Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Tipped To Arrive Before Apple iPad Pro

By Anuj

| Published: Monday, March 9, 2015, 17:10 [IST]

Rumor has it that Microsoft is gearing up to launch the "Surface Pro 4" - a sequel to the hit Surface Pro 3 - at least that's what PC Pro claims. The device is reportedly set to launch before the Apple iPad Pro: a 12-inch tablet that's expected to land in September this year.

This is not the first that we've heard of a new hybrid device - rumours of a 12-inch tablet surfaced last year. However, this new report is pegging the device would land in two different screen sizes.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Tipped To Arrive Before Apple iPad Pro

The 12-inch version will definitely arrive, and there may be a 14-inch model with a 2160x1440 resolution. Both will have an Intel Core M Broadwill chip, notes Inquisitr.

This could possibly indicates that the Surface Pro 4 will be much slimmer than the previous version, and may be one among the few hybrid devices to ship without a cooling fan.

Microsoft may also be launching its much delayed Surface Pro Mini. According to sources close to IT PRO, the launch will happen later this year. The Surface Pro Mini is rumored to have an 8-inch display. It was earlier expected to release in June 2014.

The Surface Pro 3, released earlier last year, has been selling far better than its predecessors, and Microsoft has registered a positive gross profit for the Surface business. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced it sold $1.1 billion of Surface devices in its fiscal second quarter, surpassing the $1 billion mark in quarterly sales for the first time. This was a 24% increase from last year's second quarter and a 21% increase from Microsoft's previous quarter.

The Redmond-based giant has been aggressively comparing Surface 3 to Apple's MacBook Air ( see embedded commercial), and we think the next-generation battle will be fought between the Surface Pro 4 and Apple iPad Pro.