Just don't expect that level of performance when under higher sustained loads. The high initial Turbo Boost performance is still useful for launching applications more quickly or for a smoother multi-tasking experience. Upgrading from the cheaper Core i3-1005G1 SKU will bring roughly 40 to 60 percent faster raw performance while upgrading to the Core i7-1065G7 SKU can boost performance by another 20 to 40 percent based on our experiences with the 2-in-1. Had Microsoft included a fan in the Core i5 SKU, then the system would have likely been able to maintain faster Turbo Boost clock rates for longer. We explore this further in our Stress Test section below. Multi-thread performance becomes comparable to the Core i5-8350U at worst when accounting for throttling and just slightly better than the Core i7-8650U at best. Thus, running CineBench R15 just once would give an inaccurate picture of the performance of the Surface Pro 7 since the processor is unable to maintain fast Turbo Boost clock rates indefinitely. When looping the test 50 times, however, scores steadily decline over time to as low as 497 points as shown by our graph below to represent a performance dip of about 27 percent.
When running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop, scores start out strong at 685 points. You can't expect very much from a passively-cooled processor. The lesser dual-core Core i3-1005G1 and higher-end quad-core Core i7-1065G7 are also available for $750 and $1500, respectively. The unit we have today is the mid-range quad-core Core i5-1035G4 SKU for $900 to $1400 depending on RAM and storage. The biggest updates are largely internal the Surface Pro 7 ships with Intel's new Ice Lake-U processor which should offer significantly faster integrated graphics performance than the outdated UHD Graphics 620. We therefore recommend checking out our existing review on last year's model since our comments on chassis rigidity, key feedback, display quality, and other physical features still apply here on the Surface Pro 7. Unveiled early last month, the Surface Pro 7 shares the same detachable Type Cover keyboard and nearly the same chassis design as the Surface Pro 6.
Consequently, direct competitors like the HP Elite x2 1013, Lenovo Miix 520, or the Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1 have all had a tough time breaking out of the Surface's shadow. Microsoft's premier lineup has become so successful in its category that the words "Windows tablet" is now essentially synonymous with Surface. The Surface Pro series needs no introduction.