The Surface Pro 4 was released about a year-and-a-half ago, and even though new processors are available, it didn't make an appearance along with the Surface Studio and other hardware updates in October of 2016. Longtime Microsoft pundit Paul Thurrott has some news about the Surface Pro 5, an update he says will change "nothing dramatic" about the convertible.
According to Thurrott, the Surface Pro 5 will keep its proprietary Surface Connect power connector instead of switching to USB-C charging, though it's worth noting that there are already computers out there that include a proprietary power jack and support for USB-C charging if you have an adapter. He also says that the tablet will use new Kaby Lake processors from Intel, though this isn't much of a surprise.
Thurrott has no news to share on the tablet's design, ports, or release date. Rumors have suggested that Microsoft is planning some sort of hardware event for the spring, but a minor Surface Pro bump may not be able to carry an event like this on its own. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley says a Surface Book 2 isn't in the cards (though the "Performance Base" that was released a few months ago serves as a midstream refresh of sorts); the Lumia phone lineup has been discontinued, ostensibly in favor of a "Surface Phone" that may never see the light of day; the Surface Studio is still fresh; and the Microsoft Band has been canceled altogether.
When releasing accessories for the Surface Pro 3, including the Type Cover, its docking station, and its Ethernet adapter, Microsoft promised that the accessories would also maintain compatibility with whatever the next-generation Surface Pro was (and, as a side benefit, many Surface Pro 4 accessories also work with Surface Pro 3). If the Surface Pro 5 is truly just a minor speed bump for the existing design, it could be compatible with accessories for both.
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