Microsoft just announced the new Surface Pro will be coming out mid-2017, offering up better performance and battery life in a sleek new design. The 12.3-inch hybrid tablet/laptop replaces the Surface Pro 4, and could be called Surface Pro 5 except for the fact Microsoft decided to just call it the “new Surface Pro”. Of course its lighter than ever, starting at just 1.7lbs and 8.5mm thin. Price ranges from $800 to $2700 plus any of the new accessories (Pen and Keyboard) which now cost $260 extra together.
The new Surface Pro continues the iconic look and feel of previous Surface Pro tablets, but has been completely redesigned from the inside out. Battery life is improved to up to 13.5 hours — 50% more than Surface Pro 4 and 35% more battery life than an iPad Pro. Microsoft also claims it has 2.5 times more computing performance than the Surface Pro 3 and 1.7 times the compute of iPad Pro. The improved Surface Pro hinge has a full 165-degree range of motion, letting you immerse yourself in “Studio Mode” for writing, sketching, and drawing on the go. It now works with the on-screen Surface Dial too.
Surface Pro’s high-resolution 12.3″ PixelSense Display with 267ppi and 3:2 aspect ratio is designed to work best with the new Surface Pen. Microsoft says it is their most natural and responsive pen yet, with over 4096 pressure points, only 21 milliseconds of latency and new tilt functionality. It’s over two times more accurate, with four times more pressure sensitivity than the original Surface Pen for a more fluid and real-to-life inking experience. Microsoft claims the writing experience feels like writing on paper, and artists can paint like they are painting on parchment.
Companion detachable keyboards are called the new Signature Type Covers. They arrive wrapped in luxurious Alcantara material with an improved keyset for a laptop-class typing experience. Its high-quality scissor mechanism provides a consistent and stable typing experience, with 1.3 mm of key travel for faster and more accurate typing. Typing is said to be easier, more comfortable, and more accurate. The Alcantara fabric is treated with a high-performance polyurethane coating to resist spills, which means the fabric is not only soft and inviting, but also easy to care for.
Processor options include Intel 7th generation Core m3, i5, or i7. Noise should never be a problem because there are no fans on the Core m3 and the i5 models, and i7 tablets can’t be heard unless your hearing can detect 18db. Surface Pro is not only softer acoustically, it’s also visually softer. Its cameras are designed to fade into the bezel giving Surface Pro an inviting, sleek, and streamlined look.
Price and Availability
The new Surface Pro and Surface Pro Signature Type Cover are available for pre-order now and will ship on June 15, 2017 worldwide. LTE Advanced models will be available later this year. Pricing is listed below.
new Surface Pro:
- 128 GB / Intel Core m3 / 4GB RAM $799
- 128 GB / Intel Core i5 / 4GB RAM $999
- 256 GB / Intel Core i5 / 8GB RAM $1,299
- 256 GB / Intel Core i7 / 8GB RAM $1,599
- 512 GB / Intel Core i7 / 16GB RAM $2,199
- 1 TB / Intel Core i7 / 16GB RAM $2,699 (ships June 30, 2017)
Signature Type Cover:
- $159.99 in Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, Platinum
Surface Pen:
- $99.99 in Burgundy, Black, Cobalt Blue, Platinum
