Surface Pro 9 Review

[@GrantSR]

The Surface Pro 9 has Thunderbolt 4. You can buy an external GPU and plug it into That port and render on that external GPU.

[@eddielopez2373]

May as well just buy the laptop studio 2 at that point. You’ll spend less money and better a GPU, x2 Ram, and won’t have to buy a keyboard

[@alexanderzhulin3528]

@@eddielopez2373 external GPU will be much faster than 4060 in SLS2. Almost double the speed depending on the GPU.

[@istvan.design]

@@alexanderzhulin3528 RTX 4060 is exactly the same on desktop as on laptop, you would have to go higher and then Thunderbolt 4 becomes an issue.

[@rolins3279]

I think the Surface Pros are actually a showcase for Microsoft to show other manufacturers how a Windows 2 in 1 should be, but since then none have really gotten the message. And I think that's what prevents this format from being what it should really be, since developers have no real interest in it because of the lack of serious manufacturers in the segment.

[@AlBergstein]

Sort of agree. But Dell has just delivered a similar device that some video critics here on KZbin claim is a superior version of this. I don't really know what you mean when you say, "what the should really be". It's a full fledged Windows OS machine with tablet capabilities. Not much more IMHO. But that's a huge improvemment. What would I ask for from MSFT? Icon resizing automatically when in tablet mode. The icons are just too small. Should expand automatically to 150% or something similar on tablet mode expansion But of course ought to be a user defined setting.

[@Michael-ur5qb]

Agreed. And tbh if none of their vendors are going to make use of their product ideas Microsoft should really just move forward and stop worrying about stepping on their toes by limiting their specs and performance on their products particularly products like the Studio. Microsoft could be doing a lot more to compete with Apple but they’re too busy leaving space for Dell or HP to attempt to do it.

[@Michael-ur5qb]

@@AlBergstein I think they’re referring more to form factor and the fact other manufacturers haven’t been able to make anything similarly good. The Dell is flat out not as good from a form stand point. The lack of kickstand is a deal breaker for many and the materials are quite a bit heavier.

[@XavierChailly]

@@AlBergstein Yes and there was on by Lenovo in 2021 I think. With a keyboard which worked even if it's not attached.

[@Rey-Rey2077]

bro have you seen the Rog Flow from Asus??? It stores in a 3050 in the same tablet design lol

[@rowaystarco]

It's really easy to swap storage yourself on the new Pro. So you can just buy a bigger drive if needed later on. Thats a big advantage over iPad/Mac.

[@andyH_England]

MS states that you have to swap the storage via an affiliated MS store. I assume that if you don’t and that something goes wrong, then the warranty will be void. It is not meant for upgrading, it is for IT departments to remove the SSD at end of life for data protection Laws. I would not recommend this to upgrade yourself especially as they are the small drives which can be hard to find, and not many good ones to choose from. I just have 256GB and use external storage and the cloud.

[@rowaystarco]

​@@andyH_England Nah, extremely unlikely that warranty can be void because of a drive replacement. At least with EU consumer guarantee laws, you are protected. Microsoft have made replacing the drive so easy that there's a cover behind the kickstand. You only need a sim removal tool/paperclip to open the slot and one simple screw to replace it. But yes, if you buy an explosive drive, you'll of course void warranty. but I haven't heard of that before.. The biggest issue as you say is the access to 2230 drives. They are more available in the US, and the fact that Steam deck also uses them now, might make it easier to get replacements.

[@rowaystarco]

@@andyH_England Never mind the sim tool, now you just push on the slot and it opens. Extremely easy.

[@AlBergstein]

@@andyH_England Ridiculous. The SSD drive easily comes out. What is needed at the MS Store is the transfer of the OS to the new drive. There are videos on KZbin to teach almost anyone how to do it. The drive manufacturers sell the transfer kit as well. It's just not that big a deal. My iPad is not able to do this at all. I would have to sell it and buy a new machine. How 'green' is that? zero.

[@rowaystarco]

@@AlBergstein Yeah, the "hardest" part is to make a backup of firmware/system on a drive, but it's not a problem if you watch a youtube tutorial.

[@GrantSR]

AutoHotKey can send keypresses. You can also compile a macro to an .EXE file. Then, you could set that (should be an eraser) button to launch that compiled AutoHotKey script. Voila pushing the button on the end of the stylus sends a keystroke. You can even include a whole sequence of keystrokes. And even have it do different things depending on which program is running. So, all you would need is to compile three separate Auto hotkey scripts, one for each program you can set that button to, and then you have a set of three macros that you can send to any of your active programs. Of course, you would have to edit and recompile the script every time you thought of a new thing you wanted it to do in a different program. But, hey, at least it would work. And auto hotkey is insanely robust and popular.

