When Microsoft first released the Surface several years ago, it was pretty clear that the company was on to something. It wasn’t a perfect device, but the portability and flexibility of the design – primarily a tablet but capable of transforming into a semi-functional laptop – made it more suitable to some tasks than the Windows products of old.
After a number of iterations, the Surface Pro has grown into a popular option for consumers, particularly students that want a portable yet functional tablet. So it’s no surprise that various other companies are starting to emulate the Surface design in their own products. There’s a market out there, and Microsoft is welcoming the competition with open arms.
The Surface competitor I’ve been using over the past few weeks is the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S. The name isn’t catchy, but there’s a lot to like about the hardware in this slim 12.0-inch tablet running Windows 10, including the AMOLED display and fanless Core M CPU on the inside. Samsung also bundles a keyboard cover with this device, because these sorts of key accessories should be included in the purchase price.