The Surface Pro 9 is one of the very best Windows tablets you can buy today, and that’s not a huge surprise. Microsoft has been making the Surface Pro series for 10 years now, and the latest version comes with the latest and greatest hardware, plus some beautiful new colors to choose from. But it’s not a perfect device, and it actually has a lot of shortcomings. You can always make your experience better with a laptop by using a few accessories, and we’ve rounded up a few great ones for the Surface Pro 9.
Keep in mind, the Surface Pro 9 only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (regular USB Type-C on the 5G models) and a Surface Connect port, so any wired accessories are likely going to require an adapter or docking station. We’re going to start with those because they might be so essential to everything else. Still, we’re also going to focus on wireless devices as much as possible so you don’t have to worry about ports.
Docks and adapters for the Surface Pro 9
As we’ve just mentioned, the Surface Pro 9 is definitely sporting a distinct lack of ports. You only get two USB Type-C ports and a Surface Connect port. There’s not even a headphone jack anymore. On the Intel-powered models of the Surface Pro 9, you do get Thunderbolt 4 support on the USB Type-C ports, which enables high-speed accessories like Thunderbolt docks. On the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, which is powered by Arm-based processors, those USB Type-C ports are just USB ports, so Thunderbolt docks won’t work at their full capabilities. There are other options, though, including the Surface Dock 2.
Surface Dock 2 Microsoft Surface Dock 2
The official Surface Dock 2 from Microsoft is a very versatile option. It uses the magnetic Surface Connect port, so it unplugs easily as a safety measure, and it has a few ports, including USB Type-C display outputs for two 4K displays at 60Hz (on Intel models), plus USB Type-A ports and 1Gbps Ethernet.
Anker 777 Thunderbolt 4 Dock Anker 777 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
For Intel models of the Surface Pro 9, a Thunderbolt 4 dock like this one might be ideal. It has plenty of ports, including two HDMI outputs for dual 4K 60Hz displays, multiple USB Type-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and more.
CalDigit Element Hub CalDigit Element Hub
If you have a lot of peripherals powered by Thunderbolt, this dock from CalDigit makes it easier to use them, with three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports It also has four USB Type-A ports for other peripherals like a keyboard and mouse, and it’s cheaper than most other Thunderbolt docking options.
Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station Plugable UD-ULTC4K
This Plugable dock doesn’t use Thunderbolt, yet it can drive up to three 4K 60Hz displays at once, with both DisplayPort or HDMI options for each output. It uses a special DisplayLink driver, which is supported on both models of the Surface Pro 9. It also has a few USB Type-A ports and Ethernet.
Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub
If you want to stick with the Microsoft brand, this USB-C Hub is a more affordable option that works on both models. It has a few ports, including USB Type-A, HDMI, and VGA, which is somewhat uncommon, but it might be useful in specific situations if you need to use an older monitor.
Belkin USB-C Hub Belkin USB-C Hub
If you only need a couple of extra ports without spending a ton of money, this Belkin USB-C hub is a great option. It gives you two USB Type-A ports and HDMI, plus a USB Type-C port. This is a great compact option you can easily take anywhere, and it’s also one of the more affordable options around.
External monitors for the Surface Pro 9
Having a dock makes it much easier to connect all kinds of accessories to your Surface Pro 9, and thus, increase your productivity. One of the most important things you might want to get is a monitor (or more), so you can expand your workspace beyond the 13-inch confines of the tablet itself. If you want an extra screen so you can get work done faster, here are a few options you might want to check out.
ASUS ProArt PA278CV ASUS ProArt PA278CV 27-inch WQHD Monitor
The Asus ProArt PA278CV is a monitor we recommend often for its balance of price and performance. It has a sharp Quad HD IPS panel covering 100% of sRGB and Rec. 709, so it’s great for creative professionals. It also has a color accuracy of Delta E < 2, and it’s Calman-verified. Plus, you can use it with just a USB-C cable, and it will even charge your Surface Pro 9.