[@toxiccan175]

Thanks for sharing this information, Grant! AHK is a must-have program for anybody looking for extra customization or functionality.

[@PretendGoose]

True, but you don't need to use three different scripts. You can have just one and have it behave differently depending on what program is active by using the #IfWinActive command. If you're lucky, the pen driver may open .ahk files without needing to compile.

[@delasantos]

Auto Hot Key is so amazing

[@tyrannicpuppy]

I originally bought the Pro 4 way back when with a replacement plan cover that I have since used twice now to get the Pro 6 and just today for the Pro 9. It's been a good lineup. Very useable when away from home from typing, browsing, reading (my main use for it these days if I'm honest. Love that kickstand as a hand hold when reading in portrait mode). But I really have still yet to use it for the purpose for which I originally convinced myself to get that Pro 4, drawing. Had a pen the whole time, just never got around to learning how to do it. Maybe this time I will, but it's certainly a good bit of kit with more than just your basic laptop uses, and the full Windows experience make it far more powerful (IMO) than your typical tablet. Still a bit pricy, but I certainly ain't complaining when I have basically bought it once years ago and just upgrade it every few years when the battery life goes to crap and get the new current model for just the cost of the replacement cover.

[@tyrannicpuppy]

@y Thing called Product Care. You pay a little extra when you buy the goods and it covers reasonable wear and tear. Which on something like a Surface with a non-removable battery, means battery life. So I bought the SP4 with the PC cover, then when it's battery life was crap, made a claim, got a SP6 (paid the difference to go to a better specced model) and the PC on the SP6, and just last month I did it again on the SP6 and now have an SP9. And I've only had to rebuy the cover on the new device each time. SP9 comes with two years manufacturer's warranty, plus three with the PC so I'm good for five years. PC will replace the goods once during the coverage period up to the cost of the original. So 'Free' upgrades, in a manner of speaking.

[@masuttta]

I find th SP9 much more appealing than an ipad because now we can desktop class apps while also keep the drawing part.

[@josher14]

Hey brad! I'm the surface pro gaming guy and i'm here to say the pro 8 and pro 9 are very capable at gaming at 900p which is just fine for most every title..plus you can use an egpu (i've got a razer core x with gtx 1080) I've got lots of videos to prove it too.. if anyone has any questions for gaming let me know..

[@agreedboarart3188]

Core i5 or i7? Not sure if it makes any difference since they both use Iris Xe integrated but still figured I'd ask.

[@josher14]

@@agreedboarart3188 tested pro 9 i5 8gb first and just got pro 9 i7 16gb and will be comparing.. i've got plenty of pro 8 i5 and i7 tests as well with playlists

[@connormccloy9399]

I myself used an EGPU with a razor blade stealth a few years ago. In my opinion, if you have the money for that kind of setup, then you should just build a dedicated gaming PC. EGPUs are not worth the headache in my opinion.

[@josher14]

@@connormccloy9399 I've got a dedicated gaming pc but it's fun to have the option for mobile as well

[@andyH_England]

It can game for casual users but def not if you have any respect for a decent gaming experience unless you cloud game, but then most laptops can do that.

[@Aremisalive]

Still rocking my surface pro 5. I absolutely love it and the surface pen 2. My only complaint is Krita is starting to run slow when I have large drawings and a few different apps open.

[@breeze9248]

what about a storage ? How much is ok for ph and clip studio plus some artist stuff?

[@Aremisalive]

@@breeze9248 That really depends on what you're doing exactly. Mine only has 256gb of storage, but that's plenty for me. I use it almost exclusively for drawing as well has a regular laptop for meetings. If I were to try animations I'd imagine I would have to start storing stuff on my NAS.

[@philddlesticks]

the new surface pros work with eGPU (external GPU or breakout box) so it could do very well for rendering when you have an external GPU

[@TheJklay]

Love your reviews, come a long way since that first surface pro 3 one

[@MarcCardwell]

I got one for free at Adobe Max.

[@agusugian]

5:35 so just buying the surface and the pen won't work?? I really want to buy surface pro but that is a bad news

[@AlBergstein]

True. YOu have to buy the keyboard with the pen to make the pen recharge. A minor but annoying flaw. However, the keyboard holder for the pen is far superior to Apple's dangling pen.

[@agusugian]

@@AlBergstein I already have travel keyboard and I'm not thinking to replace it. Will it work with another pen?

