Key Points
- Our choice for the best overall alternative to a Surface Pro is the HP Spectre X360.
- The best alternatives to a Surface Pro offer outstanding performance, powerful components, and unique designs to suit different situations. With the best alternatives to a Surface Pro, you’ll be able to work on every day and demanding tasks without worrying about performance.
- When picking the best alternative to a Surface Pro, consider the following aspects, such as performance, features, price, and portability.
The Microsoft Surface Pro series is one of the best detachable laptops/tablets in the market due to its very powerful processor, full-featured operating system, and fantastic performance. There’s a caveat, however. They can be expensive, and therefore, affordable quality alternatives are highly sought after. Plus, you can always find other options that perform almost or similar functions because more brands constantly manufacture devices with unique features to gain an edge in this competitive industry. However, with so many 2-in-1 touchscreen/tablet-style laptop options, choosing the right one for you can be confusing. Here are some exciting alternatives to a Surface Pro within and outside the Windows universe.
Just take a look at our roundup of the best alternatives to a Surface Pro:
- Best Overall: HP Spectre X360
- Best Ultrabook: Acer Spin 3
- Best Budget: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8
- Best Build and Design: Dell XPS 13
- Best Performance: Apple iPad Pro
- Best Workstation: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
#1 Best Overall: HP Spectre X360
- 13.5-inch touchscreen high-definition display
- Intel i7-1195G7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- HP Quad Speakers, HP Audio Boost
- Multiple ports (display, charging, audio)
- Win 11 Pro comes pre-installed
- Perfect for work, school, entertainment
The HP Spectre X360 tops our list as the best overall alternative to a Surface Pro. If you are looking for a convertible 2-in-1 laptop with an outstanding balance of versatility, power, and design, you should consider this laptop. This HP laptop boasts unique features such as a great display, sleek and modern design, a powerful Intel Core™ i7-11390H processor, and an 83 Wh battery that promises up to 17 hours of usage on a single charge to hold its own against the Surface Pro lineup.
The HP Spectre X360 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops out there, and its convertible form allows you to use it as a tablet or laptop. This is an excellent device for handling business requirements, schoolwork, and media viewing, all in one device. Its powerful processor enables the Spectre to handle intensive tasks such as multitasking without slowing down along with the help of the 16GB RAM and 512 GB storage that is expandable using a MicroSD card.
Like all other HP Spectre laptops, this particular model supports the rechargeable tilt pen that is ideal for drawing, note-taking, and designing. Additionally, with a 16-inch display, you will have an immersive experience watching your favorite movies and playing games. The laptop is a tad pricey, but it is definitely worth the money and can perform well compared to the Surface Pro lineup. If you are not a huge fan of the Surface laptops, the HP Spectre X360 is a great place to start.
HP Spectre Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The laptop has thin bezels and a sleek design that makes it portable | It is not as lightweight as a Surface Pro |
| It is versatile and can be used as a laptop and as a tablet | The laptop has a below-average webcam |
| The HP Spectre X360 supports a stylus | It is a tad expensive (retails at $1269) and isn’t a good option for people looking for a budget-friendly laptop |
| It has long battery life that can take you through 17 hours without needing a charger | The stylus is not as functional and precise as the Surface pen |
| This laptop has powerful performance and can handle several demanding tasks, such as video editing |
Check out the HP Spectre X360 on Amazon.
Best Ultrabook: Acer Spin 3
- Screen: 14 inches, 1920*1080 pixel resolution
- Storage: 512GB SSD, RAM 16GB LPDDR4X
- Includes a stylus
- 2-in-1 laptop and tablet mode available
The Acer Spin 3 is the best ultrabook in the best alternatives to a Surface Pro category. Consider this if you are looking for an all-rounded, versatile ultrabook that almost equals a Surface Pro.This laptop has impressive performance and a powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U processor that can easily handle demanding tasks. These features are backed by an excellent design, a responsive touch screen, an amazing audio experience, and an impressive display for its price tag.
For about $940, the Acer Spin 3 has excellent battery stamina that guarantees up to 12 hours of battery life, meaning you will not need to charge it regularly. Additionally, it has a rechargeable stylus for easier and more accurate drawing and note-taking. The Acer Spin 3 also has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage for you to store all your files and data. Compared to a Surface Pro, the Acer Spin 3 offers similar features at an affordable price, along with some extra features. For instance, the Spin 3 has a MicroSD card reader, fingerprint reader, and more USB-C ports. However, it does not have the premium look of a Surface Pro, but it still feels and looks good.
