New Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Rumors Hint At Sleeker Design And ARM CPU Option
According to a new report coming out of France, the Surface Pro 7 is expected to see the biggest year-over-year change. Frandroid says that its internal sources claim that the device will feature a nearly borderless display along with a more modern design. We're not exactly sure what that means as the design formula for the Surface Pro family has stayed pretty much intact since its inception with angular looks and a somewhat industrial design. Perhaps Microsoft will try to soften the hard edges of the Surface Pro 7 a bit, but that's just speculation at this point.
The report also goes on to say that Microsoft is finally abandoning both USB-A ports and the Mini DisplayPort connection. In its place, it's thought that Microsoft will adopt Thunderbolt 3/USB-C. As with previous generations, Microsoft is intent on making LTE versions of the Surface Pro 7 available and there will there are even rumors that there will be an ARM version waiting in the wings.
The latter rumor is one that we've heard about quite frequently. In fact, the Surface Go was widely expected to adopt a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor before its debut last year, however, rumors suggested that Intel stepped in to make sure that plan didn't make it to fruition. If Microsoft is indeed interested in going with an ARM processor option, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx SoC would seem like a perfect fit for a fanless design.
For those that require more muscle, the Surface Pro 7 will also allegedly be available with Intel's 10th generation 10nm Ice Lake processors.
Moving on to the Surface Laptop 3, we're already heard rumors that there will be a new, larger 15-inch model available. There's a distinct possibility that Microsoft may offer versions of the laptop with AMD Ryzen APUs. According to this new report, the Surface Laptop 3 will include dual Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and the Alcantara covering on the keyboard deck will be made optional for those that aren't too keen on the fabric. There's also word that Yellow Sandstone, Glacier Blue and Poppy Red colors will join the family.
With that being said, we have to take all of this information with a grain of salt at this point, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. For the real scoop on what to expect during Microsoft's October 2nd Surface hardware event, be sure to check back here at HotHardware as we'll be reporting live from the unveil.