Samsung Smart Monitor M70B Samsung Smart Monitor M70B
The Samsung Smart Monitor M7 (M70B) is a large 32-inch monitor with an ultra-sharp 4K resolution. What’s most interesting, though, is that it runs Tizen, so it can access apps like Netflix, Disney+, and even Microsoft Office without your PC. It also connects easily via USB-C and charges your tablet at 65W, and it makes it easy to cast content from your phone, too.
LG UltraWide 35WN75CN-B LG UltraWide 35WN75CN-B
Ultra-wide monitors are ideal for a lot of people because they enable a new level of productivity. Because they’re so wide, it becomes that much easier to run multiple apps side-by-side, so you can get work done more efficiently. This one comes with a sharp QHD panel, a 100Hz refresh rate, and it connects easily with a single USB-C cable for extra convenience.
Dell UltraSharp U2723QE
There are plenty of 4K monitors out there, but the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE is special thanks to its use of IPS Black, which delivers twice the contrast ratio of typical IPS panels while keeping the great viewing angles. It also doubles as a USB hub and it has great color coverage.
Acer SB241Y Acer SB241Y
Need some extra space to work without spending a lot of money? The Acer SB241Y is a great option. This is a 24-inch IPS panel with Full HD resolution, and it has a 75Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync support. It costs a little over $100, though it does require an adapter for HDMI.
Innocn 13.3-inch Portable Monitor Innocn Portable Monitor
You can take your dual-screen setup anywhere you go with the Innocn portable monitor. This is 13.3-inch Full HD panel, but the standout feature here is that it uses OLED, so you get true blacks and vivid colors you don’t see on other portable monitors. And it’s fairly cheap for what it offers, too.
You can find a few more options in our round-up of the best monitors overall if these options don’t seem quite right for you.
External GPU enclosures (Intel models only)
Most people wouldn’t think of the Surface Pro 9 as a gaming PC, but that’s where Thunderbolt accessories come into the picture. If you have a Surface Pro 9 model with Intel processors, you can use the Thunderbolt 4 ports to power an external GPU, thanks to the power of PCIe signaling. Indeed, these ports let you connect to an external GPU enclosure, which can then house a full desktop GPU, and use it for gaming, so all the latest titles should be able to run just fine. It’s not a full-on desktop replacement, but it goes a long way. Here are some options you might like:
Razer Core X Chroma Razer Core X Chroma
The Razer Core X Chroma is arguably the best external GPU enclosure on the market. It has a 750W PSU that can provide up to 500W to your GPU, plus charge your laptop at 100W. It supports triple-slot GPUs, so most modern cards should work. It also has some fancy RGB lighting, if you’re into that.
Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex
The Sonnet Breakaway Box 750ex is another great option for an external GPU. It supports a lot of modern GPUs (though some may be too large), and this model even includes four extra USB Type-A ports and gigabit Ethernet. There’s a cheaper model without these bonuses if you want to save some money.
AKiTiO Node Titan AKiTiO Node Titan
The Akitio Node Titan has been around for a while, and it’s not meant for the triple-slot GPUs, but it can provide up to 500W of power to your graphics card, plus it can charge your laptop at 85W. This is a much more affordable option than the Razer Core X, too, and it might be all you need.
We have a few more options you can check out in our round-up of the best external GPU enclosures.
Mice and keyboards for the Surface Pro 9
Being a tablet helps the Surface Pro 9 be a bit more portable than most Windows machines, and it can provide some additional flexibility, but it does mean you don’t get a keyboard by default, which makes it a bit harder to be productive. If you want to get work done on the Surface Pro 9, here are some great options for keyboards and mice you might want to get. Of course, the official option is the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, which pairs perfectly with the Surface Pro 9.