[@TabletPro]

@@agusugian yeah, they have good ones made by renaisser, the R530 is my personal favorite

[@Failurez_FR]

I just bought a regular Microsoft pen and it works really well and my biggest gripe is that it takes quadruple a batteries

[@deathspawn54]

Ijust got a pro 9 for my birthday for photo editing and I'm loving it

[@GrantSR]

So... Um..... Do you not use layers when you draw? I couldn't help but notice that, when you drew the "hand flames," you had to erase the overlap by hand.

[@SemenLobanov]

I see many artists do this, it reminds me of drawing on a canvas in real life. That's just their preference, and drawing this way allows doing things which sometimes are not possible due to program limitations. One of the examples could be not being able to use the "Liquid transformation" tool in older versions of Clip Studio Paint. It also allows to simulate real color mixing with brushes. I personally don't draw on one layer. I draw in a cartoon and cel-shading style, and, for example, using multiple vector layers allows me to manipulate with line art more effectively like erasing them until they intersect with each other.

[@asdjesdsd]

i have a surface book 2 and a surface pro 5, looking to upgrade it to the 9, the only reason i use the book as my main is the gpu. but surface pro is maximum portability, light weight, cool factor, its so comfortable and feels much sturdier.

[@pinoyastronaut]

I’ve used my Wacom Cintiq 16 and connected to my surface pro 6 to get a better pen experience 😅. Always enjoyed your reviews every week!

[@ItsDaniDee]

Hi, from an artist (amateur) to a pro artist, I usually draw on my Wacom which I usually have to connect to my laptop. It's very inconvenient to take with me on the go so I was thinking in investing in a tablet for drawing on the go. Now, I'm very used to the way Wacom works and I'm also using Clip Studio Paint for drawing. Can you tell me, from your point of view, how good is the Surface Pro or Surface Studio (idk which one is better) for drawing compared to Wacom. Is it easy to use the pen for shading and colouring and is the pen movement very accurate to that of a pencil on paper? I'm just curious if I should invest in something big like this when I'm so used in the Wacom way. For me it's just pen movement that's very important so it flows nicely like pencil on a paper because that's how I draw digitally as well. I was just wondering if I'd get a good deal with this laptop so I can finally have an easier way to draw and can take it with me wherever I go.

[@adventurousash]

I'm finally at a point where I want a separate PC and laptop (not a super-powered laptop that's doing double time to be a PC). So I think this just might be the perfect solution for the laptop side of things.

[@davidvierabarreras]

I want a tablet for drawing... I'm a newbiee on the digital drawing tabs... Please, help me SAMSUNG S8+ or SURFACE 9 ??? can I use another pen with surface?

[@jpgmx84]

That’s more a monster than a robot, but it works :). I’ve been tempted to buy one, but never bit the bullet. That might change now, though. It’s probably powerful enough now for mid-intensive tasks on the go + improved pen.

[@Metarig]

it would be awesome to see a device with a gpu and a pen it makes sense the CGI artists need something like that and a drawing display doesn't add any weight or crazy cost to a gaming laptop.

[@omirlee3908]

ASUS flow z13

[@JohnSmith-gb8hd]

eGPU.

[@Metarig]

@@JohnSmith-gb8hd it is not mobile you need cable and it's big so what's the point it's like we are carrying a pc

[@dalejail]

is it possible you can also review te xps tablet, and asus z13?

[@thespookymulder28]

From your experience does it require a film to protect the screen? I saw that the films seem to worsen the quality of the lines and I was wondering if they were necessary on the surface pro. thank you very much and congratulations for your videos!

[@Gamedrawer14567]

Is it possible to animate with this tablet

[@dumbcat]

here is a video topic: using a tablet or display to Edit your physical drawings, instead of using a tablet or display to Create your art. i want to draw designs for my own merch but have been struggling with jumping from pencil and paper to digital. i have the digital hardware and software and i've learned how to use them... but i simply Don't use them. why? because i am so used to drawing small on a 9x11 piece of paper with pencil or pen. that is my comfort zone. when i try to create from scratch in digital i struggle. i'm just not comfortable doing that. i don't like the weight or shape of the stylus. i don't like the feel of the screen, etc, etc. but what i've found, is that i can scan my physical drawings into my computer, and then i seem okay with digitally cleaning them up and tweaking them. i don't seem to have any problem doing those steps in digital. in fact, those steps are infinitely easier in digital. but creating from scratch in digital is not in my comfort zone yet. i wonder how many people are in the same boat as me

[@homidjohn]

I think it is safe to assume that the new *Surface Studio 2+* is disappointing in terms of palm rejection?

