5 Things To Know About Microsoft's New Surface Pro

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For those who have been waiting for Microsoft to release the Surface Pro 5, it looks like that's not going to happen -- technically. Instead, Microsoft has opted to release a refreshed version of the 2-in-1 device -- with some key changes internally, but no dramatic overhaul to the form factor -- and just call it the Surface Pro. In the following slides, we've rounded up some of the key specs that Microsoft has announced for the new Surface Pro as well as the price and release date.

Battery Life

One of the most significant changes to the new Surface Pro is around the battery life. Microsoft is promising 13.5 hours of battery life on a charge for the device, a big leap over the nine hours that the Surface Pro 4 had promised. The company is claiming that this represents the most battery life available in a device as thin and light as the new Surface Pro.

Processor

One of the big disadvantages of the Surface Pro 4, which was released in fall 2015, is that it features the previous generation of Core i processors from Intel. Numerous other 2-in-1s and laptops have come out in recent months featuring newer processors -- and so now, the Surface Pro is catching up. The new Surface Pro will feature the latest Kaby Lake processors from Intel -- the seventh-generation Core i5 or i7 processors. At the top end, the Surface Pro comes with the Core i7-7660U processor, with a clock speed of up to 4GHz. There'll also be a Core m3 version available at the lowest end.

Display, Portability And Ports

Microsoft is keeping the display size the same on the new Surface Pro as compared with the Surface Pro 4, at 12.3 inches. The PixelSense display also sports the same high-resolution, at 2,736 x 1,824 pixels.

The thickness and weight of the tablet is also staying the same, at about 0.33 of an inch thick and starting at 1.69 pounds (the weight goes up slightly for the Core i5 and i7 modesl). And, Microsoft isn't shaking things up on ports, either. The new Surface Pro will feature the same ports as the Surface Pro 4 – a USB-A port and Mini DisplayPort, plus microSD and Surface Connect ports for power and docking (still no USB-C).

Type Cover And Pen

Microsoft has redesigned the Type Cover for the new Surface Pro to contain slightly deeper key travel – "for faster and more accurate typing," the company said. The Type Cover also includes a full-size glass trackpad, and, maybe most significantly, it features Alcantara fabric around its keyboard (a la the Surface Laptop). The Type Cover will have a starting price of $129.

Microsoft is also offering a new version of the Surface Pen, which the company said is now more accurate and is optimized for use on the new Surface Pro. However, this time around the digital pen won't come in the box with the Surface Pro--it'll be sold separately for $99.

Price And Availability

As mentioned, Microsoft is continuing the tradition of selling the Type Cover separately from the Surface Pro, which clouds the pricing a bit. The new Surface Pro will have a starting price of $799, for the model with the Core m3 processor. That is the same as the starting price of the Surface Pro 4. Add the Type Cover to that and you'll get $929, while adding the pen will put you over $1,000. Models with Core i5 start at $999 and Core i7 will start at $1,599 (without the Type Cover or pen in both cases). Additional configurations are available based on the amount of RAM and storage included.

As far as the release date for the new Surface Pro, Microsoft said it will start shipping in the U.S. on June 15, and pre-orders have begun now.