Reportedly, Microsoft originally planned to release its new Surface products this year. However, issues with mass production of Intel's newest Kaby Lake processor, the preferred chipset of Microsoft, may set back the release of the new Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2.
Yibada reports that based on speculations, Microsoft really wants heavy upgrades to feature in the next batch of Surface products. Since the Kaby Lake processors are the seventh-gen chipsets from Intel, the Redmond-based tech giant has no choice but to wait. This means that fans will probably see the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 and the Surface Book 2 early next year, instead of the projected late 2016 release.
However, should Microsoft decide to go head to head with Apple, one of its strongest competitors, the company may decide to at least rush the production of the Surface Book 2. It is rumored that Cupertino-based Apple Inc. will come out with its MacBook Pro by the middle of the year. This means that Microsoft is expected to compete against this new lineup with the Surface Book 2, even if this leads to the new Surface Book retaining its Sky Lake chipset. However, with the new iPad Pro lineups reportedly getting better performance levels over the current-gen Surface Pro 4, Microsoft will really have to wait and use Kaby Lake chipsets on the Surface Pro 5.
In addition to the heavy upgrades that the Kaby Lake processor will feature, Microsoft is also reportedly trying to remedy issues with the Surface Pro 4 due to its Sky Lake architecture. Reportedly, most negative feedback that the current crop of Surface products has had is due to its mediocre battery management, a system which is affected by the Sky Lake processors inside. Although Microsoft manages to come out with new firmware updates, some fans are still left unsatisfied with the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book.
