Microsoft Surface Pro 5 release date, specs rumors: features include PixelSense technology for fingerprint scanning; CES 2017 to showcase device?

Miguel Salonga Thursday, November 17, 2016

Promotional image for Microsoft Surface Pro 4 | Microsoft

According to the latest rumors, the next iteration of the Microsoft Surface Pro will be released in the coming months. Even though Microsoft did not mention the Surface Pro 5 during the October hardware event, it is highly speculated that the hybrid laptop will appear early next year.

One of the most talked about possible features of the Surface Pro 5 is the special PixelSense technology. As reported by The Bitbag, PixelSense has been around for some time now. This feature has been included in the previous Microsoft devices for the past eight years, most recently the Surface Pro 4. The hybrid device is noted to have a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with specialized multi-touch capability. This time around, Microsoft may be changing the usual feature of the PixelSense display by incorporating fingerprint scanning for the Surface Pro 5.

Many tech enthusiasts may be thinking that the prime feature of the PixelSense display is its vibrant graphics, although its most special offering is its ability to recognize objects. This feature was already demonstrated by Microsoft back in 2011 during its Consumer Electronics Show, where a PixelSense-equipped PC was able to recognize a piece of paper with specific writings in real-time. Its capability to detect patterns on objects placed onto it raises the possibility that it can also be used to recognize unique fingerprint signature.

According to Tech Times, the Surface Pro 5 is likely to boast the next generation of Intel processor, namely the Intel Kaby Lake chipset. The Surface Pro 4 is a powerful and highly efficient device, thanks to the current Intel Skylake chipset, so it can be expected that the Surface Pro 5 will be even better with its newer Kaby Lake processor.

The Surface Pro 5 is also expected to improve in the battery department, as many users have reported the Surface Pro 4 to drain its battery capacity over a short period of time. As for the device's operating system, Microsoft is expected to introduce the new Windows 10 Redstone 2 OS update with the unveiling of the Surface Pro 5.