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Microsoft announced the next generation of the Surface Pro, and it’s simply called the Surface Pro. The improvements are largely internal, focused on performance rather than appearance, but there are a few notable design tweaks.
The new Surface Pro boasts 50 percent more battery life (lasting up to 13.5 hours), a faster Intel Kaby Lake processor, and, according to Microsoft, the fastest startup and resume times of any Surface Pro yet. It also boasts up to 16GB of RAM, Intel HD/ Iris graphics and a fan-less cooling system, so you won’t hear the whirring noise from prior models.
Microsoft redesigned the Surface Pro with curved edges to make it easier to hold, and it has a kickstand that now tilts almost flat. The Surface Pen ($100) has been updated as well, with greater pressure sensitivity for more accurate doodlings. The Surface Pro will also support the Surface Dial ($100), just like the Surface Studio desktop.
The Surface Pro is available for preorder now, starting at $800, and will ship June 15. The Type Cover ($130) — a.k.a., the keyboard — and the Surface Pen ($99) are sold separately. The Surface Pro will be available in LTE models, as well, in case you want to work off the grid. Expect these LTE-enabled models to be expensive, though Microsoft hasn’t announced pricing on those yet.
