Microsoft has officially unveiled its new Surface Pro and, as previously rumored, it's not called the Surface Pro 5.
Instead, the company dropped the number from the name and refers to the new iteration simply as the Surface Pro. It arrives as Microsoft's latest tablet / laptop hybrid, and the company says it's a laptop, not a tablet.
Like previous Surface Pros before it, the new Surface Pro aims to replace the laptop and it comes gunning for Apple and its MacBooks. Microsoft even takes a not-so-subtle jab at Apple by highlighting that Surface Pro 4 users are more likely to recommend their device to others than MacBook or iPad users.
The company also touts that its new Surface Pro rocks the best battery life and performance in a laptop this light and thin.
Meet The New Microsoft Surface Pro
At first, the new Surface Pro looks very familiar as it sports a similar design to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 4. On the inside, however, expect notable changes.
"The new Surface Pro is gorgeous. The design, the clean lines and curved edges are beautiful to see and touch," says Microsoft. "Surface Pro continues the iconic look and feel of previous Surface Pros, but has been completely redesigned from the inside out."
Microsoft explains that the new Surface Pro has roughly 800 new custom parts, with each millimeter optimized in order to use 99 percent of the available space inside the device.
Surface Pro Specs Highlights
The new Surface Pro also packs a seventh-generation Intel Core processor (Kaby Lake), with the Core m3 and Core i5 models sporting a fan-less design. The Core i7 model still comes with a fan to handle that extra oomph.
The processor upgrade, along with enhancements and optimizations in Windows 10, translate to a great battery life and Microsoft says that the Surface Pro should last for up to 13.5 hours on a single charge. This marks a major improvement from the Surface Pro 4, as it would amount to a 50 percent increase in battery life. Compared with Apple's iPad Pro, the new Surface Pro's battery is 35 percent more long-lasting, Microsoft further highlights. In fact, the Surface Pro is more powerful than the iPad Pro in terms of computing performance as well.
"This is a powerhouse laptop with 2.5 times more computing performance than the Surface Pro 3 and 1.7 times the compute of iPad Pro," says Microsoft.
The company also touts that its new Surface Pro is the thinnest and lightest Surface Pro ever, starting at just 0.33 inch and 1.7 pounds.
The Surface Pro features a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display with a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch and a 3:2 aspect ratio. Again looking at Apple, Microsoft points out that the Surface Pro's display has 50 percent more pixels than a 12-inch MacBook. The company also promises enhanced colors, vibrant and precise visuals, and a convenient color switcher to seamlessly shift between SRGB and enhanced color in no time.
Other highlights include the on-screen Surface Dial, new Surface Pen, and new Signature Type Covers with an improved keyset and luxurious fabric.
New Surface Pro Price And Availability
The new Microsoft Surface pro and Surface Pro Signature Type Cover are going up for preorder on May 23 and will start shipping globally on June 15. When it comes to pricing, the new Surface Pro starts at $799.99. The Surface Pen will become available in the next few weeks.