[@crashryanphoto]

ok .. dumb question .... how does the XP PEN 16tp 4K drawing experience compare to the Surface Pro 8/9? I'm still using a Surface Pro 4 and looking to upgrade to either a new Surface Pro or a new laptop with an XP PEN. I probably know the answer to this already, but trying to keep costs down.

[@davidmarshall2936]

Thanks for the review. What keyboard is it that you have attached to the Surface?

[@Starcheopteryx]

does anyone have this? I'm wondering about the drawing experience vs the samsung 360 book thing. Cause I'm really torn between the two

[@Starcheopteryx]

@BradColbow1OnNicegramm silence, spam bot.

[@patrick.771]

Is the Surface Pro 9 as good as a Android tablet when it comes to drawing? (I only need it for Lightroom)

[@maxkez83]

What app are you drawing on there please

[@tbray]

it's funny - i had heard that apple was working on haptic feedback for the next generation of apple pencil. Seems - like so many other companies - they've been beaten to the punch. Now i'm fascinated by the Surface Pro 9.

[@matthewslack9090]

What app is he using for this review? I noticed he’s tracing on what looks like a watermarked image. I’d love to try the app out he’s using

[@JohnSmith-gb8hd]

Adobe Fresco.

[@matthewslack9090]

@@JohnSmith-gb8hd thank you so much!

[@iuliuvlad563]

And remember guy do not put any glass shield on the screen cuz you will loose the touch sensivity by 30 to 35 % read all the reviews before to any invest on it... The mat finish laminate buble free you can get the filling paper and all the glaze from day light will be gone by that.

[@elizalkin]

Wasn't the prompt a robot not a monster?

[@jimroscovius]

You didn't say that you can upgrade the storage yourself.

[@TurbosStudio]

Don't know if you will see this, but I was curious what drawing app you are using?

[@JohnSmith-gb8hd]

It’s Adobe Fresco.

[@fictionhead39]

I feel like I may have missed this info in the video somewhere, but did the model in this review have an i5 or i7 processor? I'm guessing the i5? Great video btw, your description of how the stylus handles is really good info

[@trashpanda2073]

Surface pro and Ipad what should i buy for architect i need help for university

[@agreedboarart3188]

I'm trying to decide between a Pro 8 and a Laptop Studio. Laptop Studio is better for being an actual laptop, but it's WAY heavier since its tablet mode still has the keyboard (unlike it's superior predecessor, the Surface Book). It also has a GPU so better for gaming. Pro 8 is better as a drawing tablet, but sucks as a laptop and gaming will be significantly worse.

[@rowaystarco]

The Surface Book was cool in theory, but a lot of users struggled with the detach feature.

[@Invaderz14]

I ended up going with the laptop studio. The weight really doesn't bother me. Plus most of the time I use it on an adjustable laptop stand so I don't even notice it.

[@rowaystarco]

@@Invaderz14 I hope you are enjoying it. Seems like a nice device.

[@agreedboarart3188]

@@Invaderz14 Oh nice! Thanks for letting me know. I'll go with the Laptop Studio too then. :) What stand did you go with?

[@AlBergstein]

If you are really into gaming, I would also recommend the true laptop. But this will game. Just not to the level of better graphics card based laptops.

To me, it would be nice if I could click that top button and switch between eraser and pen or something like that, switching between two tools. Pencil & eraser, bucket & pen, etc.

[@mochikinzy4912]

What drawing app did u use?

[@JoaoRodca]

I got an SP8 with the pen 2, which is excellent! However, I put on a tempered glass protector... WAVES GALORE. It ruined the experience. Maybe a plastic, thing screen protector will not cause this? But for a device like this it really is a shame, as it's way more prone to scratches

[@mindwhacker]

I have used the SFP for many years and what ace it is the drawing surface with the pen just works! You dont need a screen protector unlike the iPads (which I also have afew units ) . I have not scratched up my SFP screen too.

[@JoaoRodca]

@@mindwhacker i actually have a SP3 that has been used and abused for yeeeears and it's screen is flawless, however, on the few days I used my SP8 without the screen protector, I managed to make a small dent (? Not sure the right word) on the screen. So I got a bit scared honestly

[@paraskhurmi347]

which app is this Plz Reply me Back

[@DreadgateTCG]

I just want a standalone device that can run Photoshop. I have a Galaxy S8 which I love, but I often find myself wanting to do things that I could easily do in PS but can't.

[@7error8lade]

Surface Laptop Studio vs Surface Pro 9, which will you pick?

[@ashimates]

I'm wondering this too!

[@rowaystarco]

Funnily enough, the newest Pro 9 has better CPU performance than the Laptop studio.

