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Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012)

Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012)

2439 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
durability (2)
performance (2)
reliability (1)
screen (1)
battery (1)

Negative
usability (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 2439 reviews of Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012). The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.2/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. People really like the reliability and battery. The performance and durability are also mentioned favorably. Opinions are divided on the screen. Many are critical about the usability.

durability, performance, battery, reliability

usability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 2439 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(43% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (26% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (10% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (7% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (14% of reviews)
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Features

durability
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performance
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screen
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usability
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battery
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Showing 1868 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 1342 of 1868 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (552)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012)

alaTest has collected and analyzed 180 user reviews of Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012) from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.co.uk. There are some less positive comments about the usability.

usability

80% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012)

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1152 user reviews of Microsoft Surface / Surface RT (1st gen, 2012) from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.1/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.com.

77% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : James Stables Dan Grabham (techradar.com)

Microsoft Surface RT review

Microsoft heeds its competitors' lessons with its Windows RT tablet

Excellent keyboards ; Useful kick-stand ; Great for Windows RT ; Stylish look and premium feel

Poor selection of apps ; Standard display ; Heavier than iPad ; Sluggish graphical performance

Surface represents a great value tablet that will get stronger with time, so if you're looking for a superb all-round Windows tablet which can double as a work machine, with bags of potential and head-turning appeal, then Surface should be high on your...

Sep, 2013

Partner Source

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Expert review by : What Hi-Fi? (whathifi.com)

Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) review

Microsoft finally enters the tablet arena

Solid build ; Built-in kick-stand, USB socket and SD card slot ; Decent headphone sound

Poor selection of apps ; Not the most intuitive experience ; Can be slow to respond

A good attempt at an all-rounder, but the Surface needs some performance tweaks

Dec, 2012

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Expert review by (t3.com)

Microsoft Surface review

The Microsoft Surface RT is the brand's flagship Windows 8 device

Battery life ; Expandable storage ; Multitasking

Not lap-friendly ; Slow loading times ; Lack of apps

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Ian Morris (pocket-lint.com)

Microsoft Surface RT

In many ways, Microsoft is typical of a massive company. It's visibly slow to react to things, and it takes a very long time for the firm to manoeuvre. But 2012 is looking like the year it finally gets its ducks in a row. Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and...

Solid build quality, Windows RT is great on tablets, this is the closest a tablet comes to a laptop experience, great battery life, screen is brilliant, largely crash-free

Keyboards are expensive, kickstand angle isn't perfect or adjustable, camera is unforgivably bad, Microsoft app store still lacking

We're sold, honestly, on the Surface RT. It's not cheap, but it's priced aggressively enough that people will give it some thought before they snap up an iPad.

Nov, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by : StuffTV (stuff.tv)

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT review

The new Microsoft Surface RT feels like a natural competitor for an iPad. But, with the promise of Windows, it might be an alternative to an ultrabook

Feels good and chunky ; Nice keyboards ; Office, if you need it

Split personality OS ; Lack of apps ; No Retina display

Cool but compromised, novel but niche, the Surface is perhaps just a little too different to find a place in your life

Jan, 2013

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Expert review by : Basil Kronfli (recombu.com)

Microsoft Surface RT Review: In Depth

The Microsoft Surface RT, is it a tablet? Is it a PC replacement? Is it a netbook for the modern day tech head? One thing...

Attractive app design

Poor stills camera

Dec, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by : David Court (techadvisor.co.uk)

Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison review

The bottom price of each tablet is exactly the same, it is worth pointing out that the £399 price of the surface does not include a Touch Cover, which is an accessory that is pretty integral to the slick use of the Windows tablet. If you want the Touch...

It really is difficult to say one of these tablets is "the tablet you should buy" as the needs of each person are completely different. We can say - in very loose terms - that if you're looking to buy a tablet to be used alongside your laptop, then the...

Nov, 2012

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Expert review by : Jonathan Bray (expertreviews.co.uk)

Microsoft Surface RT review

A beautifully-made and fantastically flexible tablet which is great for working on the move, but it's not without its problems

Nov, 2012

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Expert review by : Jim Martin (techadvisor.co.uk)

Microsoft Surface RT video review

With the Surface's full-size USB port, you can side-load movies and music directly into the Windows RT desktop. There are front- and rear-facing 720 HD cameras.

Nov, 2012

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Expert review by : Chris Martin (techadvisor.co.uk)

Microsoft Surface RT review

Microsoft's first tablet is upon us in the form of the Surface RT. Is Microsoft too late to the market or is the Surface good enough to entice iPad and Android users to switch? Find out in our Surface RT review.

The Surface RT is a very well built and cleverly designed tablet. There's decent hardware on offer and Windows RT runs smoothly but at present a lack of decent Modern UI apps is a big issue.

Nov, 2012

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