Notebookcheck Logo

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G registered with FCC as design changes from Surface Pro X and launch date emerge

The Surface Pro 9 5G could feature a redesigned chassis from last year's Surface Pro 8. (Image source: NotebookCheck)
The Surface Pro 9 5G could feature a redesigned chassis from last year's Surface Pro 8. (Image source: NotebookCheck)
A potential release date for the Surface Pro 9 5G has leaked online, which should also apply to the regular Surface Pro 9, the Surface Laptop 5, the Surface Studio 3 and perhaps even the rumoured Surface Gaming Laptop. Having been spotted on the FCC's database, details about possible design changes between the Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 9 5G have been outlined too.

More details about the Surface Pro 9 have surfaced online, just a few days after rumours of the 2-in-1 featuring Intel Alder Lake-P series and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processors emerged. As the images below show, Microsoft has certified a 'portable computing device' with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US, a key step towards a device's release. Predictably, the FCC does not provide too many details about the device, although Daniel Rubino of Windows Central believes that it is the Surface Pro 9 5G, the rumoured ARM-based version of the Surface Pro 9.

Set to be the Surface Pro X successor, the Surface Pro 9 5G is expected to launch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, the same chipset found in Project Volterra. Undoubtedly, the device registered with the FCC is an ARM-based machine, seeing as it supports Qualcomm's Smart Transmit functionality. Additionally, the device features a modem for up to sub-6 GHz 5G and WiFi 6E connectivity. Reportedly, the Surface Pro 9 5G will also arrive with rounded edges than the Surface Pro X, as well as a thinner chassis. Moreover, Rubino alleges that the device could have USB Type-C ports on its left-hand side and Surface Connect on the opposite side, unlike the current Surface Pro X.

Furthermore, Microsoft is anticipated to equip the Surface Pro 9 5G and its Intel-based counterpart with 120 Hz displays, mirroring the Surface Pro 8. At the time of publication, Microsoft has not commented on the date of its next hardware event. Typically, Microsoft hosts Surface hardware events in mid to late autumn, although last year's occurred on September 22. According to WalkingCat, this year's event will commence on 12:00 EST (16:00 UTC) on October 11. Supposedly, Microsoft plans to launch not only the Surface Pro 9 series, but also the Surface Laptop 5, Surface Studio 3 and perhaps even the Surface Gaming Laptop.

Purchase the Surface Slim Pen 2 on Amazon

(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)
Read all 1 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 09 > Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G registered with FCC as design changes from Surface Pro X and launch date emerge
Alex Alderson, 2022-09-19 (Update: 2022-09-19)