Surface Pro 4 tablets are great, but they do fall short in some areas. Whether it’s the expensive prices, or the lacking specs, here are five alternatives to consider for some uncommon holiday shopping deals.
1) HP Split x2 $550 : The HP Split X2 may not be the most comfortable or sleek choice when compared to the Surface Pro 4, but it’s certainly one of the cheapest options for a really similar experience. Unlike the Surface, this tablet comes with the keyboard that attaches to its 13.3-inch HD touch screen display. With a dedicated Intel i3 CPU and 4 GB RAM, the next comparable surface would be about $899 today. In terms of ports, the Split is just as endowed. It’s got a single USB port, an SD card slot and a standard HDMI slot for large-screen viewing.
The downside is that the build quality is a really heavy plastic, and the keyboard has so much girth to it that it feels a generation behind. The base tablet is also so thick that it can be a bit unwieldy to carry around. If you can deal with some aesthetic shortcomings, this is still a deal. [ Buy ]
2) Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 $799: These Surface Pro 4 alternatives can be a little bit hard to find, but, for the right type of person, the hunt may be worth it. The thing that really blows us away is the price when you consider the specs on offer. There’s 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB SSD an i7 Processor and a 12.-5 inch 4K display. The closest Surface Pro 4 costs twice the price, and it doesn’t include a keyboard.
For that steep discount, however, you’re going to have to live with a few issues. The touchpad is reported by many to be difficult to use, and the design itself is more focused on folding the keyboard rather than taking it off altogether. Still, with the money you save, you could buy a cheap bluetooth mouse to fix those lingering issues if you really must. [ Buy ]
3) Asus Transformer 3 Pro $1,615: That price may look ridiculous, but, it compares favorably when looking at specs for a similar Surface Pro 4. This beast has an i7 processor, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage. For ports, it comes with modern amenities like USB-C, HDMI, VGA and an SD slot. As if that wasn’t good enough, it’s about $600 cheaper than a similar Surface Pro 4.
The concessions you make in this case won’t be as major either. The build quality feels premium, the screen is high-res and the keyboard might feel better than a Type Cover. The only significant downside is the battery life is only about for hours. You’ll also have to clear out plenty of bloatware upon arrival too. [ Buy ]
4) Huawei MateBook Signature Edition 2-in-1 PC $949: There are a few options you can buy for this Surface Pro 4 alternative, but we’ve selected the model with an m5 processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SD. This is a tablet by nature, with a 12-inch HD display. It’s super-thin and has only a USB-C port. There’s even a fingerprint scanner for some added class.
Just like the others, this costs several hundred dollars less than the Surface. However, it comes with some added expenses too. To get the full experience, you’ll also need to get an $80 keyboard accessory that can be a little hard to find at the moment. That being said, this device’s sleekness and power can’t be ignored [ Buy ]
5) The Lenovo Miix 510 $599: Back into more budget-minded pricing, the Lenovo Miix 510 is the newest addition to our list. Its specs are modest with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD storage and an i3 processor, but at least you get that true PC CPU and a promised eight hours of battery life. A Surface Pro 4 can’t offer that. It’s a bit lacking in ports with only USB, but you do get an included keyboard.
In terms of build quality there’s a lot to like. The aluminum chassis makes it light and sleek even though some of its bezels are a bit thicker than average. The price is a bit more comparable, but at least there are no massive concessions to be made. [ Buy ]
What do you think of these alternatives? Are you buying a Surface Pro 4 this holiday? Tell us in the comments section!