[@Invaderz14]

I personally got the laptop studio before the 9 came out. My mother got the pro 8 and I still prefer the laptop studio. Surprisingly Gaming capable and has turned into my all in one device really. Art, gaming, and install android apps on it. Really does it all for me. A bit heavier and less comfortable in tablet form compared to a pro but I don't mind it.

[@AlBergstein]

I bought the SP9 and also have a standard laptop. I also use an iPad for music since I'm a serious amateur musician. My take is that I much prefer the SP9 though the keyboard is not great for multi-hour sessions on the keyboard. If I'm writing a lot I'll switch to the laptop but could also add an external keyboard to the SP9 when needed. The SP9 is a great portrait view reader, for when I just want to read web pages, documents or books. Just used it on a long airplane flight and it worked great. I'm sort of done with traditional laptops that dont' support detachable keyboards or touchscreen. Love being able to take notes in OneNote during meetings with the pen. Having the pen right in the keyboard is brilliant and much more useful than the Apple dangling pen that always falls off.

[@bigalphanders]

I'd love to know the comparison between minisforum V3 and surface pro 10 thank you for the review!

[@3v1l73ddy]

Would you be able to do an artist comparison of the modern iPad pro and this surface pro 9? I don't know which to get and would love a demo and comparison of each from an artist's perspective. Thanks!

[@deano6231]

Is there any art apps or software that already comes with the surface pro ?

[@pac3956]

What tablet/iOS would you recommend overall for doing design work. I’m a artist and I’m moving into using technology to develop my designs for customers. So I don’t need a beginner recommendation but more pro but also below $2000. If you’re able to please reply and recommend me a few. Thank you so much.

[@lamtonny23]

Is the device good for moderate 3d modeling work ?

[@doaflamingo3713]

my sp8 right click on pen doesnt work ! any idea ??

[@gabrielfajardo4754]

Hi, could you make a video review of the new suite of affinity and see if it is worth to upgrade please

[@Nooptema]

Thunderbolt 4 is all I needed to hear

[@Snotnarok]

How I hate reviewers (not you Brad), so many people complained that the Surface series was too pricey and they should remove the pen from the box to help lower the price. Which was dumb because we all know that would just mean they remove the pen and charge for it like Apple has had since they launched the pencil. Now here we are with not only the pen being a separate purchase, it's also more than twice the price when I had a SP4 and saw replacements and now you have to pay for another means to charge it or you can't use it!? That's the most baffling and infuriating BS I've seen. My Samsung tablet has a spot you can stick the pen to via magnet to charge. Holy cow has the Surface line gotten way expensive. It's more worth it even as an artist to grab a Lenovo yoga with one of their pens since the KB is part of the deal and it's also a laptop that can become a tablet. Hell they have a 16in for $1,200 that I've seen on sale for $1,000 with more ram than the base model of the SP9. I sold off my SP for a Yoga 730 which is gettin' on in years but it's still handling CSP just fine.

[@SgtMajor82]

Which would be your choice please Brad? Samsung Galaxy 8 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD? Tab or Surface Pro 9 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD?

[@Frame206a]

hello can you make a review for the pentips for the apple pencil?

[@sunshinecommentswoop4902]

Surface pro 9 has better specs than the surface studio 2, the studio has only 4 cores even at its pricest version while the surface pro has the ( Intel Evo Platform Powered by 12th-generation Intel® Core™ i7-1255U Processor) which contains 10 cores so it should be suitable for 3d

[@asdjesdsd]

woah, i feel the surface studio is for a very niche market, u need to be fan and have a lot of money. a luxury that looks and feels really good

[@sunshinecommentswoop4902]

@@asdjesdsd exactly! It's insane but to each their own I guess lol

[@TabletPro]

​@@asdjesdsd The Laptop Studio is almost exactly the same price as the Pro 9 when you consider the stock keyboard and Slim Pen 2. Honestly the best machine I've ever owned. Better for 3D depends on the software. Zbrush, Pro 9, Blender Laptop Studio.

[@wilhelmpaulm]

As a surface pro 8 user, Don't get the type cover, just buy a generic cover + bt keyboard+ bt mouse + generic pen It's much more customizable, cheaper, and more ergonomic.

[@davidthielemans7205]

What drawing app you are using here pls? looks awesome

[@chlly]

That looks like Adobe Fresco.

[@jeane9873]

You sticking with what for this year?!

[@ufade2]

This or laptop studio? I'm so conflicted...

[@unggoyfarmer]

Was hoping you'd talk about the optical bonding they've been advertisting for this model, great video regardless though!

