Now you’re playing with power! The next-generation Surface Pro has been the talk of the town over in rumor land. And we just got another hint at what Microsoft is cooking, thanks to the FCC.
This new machine has been rumored for a while now. And it looks like it is headed for an immediate launch — likely at the special event that Redmond has been planning.
Historically, Microsoft has had its Surface launch events anywhere from September to November, and things seem to be no different this year. The company is said to be working on a Surface Laptop 5 refresh, a new Surface Studio 3, and a Surface Pro 9.
And as spotted by a Microsoft watcher, a new FCC filing from Redmond has just cleared.
It is under the C3K1997 listing, which, in fact, carries 21 filings for a new Microsoft device. While most of the exciting information is confidential for 180 days, there are enough bits in the hundreds of pages to hint at this being a new 5G Surface Pro.
According to the listing, the Surface Pro 9 could use built-in 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and WiFi 6 capabilities. The listing clearly mentions support for what is being called “multi-band 5G NR, 802.11b/g/n/ax WLAN.”
It also includes references to Qualcomm’s Smart Transmit 3.0 technology, which aims to extend 5G coverage and improve uplink speeds. This technology optimizes transmissions across cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth antennas.
All these new features should result in better battery life and improved wireless and overall system performance compared to the Surface Pro and especially the Surface Pro X.
Of course, the Surface Pro 9 will also launch with Intel processors, just in case you thought otherwise.
It is worth mentioning that the information in this listing should be taken with a generous helping of salt until we hear the official word from Microsoft. There is always the possibility that we may be looking at a new Surface Pro X instead of the Surface Pro.
But with talk that Redmond is ready to merge both these lineups, something great may yet become of this premium line of devices carrying the Surface logo.
More so, considering we are at the 10th-anniversary mark of the lineup.
