Are details of the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 really leaking, or are several sites just spreading rumors for clickbait? Stories about the Surface Pro 5 (or even the Surface Pro 4) certainly attract a lot of readers, but some of the rumors are based on repeated hearsay.
A site called Northern Voices Online says the Pro 5 could be right around the corner.
“Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is all set to be launched in the market either next month or in September. There is high likelihood that it will be introduced in the market in September. Nonetheless there are many reports claiming that Microsoft may even launch the top of the line tablet in June itself.”
Many people find these claims laughable, especially since the Surface Pro 4 is still selling well and the fact that Microsoft usually waits for new updated processors (Intel Kaby Lake in 2016) before they release updates. Yibada wants you to believe that the Surface Pro 5, along with the Surface Book, won’t be released until 2017.
“Microsoft has reportedly scheduled the Surface Pro 5 release date not this 2016 but in 2017, likely by springtime next year. But prior to that unboxing, which supposedly will also include the Surface Book 2, the tech giant will first introduce two editions of the Windows 10 Mobile-powered Surface Phone, a new report said.”
One can question Yibada ‘s report all they want, but one thing remains true: Microsoft is working on a new Surface Phone as even the company itself hinted (but hasn’t made a full announcement). BGR even posted alleged leaked photos, but wasn’t too thrilled about Microsoft’s upcoming phone.
“It’s also a painfully clear indication that you shouldn’t purchase a Windows-powered smartphone, no matter how appealing it looks. And the new Surface phone certainly looks appealing.”
The opinion piece adds that people want to use Windows on a laptop, not a mobile phone. Some of the commenters at the end of the article agree that a phone running Windows may not be a good idea.
“The Windows mobile system needs far more refinement than it currently has, but MS has had years to refine it. It should be a supreme system by now. The fact that it isn’t is why it isn’t growing in the market,” says Marty.
“Microsoft has had a mobile phone OS for decades and its stunk the whole time. Memory management has been a disaster for them since Windows CE,” claims RAS.
Still, there is a lot of excitement for the Microsoft Surface Phone on Twitter
Microsoft Surface Phone Render and Specs Leaked https://t.co/xFgy71St3j pic.twitter.com/J8ocXGy52S
— Tom Action (@TomMSFT) May 31, 2016
@jezcorden @XboxFloat I want a surface phone and a surface mini
— Swan Lee (@Silaslang) May 4, 2016
Microsoft has put Windows on very small devices before. In 2006, they released the Ultra-Mobile PC , and it was a huge failure because the battery life was awful and although it was considered “cool” to run desktop programs on such a small device, actually using those programs proved to be an extremely difficult task.
Microsoft succeeded somewhat with putting a full version of Windows on a 10-inch tablet (the Surface Pro). Still, even the Surface Pro didn’t reach its full commercial potential until the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 was released in June of 2014. The Surface Pro 5 is a guaranteed hit, but the Surface Phone isn’t. What do you think of Microsoft’s plan to put a full version of Windows on a smartphone? Let us know in the comments section.
[Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images]