Acer Spin 3 Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| It has more USB-C ports (two) compared to the Surface Pro | The display is dim and uneven |
| It also has a responsive touchscreen | It weighs 3.20 pounds and is heavier than the Surface Pro |
| The laptop has a decent battery life that can run for about 12 hours | It does not come with a detachable keyboard |
| It is competitively priced in its segment, retailing at $940 | |
| Acer Spin 3 has a great build that makes it durable |
Check out the Acer Spin 3 on Amazon.
Best Budget: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8
- Includes Samsung's DeX feature for a desktop-like experience
- S Pen included
- Screen: 11-inch, type: LCD
- 4K camera
The SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8 is our pick for the best budget alternative to a Surface Pro. Similarly, if you fancy an Android experience more than the Windows one in the Surface Pro tablet, this tablet is a splendid choice. It runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.1, upgradeable to Android 13, offering users several setting options such as an extra brightness toggle, smart calendar, and redesigned palette picker, to mention a few.
Retailing at about $630, It is not only affordable compared to other products in its category, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 also comes with an S Pen, an elegant display, and decent battery life that can take you through over 12 hours, making it ideal for entertainment and work. All these are backed up by its 2-in-1 nature that makes the tablet compatible with a book cover keyboard that you can purchase separately for a traditional laptop experience.
The tablet’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, enabling it to perform smoothly and handle games without hiccups. Moreover, you can connect a wireless controller to the S8 Tab for a great gaming experience.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8 Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| This tablet has over 12 hours of battery life | The Android OS can be less suited for productivity tasks |
| It also has an included S Pen that is ideal for artists and architects | You’ll find the performance to be inferior to Surface Pro |
| It is budget-friendly as it retails for about $619 | |
| This tablet has a powerful processor that can handle tasks such as video editing | |
| Its design is premium and sleek |
Check out the SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8 on Amazon.
Best Build and Design: Dell XPS 13
- Screen: 13.4 inches, resolution: 1920*1200 pixels
- Storage: 512GB SSD, RAM: 16GB
- Features Intel's 12th generation Core i7 CPU
- Touchscreen
The Dell XPS 13 has the best build and design among the best alternatives to a Surface Pro today. It has a compact and small design yet is packed with powerful features. The XPS’s durability is unquestionable since it’s built using aluminum and glass. Thus, making it an ideally thin, lightweight laptop that is easy to carry around. Additionally, this material doesn’t pick up fingerprints.
Regarding specifications, Dell packed the laptop with Intel’s Core i7 12th Gen i7-1260P Dodeca-core (12 Core). They paired the processor with 16GB and 512GB RAM and storage, respectively, making it a powerful device for handling most everyday tasks. Since no one likes carrying their charger, the XPS 13’s 55Wh battery has fantastic stamina that can take you through over 7 hours of web browsing. It only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, but comes with a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter separately.
Dell XPS 13 Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The Dell XPS 13 Plus Light has a compact build | While decent, its battery could be better |
| The laptop has thin bezels that give it a premium look | Only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports |
| It is very portable, thanks to its design and build | |
| It has great performance |
Check out the Dell XPS 13 on Amazon.
Best Performance: Apple iPad Pro
- Screen: 11 inches
- Features Apple's FaceID
- Compatible with Apple's Magic keyboard and Pencil (sold seperately
- Apple's M2 CPU chip inside
The Apple iPad Pro offers unparalleled performance, unique features, and specifications that make it stand out as the best performance alternative to a Surface Pro. The Apple iPad Pro has existed since before the Surface Pro lineup, and the brand has continuously been manufacturing successive models with improvements. Consider the iPad Pro if you fancy the Apple ecosystem and enjoy the seamless connection with other Apple devices such as iPhones and MacBooks.
The hallmark of this device is its outstanding performance thanks to the M2 processor, paired with a graphics card with excellent capabilities, making the iPad Pro ideal for professional tasks such as architecture and graphic design. The proprietary operating system gives it a slight edge over a Surface Pro that relies on an OS meant for laptops. Apple further pairs this with an 11 inches liquid retina XDR display that provides incredible color contrasts and a dual camera at the back that captures quality pictures. With the iPad Pro, you also don’t have to worry about the battery life as it provides up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching videos. While it supports both styluses and detachable keyboards, for the iPad Pro, you’ll have to purchase them separately.
