Could we see the new Microsoft Surface Pro 8 soon? We’ve been expecting a follow up to the Surface Pro 7 for a while now, and back in January there was an FCC certificate filing, that hinted at some specifications and a finalized design.
At the time, we though the launch of the Surface Pro 8 was imminent, but so far, Microsoft hasn’t shown off its tablet device. However, with Windows 11 launching on October 5, it would be an ideal time for Microsoft to also launch its flagship Surface Pro 8 device to show off the power of its new operating system.
But, we still don’t exactly know what to expect from this new device, or even if it actually exists. However, if an eBay listing of an alleged Surface Pro 8 is to be believed, we should see better specs but a largely unchanged design, as the tablet on the eBay listing looks very much like the Surface Pro 7. Still, there have been some previously-leaked patents that are encouraging, giving us hope that the Surface Pro 8 will introduce some changes to its design.
While rumors of the Surface Pro 8 had died down a bit earlier in the year, we’ve just seen a new leak that suggests the tablet could come with a hefty spec upgrade, including Intel 11th generation Core processors, a 120Hz high refresh rate screen and replaceable SSD drives.
If true, this means the Surface Pro 8 could be a pretty formidable Windows tablet, and the timing of the new leak again suggests that a Surface Pro 8 launch could be very soon.
In the meantime, we’re here to keep you updated on everything you need to know about the device before it hits the streets. Keep this page bookmarked, as we will update it as soon as any new information comes our way.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a flagship Windows tablet
- When is it out? Potentially early October 2021
- What will it cost? Presumably starting at between $799 and $999 for just the device
Surface Pro 8 release date
There have been no announcements or rumors regarding the release date for the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. Typically, the Pro series has been refreshed once a year. And, while it hasn’t been consistent, more often than not, Surface devices are released in October.
The Surface Pro 7 launched on October 22 2019, which mean we expected an October 2020 launch for the Surface Pro 8. However, that came and went without any sign of the tablet.
Instead, Microsoft showed off the Surface Duo and the Surface Neo, so the Surface Pro 8’s no-show may have been to give Microsoft’s new dual-screen devices time so shine.
However, despite some convincing leaks, there has still not been any sign of the Surface Pro 8. While some people may think this is a sign that the Surface Pro 8 won’t ever turn up, we’re hopeful that October 2021 will see the launch of the device. It’ll mark two years since the Surface Pro 7 launched, so people will be clamouring for an update.
We also know that Microsoft is launching Windows 11 on October 5. What better way to celebrate a new operating system, and show off what it’s capable of, than to release a flagship product like the Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11 pre-installed?
We think, then, that there’s a very strong possibility that we’ll see the Surface 8 announcement on or around Windows 11’s launch.
Surface Pro 8 price
If the Surface Pro series’ history is anything to go by, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect in regards to price. The entry level price for a newly-released Surface Pro has generally started between $799 (about £610, AU$1170) and $999 (about £760, AU$1470) with a maxed-out machine usually peaking at $2299 (about £1760, AU$3370).
No rumors have been circulating about price just yet, but it’s likely that the Surface Pro 8 will follow a similar pricing scheme. Unless there are huge design overhauls (think Apple’s Touch Bar), the entry models should come in between that $799-999 range with upgrades in RAM and storage making similar incremental price increases as previous models.
Where we might see a more significant price increase are in the type covers. The cheapest type cover that works with the 7 goes for $129.99 (£99, AU$191) with the signature model going for $159.99 (£122, AU$235). While basic type covers for the Pro 8 with the same functionality as these will most likely go for similar prices, Microsoft does have some aces up its sleeve.
There are two patents that have the computer world abuzz – the solar-powered type cover and the external speaker-equipped type cover. We don’t know if either concept will make it to production. However, if they do, expect to see a price hike for the new features.
Surface Pro 8 specs
New Surface Pro devices have typically taken incremental steps into the future every time there’s been a release. The Pro 7, for example, improved on the Pro 6 by replacing the 8th gen Intel chips with the just released 10th generation chips, upgrading the Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi 6 and including a USB-C port. Its storage, RAM and display – among other specifications – have not changed.
An FCC certification has also revealed that the device will use built-in LTE (Long Term Evolution) connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and offer Wi-Fi 6 courtesy of Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 AX201 adapter. All of these hardware features should result in a better optimized wireless performance when compared to previous Surface Pro models.
So what can we expect moving forward then? While an 1824p 12.3-inch display doesn’t really need a higher resolution, and bigger storage and RAM options are probably not necessary for anyone looking at a Surface device (these aren’t really geared toward heavy gaming or video editing), we might see a newer chip in the Pro 8.
The good news is, a mysterious eBay listing shows a Surface Pro 8 with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage inside.
Another leak has affirmed that 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage top spec, along with a new minimum of 8GB of RAM with the Intel Core i3 model – doubling the 4GB RAM low end of the Surface 7 Pro.
Also, a recent leak seems to confirm an 11th generation Intel processor, along with a 13-inch 120Hz high refresh screen with narrow bezels. This would be quite a major design change, as it would lead to a bigger display, but the slimmer bezels could mean the physical size of the Surface Pro 8 will remain around the same as the Surface Pro 7.
The leak also suggests two Thunderbolt ports for super-fast data transfer and replaceable SSD hard drives, which could make upgrading or fixing the Surface Pro 8 a lot easier.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Exposure ✅- Intel’s 11th-generation Core processor- 13″ 120Hz High Refresh Rate Narrow Border Screen- Windows 11- Dual Thunderbolt Interfaces- Replaceable SSD Hard Drives#Microsoft #Surface #SurfacePro8 pic.twitter.com/ITFftYG4dgSeptember 19, 2021
We also hope to regain some of the battery life that the Pro 7 lost compared to the Pro 6. At the moment, there’s not much news on what to expect with respect to battery life so we’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft does.
Surface Pro 8 features
In keeping with its incremental refinements, the Microsoft Surface Pro has not changed much visually. It’s still a tablet with a detachable type cover that doubles as a physical keyboard. The bezels of the device have remained the same – in fact, all aspects of the display between the Pro 6 and 7 are identical. Will Microsoft keep with the times and go with more slender bezels? According to the latest leaks, it will, and it could also see an increase in screen size from 12.3-inches to 13-inches.
Where we do have a clearer idea of Microsoft making design improvements are in the two patents that have been filed for their type covers. One of them may be a creative solution to extending the Pro’s battery life – a solar panel-equipped type cover. The patent describes a type cover loaded with four outward facing solar panels that might even be able to draw energy from artificial light sources.
The other patent, which should be exciting for any previous Surface owner, is a type cover equipped with an external speaker. The type cover described in the patent could be used with either an open or closed configuration. And, when used in the kickstand position, it would face outward, away from the device, in an expandable enclosure using the kickstand as a resonance box. This would help amplify the sound without having to resort to a bigger or heavier speaker. If Microsoft is able to pull this off, it would be a massive improvement over the small speakers that Pro series users are currently limited to.
Of course, these two patents may not make production by the time the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is released, so we won’t know if we’ll see solar-powered or speaker-equipped type covers until closer to launch.
Rest assured, however, that we will update this article anytime new information concerning the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 comes our way leading up to the device’s release. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked so you’re up-to-date on all things Surface Pro 8.
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