The wait for the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 release date could extend well into spring of 2017 as new reports indicate that no new Windows 10 devices will come from the Redmond-based company until Redstone 2 phase of the operating system has been finalized. Originally, the Redstone upgrade is slated to rollout before December 2016 and so is the sequel to the Surface Pro 4.
Windows-focused blog site Winbeta.org has earlier reported that Redstone 2 will not deploy until next year, which prompted the rumors that the SP5 and other fresh devices on Windows 10 will be delayed as well. Apparently, more refinements are required to make the next Windows 10 build more tempting to average consumers and business users alike.
But a report from ZDNet has suggested that the Redstone 2 release is being adjusted to sync the eventual launch with new Windows 10 machines. "Enterprise push-back isn't the reason for the Windows 10 Redstone 2 delay. Instead, it's supposedly the next wave of Windows 10 devices from Microsoft," the report said.
Specifically, Microsoft engineers are enhancing key Windows features for optimal run on devices that will have Redstone 2 out of the box. Among the highlighted features are the improved Surface Pen, a more robust Hello authentication and a smoother Continuum experience, which is the new Windows 10 feature that transforms a mobile device into a desktop-class machine.
Redstone 2 is also expected to address the problems that emerged with the Intel Skylake-powered Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, with the same ZDNet report suggesting too that the joint SP5 and Redstone rollout soon could see a next-generation Intel chip in full use. The upcoming chip is known for now as Kaby Lake.
But the likelihood remains that both Redstone 2 and Kaby Lake will be ready before 2016 comes to a close, which ZDNet was the original scenario first shared by the publication's anonymous Windows insiders.
In such event, the projected Surface Pro 5 release date within calendar 2016 is still a solid possibility and alongside the device the Surface Book 2 and Surface Phone - all running on Windows 10 Redstone 2 - are also expected to be unleashed by Microsoft.