Reports from Asia indicate that a March 2017 release date for the Surface Pro 5 is largely confirmed with possible introduction at the Barcelona MWC 2017 trade show in late February. However, the rumored Surface Phone from Microsoft will not appear on the same event and details on the device are not expected until the second half of the year.
DigiTimes of Taiwan recently reported that Microsoft will launch the sequel to its 2-in-1 flagship Surface Pro 4 in the first quarter of 2017 or March as the latest possible rollout target. Part of the plan appears an introduction ahead of the Surface Pro 5's actual commercial debut, which indicates that the tech giant will reveal the hybrid device likely a month before.
That being the case, an intro via the MWC 2017 that starts in February 26 is not a far-fetched scenario for the SP5. In the same report, DigiTimes mentioned of the banner feature upgrades for the Pro 5 - an Ultra HD display resolution and a rechargeable magnetic stylus. The latter is rumored as a version of the Surface Pen that is designed exclusively for the Surface Pro 5.
Following the SP5 intro, the device is expected to come out only once Microsoft has commenced on its rollout of the Windows 10 Creators (formerly known as Redstone 2) Update, scheduled in March. That indicates that delivery of the Surface Pro 5 will happen within the month or early April.
As for the Surface Phone that according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is in the works, Forbes said the device's rumored revelation via the MWC 2017 is unlikely to happen. For the same event, the focus for Microsoft will be on the Windows 10 Mobile and the HP devices that will run on the platform. So it will be a skip for the Surface Phone as far as MWC 2017 is concerned as Microsoft is likely more inclined to highlight its partnership first with HP.
But the Surface Phone, which Nadella said is being developed to become "the ultimate mobile device", is still a go and the latest updates indicate that the mobile device will run on ARM-based Snapdragon 835 that allows for x86 app emulation. And with the Windows 10 feature called Continuum further enhanced, the Surface Phone is even more capable of providing to users a desktop-like environment when the device is connected to a monitor or television.
Basing on the clues dropped so far by Microsoft, the Surface Phone will not come out until Windows 10 Redstone 3 Update is ready to go and the rollout of which is said happen around August or September. And immediately after, fans can expect the Surface Phone 2017 release date.