Microsoft·laptop
Surface Pro 9
Based on 16 credible posts from Bluesky & Hacker News. 3 filtered out as bot-like or off-topic.
Low confidenceFew owner reviews so far, so this score can still move a lot. How we score
Scored November 11, 2026
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Owner reviews
Overall owner mood
Owners mostly like it, with reservations: 56% of 16 reviews are positive, 38% mixed, and only 6% negative. The most common complaint is software & ai (3 owners). Owners with 6+ months of use feel about the same (50% positive).
What owners like
Nothing two or more owners agree on yet.
What owners complain about
Software & AI raised by 3 owners
“Modern software is just slow.”
What owners talk about
- Software & AI0 praise · 3 complain
- Battery & charging1 praise · 1 complain
- Price & value1 praise · 1 complain
- Performance1 praise · 1 complain
Built from the reviews themselves — every quote links to the owner who wrote it.
Every credible owner review, most detailed first. Bots, off-topic comments, and ones that say nothing about using it are left out.
[...] Before that, either issues with software or hardware would consistently have me through my hands up and give up. While it was pleasant while it lastly, I ended up reinstalling Windows on my Surface Pro 9 since the machine began randomly freezing after installing a set of updates (I was running Ubuntu with SurfaceLinux kernel). [...]
I use a surface pro 9 for development, diagramming, note taking, media, light fusion 360 (on the iGPU), and gaming (with an egpu). it's a great machine with a few minor flaws, primarily battery life and cooling performance. [...] the price is obscene though, especially considering it's not OLED. [...]
[...] Like literally, I have a Pentium MMX 200 Mhz (64 MB RAM, 8 GB CF Card) machine right next to my Surface Pro 9 (i5 1235U, 16GB RAM, 2 TB SSD). The Pentium (running Windows 98 SE) demolishes my Surface Pro 9 (running Windows 11) in opening applications, and UI latency. [...] Honestly the only thing that's really slower is booting since it takes forever in the BIOS stage. Modern software is just slow. [...]
[...] - No CLI required to install software Just use GNOME Software or Discover (KDE). [...] Lag-free pen experience I have the same amount of lag in Windows as in Linux on my Surface Pro 9. [...]
I'm writing this reply on a Surface Pro 9 - the hardware is underpowered but is also the only reasonable option if you need a tablet that runs a "real" PC OS. But MS has had a heck of a time convincing ISV's to make software for the platform - and even apps (like Adobe's Lightroom) that have tablet modes hide them away - so almost no one knows about them. [...]
controversial hot take: windows 11 is significantly better than 10 if you just stop bitching and disable their bullshit. ever since I got my surface pro 9 in 2023 I don't think it has ever blue screened. but my desktop on 10 is a piece of shit sometimes.
I bought a Surface Pro 9 (the ARM version with LTE) last year back when I worked at MSFT. [...]
For context, I use a Windows Surface Pro 9 to draw and write. I especially need the stylus to work bc 90% of what I do on this device is draw. It's literally the main reason on why I BOUGHT it. I've been using this device for over a year now (since summer of 2024) and this problem is very recent
For this exact reason, I decided to instead buy Surface Pro 9 and installed Ubuntu Linux on it. It works amazingly well. Moreover, all my notes are automatically converted to PDF and syned to my gitlab.
[...] You can get an ARM Surface Pro 9 today or something like a Thinkpad X13s Snapdragon. Really all that's needed is a fast enough, efficient enough CPU that makes it make sense for the price/performance ratio. I bought a refurb'd Surface Pro X for $400 CAD, for that price it's amazing. [...]
I did get a very cheap used Surface Pro 9 recently. Shich seems like a natural follow-up to the Samsung Book I've had and loved but which is long in the tooth. [...]
shoutout to this used surface pro 9 i got it is honestly pretty nice, and it doesn't limit me to approved apps by apple or google or whatever and i can also install linux on it which uhhh...
We have the Apple one too but I bought this initially to “telestrate” over videos on my pc (for a silly web series ish thing im slowly working on). I ended up getting a Surface Pro 9 to use as cloned desktop to draw on (while filming using the desktop) and then have fallen in love with it/the pen.
soo for christmas i got a surface pro 9 to draw on and stuff here’s the first finished drawing i’ve made on it ! (different art program than usual and different feel than finger drawing but hopefully i’ll get the hang of it !)
[...] I've got a surface pro 9 and while it's great, the battery life is awful considering the limited performance on tap. [...]
[...] My laptop is a MS Surface Pro 9 on Win11, and there's a lot of secondary steps with custom kernels to get the surface sensors to work. I need the stylus to work without issue for Clip Studio Paint.
The claims, and the evidence
What the brand claims
No published claims on file for this product yet.
What owners report
“I use a surface pro 9 for development, diagramming, note taking, media, light fusion 360 (on the iGPU), and gaming (with an egpu). it's a great machine with a few minor flaws, primarily battery life and cooling performance. [...] the price is obscene though, especially considering it's not OLED. [...]”
“controversial hot take: windows 11 is significantly better than 10 if you just stop bitching and disable their bullshit. ever since I got my surface pro 9 in 2023 I don't think it has ever blue screened. but my desktop on 10 is a piece of shit sometimes.”
after 3 yearsView on Bluesky“[...] Before that, either issues with software or hardware would consistently have me through my hands up and give up. While it was pleasant while it lastly, I ended up reinstalling Windows on my Surface Pro 9 since the machine began randomly freezing after installing a set of updates (I was running Ubuntu with SurfaceLinux kernel). [...]”
after 1 yearView on Hacker News“[...] - No CLI required to install software Just use GNOME Software or Discover (KDE). [...] Lag-free pen experience I have the same amount of lag in Windows as in Linux on my Surface Pro 9. [...]”
Common Surface Pro 9 problems
Problems most owners who mention them agree on, plus ones owners are split on.
- Software & AI3 owners report thisView on Hacker News
“But MS has had a heck of a time convincing ISV's to make software for the platform - and even apps (like Adobe's Lightroom) that have tablet modes hide them away - so almost no one knows about them.”