14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is working on several upgrades for its Surface hardware lineup, and the first one that could see daylight is a low-cost model presumably aimed at Apple’s more affordable iPad.
Likely to launch as a tablet but also support a range of accessories similar to the 2-in-1 Surface, this cheaper device could be codenamed Lingo, according to several leaks that made the rounds in the past few weeks and a recent finding of Twitter user WalkingCat.
By the looks of things, Surface Lingo will support an array of accessories codenamed Lexington and Gibson, both of which are very likely to be Type Covers/keyboards allowing the tablet to double as a laptop when needed.
The same leak reveals that Gibson could be offered in colors that have previously been introduced with the Surface Laptop, like Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, Platinum, and Black, while Lexington would only be sold in Platinum, Cobalt Blue, and Burgundy.
Public launch later this year
A lot has been said on this low-cost Surface, and it’s believed that the device could be powered by Windows 10 on ARM, though there’s a chance that Microsoft sticks with the full version of Windows 10 too.
Most likely, the new more affordable Surface would be specifically positioned as an iPad alternative and sell without a keyboard included in the box. This means the device would be first and foremost a tablet, though customers can use it as a 2-in-1 if they purchase this accessory.
Surface Lingo would be part of Microsoft’s offensive in the education market, where the company is already investing aggressively with products like Windows 10 with S Mode. This OS version is restricted to Microsoft Store and is said to offer uncompromised security as malware typically spreading with Win32 software is blocked from the very beginning.
Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on this project so far, but the unveiling should take place in just a few months, most likely ahead of the back-to-school season.