Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date, Rumors And Features

Mar 08, 2016 02:18 PM EST

One of the problems of putting out a terrific tech product such as Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 is that it demands a follow-up.  Even though the Surface Pro 4 and its companion, the Surface Book, are only months old, people are already talking about the follow-up.  This is what is presently known of the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date, Rumors, and Features.

So, what kind of features will the Surface Pro 5 have?  Well, it is pretty easy to guess because many customers have been complaining about the Surface Pro 4 battery life, as the device is good for only 5 hours and 15 minutes on the video setting, according to Tech Radar.  Considering that Microsoft promises 9 hours on the current Surface Pro, those numbers for the Surface Pro 5 should get up there for at least 7 hours of battery life. 

Another improvement is the screen, as the Surface Pro 4 already has 2.736 x 1,824 pixels, but the Surface Pro 5 could come with 4K resolution, allowing the user to watch finally 4K content on a tablet.  There is also rumors that the screen size could be bigger at 13.3 inches, which is the size of most laptops. 

Then there is another rumor that USB-C is coming, which makes sense, really.  Some have also wanted some improvements on the input/output problem, with an addition of a USB 3.0 port. 

Phone Arena reveals a new patent filing could reveal advancements with the Surface Pen and with the battery and the dock. The current version of the Surface Pen runs on AAAA batteries, as this can last about few months or even a year.  However, doesn't it make more sense to have the pen be rechargeable so it can last indefinitely?

It looks like this is what Microsoft is doing, as their new patent for a stylus charger "may take the form of a dock that holds the stylus in a particular location during charging and/or while the stylus is not being used".  This dock would hold that Surface Pen magnetically, and then be charging it. Think of it as one of those wireless Qi chargers that a lot of newer smartphones are set up for but the charging pad is part of the tablet/computer itself.    

We will have to wait to see if these rumored features are true.  Most of the rumors of the release date point to either June 2016 or October 2016, it will probably be the later date, as October 2015 was the release date for the hit Microsoft Surface 4.  The price is expected to be "likely as much as, if not a bit more than, the current Surface Pro 4," possibly at $899 according to The Bit Bag.