Surface Pro Signature Keyboard with Surface Slim Pen 2 Microsoft Surface Pro Signature Keyboard
To make the most of the Surface Pro 9, Microsoft sells the Signature Keyboard, which comes in a range of colors to match the tablet itself (or mix to your liking). This option comes with the Surface Slim Pen 2, but you can get it without. The pen is only available in black, however.
Logitech MX Mechanical Logitech MX Mechanical Mini
Mechanical keyboards can provide a sense of precision and tactility you don’t really get with the keyboards you see on laptops, and the Logitech MX Mechanical is an ideal choice for work. It has a clean design with low-profile keys and a simple white backlight, plus you can choose the type of switches you want.
Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Kensington Pro Fit Ergo
Ergonomics are essential in any job, especially when you’re doing the same thing for long stretches of time. This ergonomic keyboard from Kensington is shaped to keep your hands in a natural position with the cushioned wrist rest, and have all the keys easily accessible, so you can prevent stress injuries or discomfort.
Brydge SP+ Brydge SP Plus
The Surface Pro 9 works well as a tablet, but the Brydge SP+ is an accessory that can turn it into a typical laptop experience. It gives you a keyboard and touchpad connected via Bluetooth, but it also slots the tablet in and it uses a tight hinge that helps it feel like a traditional clamshell.
Logitech MX Master 3S Logitech MX Master 3S
Talking about the best mice without mentioning the Logitech MX Master 3S would be egregious. With a fast 8,000 DPI sensor, it even works on glass, it has a premium build with a metal scroll wheel (and one for horizontal scrolling), and it’s super comfortable. Plus it supports Bluetooth or a wireless dongle.
Microsoft Mobile Mouse Microsoft Mobile Mouse
The Microsoft Mobile Mouse is a great choice for anyone wanting a sleek and premium-feeling mouse that’s still somewhat affordable. It even comes in the same colors as the Surface Pro 9 to create the perfect match. It uses a BlueTrack sensor and the ambidextrous design makes it easy to use for anyone.
Headphones and earbuds for the Surface Pro 9
Microsoft has packed a solid pair of speakers into the Surface Pro 9, with one speaker on each side of the screen offering stereo sound with Dolby Atmos support. But sometimes, you want something a bit more immersive, or maybe you’re in a public setting where you can’t bother those around you. Accessories like headphones and earbuds can be greatly helpful so you can watch movies or listen to music on the Surface Pro 9 without bothering the people around you. Here are some great options:
Apple AirPods Pro 2 Apple AirPods Pro 2
The Apple AirPods Pro are incredibly popular, and the second-generation models manage to be even better. They come with a tweaked sound profile, better battery life, and more. They work best on Apple devices, but they’re great for Windows, too.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
The Bose QuietComfort II are another excellent pair of premium earbuds. They come with an enhanced noise cancellation mode that uses four mics on each earbud, plus an improved transparency mode and overall sound. They are a bit pricy, however.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
If you’re looking something a bit more affordable, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are a great pair of earbuds with ANC and Ambient Sound, plus they come in a few fun colors. They also have a dedicated Windows app, which is very rare among wireless earbuds.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony is no stranger to great audio products, and the WH-1000XM5 are an excellent pair. With enhanced ANC powered by eight microphones, a modern design, and 30 hours of battery life, these are its best headphones yet.
Surface Headphones 2 Surface Headphones 2
They’re a little older than some others on this list, but the Surface Headphones 2 still deliver great audio quality, and perhaps more importantly, very intuitive volume and ANC controls thanks to the dials built into each earcup.
Razer Barracuda X Razer Barracuda X (2022)
The Razer Barracuda X is a fairly unique headset thanks to it using a USB-C dongle to connect more reliably, but if you want to save ports, the latest model also supports Bluetooth.
Webcams for the Surface Pro 9
Microsoft has always used great webcams for the Surface Pro series, featuring a 5MP sensor ever since the Surface Pro 3. The Surface Pro 9 keeps up that tradition, which makes webcams less useful accessories, but if you do want one, there are options. Some webcams are also designed for specific use cases, which may make them more suitable for you.
