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Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Carmel)

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Revision as of 07:49, 14 February 2025 by MelvinSGjr (talk | contribs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
[[
|200px|alt=Microsoft Surface Pro (4-8) from Action Retro YouTube channel]]
Microsoft Surface Pro (4-8) from Action Retro YouTube channel
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name Surface Pro 6
Codename Carmel
Model Pro 6
Released 2018
Type convertible
Hardware
Chipset Intel 8th Gen Coffee Lake
CPU Intel Core i5-8250U / i7-8650U Quad-Core @ 1.60 GHz (up to 3.40 GHz Turbo)
GPU Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display 12.3" PixelSense 2736x1824 touchscreen
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB SSD
Memory 8 GB / 16 GB LPDDR3
Architecture x86_64
Software
Original software Windows 10
Original version 10
postmarketOS
Category Works with some tweaks
postmarketOS kernel LTSC (Generic x86_64)
Features
Flashing
Works
USB Networking
Works
Internal storage
No data
SD card
No data
Battery
Works
Screen
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Keyboard
Works
Touchpad
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
Works
Camera
No data
Camera Flash
No data
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Partial
Ethernet
No data
GPS
No data
NFC
No data
Modem
Calls
No data
SMS
No data
Mobile data
No data
Miscellaneous
FDE
No data
USB-A
Works
SATA/eSATA
No data
USB OTG
Works
HDMI/DP
No data
Sensors
Accelerometer
No data
Magnetometer
No data
Ambient Light
No data
Proximity
No data
Hall Effect
No data
Haptics
No data
Barometer
No data


Some device info

The Surface Pro 6 is a Windows-based tablet/laptop hybrid with adequate hardware, a touchscreen, and pen support. PostmarketOS, a Linux distribution for mobile devices, has been installed on the Surface Pro 6, replacing Windows with a Linux OS designed for mobile devices. The user experience with this combination may be inconsistent, with certain hardware components functioning well while others do not. The Surface Pro 6's hardware compatibility is a crucial factor, as it contains specific components such as the touchscreen, pen, cameras, fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more. Linux generally exhibits poorer battery life compared to Windows on laptops due to challenges in power management. While PostmarketOS might be more optimized, if the Surface's hardware is not fully supported, features like suspend/resume might not function optimally, potentially leading to reduced battery life. The app availability is constrained due to PostmarketOS's utilization of Alpine's package manager, which might not be optimally designed for touchscreens. The user experience encompasses aspects such as the intuitive interface designed for tablet use, multitasking gestures, and window management that is well-suited for touchscreens. Potential showstoppers, including unsupported hardware components like Wi-Fi or touch input, could render the device unusable as a tablet. Ensuring a satisfactory experience necessitates troubleshooting and system tweaking. Utilizing a Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with PostmarketOS as a tablet offers a distinctive yet unconventional experience, integrating mobile-oriented Linux with x86 hardware. However, gaps in hardware support and limitations in applications hinder tablet-centric functionality.This project has appeal for enthusiasts willing to get involved in troubleshooting and debugging, but it may not match the sophistication and stability of Windows or Android tablets. Gnome Mobile and Phosh are two popular touch-optimized shells for the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 running PostmarketOS. Phosh is a lightweight, touch-optimized shell that provides a simple, intuitive interface for smaller screens and touch input. It works well on devices with limited resources and is actively developed in the PostmarketOS ecosystem. Gnome Mobile is a touch-optimized version of the GNOME desktop environment designed for tablets and mobile devices. It offers a more desktop-like experience while still being touch-friendly, making it suitable for devices with larger screens. However, Phosh may feel too limited for a device of this size and capability. Gnome Mobile may be a better choice for the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 due to its hybrid capabilities and suitability for larger screens.

Users owning this device

Maintainer

MelvinSGjr (thinking about whether to stay a Maintainer)

How to enter flash mode

Power down the Surface device. Subsequently, the USB stick should be inserted into the appropriate port. While holding the volume-down button, the power button should be pressed.

Installation

Installation the same as Generic x86_64 UEFI

How to disable touchscreen

check/update all packages:

sudo pkg update && sudo pkg upgrade

download evtest via pkg:

sudo pkg add evtest

run evtest:

sudo evtest

Find the touchscreen.

Here you will see the number of your touchscreen, for example my number is 8, so this is /dev/input/event8, and when you find your touchscreen, press CTRL+C.

Disable our touchscreen (temporarily, you can't turn off the terminal, also there is no solution how to do it permanently):

sudo evtest --grab /dev/input/event8

Press CTRL+C to stop.

Key Considerations