Surface Pro 4

Surface Pro 5 images leak ahead of Microsoft’s May 23 event in Shanghai

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 19, 2017

Yesterday, prolific leakster Evan Blass posted a bunch of purported press shots of Microsoft's unreleased Surface Pro 5 tablet/notebook hybrid. The company's upcoming Windows 10 device should be re-christened as “Surface Pro”.

The software giant is expected to unveil it on Tuesday, according to Blass.

Microsoft said earlier that it would “show the world what’s next” at its event on Tuesday, May 23, in Shanghai. A successor to the company's Surface Book notebook is not expected to debut at the press event, according to a source familiar with Microsoft’s plans.

The Redmond company hasn't updated its flagship Surface Pro 4 for a year and a half.

If the leaked press photographs are anything to go by, the next Surface Pro will feature some new pen and keyboard colors. Presumably, it would run faster chips and feature other refreshed internals. It's interesting that the device shown on the leaked shots does not appear to have a USB-C port.

The recently unveiled Surface Laptop also has no USB-C port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdg7P_kTb-c

The current-generation Surface Pro 4 released as a modest update to its predecessor.

Surface Pro 4 includes a stylus and a detachable keyboard. The device is powered by an Intel chip, allowing it to transform from a tablet to a full-on computer capable of running Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Microsoft has seen modest success with the Surface lineup.

Across nearly five years, Microsoft has sold only about 14-17 million Surface hybrids in total.

However, Surface revenue has shrunk by $52 million since its quarterly launch peak in 2015. Since its debut, Surface revenues have barely hovered around $1 billion quarterly.

New Surface Pro 4 ad pokes fun of the Mac because it doesn’t have a touchscreen

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2016

Microsoft over the weekend fired another ad salvo at Apple's tablet/computer strategy with a new (somewhat) amusing commercial. Simple titled “Get the Surface Pro,” the 30-second ad highlights Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 hybrid device which includes a stylus and comes with a detachable keyboard and an Intel chip allowing it to be transformed into a computer that runs Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Using the same singer from the previous commercial, the new video informs us that “If you try to write on a plain old Mac, the difference can be seen. It doesn't work.”

New Surface Pro 4 ad calls MacBook Air “less useful, like a hat for your cat”

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 29, 2016

Following its recent iPad Pro-dissing commercial, Microsoft today released another nicely done Surface Pro 4 ad which takes aim at the MacBook Air, calling it “less useful, like a hat for your cat”. Surface ads have successfully promoted competitive advantages of the hybrid device, which comes with a detachable keyboard, pen, touchscreen and more. And thanks to an Intel chip, it runs the full Office suite and most other Windows programs, like Photoshop.

What’s a computer? Just ask Cortana.

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Apple's most recent iPad Pro commercial attempts to position the powerful tablet as the ultimate computer, but Microsoft begs to differ.

But in its latest commercial for the Surface Pro 4 laptop/notebook hybrid, the Windows maker challenges Apple by basically saying that just because you call something a computer doesn’t mean it fits the description.

“Cortana knows that the Surface Pro 4, with its powerful Intel Core processor, detachable keyboard with real keys and a trackpad, pen, touchscreen, full Office and external ports fits the description. Everything else is just late to the party,” says Microsoft.

DisplayMate: iPad Pro has stellar screen, but not better than iPad mini 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2015

Apple's new iPad Pro with its massive 12.9 inch screen offers a stellar viewing experience but the device doesn't quite match the quality of the iPad mini 4's screen, according to an excruciating barrage of mobile display tests conducted by technology experts over at DisplayMate.

Surprisingly, the iPad Pro's panel ranks slightly lower than that on Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 tablet/laptop hybrid and earns the same “A” rating as the iPad mini 4.

Which has lower latency: Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 stylus?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Microsoft's fourth-generation Surface Pro offers stylus and keyboard cover accessories just like Apple's newly released iPad Pro. Apple, of course, is adamant that the Pencil is the best stylus on the market because it has virtually no lag or delay.

The Apple Pencil takes full advantage of iOS's predictive touch technology, the iPad Pro's special screen design and sensors in its tip that measure every nuanced stroke, angle and pressure.

After putting the device through its paces, El Mundo writer and photographer Angel Jimenez de Luis concludes that Apple's stylus has a bit lower latency than Microsoft's, and he posted a video showcasing tracking capabilities of both accessories.

Microsoft takes on iPad Pro with $899 Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Software giant Microsoft today announced its next-generation Surface Pro laptop/tablet hybrid, the Surface Pro 4. Designed to take Apple's upcoming $799 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the $899 Surface Pro 4 offers updated hardware and software features like Windows Hello, the Cortana personal assistant, and of course Windows 10.

The thinnest and most powerful Surface yet, the Surface Pro 4 features a larger display than its predecessor, fitting a 12.3-inch display in the same physical footprint as the older twelve-inch device, making the laptop/tablet hybrid compatible with the existing crop of keyboard accessories on the market.

Microsoft also designed a brand new stylus to go with the Surface Pro 4. They're calling it the Surface Pen and it's extremely sensitive at detecting 1,024 levels of pressure.