Microsoft Surface Pro 5 release date rumors: high spec tablet to be unveiled next month?

The current Microsoft Surface lineup: the Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, and Surface Pro 3Microsoft

Although the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has yet to celebrate its release anniversary, speculations suggest that its Redmond-based maker is readying a follow-up and will reportedly play catch-up with the two new iPad Pro models by announcing the new slate in June.

According to Yibada, not only is Microsoft targeting to compete with the new 9.7-inch edition of the iPad Pro and the original model but will also pre-empt the much-rumored MacBook Pro launch next month. Rumors say that Apple is launching its Pro laptop at the annual WWDC event. The 2016 conference is scheduled for June 13 to 17.

The industry follow believes that Microsoft will not release the Surface Pro 5 next month. Instead, the rumored Surface Pro launch is only to entice would-be buyers to wait a little longer for the new slate, since it is said that the Surface Pro 5 will be a heavily upgraded hybrid and is able to go toe to toe with some of the current flagships, the 2016 MacBook Pro included.

Since the Surface Pro 4 was released in October last year, it is plausible that the June announcement will detail an October 2016 release and global roll-out for the Microsoft Surface Pro 5.

As for the upgrades the upcoming Surface Pro will have, The Bitbag notes that the fifth-gen Pro slate from Microsoft will feature an Ultra HD display with 4K resolution. In addition, the hybrid will be a professional workhorse as it will reportedly carry the new seventh-gen Intel chip, the Kaby Lake processor. In addition, as with the previous Microsoft slate iterations, the Surface Pro 5 will cater to a wide range of customers as there will be choices in terms of processors, RAM, and onboard storage.

The October release for the Surface Pro 5 is also more likely, since it will coincide with the planned major update for the Windows 10 platform.