Using a range of Bluetooth headphones released in the past two years with the Surface generally worked well, though call audio quality is worse than if using a wired headset.

The one negative is the removal of the headphone socket, leaving a USB-C dongle (not included) or Bluetooth as the only options. It is not quite the user-repairable ideal demonstrated by the Framework laptop, but it is a big step in the right direction from Microsoft. It has an easier to replace battery and user-upgradeable storage in a little flap in the back, and a service manual and spare parts are being made available. Inside, the tablet has been made more repairable. The keyboard and Slim Pen 2 stylus are the same as last year with little to fault, except that they’re not included in the box and cost an additional £260 as a bundle. The good 13in display is slightly brighter than last year and can dynamically switch between a 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling while balancing battery life. They are modern, well made and come in a range of nice colours, with Microsoft’s excellent kickstand out the back for propping the tablet up at a wide range of angles. The latest Surface Pro 9 machines are 12g lighter to last year’s models but otherwise look almost identical to their predecessors.

The Surface Pro 9 with Intel chip in blue (top) and the Surface Pro 9 5G in silver (bottom) with bands on its top edge for the mobile data antennas.

Surface 8 specs