Microsoft Surface Pro 10 release date, price and specs

The Surface Pro turns 10 this year, and Microsoft should mark the occasion with at least one new model.

Its flagship 2-in-1 has come a long way since the original from 2013 – an updated version of the very first Surface from a few months earlier. However, it retained the same basic design throughout this period, consisting of a large tablet with an optional detachable keyboard.

But with mixed reviews of last year’s Surface Pro 9, will Microsoft make any big changes to its successor? It seems possible, if the latest rumors are to be believed. Here’s everything you need to know.

When will the Surface Pro 10 be released?

Microsoft seems to have settled into an annual update cycle for the Surface Pro, with the two-year gap between the Pro 7 and Pro 8 as the only recent exception:

• Surface Pro 9 – October 2022
• Surface Pro 8 – September 2021
• Surface Pro 7 – October 2019
• Surface Pro 6 – October 2018

With that in mind, it’s likely that the Surface Pro 10 will launch in end of 2023. Microsoft usually holds an event in September or Octoberwith the device going on sale a few weeks later.

In an April 2023 post from Windows Central, Zac Bowden hints that this is the likely launch window, but also says that “things could be pushed back even further.” This raises the possibility of the Pro 10 being delayed until 2024.

How much will the Surface Pro 10 cost?

Again, the price of recent Surface Pro devices serves as a useful guide for the Pro 10:

• Surface Pro 9 (Intel) – from $999.99 / £1,099.99
• Surface Pro 9 (5G) – from $1,299.99 / £1,299
• Surface Pro 8 – from $1,099 / £999
• Surface Pro 7 – from $749 / £799
• Surface Pro 6 – from $699 / £749

As you can see, prices have steadily increased in recent years. Considering the current rate of inflation in many countries, further increases are possible on the Pro 10, even if there are only minor upgrades.

You’ll likely still pay a premium for ARM-based 5G models, though the Intel versions are currently a better buy for most people. But if rumors of a new 11-inch model materialize, it’s likely to be significantly cheaper than the 13-inch version.

Remember that the prices usually listed are for the tablet only. Adding the Type Cover to the Pro 9 (a must buy to get the most out of it) will cost at least $129.99 / £124.99. The full experience, including a stylus, costs $299.99 / £259.99.

It would make sense to keep the same accessories on the Pro 10, but hopefully this is the year that a Type Cover is finally included in the price – it’s pricey enough already.

What about the Surface Pro 10 specs and design?

The Surface Pro 10 should be an iterative update, but could we see two models for the first time?

So says Zac Bowden in an April 2023 Windows Central article, with a new 11-inch model joining the existing 13-inch version. A more compact Surface Pro 10 would supposedly have thinner bezels, but that wouldn’t be a huge change for the lineup – the first two Surface Pro generations had a 10.6-inch display.

But unlike the Go 4, Bowden says the 11-inch Surface Pro would include premium features such as a 120Hz display and be more powerful.

The latter will almost certainly come from new processors. These will likely come from the last 13^e-gen Raptor Lake on the Intel side, with a choice of Core i5 or i7 again. The Pro 9’s U-series chips aren’t Intel’s most powerful, but are still capable of delivering great performance for day-to-day tasks.

Things are less clear on the ARM side, although we may still see an update to the SQ3 chip found in the Pro 9. This is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, so it makes sense to expect something based on the upcoming 8cx Gen 4. However, Qualcomm may not launch it in time.

Microsoft will probably still keep the 5G support exclusive to the ARM model, but hopefully the NPU (neural processing unit) will make its way into the Intel versions. This would enable some of the useful video calling features introduced on the Pro 9.

Similarly, an SQ4 processor would allow the faster USB4 standard, which the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 does not support. But Thunderbolt 4 is an Intel technology, so it won’t be available here.

There will probably only be the integrated graphics option in the lineup again, but a discrete GPU from Nvidia would make a big difference on the higher end models.

Ports are another area that deserves our attention. There are only two USB-C and Surface Connect to charge on the Pro 9, which means most people need an adapter or hub. At least one USB-A and one HDMI would make a big difference.

It would be nice to see a screen upgrade, potentially to OLED or even Mini LED. But the PixelSense (IPS LCD) panels of recent Surface Pro devices are still excellent. There’s also no need to go beyond the 120Hz refresh rate available on the Pro 9, which gives a nice boost in fluidity without quickly draining battery life.

A fingerprint sensor on the Type Cover would be nice, and at least one version of the keyboard accessory could be made thicker to allow for a more compelling typing experience.

The Windows 11 tablet experience is already very good, but more improvements are likely before the Surface Pro 10 launch. According to Windows Central, a friendlier file explorer, lock screen and desktop environment will soon be available available on Windows 11.

Longer term, the next Surface Pro is almost guaranteed to get Windows 12, if it arrives as expected in 2024. Along with the focus on AI, the tablet experience could be even better.

We’ll update this article one more time on the Surface Pro 10.

Related Articles