Microsoft is allegedly gearing up to release the successor of the Surface Pro 4, dubbed the Surface Pro 5, in 2017. The impending tablet will also supposedly come with Intel's next-gen Kaby Lake chipset in tow.
The Surface Pro 5 was initially scheduled to be unveiled this June, but as we reported early that month, Intel confirmed that it would be releasing the next-gen Kaby Lake processor by the end of 2016.
Considering the device did not debut in June, it seems Microsoft has opted to go ahead with the Kaby Lake processor-powered Surface Pro 5 and, therefore, pushed back the tablet's release to next year.
"The hybrid tablet was scheduled to be launched this fall, but the company has bigger plans for the said device and opted for a 2017 release. Reports suggest that the company thought that the Surface Pro 5 will have an upper hand if the tablet will be preloaded with Intel's next generation chipset, the Kaby Lake," notes Vine Report.
The Surface Pro 4 was unveiled in October 2015, so an educated guess would be that Microsoft will launch the successor Surface Pro 5 in the same period this year. However, unlike many companies such as Apple and Samsung that follow an annual cycle for their products, Microsoft has not followed a particular launch cycle for its Surface Pro tablets.
The original Surface Pro debuted in June 2012, followed by a February 2013 release. The second-gen Surface Pro 2 was unveiled in September 2013, followed by its release a month later. Its successor, the Surface Pro 3, was shown off in May 2014 and released a month later.
Therefore, the erratic product cycle for the Surface Pro 5 makes it virtually impossible to forecast a launch window for the Surface Pro 5 with certainty.
This is not the first time murmurs of Microsoft eyeing a 2017 release for the Surface Pro 5 have surfaced online. Earlier in June, reports pointed to the laptop-tablet hybrid's arrival being possibly delayed due to the arrival of the seventh-gen Intel processor, that is, Kaby Lake in late 2016. Microsoft was apparently looking to align the release schedule of the device with the Intel processor's arrival.
"Microsoft may be adjusting their schedule in order to align with the Kaby Lake's release. If the device can't make it this year, it may come out in 2017," noted The Christian Times.
The faster Kaby Lake processor powering the Surface Pro 5 is not the only reason behind the device's delay. Microsoft is also reportedly waiting for the arrival of the Redstone 2 update, the fourth milestone for Windows 10 OS.
The Surface Pro 5 is rumored to house a 4K Ultra HD screen and boast USB Type-C port support. It will also offer an improved battery life and 16 GB of storage. A patent from Microsoft also hints at a magnetic dock and a rechargeable Surface Pen. The base model of the tablet is rumored to be priced around the $899 mark.
Will Microsoft announce the Surface Pro 5 immediately after the release of the Intel chipset and release the device in spring 2017? We will have to wait and watch!
