Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

12.3 inches | January 2021

Speed 3

Size 9.5

Display 6.5

Gaming 1.5

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Microsoft Surface Pro 9

13 inches | October 2022

Speed 3.5

Size 9.5

Display 7.5

Gaming 2

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Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Pro 7 Plus and Surface Pro 9, two laptops by Microsoft. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus was introduced to market in January 2021 and Microsoft Surface Pro 9 was launched in October 2022. There is 21 months difference between Surface Pro 7 Plus and Surface Pro 9 so it would still give an advantage to younger Surface Pro 9.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Surface Pro 7 Plus and Surface Pro 9 are members of Microsoft's Surface Pro series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Microsoft Surface Pro Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Microsoft Surface Pro 11	May 2024	13.0"	287 x 209 x 9.3 mm	0.89 kg (1.96 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 10	March 2024	13.0"	287 x 208.6 x 9.3 mm	0.87 kg (1.92 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 9	October 2022	13.0"	287 x 209 x 9.3 mm	0.87 kg (1.92 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 8	September 2021	13.0"	287 x 208 x 9.3 mm	0.88 kg (1.94 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus	January 2021	12.3"	292 x 201 x 8.5 mm	0.77 kg (1.7 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7	October 2019	12.3"	292 x 201 x 8.5 mm	1.1 kg (2.43 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and Microsoft Surface Pro 9 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
12.3" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i3 1115G4
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
8GB Ram
292 x 201 x 8.5 mm (11.5 x 7.91 x 0.33 inches)
Weight: 0.77 kg (1.7 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Key Specs

Launched in October 2022
13.0" Touchscreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1235U
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
287 x 209 x 9.3 mm (11.3 x 8.23 x 0.37 inches)
Weight: 0.87 kg (1.92 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus was replaced by Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8 vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8 vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Pro 7 Plus and Surface Pro 9 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus over Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Weight	0.77 kg vs 0.87 kg	0.1 kg lighter
Screen PPI	267 ppi vs 266 ppi	More pixels per inch
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Pro 9 over Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~76.7%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 16.1 mm	9.9 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	13 inches vs 12.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1920 pixels vs 2736 x 1824 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
sRGB Color Space	106.1% vs 96.8%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
Adobe RGB Profile	75.1% vs 63.7%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Max Brightness	450 nits vs 400 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS vs 0.84 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Right	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5 vs LPDDR4X	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.1 vs v5	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.1	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.1	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No

Common Strengths of Microsoft Surface Pro 9 and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Screen Type	Touch Screen vs Touch Screen	Interact with your fingers
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	LPDDR4X vs LPDDR5	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Microsoft Surface Pro 9 and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature
HDMI Output	No vs No	Need an adapter to connect to HDMI displays

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.

Physical Specs
Weight	0.77 kg (1.7 lbs)	0.87 kg (1.92 lbs)
Surface Area	587 cm2 (91 inches2)	600 cm2 (93 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~76.7%	~83.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~16.1 mm	~6.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.06 kg/inch	0.07 kg/inch
	0.132 lbs/inch	0.154 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver	Black, Silver, Blue, Green

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Pro 7 Plus weighs 0.77 kg (1.7 lbs), whereas the Surface Pro 9 weighs 0.87 kg (1.92 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Thickness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus is 0.06 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is 0.07 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i3 1115G4 Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7	Intel Core i5 1235U Intel Core i7 1255U
Base Frequency	1.7-3.0 GHz	1.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.1 GHz	4.4 GHz
Number of Cores	2	10
Number of Threads	4	12
L3 Cache	6 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1264	1580
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	2563	6333
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1330	1654
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	3144	6618

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and Microsoft Surface Pro 9.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i3 1115G4

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1235U

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	0.84 TFLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	4.27 Gbps	5.2 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	384	640
TMUs	24	40
ROPs	12	20

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus has a FLOPS value of 0.84 TFLOPS whereas the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	4267 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No

Both laptops, the Surface Pro 7 Plus and the Surface Pro 9, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus	Microsoft Surface Pro 9
CPU	Intel Core i3 1115G4	Intel Core i5 1235U
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
Memory	8 GB	8 GB
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus|Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	48.9 Wh	47.7 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right	Left, Right
Charge Power	65 W	39 W
Full Charging Time	1:40 hr	1:30 hr
AC Adapter Weight	255 gramm

Moreover, the Surface Pro 7 Plus boasts a larger battery capacity of 49 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Surface Pro 9's48 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

STORAGE
The Surface Pro 9 offers a larger max storage capacity of 1 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Surface Pro 7 Plus's storage capacity of 512 GB.

Storage Options	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and Microsoft Surface Pro 9 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Surface Pro 7 Plus has a display size of 12.3".On the other hand, Surface Pro 9 has a larger13.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Pro 7 Plus is 451cm² / 70inch² whereas the Surface Pro 9's total usable screen area is 503cm² / 78inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Pro 7 Plus features a higher pixel density with 267 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Refresh Rate
The Surface Pro 9 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The Surface Pro 9 offers a higher maximum brightness of 450 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus vs Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Surface Pro 9 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Surface Pro 7 Plus (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Surface Pro 7 Plus is equipped with 1x USB 3.1 USB-A ports. Surface Pro 9 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Surface Pro 7 Plus and Surface Pro 9 have USB Type-C ports. Surface Pro 7 Plus has 1x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports, while Surface Pro 9 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Surface Pro 9 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Pro 7 Plus does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Neither Surface Pro 7 Plus nor Surface Pro 9 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors. Neither Surface Pro 7 Plus nor Surface Pro 9 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Surface Pro 7 Plus is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Surface Pro 9 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Surface Pro 7 Plus is equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, allowing seamless connection to headphones and speakers. Surface Pro 9 does not have a 3.5mm Audio Jack.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5	v5.1
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.1	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.1	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	No
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes