Every year, Digital Trends editors hand pick the most exciting products we’ve had the privilege of handling this year. Make sure to check out award winners in categories from cars to outdoors, plus the overall best product of 2017! Read on for the computing products that floored us this year.
Winner
Microsoft Surface Pro
When Microsoft introduced the original Surface in 2012, it founded a new class of device, one that was equally usable as both a PC and a tablet. The first model didn’t deliver on that promise. Neither did the, second, third, or even fourth. Each iteration came closer — but it’s the new Surface Pro that finally fulfills it.
There are many reasons why the Surface Pro is superior to its predecessors, but portability tops the list. Past 2-in-1 devices, including Microsoft’s competitors, have compromised significantly on battery life. Not the Surface Pro. It lasted over 10 hours in our video loop test, and over five hours in our most demanding battery run-down. These figures easily defeat most alternatives, and they’re long enough to make the new Surface Pro an all-day companion.
Yet that gain wasn’t made at the expense of performance, or function. In fact, the Surface Pro’s fastest configuration actually smokes many other laptops, and the latest iteration on the Surface keyboard is the best yet.
The Surface Pro fulfills the 2-in-1’s promise and easily outpaces its competition.
Windows 10 deserves credit, too. Improvements in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update expanded support for the Surface Pen while also improving reliability. It’s now possible to use the Pen with numerous built-in apps and expect a responsive, reliable experience. Tablet use is not just possible. It’s enjoyable.
Price remains our only complaint. The Surface Pro isn’t affordable, and it doesn’t come with the Surface Pen or a keyboard. Add those and you’ll pay at least $1,050 for an entry-level model with just 4GB of RAM. Still, we think it’s worth digging into your wallet. The Surface Pro fulfills the 2-in-1’s promise and easily outpaces its competition.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro review
See itRunners up
The Matebook X isn’t a 2-in-1. It doesn’t have a pen. It doesn’t fold or detach or spin. It’s a thin, light, small laptop, much like Apple’s MacBook. Except it’s faster than the MacBook, has a better keyboard than the MacBook, and sells for several hundred less than the MacBook.
Huawei’s laptop doesn’t start a trend. That’s OK. It rightly wears its simplicity as a badge of honor. It’s strange, really – one of the best classic laptops you can buy in 2017 comes from a company known mostly for smartphones.
Read our full Huawei Matebook X review
Monitors have improved in leaps over the last few years. 4K, ultrawide, HDR, and more can now be had on the best screens. Yet Samsung’s CF791 pushes the envelope even in this rapidly evolving field, combining Quantum Dot technology with an ultrawide panel to achieve spectacular results.
The CF791 dominated all of our tests, from contrast ratio to color gamut, besting competitors with ease. And while its $750 retail price may seem high, it actually undercuts competitors, which can exceed $1,000. If you’re looking for a top-tier monitor right now, stop right here. Samsung’s CF791 is for you.
Read our full Samsung CF791 review