Reports That Microsoft’s Surface Pro 5 Will Arrive Before Updated MacBook Pro Are Questionable

Many people think it’s just clickbait, but there are some websites, none very influential, that are claiming the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be available before the release of the updated MacBook Pro, which is believed to be announced in June. Science World Report is one of the sites making the claim.

“Microsoft Surface Pro 5 could be released earlier than previously expected. A news article suggests that Microsoft appears to be in a rush to finish the 2-in-1 detachable device out in the market ahead of Apple’s MacBook Pro 2016 release, which, according to rumors, is in June’s Worldwide Developers Conference.”

The article, which doesn’t tell readers the original news source, adds that the Surface Pro 5 will come with the Windows 10 Redstone update. It also “lists” other updates the new Surface Pro 5 will have. No doubt, some of those “updates” were taken from a recent article on the Inquisitr, which listed predictions, but never indicated they were facts.

The Inquisitr article predicted that the Surface Pro 5 would have improved battery life, an Intel 7th generation Kaby Lake processor, a 4K 12.3-inch screen, an improved Surface Pen with better software drivers, and an improved Type Cover (although the current one is near-perfect), and an earlier release date (October instead of November).

The Surface Pro 4, released in late October of 2015, received excellent reviews. Engadget assured readers that it can possibly replace their laptops.

“The Surface Pro 3 was a sign that Microsoft’s crazy hybrid tablet experiment might actually have legs. The Surface Pro 4, on the other hand, is the company’s Surface dream made real. Everything Microsoft promised at that surprise Surface unveiling in 2012 is here today with the Pro 4.”

The review especially praised the Surface Pro’s Type Cover, Surface Pen, screen, and low weight. They did criticize the mediocre battery life, which a lot of others have criticized as well. Microsoft has updated the Surface Pro 4 several times, but the battery life has only seen a slight improvement. However, even though the poorer-than-expected battery life is a disability to the Pro 4, it’s not a reason to not buy the device. It’s not as if the battery will run down after a couple hours of use like it did on the original Surface Pro in 2013.

Even though the Surface Pro 5 likely won’t see the light of day before the new MacBook Pro, it will still face heavy competition from Apple’s upcoming device. The MacBook Pro (both 13- and 15-inch versions) will be a significant upgrade, according to the Mac Observer, a site that noted the new Pros are likely to be a lot thinner after having a conversation with Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro will likely be upgraded to a 4K screen and the 15-inch Pro will likely have a higher than 4K pixel resolution, although both units will end up with the same amount of pixels per inch. You can also bet they will be upgraded to 6th generation Intel Skylake processors for even better performance and battery life than they currently have.

Apple just introduced the 2nd generation 12-inch MacBook, and even though it hasn’t generated a huge amount of excitement, the improvements in performance are noticeable. Let’s hope this update means the MacBook Pro update is coming in June, as expected, whether or not it competes with the Surface Pro 5.

[Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images]