Don't hold your breath for a Surface Pro 5.
Panos Panay,Switzerland Microsoft's energetic Surface devices chief, says, "There's no such thing as a Pro 5."
SEE ALSO: With the Surface Laptop, Microsoft leads the PC industry back into the lightSpeaking with CNET, Panay essentially admits the company's letting the nearly two-year-old Surface Pro 4 languish. He believes the Surface Pro 4, outdated as it is in terms of specs, will still be solid for another five years. "If people don't want to buy our Pro 4 at this time, that's OK."
Rather than follow the usual PC cycle with minor refreshes to the internals, Panos says Microsoft will put out a new Surface Pro when there are enough "meaningful" changes such as significantly improved battery life or serious weight reduction.
"Meaningful change isn't necessarily a hardware change, which is what a lot of people look for. They're like, 'Where's the latest processor?' I'm looking for an experiential change that makes a huge difference in product line," Panos says.
Panos' logic mirrors another tech giant's hardware philosophy: Apple's. Though Apple used to update its Macs frequently to accommodate new chipsets, it has now basically moved to a "whenever" schedule. Before the new MacBook Pros were released last October, the MacBook Pros went un-updated for over a year. The iMac was last updated in October 2015 and the Mac Mini in October 2014.
The Surface Pro is more of an aspiration reference design for PC makers.
In a way, it kind of makes sense for Microsoft to hold off on releasing a new Surface Pro. People just don't replace their PCs very often. In fact, people are hanging onto their PCs even longer than ever before.
"[The] replacement cycle for the PC has extended," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said last year. "Four years was the average, now it has moved to about five to six years."
Moreover, the Surface Pro (and the rest of the Surface lineup, for that matter) was never meant to be theflagship of the PC world. The Surface Pro is more of an aspiration reference design for which other PC makers could model their own devices after. And model they have -- there are now tons of respectable Surface clones available from the likes of Samsung, Lenovo, Acer and more. If you want a new Surface Pro-like device with the latest chips and features, there are plenty to pick from that aren't from Microsoft.
Rumors have suggested Microsoft might announce the Surface Pro 5 at Microsoft Build this week or at its event in Shanghai on May 23, but it's looking more likely that's not going to happen. But if not a new Surface Pro, then what new hardware will Microsoft unveil? And would you be happy if it just trots out an updated Surface Pro 4 with new guts?
Topics Microsoft Windows
Best Amazon deal: Get a $5 Amazon credit when you spend $30 on home essentials
Pity the Conservative Consumer Watchdog
Surprise James Webb Space Telescope image revealed by President Biden
Americans Have More Guns
Meta continues its submission to Trump with new advisor on its board
Scream Time
The Church of Labor
Myopia Rules
Best robot vacuum deal: Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop at record
Where There’s Smoke
TikTok wants me to host a dinner party. Is that an actual recession indicator?
The Florida Man Can’t
Lowering the Barr
Our One-Weird-Trick Military
Best Kindle Unlimited deal: Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents
A Conflict of Interest
The Year of Our Baffler 2018
Quiet Down
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 19: Tips to solve Connections #238
I Hate Pizzagate!
The healthy masculinity movement is exactly what men need right nowGoogle updates Ad Settings page and expands 'Why thisInstagram is no longer notifying users when you screenshot their storyMozilla's 'Scout app' might be a voiceAndroid users will soon be able to text on the webWhy your brain really craves donuts and french fries in particular'Cyberpunk 2077' finally acknowledges the importance of genderLeslie Jones has some candid advice for dealing with internet trolls'Awesomenauts' reimagines the MOBA in the best wayThis country's prime minister intervened because people couldn't watch the World CupReview: The Spigen Classic C1 case turns your iPhone X into an iMac G3Android users will soon be able to text on the webIt's Father's Day. Call your dad.Leslie Jones has some candid advice for dealing with internet trollsUnchill Stan Twitter turned Beyoncé and JayChris Pratt’s 9Elon Musk and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announce the Chicago 'Loop'Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson are my new obsessionWhole Foods only follows Beyoncé and Sting on Instagram. WHY?Chris Hardwick's fall led into healthy conversation about nerd culture Taylor Swift gave Cardi B a huge bouquet of flowers after losing Billboard's No. 1 spot Microsoft's new Surface Pro 7 ad hits Apple's MacBook Pro hard Barack Obama calls dropping off Malia at Harvard like 'open Vivid images show the powerful cyclone deluging California HBO Max's 'The Little Things' is a tepid '90s throwback: Movie review Xbox Live Gold doesn't need a price change. It just needs to go away. How to watch TV in bed Public EV charging is a problem. Biden’s presidency could change that. Team Jamaica supporters make a blistering comeback to Trump's remarks about Usain Bolt Now you'll know exactly why your Uber driver rated you one star Apple just released a security update for your iPhone. Download it now. How to improve your MacBook's battery life John Krasinski, Regina King, and Dan Levy will kick off Biden How to ferment your food Kim Kardashian bashes 'fake' rumors about her reaction to Kylie Jenner's pregnancy Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the first phone to get new OLED display Who you should follow from Biden Reddit traders push GameStop stock to towering heights while pros look in disbelief Sony's new Xperia Pro is a $2,500 phone that doubles as an external camera monitor Google Maps adds EV route planning feature that’ll be familiar to Tesla drivers