Microsoft Surface Pro Price, Specs, Release Date: Here’s Everything To Know About The New Pro


Microsoft has just revealed its new Surface Pro, the Pro 4’s successor and not quite the Pro 5. For now, it is simply called the Surface Pro. The company refreshed its internals and design, but the biggest change is rebranding it as a “versatile laptop.” Here’s everything else that you should know.

Surface Pro Specs

Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro has 1.7 times more computing performance than the iPad Pro and it also lasts 35 percent longer, thanks to the refreshed processor. The new tablet/laptop now packs an Intel Kaby Lake SoC with three configurations, Core m3, Core i5 and Core i7, PC Advisor reports.

With the upgrade in processor comes updated graphics. Core m3 comes with Intel HD 615, Core i5 with Intel HD 620 and Core i7 has Intel Iris Plus 640. The improved processor also means good tidings for the battery. The Surface Pro can now run 13.5 hours of video playback, whereas its predecessor can only do so for nine hours.

Apart from that, not much change took place. The Surface Pro still retains the 12.3-inch PixelSense display with the same 2736 x 1824 resolution. But it is thinner than the Surface Pro 4 with less than a millimeter difference. The rear eight-megapixel camera and the front-facing 5-megapixel camera are still intact as well. Good news is that the Surface Pro still has the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Surface Pro’s RAM options stay at 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB, while the internal storage choices of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB also remain.

Surface Pro Design

When it comes to design, there is no apparent change as well. Looking closely, though, reveals that the edges are curved more. Business Insider also observed that the new Surface Pro looks and feels essentially the same, so telling them apart might be a chore. This means that the same premium finish is present on the Surface Pro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT5t0rI6rBY

The kickstand at the back looks the same as well, but it can now be leaned back further. Users can now push it back by as much as 165 degrees, which might be useful for using it as a canvas.

Surface Pro Accessories

The new Surface Pro does not come with accessories, unlike its predecessors. The new and improved Surface Pen should now be bought separately for $99 because people can still use their old one, Microsoft says.

The new Surface Pen should be worth it, though, as it is now smoother to use with four times more sensitivity. It measures 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and can sense when it is tilted, a feature that the Apple Pencil first introduced. The accessory comes in four colors, Cobalt Blue, Burgundy, Platinum, and Black.

The keyboard, as usual, is also sold separately at $129 to $159. It has also been slightly improved but still has no distinct advantage over the hold one. The Surface Pro is also compatible with the Surface Mouse, should users find the need to use it. The new Pen and keyboard are also compatible with the previous Surface Pro devices.

Surface Pro Price

Considering that the new Surface Pro is not bundled with a Pen anymore, the entry-level model stands pricey at $799. That’s the one with an Intel Core m3 chip, 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Most users should find this variant suffice for their needs, but there’s the option to upgrade.

A jump to an Intel Core i5 will set buyers back $200, while a Surface Pro i5 with 8GB RAM and 256GB will cost $1,299. For those who would like to play more PC games, the Intel Core i7 model might be more suitable. With 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD, a unit costs $1,599. At $2,199, the i7 chip is paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

The most expensive option of all and the best one is priced $2,699. For that price, buyers will get a Surface Pro with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.

Surface Pro Release Date

Pre-orders for the new Surface Pro are open now. All units, however, will not start shipping until June 15. The new Surface Pen and keyboard should also be available within the next few weeks.

[Featured Image by Kathy Willens/AP Images]

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