn has described the device as a “heartbreaker”, noting that while it’s a fantastic Office 365 device, it’s sluggish in apps like Photoshop and the app compatibility for ARM isn’t yet there. “It’s a computer built for a world that doesn’t exist — and I don’t know if I can add ‘yet’ to the end of that sentence,” he notes. Similar sentiments are echoed by Engadget’s Cherlynn Low, who praised the design but said its limited app compatibility made it “difficult to recommend”. She also noted instances where her PC would simply freeze-up, blue-screen, or fail to load webpages.
In terms of battery life, reviewers say the Pro X lasts around 6 hours of everyday usage. Considering the power-efficient ARM chip, many expected better, with offerings from other manufacturers promising more. As a result, the Surface Pro X feels like a hard sell at its $1,138 starting price, but that could change. As more developers optimize their apps for ARM, performance and compatibility should improve. Unfortunately, though the 2-in-1 has launched, numerous Reddit users report that they’re yet to receive their pre-order. Their shipment has been set to pending at the last minute, while one user says his local store said you can’t purchase the device until Friday without a pre-order. It’s looking like a slightly rocky launch for the Surface Pro X, then, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have a place in Microsoft’s line-up. This is a device that has constant LTE connectivity, a thin and light design, and performance good enough for everyday office tasks. For a highly mobile worker, this could be a premium alternative to current offerings.
