New tricks in an old design The Surface Pro 6 looks the same as its predecessors save for its new black colour option. The device is a slim, high-quality and robust tablet case that is easy to hold and weighs a comparatively svelte 786 g (~1.7 lb).

laptop-like performance; fan noise is quiet under load; full working day's battery life; impressive input devices for a convertible; well-built; contemporary design; good cameras; Windows Hello support; decent microphone; bright display; high sRGB colour space coverage; recharged fully in two hours

no USB Type-C; Signature Type Cover (2017) remains an additional purchase; as does the Surface Pen (2017; expensive

The extra cost for the keyboard is still disappointing, but it does work as well as ever (and has the same in-lap issues as the past). With few changes to a tried-and-true formula, one that has helped Microsoft reach the upper echelon of hardware sellers , the Surface Pro line is likely to continue...

Speedy new 8th Generation Intel processor; Good battery life; Premium feel; Sleek all-black color option; Brilliant display; Well-implemented kickstand

Minimal changes from previous model; As ever, keyboard sold separately; Not ideal for in-lap use; Somewhat restrictive configuration combinations; Limited ports

Now with outstanding battery life, the Surface Pro 6 remains the 2-in-1 to beat.

Bright; beautiful; 3:2 display; Black color looks and feels great; World-class build quality; Improved multitasking performance; Excellent battery life

Didn't update to Whiskey Lake processor; Outdated ports; Windows 10 tablet mode still needs work

The Surface Pro has proven to be a tough act to follow. Microsoft has been the two-in-one standard bearer for the past several years, as successive generations of Surface Pro became the default idea of what a Windows tablet/laptop hybrid should be.

The Surface Pro 6's jump to new quad-core processors pays off in big performance gains; The new black color option looks cool; Still the best kickstand and keyboard for Windows tablets

Be ready to shell out extra for the keyboard cover, stylus and even for the new matte black design; CPU and color aside, it's a very minimal upgrade over the previous version

Microsoft's Surface Pro 6 is the latest iteration of its iconic Windows tablet, complete with an 8th-generation, quad-core chip inside of it.

Quad-core 8th-gen Core chip adds a performance bump; Core i5 model does away with the fan; Battery life improves somewhat

External chassis is essentially unchanged...again; Step down in GPU power from previous model; Confusing mix of configurations to choose from on...

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is still the best detachable 2-in-1 around with a beautiful display and solid battery life, but its port selection is stuck in the past and its storage should be faster.

Vivid display; Solid battery life; Black color looks sleek

No Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C; Storage is slower than competitors; Type Cover costs extra

The Surface Pro is entering its sixth year in existence, so it seems relevant for a "Surface Pro 6 model" to match. While the older numbering system for the name has returned, the hardware remains mostly the same as 2017's Surface Pro, now dubbed the Surface Pro "fifth gen" by Microsoft.

New CPU is substantially more powerful, Improved battery life; runs cooler, Black is awesome, Excellent build quality and design

No Type-C or Thunderbolt 3; No LTE option (yet); Odd pricing levels

The Surface Pro 6 isn't for everyone. It's for people who will truly benefit from having a detachable 2-in-1 that's light enough to carry anywhere and flexible enough to use as a tablet or laptop.

Surface Pro is still the 2-in-1 to beat

Quad-core performance inside a lightweight tablet; Mostly silent operation; Matte black finish

Still no USB-C ports; Dated design; Lapability still not ideal

At the launch event in NYC on October 2nd, the Surface Pro 6 seemed like a mild refresh of an already established line, and that's not even necessarily a bad thing. The exterior is more or less identical to the outgoing 2017 model, albeit with a new color option to sit beside the platinum that we've...