Surface Pro 5 rumors are starting to pick up steam as the Surface Pro 4 keeps getting cheaper. The latest reports suggest we could see Microsoft’s new tablet by June of this year. Based on speculation from reputable sources and the hardware maker’s own patterns, we’ve reached that conclusion.
When it comes to Surface Pro 5 release date speculation, the bulk of the chatter comes from a ZDNet report published last March. We’ve cited it before, but, in case you forgot, it revealed that the Windows 10 Redstone 2 update, now called the Creators Update, would be delayed to spring 2017 to support “a new wave of Microsoft-branded Windows devices.” In the absence of Windows Phone popularity, that vague mention is viewed by many as an obvious nod to the next Surface.
Fast forward to last month, and sources at MSPoweruser now claim that the Creators Update is expected to be live by April.
So how does that clue us in to a possible Surface Pro 5 release date sometime around June? For the answer to that question, we need look no further than Microsoft’s past launch habits. The Surface Pro 3 released in June 2014, and it was preceded by Windows 8.1 in April. Windows 10 was released at the tail end of July 2015 and was advertised through the Surface Pro 4 that October.
The timing isn’t exact, but it’s close enough to call your attention to. In both recent cases of a Surface product launch, its flagship software preceded the hardware by about two months. If the Creators Update goes public in April, then, a Surface Pro 5 in late June or early July sounds about right. It’s also worth reiterating that the Surface Pro 3 launched in June as well. Its sales in comparison to its successor get a little murky, but the third-generation product was certainly the highest-profile Surface of them all. Microsoft may be hoping to replicate that success in 2017.
This speculation arrives as Surface Pro 4 prices continue to drop to historic lows. Over the past few weeks we’ve reported the widespread sales on m3 and i5 tablets across Microsoft’s global sites. At the time of writing, an i5 Surface Pro 4 with 256GB storage and 8GB RAM can be purchased for just $950 at Best Buy. That’s a full $250 off the standard price. Might stores be clearing stock for something else in late spring or early summer?
Do you think the Surface Pro 5 will release in June? What price would you be willing to pay for a new tablet PC? Tell us in the comments section!
