Microsoft has revealed an LTE version of the Surface Pro, with the tweaked hybrid expected to make its debut on December 1.
At its Ignite 2017 conference, Microsoft had a session which took a closer look at the fifth-generation ‘new Surface Pro‘, and according to Neowin, the Redmond company touted an LTE model was in the works and should be in stores in time for Xmas.
A spokesperson reportedly said the LTE Surface Pro is currently listed on Microsoft’s Surface site, but the fresh tablet-come-laptop hybrid appears to be absent for the time being. Microsoft is set to hold an event in London next week with Surface head-honcho Panos Panay slated to deliver a keynote on the future of the Surface, where it can be expected that any new additions to the Surface range will be revealed.
For Surface fans looking for a hybrid that has its own internet connectivity, they may have to console themselves with a less than top-spec hybrid, as the LTE enabled Surface Pro is reportedly only available with Intel’s Core i5 processor not the beefier Core i7.
When it comes to memory and storage, the options get a little wider, with the LTE Surface Pro expected to come with either 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
When out and about the Core i5 chip likely hits the sweet spot of productivity compute power with energy-consumption; the Core m3 is arguably a little lacklustre in the power stakes, while the Core i7 is more power-hungry, meaning the LTE Surface Pro has a chip that sits neatly in the middle.
Given how widespread public and free Wi-Fi hotspots are, there’s an argument as to why anyone would need an LTE enabled Surface Pro, but keeping everything flowing through a private connection is more secure and sometimes public hostspots are so slow and clogged that having your own LTE connection is a much less frustrating option.
Related: Best laptops of 2017
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
