Will there be a laptop battle royale happening soon that involves Apple's MacBook Pro 2016 and Microsoft's Surface Book 2? The former is confirmed to run on MacOS Sierra, formerly OS X, while the latter boasting of the latest Windows 10 build out of the box is set on stone. So it has to be an epic dogfight.
Rumors so far indicate that the next-gen Surface Book is a significant jump from the original. A redesign is expected and reports are saying that Microsoft will fix the fulcrum hinge used in the first version to eliminate the slight gap seen when the clam is folded.
And it is all but confirmed that alongside Windows 10, Intel Kaby Lake will run the Surface Book 2 show. Surface fans are expecting too that game-changing feature upgrades will be part of the deal, inside and out, meaning the 2-in-1 device will be more beautiful and powerful than its predecessor.
The same goes for the MacBook Pro 2016, which according to speculations will be fired up thanks to Intel Skylake CPU or with more luck, a Kaby Lake. But whichever of the two will end up powering the MBP 2016, it seems a shoo-in that the high-end models will be getting an AMD Polaris 11 GPU for better gaming and productivity experience in a portable setting.
Redesigned the MacBook Pro 2016 will be, according to Apple watcher Ming-chi Kuo. In his recent notes, Kuo said that the laptop will debut in its slimmest and lightest build ever and the implementation will apply on both the 13-inch and 15-inch form factors.
For deployment too with the MBP 2016 is a dynamic OLED touch bar that will replace the physical function keys, Touch ID embedded on the power button for increased security and integration with Apple Pay and Siri for Mac that permits hands-free control of the device.
So as mentioned, it has to be an interesting showdown between the MacBook Pro 2016 and the Surface Book 2. And it will surely happen as John Gruber, according to BGR, seems very much positive that Apple will unpack its latest Mac offerings that certainly will include the new MacBook Pros and Airs on October 27.
But before that day, Microsoft will take the stage for a number of product introductions. However, Windows watcher Paul Thurrott is convinced that the event is all about the new things that Windows 10 can do. A Surface will likely be previewed but this will be the desktop Surface AIO. There is little chance that the second Surface Book will come out this 2016.
The earliest that the Surface Book 2 will get introduced is Springtime of 2017, per Thurrott, or months after the MacBook Pro 2016 release date, which likely will happen no later than November.