Surface Pro vs Pro 2

[gus6464]

How much of a difference is the battery life? Thinking of picking up the Pro with the Best Buy deal for my wife who has an original Surface RT that she loves but it's super slow and she would like to have itunes on it among other things. She mostly uses it at home and when we travel she always takes the RT charger with her.

 

[tornadog]

I was going to post the same question considering all the $500 deals that just came out today.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I commonly hear the battery is 50% better. So instead of about 4 hours you get about 6 hours.

I really hate the kickstand on the Surface Pro 1 almost as much as the battery life though.

 

[gus6464]

I commonly hear the battery is 50% better. So instead of about 4 hours you get about 6 hours.

I really hate the kickstand on the Surface Pro 1 almost as much as the battery life though.

Well the kickstand on the Pro 1 is the exact same one as the RT right? She has never complained about the kickstand.

 

[luv2liv]

there are plenty of mobile charger for phones. im sure there's gotta be some for tablets/laptops too right?
i am getting the MS Pro now and figure out the mobile charger for it later.

 

[gus6464]

there are plenty of mobile charger for phones. im sure there's gotta be some for tablets/laptops too right?
i am getting the MS Pro now and figure out the mobile charger for it later.

Yeah I think I will pick one up for her. If anything, I can always return it if she hates the battery life.

 

[Imaginer]

there are plenty of mobile charger for phones. im sure there's gotta be some for tablets/laptops too right?
i am getting the MS Pro now and figure out the mobile charger for it later.

Both the Surface Pro and Pro 2 can work with the included 48W charger as well as the more "compact" Surface RT/2 24W charger. There is also a 12V DC car charger for the Surface lines.

The 50% battery difference in unplugged time between the Pro 1 and Pro 2 is "about" right. Roughly measuring wattage usage when I skim back to the desktop and the sidebar widgets, the Surface Pro 1 uses 10-12Whr on reading and surfing, the Surface Pro 2 from 5-10Whr running the same tasking. But I have not documented hard measurements on this.

 

[zerogear]

Both the Surface Pro and Pro 2 can work with the included 48W charger as well as the more "compact" Surface RT/2 24W charger. There is also a 12V DC car charger for the Surface lines.

The 50% battery difference in unplugged time between the Pro 1 and Pro 2 is "about" right. Roughly measuring wattage usage when I skim back to the desktop and the sidebar widgets, the Surface Pro 1 uses 10-12Whr on reading and surfing, the Surface Pro 2 from 5-10Whr running the same tasking. But I have not documented hard measurements on this.

I can generally hit 8 to 9 hours with my Surface Pro 2 -- Though if you're disappointed with SP1 battery life but happy with everything else, it might be worth it just to invest in the Power Cover coming out soon.

 

[Imaginer]

I can generally hit 8 to 9 hours with my Surface Pro 2

I believe that. Some occasions, my wattage consumption goes to 4W with my Surface Pro 2, and if kept at that level, can easily go for 8 to 10 hours before a charge.

Though if you're disappointed with SP1 battery life but happy with everything else, it might be worth it just to invest in the Power Cover coming out soon.

Soon as in sometime this quarter of this year from what I gather. I might pick one up, but the trade off (currently) is the power cover lacks the back lit keys of the Type/Touch Cover 2.

 

[Roland00Address]

Updated Battery Life numbers after a firmware update significantly improved surface 2 battery numbers

Anandtech Surface Pro 2 review
Anandtech Surface Pro 1 review

Remember if the battery type cover (ever comes out in reality) it is suppose to give 50% higher battery life to either model. If the Surface Pro 1 gets 5 hours than means 7.5 hours total, if the Surface Pro 2 gets 8 hours that means 12 hours total.

 

[desura]

Wasn't the pro 1 notorious for fan noise or something?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Wasn't the pro 1 notorious for fan noise or something?

I hated the kickstand and battery life, but I was surprisingly pleased with how quiet the Surface Pro was. The fan was very quiet.

 

[Nebor]

Battery life on the SP1 sucks. Also there's a random reboot issue plaguing much of the user base that Microsoft has failed to address for months now.