Microsoft's Surface Pro X Is an Expensive Mess. Don't Buy One

Nonetheless, Microsoft’s stated goal with this machine was “to take a mobile architecture and push the technology to make it a fully functioning powerful PC.” Whether the Surface Pro X is actually “fully functioning” is open for debate.The new SQ1 chip runs at 3 GHz, and the review system Microsoft sent to me came with 16 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD. Namely, it can’t run any 64-bit Windows programs designed for Intel chips (which, today, is almost everything), and it can only run older 32-bit programs via a behind-the-scenes emulator.After several days of working with the Surface Pro X, I remained confused as to why the product exists.I tried downloading a number of the most popular apps from the Microsoft Store and found that several wouldn’t install—nor would the vast majority of the standard benchmarks I run. I did manage to get one gaming benchmark to run on the Surface Pro X: Monster Hunter. One hands-down plus: LTE is included with every version of the Pro X; just add a SIM card and a data plan and you’re ready to go mobile.Microsoft does make some Surface machines we really like. I didn’t encounter any additional trouble after that, but it will take long-term testing for people to discover whether these kinds of problems will be ongoing.After several days of working with the Surface Pro X, I remained confused as to why the product exists.