After the success of its predecessor, the Surface Pro 8, a year ago, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is presumably in the works.
We’ve already heard a few encouraging reports about what to expect from the next big thing in Microsoft’s Surface Pro line of 2-in-1 Windows laptop/tablet hybrids. The most recent model (pictured above) is still one of the best 2-in-1 laptops available, but if you read our Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review, you’ll know there are a few flaws Microsoft could address to make this a truly exceptional 2-in-1.
But enough about the Surface Pro 9 upgrades we want to see; let’s talk about the Surface Pro 9 upgrades we already know (or are fairly certain) will be included in the next iteration of Microsoft’s Surface Pro series.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 release date
So far, Microsoft has said nothing significant about the existence of a Surface Pro 9. As a result, no official release date or window has been announced.
However, some astute reporters discovered an FCC filing(opens in new tab) in September 2022, revealing that a device believed to be the Surface Pro 9 has been certified following FCC guidelines. If that’s the case, the device could be available as early as October 2022.
Microsoft has traditionally held Surface hardware reveal events in the fall, so if a Pro 9 is in the works, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it unveiled in October ahead of a fall 2022 release.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Design
We haven’t heard much about how Microsoft intends to change the design of the Surface Pro line for the Pro 9, or even if it intends to change it at all.
We expect little to change from the Surface Pro 8’s design, which featured a 13-inch (2,880 x 1,920) 120Hz touchscreen and an 11th Gen Intel CPU in a slim chassis measuring 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches and weighing just under 2 pounds. It also had a good pair of webcams (5MP front/10MP rear) and some surprisingly good speakers for a tablet, though they became too distorted at high volumes.
Hopefully, Microsoft will improve on the next model. If Surface Pro 9 does, er, surface, it will almost certainly come pre-installed with Windows 11; we’re less confident that Microsoft will do the right thing and include a keyboard and stylus.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Specs
So far, there hasn’t been any indication that the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will be a radical departure from its predecessors in terms of specs. The most important report we’ve heard about the Surface Pro 9 specifications is that Microsoft intends to offer an ARM version alongside a model with Intel chips inside.
If that turns out to be the case, it effectively means the end of the Surface Pro X line, which featured ARM-based Surface 2-in-1s powered by Qualcomm chips. Instead, Microsoft is said to be integrating it() with the core Surface Pro line by offering the Surface Pro 9 with either Intel or Qualcomm chips. Read More; Razer vs Alienware: A Gaming Laptop Brand
According to the latest reports, the models will be equipped with either Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake chips or a custom Snapdragon 8cx SoC from Qualcomm, dubbed the Microsoft SQ3. With such a moniker, it would be a clear successor to the Microsoft SQ2, which powered the 2020 Surface Pro X.
The addition of a Surface Pro 9 model with 5G connectivity is another significant spec change expected due to this merger. That’s part of what the FCC was certifying in the aforementioned filing, and it makes sense, given that wireless connectivity is a key feature of the ARM-based Surface Pro PCs. Read Also; Microsoft Patents a Perfect Foldable Phone
If this is true, such a model could be similar in size to the Microsoft Surface Pro X, which is nearly a tenth of an inch thinner than the Surface Pro 8.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 outlook
Microsoft is almost certainly developing a Surface Pro 9 if only to demonstrate the value of touchscreen laptops that convert to tablets. Windows 11 is designed to shine on such devices, so if you don’t have a touchscreen PC or don’t like using a laptop that converts into a tablet, there won’t be as many reasons to upgrade from previous versions of Windows.
The Surface Pros have also improved recently, to the point where we gave the Surface Pro 8 four out of five stars and praised how it made Windows 11 feel like a natural fit.
Given how close Microsoft came to hitting a home run the last time it took the field, we have high hopes it will hit it out of the park if it takes a swing at a Surface Pro 9. Intel’s 12th Generation chips have significantly improved performance and power efficiency, allowing many of the best laptops for battery life to remain productive for 12-plus hours. Packing such power-saving silicon into a thin-and-light Windows 11 tablet is a sure bet, especially if Microsoft throws in a free stylus and keyboard. Read Also; HP Spectre x360 Battery Replacement (2022)