[@neele3117]

I just bought the tablet and found out, I can't install procreate (guess I did poor research 😅) what app is he using for windows? Is there a video on best procreate alternatives for windows? I saw one for Android... But are they the same? 😅

[@lonersalcove9965]

Does steadtler noris digital works on this device??

[@Stealthsilent1337]

My surfce pro 9 is slow on GPU's, the task manager says it's using 4% gpu, but the image is prohibitively laggy on google earth.

[@janush1292]

Hey, I really wanted to buy one, but my concern is can I run multiple applications and VMware (ubuntu) in this? Cuz I'm using hp pavilion with 8gb ram and 256 ssd, I couldn't run large data sets or 2 applications like postgres and vs code at same time. Any reviews or advices would be appreciated.

[@elsieillustrations5179]

Hey Brad, would this computer be good for animations, audio etc. Making animations. Do you know any good computers that are better for animation, instead of this one?

[@Gamedrawer14567]

Are you a digital artist or animator?

[@bovineox1111]

Is this base model, i5, 8GB? Seems so

[@lola-to9om]

but why would you recommend the Wacom or huion tablet in front of the surface they aren't in the same league, not even the iPad surface is full on pc which supports all the native windows apps the other tabs are in the same price range and the surface is offering more the only problem with the surface is the price they need to lower it then it would be really popular and sell more

[@briannhinton]

Still want to see an sq3 review from someone. Installing Affinity apps and looking at performance.

[@tinyjay77]

What program you drawing on?

[@josephlemons]

This drawing made me laugh thanks Brad 😂

[@davidosaje4100]

Can you use krita on the surface pro 9?

[@Pietje900]

I recently got the Surface Pro 8 now that the price dropped. I still think it's a lot of money but as an artist and designer I'm a big fan of the tablet formfactor. I assumed the tablet would come with the keyboard and stylus paying almost a thousand euros for it, since Microsoft isn't Apple and in all the photos it has the keyboard in it... Well, that's not the case ofcourse. The set costs another 280 euros. If you only wanna get the pen you need to buy the charger separately for a total of 160 euros... if you still wanna get the keyboard afterwards it will cost 180 euros separately... Anyways, was it worth well over a thousand euros? Well, I love the device, it's really great, but I definitely still overpayed for it considering I got the I5 version. The I7 was out of my budget for a device like this... The build quality feels nice, the alcantara on the keyboard and the haptics in the pen... but it all feels kinda unnecessary. I'd loved to see a more budget friendly version of the keyboard and pen set. Something without the unnecessary luxuries... with the haptics at first it felt like i was scratching the glass but knowing that's not the case it is nice I guess, just still very unnecessary. But if you have the money for it there really isn't much else to complain about. It's what you'd expect and there isn't really anything like it.

[@prajnarunchanda0123]

Please try out Asus vivobook oled slate 13

[@HeinleinShinobu]

Hi Brad, can you make a video for TCL nxtpaper 10s for drawing experience?

[@jwlandfair]

Oh dang, making the eraser button ctrlZ would be incredible. That would be a super good idea.

[@dalecipperley40]

Interesting review. I am glad you are honest about the quality of the line for the Slim Pen 2. Other reviewers are now glossing over that. In my opinion it comes down to the stylus tech and despite improvements in the Slim Pen 2 it still isn't as good as Wacom (Samsung SPen) and there are no 3rd party more ergonomic styluses like there are for the Wacom/SPen. Sure the haptics are interesting but I'd rather have a smoother line and a more ergonomic stylus. I can add the feel of paper tooth by applying a matte screen protector or changing a third party stylus nib (like on the SPen compatible Lamy ERM stylus). So if stylus tech is the main feature of concern then we are limited to Samsung, Acer and Wacom products that use EMR stylus tech with the Apple iPad Pencil tech a close but unergonomic second. After that the software choices dictate the computer choice due to hardware and OS. You want Procreate then you get an iPad. You want Clip Studio Paint and Blender and ZBrush then you get a Windows computer. Personally I think the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360 15" i7 16GB 2in1 laptop running Windows with a matte screen protector, a Lamy ERM stylus, and a copy of Tablet Pro virtual hotkey software is still the best bang for your buck if you want to draw/cartoon/paint in 2D (Clip Studio Paint) and build simple 3D models as perspective reference (Blender or ZBrush or 3dCoat) and is comparable in price to an iPad Pro 12.9" with Pencil 2 and type cover or a Surface 9 with Slim Pen 2 and type cover. The aspect ratio of the screen of the Samsung 360 is also conductive for screen edge Tablet Pro virtual hotkeys. Stylus buttons are ridiculously unergonomic compared to on screen virtual hotkeys. Admittedly the 360 lacks a separate GPU. I will have to take Blender into account when I buy my next portable rig and find a GPU solution. This likely means a Samsung Tab 8 Ultra Android tablet to use as a couch/coffeeshop sketchbook (Clip Studio Paint and Nomad Sculpt 3D) and a Windows gaming laptop for Blender and huge Clip Studio Paint files where I use the Tab 8 as a wired drawing monitor via 3rd party software. Just the shape of the Slim Pen 2 is enough for me to give the Surface 9 a hard pass.