Apple iPad Pro Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The iPad Pro has a good camera for videos and pictures (12MP Wide and 10MP UltraWide back cameras) | It doesn’t have as many ports as in a Surface Pro (only has a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port) |
| It has impressive performance thanks to the M2 processor, making it an ideal alternative to a Surface Pro | This tablet doesn’t have expandable storage. |
| Durable because of the strong build | |
| This tablet is compatible with the Magic Keyboard | |
| It has a battery life that can run for about 10 hours | |
| The high-quality display allows you to view quality pictures |
Check out the Apple iPad Pro on Amazon.
Best Workstation: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Touchscreen convertible display
- 12th gen Intel Core i7 CPU
- RTX 3050-Ti GPU
- Lightweight and portable
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio takes the lead for the best workshop alternative to a Surface Pro. This device offers a brilliant choice for professionals looking for a powerful laptop within the Microsoft universe. This tablet-laptop combo device is the most powerful Surface laptop. It provides the best of both worlds thanks to its sleek design, latest intel processor, and ability to handle complex tasks.
There is little the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio cannot do due to its Core i7-11700 quad-core processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics chip. It also supports a Surface pen that delivers the pen-on-paper feeling. However, it comes up a bit short compared to other workstations in its price range.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| It is very portable compared to other laptop workstations in the market | The battery life (13.5 hours) can be better to handle the demands of the powerful components |
| It offers a great display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels | It comes with a limited port selection (two USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 ports) |
| It has a sleek design that houses all its powerful components | The stylus is purchased separately |
| This laptop runs quietly despite having very heavy components |
Check out the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Alternative to a Surface Pro: Step-By-Step
While these laptops are suitable alternatives, they are not necessarily designed to perform similar tasks. You will have to consider a few factors to narrow down to the best alternative to a Surface Pro. Key things to consider in order to make the best decision include:
- Performance
- Features
- Price
- portability
Performance
It helps to have a laptop with outstanding performance to ensure smooth running when handling tasks. The Surface Pro series has laptops with powerful processors that can handle intensive tasks such as video editing. Therefore, ensure you pick an alternative that is on par if you intend to perform demanding tasks on your laptop. The Apple iPad Pro offers just that thanks to its M2 processor and graphics card. For very intensive tasks like animation, consider a Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.
Features
All ideal Microsoft Surface Pro alternatives are designed with unique specifications and features for different occasions. Before deciding which one to purchase, consider what features you need in your laptops, such as battery life, display, processor, RAM, and operating system, to name a few. For instance, if you move a lot with your laptop, we recommend finding a Surface Pro laptop with long battery life.
Price
At the end of the day, the price is likely the most crucial factor to consider when choosing a Surface Pro alternative. There are several suitable alternatives to the Surface Pro, cutting through a wide range of price points. It is essential to research and find a laptop that fits your budget and provides you with all the necessary features and specifications. If you are working with a tight budget, consider going for something affordable like the SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8, which retails for about $630. This device offers excellent performance and advanced features at a reasonable price. However, if your budget can stretch, purchase a premium laptop with advanced features and specifications for a better user experience.
Portability
The selling point of these laptops is their compact size and portability. Surface Pro laptops are lightweight with very sleek designs making them portable. An alternative to the Surface Pro is therefore suitable for traveling and carrying around, enabling you to handle your tasks anywhere. The Acer Spin 3, for instance, is about 1.50 kg, making it an ultraportable laptop that you can easily carry around.
Using the Best Surface Pro Alternative: What It’s Like
There are a variety of laptops in the market that could pass as substitutes for a Surface Pro, so deciding the best alternative is not easy. Recognizing that these alternatives offer something unique for their category and price point is essential. The Apple iPad Pro is recognized for its great performance and support for a detachable keyboard, allowing you to use it as a tablet and laptop like the Surface Pro. Other laptop alternatives like the HP Spectre X360 have a traditional laptop design but offer excellent performance and display. Its long battery life is just a bonus, allowing you to carry it around without needing a charger frequently.
Most of the alternatives mentioned provide decent performance for everyday tasks. Still, more premium laptops like the HP Spectre X360 will offer you that in addition to brilliant design, good battery life, a powerful processor, and the 2-in-1 laptop feature.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Kyler Chin / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