Razer Kiyo Razer Kiyo
The Razer Kiyo is a great webcam made for streaming in dark rooms. It has a built-in ring light, which is easily adjustable, so you can always be clearly visible on camera in darker environments. It also supports 1080p video, so the quality is better than most laptop webcams.
Anker PowerConf C302 Anker PowerConf C302
Do you have a lot of video calls where there are people next to you? The Anker PowerConf C302 is a unique webcam in that it has a very wide-angle lens, so you and a group can participate in online meetings and calls. Plus, it has a 2K sensor and fast auto-focus.
Insta360 Link Insta360 Link
The INsta360 Link isn’t for everyone, but it’s an amazing webcam with a very large sensor and it supports 4K video, so you look incredibly sharp. It also has AI, so it can follow you around to keep you in the frame, among other things.
Cases for the Surface Pro 9
Considering how expensive the Surface Pro 9 is, protecting it is pretty important, and cases are a great way to do that. Because the Surface Pro family is very popular, you can actually find a few cases designed specifically for it, in addition to the usual laptop sleeves and bags. Here are some great options:
Londo Genuine Leather Sleeve Londo Top Grain Leather Sleeve
This Londo sleeve is designed for MacBooks, but it’s the perfect size for the Surface Pro 9 including a Signature Keyboard if you have it. It uses genuine leather, and it looks great in a variety of different patterns, so you can choose your favorite style.
Infiland Crystal Clear Case
The Infiland crystal clear case is a great way to protect your Surface Pro 9 from drops and bumps while letting its original color shine through, so you can still show it off.
UAG Scout Black Surface Pro 9 Case
The UAG Scout case for the Surface Pro 9 offers rugged protection and a space to store the Surface Slim Pen 2. It’s designed to let the kickstand continue to be used normally, so you don’t lose any functionality.
External storage for the Surface Pro 9
The Surface Pro 9 comes with up to 1TB of SSD storage or 512GB if you buy the 5G model. That’s not a terrible amount, but if you heavily use the computer, it’s also possible to run out of space after a while, and you might want some extra storage. For the Intel model, you can leverage the Thunderbolt ports for extra-fast storage, but you won’t see those faster speeds on the 5G model, so you might want to stick with a cheaper alternative.
Fantom Drives Extreme Fantom Drives Extreme
If you want the fastest storage around, a Thunderbolt SSD is the way to go. This one gives you 2800MB/s read speeds and 2300MB/s writes, but it also works on non-Thunderbolt ports with 1,050MB/s speeds, which is still very fast.
TEKQ Super Veloce SSD TEKQ SuperVeloce SSD
This external portable SSD comes in a unique enclosure that allows you to easily upgrade the M.2 SSD inside later on, so you can get more storage or replace a failing drive. The enclosure supports Thunderbolt, but not regular USB connections.
SanDisk Extreme v2 Portable SSD SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
The SanDisk Extreme Portable is an SSD designed for the outdoors, with a rugged chassis that can survive two-meter drops and with IP55 water and dust resistance. It even has a carabiner loop, and it also gets pretty fast, with read speeds up to 1,050MB/s.
Samsung T7 SSD (2TB) Samsung T7
If you want something a little more standard, the Smasung T7 is a pretty solid SSD that can still reach speeds up to 1,050MB/s. It comes in a few color options, too, so you can get something a bit more unique to you.
WD Elements desktop HDD WD Elements Desktop HDD
When you pile up a lot of files over the years, you might want to keep them in a safe location, separate from your computers. An HDD like this isn’t very fast, but it gives you a lot of space for a very low price compared to an SSD.
Kingston microDuo 3C Kingston microDuo 3C
Flash drives are still the most portable way to move files around in a pinch, and because this one has both USB-A and USB-C, you can use it with almost any laptop or Android phone. It comes in up to a 256GB size, so it’s still fairly capable.