[@trenton9]

I see you mentioned using the Tab S8 Ultra as a drawing display with a laptop. I use the Tab S8 Ultra as a PC connected pen display and I love it. For now, my search for a portable drawing unit has ended. I had been vying for a high-powered Windows laptop pen display for a long time. The best offerings with Wacom pen tech were up in the $4k range. The more affordable offerings were cursed with awful pen performance. Once I got a powerful desktop PC in place, I made a gamble - to buy the more affordable S8 Ultra as a mobile art tablet and use it at home as a PC pen display. This is the route that worked for me. The S8 Ultra is great by itself. And if I need Photoshop on the road, I already have a decent laptop. That laptop has awful pen performance, but I can bypass that using the S8 Ultra. And I basically have the Cintique experience I always wanted when I connect the Ultra to my desktop. The screen isn't the size of my torso, like with the large Cintiques, but I don't feel like I'm missing out with the Ultra's 14 inch screen. The drawing space is a real sweet spot between size and portability. Like you, I am very dissatisfied with Microsoft pen tech. I can't understand how Microsoft hasn't solved its jitter problem yet. Pen tech from other companies is pitiful too. My laptop supports the HP pen and the quality makes me want to sue HP for false advertising. I honestly don't see how these companies can get away with advertising the drawing features to professionals and not be taken to court. My journey for the perfect mobile art studio has reached a surprising conclusion, seeing as how dead-set I was on an all-in-one solution like the Mobilestudio Pro, or the Hp Zbook. The Samsung Galaxy Books grabbed my interest too, but they didn't come with my desired horsepower for a Windows PC. The S8 Ultra has bridged the gap for me.

[@dalecipperley40]

@@trenton9 Thank you very much for your reply. This validates my thoughts about my next portable drawing rig purchase. May I ask did you need to use any third party software beyond what Samsung provides on the Tab 8 Ultra to connect it via USBC to your desktop to use it as a drawing display?

[@trenton9]

@dalecipperley40 I use Superdisplay for my USB connection to my Windows 10 PC. The inbuilt second display feature of the S8 Ultra is decent but not that robust in its features as Superdisplay. But one word of caution: I heard of someone experiencing some bugs when using Superdisplay on Windows 11. They reported the S pen button not behaving correctly in certain apps. But I also hear feedback from others on Windows 11 who don't seem to have any issue. I have no issues on Windows 10.

[@helios3722]

Do you have all of them ? cuz i have them and legit Microsoft with the slim pen did a huge improvement. When you actually draw you will not notice many differences with the apple pencil in some software like clip studio you can also totally disable the cursor feel the same . It's also obvious that microsoft tried to compete with the Ipad as well . in my opinion Wacom is still the king of the digitizers. the best experience but second place i will put Apple pencil and slim pen in the same spot . You get also better palm rejection and the aptic motor / vibration is still a feature more also you have a erasor on the slim pen and 2 buttons that have much more functionalities This device is used by people that work on disney and other big companies .. they started to "replace" (they still have everything XD ) the ipad after the release of the Slim Pen 2 The samsung book 2 look nice but that pen seems uncomfortable to use and the overall performance are much lower . Even the monitor is not that great x.x. the Surface studio laptop is a much better option in my opinion .

[@dalecipperley40]

@@helios3722 I have used Wacom Companions, Wacom Mobile Studio Pros, iPad Pro 12.9" (2018) and Samsung Galaxy Book 360 i7 15" (v1 not v2). The SPen included with the 360 is usable but I purchased the compatible and much more ergonomic Lamy ERM stylus. As far as I am aware the Apple Pencil and the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 do not have more ergonomic 3rd party alternatives. There are Apple Pencil 3rd party alternatives but when I researched they did not support pressure sensitivity.

[@Robby.M]

But can it blender?

[@worldfamouseditor7878]

Please review XP PEN DECO 3 BLUETOOTH. And also compare it with XP PEN PRO BLUETOOTH

[@ZeroTorySeats]

If Apple opened up iPadOS to more apps I wouldn’t even be considering this. I want a tablet for art but don’t want to buy a separate laptop, which leaves me feeling conflicted.

