As expected, Microsoft today took the wraps off of its newest Surface device, the Surface Pro.
The new Surface Pro looks similar to the Surface Pro 4 that debuted in late 2015, but there are some small changes that add up to make this a new computer. For example, Microsoft has thrown in Intel’s latest Kaby Lake processors, with options ranging from an Intel Core m3 to a Core i5 up to a Core i7.
Microsoft is also promising longer battery life with the new Surface Pro. Whereas the Surface Pro 4 was estimated to get up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge, Microsoft says that the new Surface Pro can get up to 13.5.
This new Surface Pro also boasts an updated hinge with a 165-degree range of motion that lets you lay the device nearly flat. Microsoft touts that it has ditched fans on the Core m3 and Core i5 models, too.
When it comes to raw specs, the new Surface Pro is packing a 12.3-inch 2736x1824 display, 4/8/16GB RAM, 128/256/512GB and 1TB storage, 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras, full-size USB 3.0, microSD, and Mini DisplayPort. The new Surface Pro measures 292.10 x 201.42 x 8.5mm and the Core m3 models weighs 1.69 pounds, while the i5 and i7 models are 1.73 pounds.
Microsoft is also planning to offer a Surface Pro with built-in LTE that will launch later this year. No pricing details for that model have been announced.
And then there are the accessories. Microsoft is offering Signature Type Covers for this new Surface Pro that are covered in Alcantara and available in three colors: Platinum, Burgundy, and Cobalt Blue. There’s also a black Surface Pro Type Cover without Alcantara that’s coming soon.
There’s also an updated Surface Pen that comes in those same four colors. This new Surface Pen boasts 4096 pressure points, 21 milliseconds of latency, and a new tilt feature.
The new Surface Pro is now available for pre-order and is launching in 25 countries on June 15, including the US, the UK, China, Australia, Korea, Portugal, Ireland, and Germany. Pricing starts at $799 for the Core m3/4GB RAM/128GB storage model and goes up from there.
Both the Signature Type Covers and Surface Pen are sold separately. The Signature Type Cover is priced at $159.99 and is also now available for pre-order, while the Surface Pen is “coming soon” for an undisclosed price.
