Skip to main content

Microsoft’s Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet available February 9 in the US and Canada

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet. 

During our three months with Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet, we’ve waited patiently for news of the Pro version’s release. Today, Microsoft announced the Surface Pro tablet will be available on February 9 – a couple of weeks later than previous rumors indicated. Unfortunately, everyone living outside of the U.S. and Canada will have to wait even longer to get their hands on these laptop-tablet hybrids running the full version of Windows 8 Pro. 

Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft Surface, made the announcement today in a post on the official Microsoft blog. The Surface Pro tablet will be available in two configurations: one with a storage capacity of 64GB for $899, and another with 128GB for $999. Those prices don’t include the Touch Cover keyboard, an optional accessory that comes with a bonus stylus, which you can get for an extra $120. You can also choose to pony up a bit more cash for a limited edition $130 Touch Cover keyboard with laser-etched designs in red, magenta, and cyan. As Surface Pro works more like a traditional laptop than the Surface RT does, Microsoft also made a Surface Edition of the Wedge Touch Mouse specifically to match the Surface tablet.

Aside from the Surface Pro announcement, Panay also revealed that the Surface RT will be available in 13 additional markets in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of countries to 21. These additional markets are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Finally, if you find the the Surface Pro’s pricing a bit too much, you can buy a 64GB Surface RT tablet without the Touch Cover keyboard for $599 starting February 9, as long as you’re in one of the countries where the RT tablets are currently available. The new markets will follow in the weeks after that. 

Since the Surface Pro tablets run the full version of Windows 8 Pro, they can play any app, even those made for Windows 7. The Surface RT tablets, on the other hand, can only access apps downloaded from the Windows Store. The two tablets have a number of differences, including screen resolution, processors, and battery life. If you’re not sure whether the Surface Pro is worth the premium, check out our comparison piece between the Surface Pro and the Surface RT

Editors' Recommendations

Mariella Moon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mariella loves working on both helpful and awe-inspiring science and technology stories. When she's not at her desk writing…
Best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals: From $450
Microsoft Surface Go 3 sitting on table.

While there's no shortage of laptop deals in the market right now, students and professionals who want touchscreen functionality should check out the available Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals. Microsoft's lineup of mobile devices has steadily increased in popularity because of their versatility and performance, so there's always high demand for discounts. If you want to take advantage of any of the offers that we've gathered here, you should do so quickly as the bargains may end sooner than you expect.
Microsoft Surface Go 3 -- $450, was $550

Functioning as a 2-in-1 laptop that can switch between tablet mode and laptop mode, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 won't have trouble dealing with basic tasks as it's equipped with the Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor and 8GB of RAM. The 10.5-inch touchscreen with 1920 x 1080 resolution is bright and colorful, and its 128GB SSD is more than enough for your documents. The Microsoft Surface Go 3 ships with Windows 11 Home in Mode, so you can start using it as soon as you unbox it. The device also promises up to 11 hours of battery life before requiring a recharge.

Read more
How to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11
Windows 11 updates are moving to once a year.

While many people love porting their Microsoft account to their new Windows 11 PC, just as many hate the experience. One of the nicest things about having a new computer is how little tabs it has over you, and letting Microsoft in from the beginning — especially in a way that feels required — is a bit letdown for privacy-minded people.

To make matters worse, getting rid of your account feels tricky. It not only feels like it, Microsoft is your direct antagonist in getting the privacy you want. Luckily, you can make a local account that is disconnected from the rest of your life to gain back the personal feel of your computer. Here's how:
Removing a Microsoft account from Windows 11

Read more
Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 prices slashed at Best Buy
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 15 front angled view showing display and keyboard deck.

For those who are looking for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals for the latest models of these Microsoft devices, Best Buy has them for you. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is down to $900, following a $100 discount on its original price of $1,000, while the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is also available at $900, for savings of $200 on its sticker price of $1,100. Rumors continue to swirl on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 and Microsoft Surface Pro 10 as they were unexpectedly absent at the 2023 Surface event, so the Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9 will remain as the go-to devices in these lines for now.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 -- $900, was $1,000

If you want to buy a Windows 11-powered machine from laptop deals, it would make sense to go with the brand behind the operating system. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 Evo processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM, which are more than enough for the usual tasks that you carry out for work or school, and it features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen with 2256 x 1504 resolution that strikes a nice balance between productivity and portability. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 will have ample space for your files with its 256GB SSD, and its battery can run for up to 18 hours on a single charge so you can keep using it while you're on the go.

Read more