Microsoft Surface Pro 5 planned for Q1 2017 says report

by Mark Tyson on 30 December 2016, 11:05

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet hybrid was launched alongside the first Surface Book 2-in-1 laptop back in October 2015. These two Microsoft designed devices have proved popular with their flexibility and portable power, based upon the Intel Skylake architecture. With the launch of Intel's Kaby Lake mobile processors in August many were expecting a thorough refresh of the Surface portable range within short order but Microsoft has yet to satisfy its enthusiasts' new tech hunger.

Today a report from Taiwan suggests that the launch of the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is planned for Q1 2017. DigiTimes is reporting that Pegatron Technology has been hired to make the new device. However, it notes that Quanta Computer has also been considered as a manufacturer for the next generation Surface tablet hybrid. Quanta's fate regarding the possible contract is not known at this time.

There are very few details about what the new Surface Pro 5 might deliver. An obvious upgrade would be the move from the Skylake to the Kaby Lake architecture and we can assume that will happen. As for features, DigiTimes quotes a Chinese-language Economic Daily News report as suggesting Microsoft will equip the Surface Pro 5 with an UltraHD display. A new stylus is expected too, which this time around will be magnetic and wirelessly charged.

A couple of days ago it was noted by the same source that Microsoft's top end Surface Studio AiO has sold better than expected. Industry planners estimated the AiOs would sell about 15,000 units in its first period of availability (Q4 2016). The expectation was down to the premium pricing of Microsoft's debut AiO machines. However it looks like double that number have been ordered, so for Q1 2017 Microsoft has ordered a further 30,000 units to be produced.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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excellent - this was widely expected due to the steep discounts on the SP4 recently, so it makes sense. May finally be the time to buy one this time around if they can improve on the battery life side of things. I'd love a surface book ideally..time to start saving!
I wouldn't hold your breath too much on the battery side of things. This device is still going to be one of those “works for 8 hours if you do nothing” type devices.

Even on my 30 month old SP3 I get a good enough battery life with Edge and ABP. The problem is run chrome and it drops by a third, run VS,R#,WebPack,SqlS and it drops to an hour or two.
Imagine that… a device that uses the battery when you're using it! My ipad mini 4 has x battery life doing y but drastically reduces when doing z.
Spud1
excellent - this was widely expected due to the steep discounts on the SP4 recently, so it makes sense. May finally be the time to buy one this time around if they can improve on the battery life side of things. I'd love a surface book ideally..time to start saving!

lets see, we have on one hand:

- kaby lake which will reduce power by aprox. 20%

on the other hand:

- 4k resolution which needs MUCHMUCHMUCH more power then HD.


i would be surprised if they can even hold the same time as the 4 :-(