Microsoft Launches Surface Pro 4

Microsoft has unveiled details of the Surface Pro 4, a lightweight and thin tablet which Microsoft believes can replace your laptop.

At only 8.4 mm thin, the Surface Pro 4 features a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display and 3:2 aspect ratio, 267 ppi and 1300:1 contrast ratio, supports 100% sRGB color, and has 5 million pixels.

The choice of processers includes 6th Generation Intel Core m, Core i5, or Core i7 processors, while graphics will be powered with either Intel HD graphics 515 (Intel Core m3), Intel HD graphics 520 (Intel Core i5) or Intel Iris graphics 540 (Intel Core i7).

RAM will be 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB RAM and the all important storage options will be SSD PCIe 3.0 with either 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB.

Ports include a full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader (UHS-I performance), stereo headphones/microphone jack and Surface Connect for power and docking.

The Surface Pro 4 is not only 30% more powerful than Surface Pro 3, but also quieter, runs cooler, and is even more efficient with Microsoft claiming it offers up to nine hours of battery life.

The new Surface Pro 4 Type Cover takes Surface Pro 4 from tablet to laptop in an instant and features a redesigned mechanical keyboard with optimal key spacing for fast and fluid typing.

Backwards compatible with Surface Pro 3, the new Surface Pro 4 Type Cover comes with an optional fingerprint reader, bringing the convenience and added security of Windows Hello to existing customers.

The redesigned Surface Pen packs 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, letting you write, draw and mark documents with precision ink on one end and an eraser on the other.

Surface Book, Surface Pro 4 and new accessories are available for preorder in select markets from today (7 October), then for purchase in Canada and the United States on 26 October, with additional markets to follow.

Prices for the Surface Pro 4 start at US$899.