Now that Apple has presented the world with an enormous iPad Pro with a huge 12.9 inch screen, the ball is now in Microsoft's court to see what they will come up with for the Surface Pro 4. This is what is known about the Surface Pro 4 and possible Surface Mini Release Dates, Price, Features, and Specs.
Of course, in an attempt not to remain a significant competitor in the tablet wars, Microsoft is planning on launching two different sizes of their Surface Pro 4. According to Tech Times, there will be one with a 12-inch display and another with a 14-inch display. Each tablet is likely to have 2K resolution as the Surface Pro, with 2,160 x 1,400 pixels.
As for what is on the inside, there is a lot of info suggesting that Microsoft has placed a large order for 256 GB SSDs from Samsung that will be used in the Surface tablet. It will also come with Intel's Core M Processor brand the Skylake, and, of course, Windows 10 right out of the box.
There is some leaked slides showing that the improvements could increase 3D gaming performance, turning the Surface Pro 4 into quite a gaming device. Skylake can also handle 4K UHD video output at 60 frames per second, and it is possible for three 4K displays. This will make it ideal as a video watching device as well as gaming.
With this rumor of the October release also comes a report that a Mini Version of the Surface will be released. This Mini Surface Pro is probably out to compete with the iPad Mini market, and little is known about what will come after the iPad mini 3. It is believed that the mini Surface Pro is made to provide users with all the features necessary for a tablet, while allowing for scaling up to Desktop usage, simply by connecting to a larger display. Considering how Continuum for phones are appearing on Windows 10, a mini Surface Pro 4 could give all the benefits of a tablet on the go but an ability to scale up to desktop use by connecting to a bigger screen. Of course, I just reported that the new Surface Pro 4 could have a 12-inch and 14-inch version, so will the Mini be smaller than that or take the smallest size?
The Surface Pro 4 will probably have the storage options that are available for the Surface Pro 3, starting at 64GB and rising to 128GB, 256GB, and 500GB. There are reports that a new camera will be added as well.
So can the Surface Pro 4 and company compete with the iPad Pro? Apple is kind of stealing from the Microsoft playbook a few times. They have that new peripheral keyboard cover that looks like what the Surface has, and Apple's new Pencil could easily be compared to the Surface Pen.
As far as the price and release date is concerned, the 12-inch is estimated to cost about $800, the larger $14 inch model could be $100 or $150 more. As or the Mini, that would depend on the screen size, but most report that the new Surface Pro 4 and its derivatives will be on sale in October.
