Skip to main content

Microsoft Surface Pro 6 leak shows similar design, new Intel processors

This story is part of our complete Microsoft Events coverage

Microsoft’s next upcoming hardware event is scheduled for October 2 and the technology world is waiting for information about the company’s latest Surface Pro. However, a recent leak from a Vietnamese website of the Surface Pro 6 means that we don’t have to wait as long as we thought to get a closer look at the all new Windows tablet hybrid. The Surface Pro 6 has arrived earlier than expected and boasts some surprises that we weren’t expecting.

Recommended Videos

In a recent roundup, we noted all of the most prominent rumors for the new Surface Pro — some of which have panned out, while others have fizzled. The Surface Pro 6 is by no means a massive overhaul, but instead, an interaction that has focused on upgrading its internals; this most likely concludes that the possible redesign we have heard about for 2019 is the Surface Pro 7 iteration, and not the upcoming Surface Pro 6.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Keeping the external design of the unit similar means the tablet has had merely a slight rounding of its edges and nothing more. When Microsoft introduced the Surface Go, it showed off a new redesign with rounded corners; the Surface Pro 6 doesn’t seem to share the same design, but the smoother edges do show that the company’s lineup may be moving in that direction at some point in the future.

Trên tay Microsoft Surface Pro 6 chưa ra mắt: thiết kế mềm mại hơn, vẫn không có cổng type C

Keeping with minimal external changes means that the leaked Surface Pro 6 doesn’t sport a newer USB-C port. Microsoft has made the position clear that it doesn’t believe the world is ready for a complete USB-C takeover, such as with Apple’s new MacBook lineup, but it was rumored that the company might add a single port to the device. Users looking to take advantage of Thunderbolt speeds may need to wait for another generation for the opportunity.

On the inside, the new Surface Pro 6 is sporting Intel’s latest eighth-generation processors, which offer more performance and higher energy efficiency for users on the go. Due to the power of the chips inside the unit, the Surface Pro has yet to drop its fans, needing the extra cooling for the powerful processors locked inside.

While previous rumors have also laid out evidence for a possible new Surface Pen, there have yet to be any sightings of the accessory. All in all, it looks like 2018 might be an exciting opportunity for individuals seeking to grab a power upgrade over their existing Surface Pros, but don’t expect or want a complete redesign.

Michael Archambault
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…
Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 have arrived — with a catch
A top down view of the Surface Laptop 6, highlighting the Copilot button.

Microsoft has taken the wraps off some new Surface devices today. Though the latest Surface Pro 10 for Buisness and Surface Laptop 6 for Buisness are only for commercial users, the new products preview consumer versions that are expected to be coming later this year.

While not majorly redesigned, the devices pack a promising jump in performance under the hood thanks to the Intel Core Ultra CPU, as well as some features enterprise users will surely appreciate. AI is also a big focus in the form of Copilot.
Surface Laptop 6 for Business

Read more
Microsoft’s next event could reveal the Surface Pro we’ve been waiting for
The Microsoft logo at the company's September 2023 event.

Microsoft has just confirmed that it will hold a Surface and Windows event on March 21, as previously rumored. The company went live with a placeholder webpage for a digital event titled "New Era of Work," teasing some new announcements and how it will " advance the new era of work with Copilot."

Set to kick off at 9 a.m. PT on March 21 , it's looking as though this event might be a little bit more focused on the business side of things, rather than consumer offerings. Microsoft doesn't get into many details, but mentioned how the event will be focused on "the latest in scaling AI in your environment with Copilot, Windows, and Surface."

Read more
The Surface Pro 10 sounds amazing, and it may be coming soon
The back of the Surface Pro 9, with the kickstand pulled out.

Microsoft could be getting ready to reveal the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 sooner than expected. Reporting from Windows Central's Zac Bowden indicates the devices might be announced on March 21, and could feature both Intel Core Ultra and Snapdragon X Elite chips under the hood, along with some design tweaks.

These new Surface devices are expected to go all-in on AI features in Windows 11. More important is that we could see the next Surface Laptop in a new ARM-based variant in addition to one with a traditional Intel Core Ultra CPU. This change in chips should not only bring more choice like the Surface Pro 9 did, but also performance gains that can help the devices rival what Apple has accomplished with the iPad Pro, as well as the new MacBook Pro with the M3 chip.

Read more