Microsoft Surface Pro 4 - Rumors, Facts and Dates

The Surface Pro 4 has a slightly bigger display, is thinner and it is more powerful than the predecessor (Picture: Microsoft)

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 will be available on October 12th starting at 1000 Euros (~$1137). We offer the first international review results as well as official technical specifications compared to the earlier rumors.

by Andreas Müller, 2015/10/27

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Specs & Features

Overview first press reviews

Cnet: According to Dan Ackerman from Cnet, the Surface Pro 4 benefits from a larger display with a higher resolution compared to the predecessor. The thinner chassis improves the mobility. The input pen is easier to handle, just like the keyboard. Intel's current Skylake processors ensure a higher performance, but the battery runtime is not sufficient for a whole business day. And you have to buy the Type Cover extra. All in all, the Surface Pro 4 is currently the best Windows tablet in its class.
Engadget: Devindra Hardawar from Engadget thinks that the Surface Pro 4 works well as a laptop and tablet. The new Type Cover and the new Surface Pen are "massive improvements". The Surface Pro 4 is also thin and light. Just like Dan Ackerman, Hardawar criticizes the average battery runtimes and the fact that the Type Cover costs another $130.
Wired.com: Christopher Null from Wired.com praises the good performance of the Surface Pro 4. The device even performs really well in the graphics benchmarks. The stereo speakers convince with a good sound quality. The screen is very bright and has rich colors. However, the video playback runtime of less than six hours could be better. You just get one USB 3.0, one Mini-DisplayPort and one microSD slot. Overall, the Surface Pro 4 is a "thoughtful and useful" upgrade over the predecessor.
Anandtech: Brett House from Anandtech is surprised by the performance of the Surface Pro 4 – it is up to 50 percent faster than the Surface Pro 3 (see review). And there are no issues with overheating or throttling this time. Typing on the new Type Cover is much better compared to the previous Surface keyboard. The trackpad is also bigger and easier to use. There is unfortunately no USB-C. The Surface Pro 4 is pretty expensive, but the price is reasonable for a premium product.
The Verge: Dan Seifert from The Verge is impressed by the high performance of the Surface Pro 4. The device is light and the typing experience is better than before. However: The use on the lap is still inconvenient compared to a notebook. The Surface Pro 4 is also tricky to use as a tablet; you usually use it in the Desktop mode. The Surface Pro 4 is also expensive and Windows 10 still has some bugs. It ultimately comes down to the decision if you really need such a device or if you are better off with a standard notebook or ultrabook.

Official technical specifications

Software: Windows 10 Pro, Office 30-day trial
Security: TPM chip for business security
Processor: 6th generation Intel® Core M3, i5 or i7 processor
Memory: 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB RAM
Case: Magnesium, Color: Silver
Buttons: Volume, Power
Wireless connections: 802.11 ac Wi-Fi; IEEE; compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Dimensions: 292.10 mm x 201.42 mm x 8.45 mm
Ports: Full-size USB 3.0, microSD™-card reader, headset port, Mini-DisplayPort, Cover-port, SurfaceConnect
Graphics: M3: Intel® HD Graphics 515, i5: Intel® HD Graphics 520, i7: Intel® Iris™ Graphics
Sensors: Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope
Display: 12.3-inch PixelTouch display, resolution: 2736x1824 (267 PPI), screen ratio: 3:2, touch inputs: 10-point multi-touch
Cameras, Video, Audio:, 5.0 MP HD-front camera, rear 8.0 MP autofocus camera, 1080p HD video recordings, stereo microphone, stereo speakers with Dolby sound
Battery runtime: up to 9 hours video playback
Storage: SSD (Solid State Drive) options: 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB
Weight: M3: 766 grams, i5: 786 grams, 7: 786 grams

Source: German Microsoft product website

Rumors for comparison

12-inch and 14-inch: According to rumors, there will be two models of the Surface Pro 4. Both, the 12-inch tablet and the model with a display size of 14-inches, are supposed to have a resolution of 2160x1440 pixels. This is the same resolution as the predecessor and means an aspect ratio of 3:2.
Almost frameless: According to the Tech magazine W4pHub, the Surface Pro 4 will have a very thin display frame. It can be compared to the Dell XPS 13 in this respect.
Intel Core M: The Apple MacBook 12 (see review) led the way. Allegedly, Microsoft also wants to use Intel Core M chips in the Surface Pro 4. We are satisfied with the system performance of the MacBook 12 with this chip for everyday tasks. However, the 3D performance could be better. This is not too important for tablets. Currently, Microsoft is looking for employees for the development of a mobile device with ARM processor and LTE modem. However, we do not expect that it concerns the Surface 4. Newer rumors mention a powerful Broadwell chip for the Surface Pro 4, which is more likely than ARM. The Surface is supposed to be cooled via small holes in the case. So, this device might have a fanless design.
Skylake: According to The Verge editor Tom Warren, the Surface Pro 4 will be launched with mobile Intel Core processors from the new Skylake generation (as of 08/18). Tom Warren is known as a reliable source with connections to Windows insiders.
8 GB or 16 GB RAM: If the rumors are true, the RAM capacity of the new Surface Pro cannot be criticized. The optional 16 GB is even overkill for standard users. Probably the processor will be capable of video editing to some extent. If so, the 16 GB model might be useful for some users. However, an Intel Core M would not be the first choice for this purpose. Will a Broadwell processor be used after all? Since there is no official information yet, you can only speculate about this aspect.
1 TB SSHD: A big SSHD with a capacity of 1 TB should be optionally available. You can expect that there will also be other storage options.
Surface Pro 4 design: The design of the Surface Pro 4 is supposed to be based on the predecessor's. Probably it might be slightly thinner and lighter.
Accessories: There is already one official statement from Microsoft about the Surface Pro 4: The accessories of the Surface Pro 3 (see review) will be compatible with the "next generation" of the Surface Pro series. In case a 14-inch model will be actually available, the question arises whether it is also meant for that. Brian Hall, the Surface head of Microsoft, explicitly mentioned the Type Cover, the docking station, the Ethernet adapter and even the power cable. It is very likely that the Surface Pen will also be compatible. In addition, you can expect an improved Pen, since Microsoft bought the manufacturer of the Surface Pen, N-Trig.