Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Microsoft Surface Pro 4; 256 GB, 8 GB RAM, Intel Review
The refurbished Surface Pro 4 offers a stunning screen at a rock-bottom price, but it's a package full of compromises. Is it worth buying without the keyboard or pen?
The 30-Second Version
A brilliant screen trapped in an aging, accessory-less body. Fantastic for budget digital artists, frustrating for everyone else.
Overview
Look, the Surface Pro 4 is a weird one to review in 2024. It's an old tablet that still punches way above its weight in one key area: that screen. The 12.3-inch PixelSense display is genuinely fantastic, with high contrast and low glare that makes it a joy to look at all day. But here's the one thing you need to know: this is a refurbished unit, and it doesn't come with the keyboard or pen. You're buying a very capable, very portable Windows 10 screen with a kickstand, and that's it. Everything else is extra.
Performance
The performance data from our database tells a clear story. Its GPU lands in the 99th percentile, which is frankly wild for a device this old and explains why it still scores a 75.9 for art and design. The Intel i5 and 8GB of RAM are solid enough for basic productivity, landing in the 70th percentile range. The real letdown is the battery life, sitting in the bottom half at the 48th percentile. You'll be hunting for an outlet sooner than you'd like.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- That screen is still a total knockout for the price. 99th
- Full Windows 10 in a super portable form factor. 94th
- The kickstand is infinitely more useful than a folio case. 83th
- Refurbished price makes it a potential steal for specific uses. 74th
Cons
- Battery life is just okay, not great.
- No keyboard or pen included is a major bummer.
- Wi-Fi connectivity is dated (802.11abg).
- You're buying into an older, end-of-life product.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 2.4 GHz core_i5 |
| GPU | Graphics |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Display
| Size | 12.3" |
| Resolution | 2736 |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.8 kg / 1.7 lbs |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Value & Pricing
At around $205 for a refurbished unit, the value proposition is razor-sharp and depends entirely on your needs. If you need a portable Windows machine for light work or as a dedicated digital art tablet, it's a fantastic deal. If you were expecting a ready-to-go laptop replacement, the missing accessories kill the value instantly.
vs Competition
Compared to a modern iPad Pro, you're getting full desktop Windows for a fraction of the price, but with worse battery life and no support. Against a newer Surface Pro, you're sacrificing performance, battery, and modern ports for a killer price on the core experience. The most relevant competitor might be a used Lenovo Yoga or similar 2-in-1 laptop, which would give you a keyboard but lose that incredible tablet form factor and drawing-optimized screen.
| Spec | Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Microsoft Surface Pro 4; 256 GB, 8 GB RAM, Intel | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2.4 GHz core_i5 | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 12.3" 2736x1824 | 13" 2752x2064 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 10.1" 1920x1200 |
| OS | Windows 10 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Does it come with Windows 10 or can I upgrade to Windows 11?
It comes with Windows 10. Given its older hardware, it's not officially supported for Windows 11, so you should plan on sticking with Windows 10.
Q: Can I use any Surface Pen or just the old one?
You can use the newer Surface Pens with it, which is great. Just make sure you buy one separately, because it doesn't come in the box.
Q: Is the battery life bad?
It's not terrible, but it's not great either. Our data puts it below average. Expect 4-6 hours of real use, less if you're pushing the CPU or screen brightness.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a ready-to-go laptop replacement out of the box, this isn't it. Go find a refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell Latitude instead. Also skip it if you need modern Wi-Fi 6 or all-day battery life. This is a specialist tool, not a daily driver for most people.
Verdict
We can only recommend this to a very specific buyer: someone who needs a high-quality, pressure-sensitive drawing display for digital art on a tight budget, or someone who desperately wants the Surface Pro form factor for light Windows tasks and doesn't mind sourcing accessories separately. For everyone else, the missing pieces and aging hardware make it a pass.