Microsoft Surface Pro tablets to debut as early as January 26

By AJ Dellinger January 4, 2013

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet.

Microsoft is doing its darnedest to appear cryptic about the impending release date for its Surface Pro tablet. Despite dropping sizable hints at every turn, and specific details coming out of Microsoft stores around the U.S., it’s still trying to remain a bit coy about the entire device. No matter how much the company tries to hide it, it’s likely we’ll see the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet before the end of the month.

Calls made around the country by CNET to Microsoft stores yielded a date as specific as January 26, which fits perfectly in the timeline created by Microsoft at the launch of Windows RT. When RT hit the market, the computer giant promised a tablet running the Pro version of Windows 8 would be available about ninety days later. An October 26 launch of Windows RT plus about ninety days would land pretty close to January 26.

Microsoft reaffirmed its promise of a January Surface Pro appearance back in November, offering launch specifications of a 64GB model for $900 and a 128GB model at $1,000. While some rumors have the tablet’s launch set back to January 29, odds are good Windows 8 Pro will have a portable home before February comes around. The real question is, will the release date matter if the price point remains where it is? It looks like we’ll find out in a couple weeks.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…

Computing

Best Buy just knocked $440 off this Surface Pro 9 with keyboard

The Surface Pro 9 in laptop mode on a table.

Microsoft's line of Surface Pro devices are highly functional and extremely portable, which is why there's always high demand for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals. Here's an offer that you wouldn't want to miss -- a $440 discount from Best Buy for the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 with Surface Pro Keyboard, which slashes its price from $1,540 to $1,100. The savings won't be available for a long time, so if you're interested in taking advantage of this bargain, you have to proceed with the purchase as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 with Surface Pro Keyboard
The performance Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is smooth and fast enough to handle all of your daily activities for work or school, as it's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM that's on the same level as top-tier laptops, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. The device also features a 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen with support for Dolby Vision for impressive picture quality, and dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz for an extremely smooth on-screen experience. It runs on Windows 11 Home, which is pre-loaded in its 256GB SSD.

Computing

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 heavily discounted today

The Surface Pro 9 in laptop mode on a table.

Microsoft's Surface devices are well known for their versatility and performance, but they command premium prices. That's why there's always high demand for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals, as who doesn't want to enjoy a discount when making a huge investment? If you're interested, Best Buy is offering the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 at $300 off, which brings its price down to $1,000 from $1,300, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 at $540 off, which lowers its price also to $1,000 from $1,540, ahead of the arrival of the consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10. You need to push through with your transaction as soon as possible if either of these bargains caught your attention, as we're not sure how much time is remaining before they disappear.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 -- $1,000, was $1,300

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a traditional Windows 11 laptop that's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 Evo processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. It won't match up to the performance of the best laptops, but it's going to be more than enough to handle daily tasks for work or school. The laptop features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen with vibrant colors and sharp details, a battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, and a 512GB SSD that provides ample storage space for your files. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 also comes with a 720p webcam and dual far-field Studio Mics for clear video calls.

Computing

The Surface Pro 10 sounds amazing, and it may be coming soon

The back of the Surface Pro 9, with the kickstand pulled out.

Microsoft could be getting ready to reveal the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 sooner than expected. Reporting from Windows Central's Zac Bowden indicates the devices might be announced on March 21, and could feature both Intel Core Ultra and Snapdragon X Elite chips under the hood, along with some design tweaks.

These new Surface devices are expected to go all-in on AI features in Windows 11. More important is that we could see the next Surface Laptop in a new ARM-based variant in addition to one with a traditional Intel Core Ultra CPU. This change in chips should not only bring more choice like the Surface Pro 9 did, but also performance gains that can help the devices rival what Apple has accomplished with the iPad Pro, as well as the new MacBook Pro with the M3 chip.