Pens for the Surface Pro 9
Microsoft doesn’t include a lot of accessories in the box with the Surface Pro 9, not even a pen to use with the tablet. However, Microsoft does make official pens for the Surface Pro 9, and you can also get some third-party options if you want something a little different. Here are some great options:
Slim Pen 2 Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2
The Surface Slim Pen 2 is the official pen for the Surface Pro 9, and it’s designed to be stored inside the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. It also supports Tactile signals, meaning you get haptic feedback that makes it feel like you’re writing on real paper.
Surface Pen Surface Pen
The classic round Surface Pen is still a great option. It has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, though it misses out on Tactile signals and there’s no dedicated storage for it. On the flip side, you can find it heavily discounted nowadays.
Wacom Bamboo Ink Wacom Bamboo Ink
The Surface Pro 9 uses the Microsoft Pen Protocol for active pens, but some devices use Wacom AES. The Bamboo Ink pen supports both, so you can use it on almost any device. Plus, it’s cheap and fully-featured with 4,096 levels of pressure.
Chargers for the Surface Pro 9
We’re not yet at the point where laptops start shipping without chargers in the box, so we wouldn’t expect you to need a new charger right away. Still, accidents can happen, and a charger is probably the most important of all these accessories for the Surface Pro 9. If you need a replacement or an extra charger, here are a few options:
Surface 65W Power Supply
This is the official charger for the Surface Pro and other Surface devices. It can deliver 65W of power, enough to charge most modern Surface devices, and it uses the Surface Connect port for extra safety.
TOMSENN 65W Charger for Surface Tomsenn 65W Charger
The official Surface charger is quite expensive, so if you want to save some money, this is a great option. It still delivers up to 65W, and because it has USB-C ports, you can use it for other devices, though it comes with a Surface Connect cable out of the box.
ZMI zPower Turbo ZMI zPower Turbo 65W
The Surface Pro 9 can also be charged using the USB Type-C ports on the device, and if you want something that works with other devices, this is a great and affordable choice. It still delivers up to 65W, just like the original, so you’re not missing out.
Miscellaneous accessories
At this point, there isn’t a lot more we can recommend, as we’ve covered most of the accessories you might want for the Surface Pro 9. But there are a couple more oddballs you might like, so we’ll leave those below in case you’re interested.
Surface Dial
Designed for creative professionals, the Surface Dial is a unique control that lets you select colors, adjust settings, and more using a rotating dial and touch controls. On the Surface Pro 9, it only supports off-screen interaction, but it can still be very useful.
Xbox Wireless Controller Xbox Wireless Controller
Cloud gaming is one of best ways to play games on the Surface Pro 9, and if you’re going to be using Xbox Cloud Gaming, the Xbox Wireless Controller is a must. It’s very comfortable and comes in a range of colors that’s always growing.
Eveo screen cleaner kit Eveo Screen Cleaner Kit
With any device, especially a great-looking one like the Surface Pro 9, keeping it clean is important. The Eveo screen cleaner kit gives you a 16oz spray bottle and a microfiber cloth to keep your tablet looking pristine, and it should last you a long time.
And that’s about it for all the accessories we can recommend for the Surface Pro 9. While it’s a great device all on its own, these recommendations might make your experience that much better depending on your specific needs.
If you haven’t yet, you can order the Surface Pro 9 using the link below. If you find that it’s not quite right for you, maybe check out the best Surface PCs for some other great options from Microsoft. Or, if you want to expand your options, check out the best laptops in general to see what else is out there.
Source: Microsoft
Surface Pro 9 (Wi-Fi)
The Surface Pro 9 comes with 12th-generation Intel Core processors, and it features an array of beautiful colors for the first time ever. It’s easily one of the best tablets out there.
Surface Pro 9 5G
The Surface Pro 9 with 5G is powered by the new Microsoft SQ3 chipset, and it has a 120Hz display.