[@HENGBUNG]

Brad please review the Surface Pro 11 OLED Snapdragon X Elite!!!! Pretty please!!!!

[@cuno8814]

Could you do a Asus slate 13 review?

[@bjmgraphics617]

RISC processors is the future as they can be condensed to include a video acceleration component. I think CISC based processors are archaic because of power needs and heat build ups as tons of instructions are crammed onto a wafer.

[@toxiccan175]

Just bought a Huion 16” 1080p drawing tablet for $300 including shipping and tax. Made more sense than getting a non-dedicated touch screen device without any of the extra refinements and features

[@mrwoodcat]

no headphone jack tho. I don't like sacrificing my type c port health for a headphone jack adapter that will always move.

[@AlBergstein]

Yes, that is a real disappointment but you can plug in via an adapter, like the iPad. It's not a deal breaker.

[@mrwoodcat]

@@AlBergstein yeah I been doing that too but like I said, it'll wear out the type C port and break it eventually bcs headphone cables are always moving. thats a deal breaker for me. usb C port just isn't that durable for that kind of usage..

[@liamcollinson5695]

I have wanted a Ryzen surface pro for ages but I guess it will probably never happen

[@lory2videos]

Can it run Photoshop?

[@agreedboarart3188]

It's Windows so yes

[@AniketSen-dn5ij]

Hi there BC, mad respect from India, here the i5 and the i7 models are separated by a whopping premium of $500, although I am not a very power hungry user, or a content creator, just a researcher....still when I do research, I can have in excess of 20 tabs open and a few excel, word and Pdfs open... I have an Xbox and hence gaming is not a need at all with this device....I still rock a MacBook Pro i5 8th Gen with Touch Bar, which seems to be failing on me anytime soon, it has gotten sluggish especially after the latest Ventura Update, I am done with Macs and I always wanted a surface for the longest time I remember.....although getting an M1 or an M2 makes a lot of sense, I am asking you honestly, If I were to switch to a Surface, would this be a good year to do so...? I am eyeing the i5 12th intel model with the keyboard and pen that costs roughly $1800....Please Advise!

[@harshbarj]

Sad to still see that pen wobble. I want to like the surface line, but when I can pay less for a Samsung device and get near perfect pen response that's what I'm going to do.

[@danielwilliams3161]

I just brought the Samsung galaxy tablet s8+

[@Kogami]

How's its compatibility with Paint Tool SAI?

[@TabletPro]

very good with SAI

[@Kogami]

@@TabletPro Thank you! Do you have any sort of demonstration to show that? It's okay if not! I'm just extremely interested in the Pro 9 because of its repairability and having portable SAI with it would be a dream come true!

[@kesobichashvili4192]

You didn't know you could turn the pen over and the back button works as an eraser did you? 🤣🤣

[@stevegroen8036]

Can you run both the PC desktop Adobe Illustrator and the iPad style AI on the Surface Pro 9?

[@maximme]

would a Screen Protector help with the roughen surface ? My pen would slip over the smooth surface...

[@sylvy16]

a paper like screen protector would help with that.

[@TheRealJmad]

Idk what to buy lol i like to game but i aslo want to start drawing comics again just for my own fun.. thinking about this idk

[@paulodekkers5075]

Is the Surface Pro 9 strong enough to drive a HUION 24 pro with display expand to (that delivers a 4k + resolution that should drive the graphics chip. Does that work smoothly / is it workable without glitches? )

[@orlfane1622]

So ipad pro is still better for drawing.

[@CptAloevera]

Never

[@orlfane1622]

@@CptAloevera Why?

[@robbye999]

Yes

[@IDrawToothpicks]

I personally love it because I work really well with it. I've tried to get into other art apps but I personally like the minimal feel of procreate. I don't feel overwhelmed. Others may not have that issue though. It works super smoothly never ever any issues. On my ipad 12.9 Even procreate works really well on my ipad mini 5 I've been trying to sell.

[@IDrawToothpicks]

I like procreate allot. I've become pro at using it in a way. I know I'm sure I could use other art apps like clip studio paint, adobe fresco, etc but it would take me alot longer to finish a piece. I'm still learning clip studio paint at the moment, but I love programs that only require me to buy it once. And I think on ipad I would have to pay monthly for clip studio. I only work portably and have tried many art applications in my life from krita to Photoshop to clip studio etc. So far I like csp and procreate and I only use programs I can download on a tablet

[@zerostreet]

Nice review and great illustration. I have a Surface Pro 7, I thought I read you Microsoft does not recommend charging it while in use?