In another sign that Microsoft is winding down Surface Pro 4 sales, one configuration of this device is now 20 percent off. Should you buy it?
As you may recall, Microsoft has offered various Surface Pro 4 sales over the past few months, most notably during the 2016 holidays, when there was a $300 off sale. This deal isn’t quite as good as that one, and it only impacts one Surface Pro 4 model. But it’s worth looking at if you’re in the market.
If you shop at the Microsoft Store, you will see that the Surface Pro 4 with a Core i5 processor, 4 GB Of RAM, and 128 GB of storage is now $799, or $200 off. The other models are the normal price, though it’s worth pointing out that this price is the same as that for the new base Surface Pro 4, with a Core m3 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage, and no pen. So the sale model here has a much better processor and a $60 pen for the same price.
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Remember, too, that you need a Type Cover. Microsoft offers a variety of options there, with pricing in the $130 to $160 range, depending on which one you choose. So the total cost will still be under $1000.
Is this a good option? And, based on the email I’ve been seeing lately, is Surface Pro 4 in general a good option here in early 2017?
Surface Pro 4 is an excellent 2-in-1 device, and while I happen to prefer bigger screens, I do highly recommend it. Most Thurrott.com readers are aware of the reliability issues that dogged Surface Pro 4 (and Surface Book) during the first several months of availability, but complaints have really slowed, and I believe that Microsoft has gotten ahead of that. The new Surface Book with Performance Base that I’m currently reviewing, for example, is far more stable and reliable than my previous Surface Book, which dates back to late 2015 and still has all kinds of issues.
We know that Microsoft will update/replace Surface Pro 4 this spring, but I don’t feel that any new model—presumably with USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 capabilities, and a slightly more modern Kaby Lake processor—negates the value of the current one. That is, Surface Pro 4 will be a great PC for years to come.
I do recommend, however, that you future-proof the device with 8 GB of RAM or more and, if you need it, more storage. Doing so will obviate the $200 off sales price, however. So perhaps you should wait and see if there are future sales. It’s also possible that Microsoft will keep Surface Pro 4 in market for some time even if its replaced.
In other words, unless you know this is exactly what you want, I advise waiting.