The disapointing "new Surface Pro" 5

I spent most of the last half of 2016 checking google new results every for the new model of Surface Pro to succeed the Surface Pro 4 and now it is here after being announced in  a May 23 event in Shanghai just 2 days after the announcement of the new model of Surface Laptop. The "new Surface Pro" in it's announcement and it's specs really seems like an after thought that has left me disappointed. To illustrate what I mean I will compare it here to the Surface Pro 4 and the Dell Latitude 5285 which is everything that I has hoped the Surface Pro 5 would be.

	Surface Pro 4	new Surface Pro
CPU	6th generation Intel core m3, i5, or i7	7th generation Intel core m3, i5, or i7
Memory	4GB, 8GB, 16GB DDR3L 1600 MHz RAM	4GB, 8GB, 16GB (unknown speed)
HDD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD
Graphics	m3: Intel HD graphics 515 i5: Intel HD graphics 520 i7: Intel Iris graphics	m3: Intel HD Graphics 615 i5: Intel HD Graphics 620 i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Screen size	12.3” PixelSense 2736 x 1824 (267   PPI)	12.3” PixelSense 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI)
Battery life	9 hours	13.5 hours
Weight	1.73 lbs	1.73 lbs
Available keyboard cover	Yes	Yes
Stylus	Surface Pen	Surface Pen
Camera	5.0MP front, 8.0MP rear with 1080p video recording	5.0MP front, 8.0MP rear with 1080p video recording
Wireless	-          802.11ac Wi-Fi -          IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible -          Bluetooth 4.0	-          802.11ac Wi-Fi -          IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible -          Bluetooth 4.1
Ports	-          Full-size USB 3.0 -          microSD card reader -          Headset jack -          Mini DisplayPort -          Cover port -          Surface Connect	-          Full-size USB 3.0 -          microSD card reader -          Headset jack -          Mini DisplayPort -          Cover port -          Surface Connect
Price (low)	$699 m3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD	$799 m3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Price (mid)	$999 i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD	$1299 i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Price (high)	$2399 i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD	$2699 i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD

 Ok, so what does all this mean?

Compared to the Surface Pro 4, the "new Surface Pro" has an updated CPU which give it longer battery life and the corresponding chipset gives it an updated Bluetooth spec (4.1). Everything else is the same: same screen, same hard drive, same memory, same ports, same camera, same stylus.

Now lets look at the Dell offering: 

	new Surface Pro	Dell Latitude 5285
CPU	7th generation Intel core m3, i5, or i7	7th generation Intel core i3, i5, or i7
Memory	4GB, 8GB, 16GB (unknown speed)	4GB, 8GB, 16GB LPDDR3—1866 MHz
HDD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD	128GB, 256GB, 360GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD
Graphics	m3: Intel HD Graphics 615 i5: Intel HD Graphics 620 i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640	i3: Intel HD Graphics 620 i5: Intel HD Graphics 620 i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Screen size	12.3” PixelSense 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI)	12.3" 1920x1080 (179 PPI) with Corning Gorilla Glass 4, Anti-reflective and Anti-Smudge
Battery life	13.5 hours	7 hours
Weight	1.73 lbs	1.89 lbs
Available keyboard cover	Yes	Yes
Stylus	Surface Pen	Dell Active Pen
Camera	5.0MP front, 8.0MP rear with 1080p video recording	5.0MP front, 8.0MP rear with 1080p video recording
Wireless	-          802.11ac Wi-Fi -          IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible -          Bluetooth 4.1	-          Dual-Band Wireless-AC 8265 Wi-Fi -          Bluetooth 4.2
Ports	-          Full-size USB 3.0 -          microSD card reader -          Headset jack -          Mini DisplayPort -          Cover port -          Surface Connect	-          2x USB-C (DisplayPort compatible) -          microSD card reader -          micro-SIM card slot -          I2C for Dock Pin Keyboard connection -          microphone-in and stereo headphones universal connector
Price (low)	$799 m3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD	$899 i3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Price (mid)	$1299 i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD	$1429 i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
Price (high)	$2699 i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD	$2428 i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 4G LTE

When you look at the Dell you get upgrades to a better processor on the low end, faster memory, Bluetooth 4,2, USB-C ports instead of USB3, and the availability to add a 4G LTE SIM card so you can operate without logging into a WiFi hotspot or tethering to your phone. Price-wise the Dell is more expensive at the low (with better CPU) and mid range but comes out cheaper at the high end even when you add the 4G LTE connectivity. The upgrade to USB-C is a huge gap in the specs of the new Surface Pro; the Dell shares one USB-C port for power which can still be used for external devices and power at the same time when you add a USB-C hub and both ports can be used to drive an external display. The only downside to the Dell is the shorter battery life (7 hours seems fine to me for this kind of device and double that of traditional laptops) and it tends to generate more heat then the Surface Pro models. If I had the cash to buy a new system today I would buy the Dell without a second thought.

Coming at a time when Apple is falling behind in this space with under-powered tablets (compared to full Windows 10 tablets like these) or laptops without touch screen support or detachable keyboards Microsoft is losing a lot of momentum and giving Apple a chance to come back and take the lead in the market again. I have not heard any rumors of any real innovation coming out of Apple in this space yet but shame on Microsoft for giving them the chance when they have worked so hard to claw themselves back into relevance out of the Windows 8 hole.