14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is already competing against Apple in the 2-in-1 market, but while the Surface has long been considered a direct rival to the iPad Pro, the software giant still doesn’t have an alternative to the more affordable standard iPads.
This is going to change later this year when Microsoft is expected to introduce a cheaper Surface tablet specifically supposed to be offered as a replacement for the iPad.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro currently starts at $799, while the most affordable iPad has a starting price for the 9.7-inch configuration of $329, so it’s pretty clear that Redmond needs a new base model for the Surface lineup.
This model could arrive in the fall, and Bloomberg says that the device would be smaller than the existing Surface Pro. Instead of a 12-inch display, the new Surface will boast a 10-inch screen and feature rounded corners instead of the current rectangular design. This means the tablet will look more like an iPad, though Microsoft is expected to retain its more advanced software capabilities and still offer Windows 10 Pro as default. There’s a chance S Mode will be enabled given the lower hardware specs.
$400 starting price
By the looks of things, Microsoft will use an Intel chip to power its new tablet, but the exact model isn’t yet known. On the other hand, USB-C will finally be offered for charging, and Microsoft is believed to be working on a new set of accessories to fit this device, including keyboard covers, a stylus, and mice.
Microsoft’s cheaper iPad killer will be 20 percent lighter than the existing Surface Pro, but in order to reduce weight, the software giant will make the battery smaller. This means it’ll offer some 4 hours fewer of battery life. Like the iPad, LTE will also be offered on the new Surface.
At this point, Microsoft is set to be targeting a $400 price tag for the new Surface model, though that could change by the time it sees daylight. The cheapest Surface so far was the original RT version which launched in 2012 and was available from $499.